Crimson Invitation

A story by RCPeterGabriel: All rights reserved.

The timing of my pack's alpha suddenly appearing in our kitchen wasn't exactly the best. I mean, yeah, let's just call it far from good. Even so, it didn't startle me. I could never feel threatened by him. Not that my father was weak. I simply knew he would never attack me. I'm his baby girl after all. But more importantly, I'm his mate. We are one. Although my wolf did want to know why he was awake. He should have been asleep for several more hours. Was my accidentally calling Uncle Nathan's wolf enough to pull my dad from his rest? Had I called anyone else?

Not that I was wondering about that at the time. Just being near my mate was enough that I turned with a smile. But seeing as I was covered in cum, I didn't rush to embrace him. "I'm sorry, Dad. I got carried away with Emily. Since you're awake, I'm guessing I called your wolf."

Our pack leader, my father and mate, studied the room for several moments before speaking. When he did, it was obvious why the pack loved him beyond the respect they held for his power. He acknowledged his pack member before his own concerns. "I'm happy for you, Emily. I see Layci marked you. Rather boldly, I'd say, but I like it. It looks good on you. The question of whether or not your pairing was a true imprinting or not seems to be proven. Your bond will undoubtedly grant you additional strength. Moon as my witness, she's added plenty to mine.

Emily grinned and gathered herself into a less wanton posture before standing. "Thank you, Uncle Danny. Yes, I can feel her adding to my strength, but that's only a bonus. Being with Layci is enough for me."

The emotion behind her words drew an answering pang of desire. Feeling her need, I reached out and touched her just to reassure us both.

My dad nodded, sliding his eyes over her with nostrils flaring. I could tell he found her attractive, which didn't bother me in the least. She is certainly attractive. What bothered me was the way he needed to force his thoughts away from his lust. A lust he'd never felt for her before.

Suddenly, I wanted to claw my own father, my mate, my pack leader. I mean, salty much? Where the fuck had that come from?

After stepping between them, I realized he was feeling my own desire for her through our mating bond. My level eleven possessiveness instantly dropped to a manageable level, and with it, my lucidity level dialed back up to around seven or eight. I wasn't going to share Emily with anyone, not even my alpha. Although technically he would be within his rights to demand use of her, I knew he wouldn't. At least not without my losing control again. I had almost called my uncle's wolf out to fuck me without having known I was doing it. Who's to say that I wouldn't call my dad's wolf with an overwhelming desire for her? I was definitely not in complete control of my new self.

His scenting of the room drew his face my way, and he started studying the mess coating a good portion of my upper body. I'm not sure what made me do it, but his wolf was stirring, and it must have made me a little self-conscious. In hindsight, it was totally inappropriate, bordering on being mean. If I'd done it consciously, it certainly would have been disrespectful. Anyway, I looked down and saw a glob of cum sliding between my breasts. Without thinking, I attempted to hide some of the evidence, scooped it off, and sucked it from my finger. Oops.

My dad quickly averted his gaze, instead turning his not-so-friendly eyes on his brother-in-law. We could all tell he wasn't happy with what had obviously happened. I could also tell he was trying to give us both a chance to explain before passing judgment. "Are you challenging me?"

Uncle Nathan climbed slowly to his feet, eventually standing tall and proud. But he wasn't posturing. He held his arms loosely by his sides, palms forward, closed his eyes, and lifted his chin to expose his throat. "I would never challenge you, Ulfric. The pledge of my blood, to use or spill, is as it has always been."

Our pack leader took his eyes from his second, returning them to me. Outwardly, he seemed as calm as a fawn grazing in a forest meadow. But I could feel his anger boiling just under the surface. I figured that if I didn't do something quick, things would escalate rapidly, and in the worst possible way. Like, 'pack-ending' way.

Just a few minutes before, I had known the only way to save our pack was to gag myself on my uncle's giant dick. That wasn't going to work twice. I knew trying to call my dad's wolf for sex would only be a short-term solution. Just a distraction from our alpha's wrath. Not to mention, I wasn't sure how to do it on purpose. Or even if I could.

I needed a different plan. Looking nervously at my mate, I frantically tried to come up with one. Then I asked myself, "What would Mom do?" Thinking back to how she handled things with me, I knew she'd recommend straightforward communication.

I started explaining with, "Ulfric," but that felt overly formal, so I paused to push love down our bond. "Dad, I know you can feel how much I love you. I also know how much Uncle Nathan and Emily respect you, both as our leader and as a person. What happened wasn't on purpose, but it was my fault. I thought I understood my abilities, but I guess I'm not in complete control and can do more things than I thought possible.

"I don't know how I did it, but when I was with Emily, my passion for her called Pugs' wolf. He was fighting it, but I could see his control slipping. I knew if he shifted, he'd be feral. I did the only thing I could do. I tried to relieve his need without letting him mount me. I mean, while I knew he wouldn't have been in control, it still would have been considered challenging you. So I... you know."

My father's anger was still threatening to spill forth, but he maintained his outward calm-at least if you don't count the barely contained vocal inflections. "'Pugs'? He marks you, and suddenly you have a pet name for him?"

"Um," I managed and unconsciously licked at the remaining cum drying on my lips. So, naturally, the lingering taste reminded me of what was coating a good portion of my front half. I was suddenly a little girl again, feeling embarrassed over being caught doing something I shouldn't have. Because of that, it took me a few moments before realizing what my mate had said. Had I been marked? No way! The whole reason I'd sucked him off was to prevent him from having a claim on me. It couldn't be true! Then I realized that he thought I'd given him a pet name 'because' he'd cum on me and supposedly marked me. I was thinking, "That wasn't what had happened," and the accusation just plain pissed me off. The little girl vanished in a wash of heat.

My father seemed to shrink as my own anger escaped my chest in a growl. When I found my words again, my voice registered lower than normal, and I realized I'd slipped my skin. At least I didn't turn green and get all swole. Although what I had done might have been why my mate's mouth dropped open, he hadn't seen my beast form yet. But, just like me, he knew I'd never attack him. He wasn't frightened, just amazed.

"That's NOT what happened!" I growled insistently.

He remained quiet while he tried to get a grip on the situation. I guess with all of the stresses over the last few days, I wasn't the only one to deserve a freak out. Figuring I had his attention, I took advantage of his momentary stunned look and finished explaining.

"I gave him the nickname when I broke his nose. Remember us talking about my having healed him? When I saw his face all smashed, it reminded me of a pug dog, so I gave him the nickname, Pugs. As for his 'marking' me, he wasn't claiming me. He wasn't even in control. I had accidentally called his wolf and was forced to literally suck the calling out of him. To be honest, I was just hoping to keep his human side engaged enough that he wouldn't shift. I didn't want a feral wolf loose and bent on raping one or both of us. I did it to save Emily and the pack.

"As for drawing out the magic, I had no idea I could pull it from him. And I still have no idea how I did it, or how I called his wolf to begin with. I doubt I could do it again if I tried." I paused a heartbeat while shifting back to human. "Dad, I'm sorry things are all messed up. Emily didn't mean to change the dynamics of our pack any more than I meant to call Uncle Nathan's wolf. I was just trying to minimize the damage and didn't know what else to do. I might be an alpha, but as for being a Luna, I have no clue how. I'm sorry I'm not the mate you deserve, but Pugs and I are friends. That's all. Search your heart... please. If you do, you'll know I didn't mean any harm."

Our Ulfric studied my eyes for almost a minute, then turned to Emily and Pugs. He scrubbed his face with a palm and then took a cleansing breath before speaking. I could tell his anger was subsiding as he began to speak, but it was being replaced with uncertainty. "Of course you're worthy of me, Layci. You're the strongest female in the pack. You're stronger than any of us have ever heard of, except in legends. And if that wasn't enough, you're my daughter. I have always loved you beyond words. I would want you even if you weren't the strongest.

"As for the pack's new social structure, everything is new for all of us. That includes me. I've never heard of a pack where one of the alphas was imprinted on someone other than their mate. Nor are there any known packs that operate with the dynamics we're going to have.

"There will be breeding among betas and even omegas. The pack might outgrow our food supplies, forcing us to split the pack or spread into town. Once in town, interbreeding with non-bloods would be likely, which would only intensify the problems. Or it might refresh the gene pool, and we'd be stronger for it. There's no way to know.

"That doesn't mean I'm happy with what just happened. I felt your call, but it took me a few minutes to realize it wasn't just a continuation of my dream. That's probably a good thing. If I'd come out while he was still wanting to mate you, I would have attacked him without a doubt."

He looked at his second before continuing. "I know Layci called your wolf. I know you didn't have control. I even know she didn't realize what she was doing. That doesn't change the fact that you marked your Luna."

"That can't be," I interrupted. Starting to panic, I went furry again and started twisting this way and that, trying to spot a tattoo. It was more proof that I wasn't in control, seeing as the fur would have hidden it anyway.

Emily put a hand on my back, causing me to spin so that I could meet her gaze. "There's no tattoo, Layci. But he did mark you."

I was still in denial. "I'll shower it off. No one has to know."

I turned back to my dad when he began explaining. Only, his use of my 'little girl pet name' caused a deep pang of nostalgia and grief for my old life. It also reminded me that it was entirely possible I might still need a grippy-sock vacation. My dad hadn't used that name since Mom had gotten me my first training bra. She told me once that it meant 'little wolf.' The internet pointed to several other meanings that, while poignant, I didn't have time to ponder them while standing in my kitchen wallowing in cum-covered denial.

"Tamaska, this isn't like scent-marking a trail where the rain will wash it away. His wolf answered your call. It didn't matter that he didn't shift. You recognized his answering response and took his essence into you. Your scent now carries all three of us as being a part of you. You can't wash it off."

I felt a swoon-like sensation as I shifted back to human. I guess maintaining my beast form wasn't going to happen without being angry or at least concentrating on it. What was I feeling? Confusion, obviously. That particular state of mind was doing a good job auditioning as my new BFF. I think I took Emily's hand for support, thinking that of the three, she wasn't a threat. Not that any of them were a threat, at least not physically. Emotionally... they all were.

He continued with only a slight pause while I shifted. "Nathan would be a dead man right now if you hadn't accepted his mark. For him to taint his Luna without being asked would have been a death sentence. At least you didn't take him as a mate. That, too, would have required a death. The only difference would be that the outcome would have been unknown; we would have been forced to fight. I have every reason to believe I would be victorious, especially being mated to you, but mistakes can always happen."

The comment startled me. He couldn't lose a fight; it would be inconceivable. He's the Ulfric. In my mind, he's always been larger-than-life until my metamorphosis. Afterward, he went well beyond even that. He is a far stronger wolf than any other male in the pack. As much as I like Uncle Nathan, a sexual attraction isn't the same as wanting to mate him. If that ever happened, I'd be settling for second best. But was I making my dad that much stronger? He just finished saying that Emily would gain from our bond, so why not him?

His next somewhat ironic comment pulled me back to the conversation. "You have to get yourself under control, Layci. You're stronger than we know how to deal with."

'Um, if I knew how, I would have by now," I thought while he continued.

"The consequences of your whims are potentially disastrous. Which brings me back to you, Emily. All of this falls on you. None of this would be happening if you hadn't done what you did. I don't blame you for wanting to be with Layci, but it was the 'when' that fucked us all sideways."

I squeezed her hand and pulled her to me protectively as she started trembling. She knew exactly what she'd done and was feeling guiltier by the second, but she met his eyes anyway. "I'm sorry, Ulfric. I know it's not an excuse, but I honestly couldn't help it. We're imprinted, and when she called the pack to her, I was overwhelmed with desire. She hadn't specifically called my wolf, but to me, the feeling was the same as what she did here today."

I was feeling very defensive of Emily, but somehow not irrationally so. "Dad, if what I did to Uncle Nathan is true, and if Emily felt what I'd done to him today in the same way she felt during the clan calling yesterday, then logic says she was compelled. If she was compelled, you can't blame her. You have to blame me. I was told that gaining control of our forms usually takes six to twelve weeks. I did it in minutes. But isn't it fair to say that the extra abilities I seem to have might take time to understand and control?"

He paused for almost a minute before continuing. "Since we can't be sure one way or the other, I'm going to act under the assumption that you're right. I'll assume it was your lack of control. That being said, we need to start establishing normalcy within the pack."

He looked around our small gathering and sighed. "I'm sure the rest of the pack is confused about all the conflicting emotions flowing off of us. We should probably run over to Greg's and let everyone see us together. Maybe presenting a united front will help calm any confusion."

I felt Pugs reflexively start to pull magic in preparation to slip his skin. But the expression on his face confirmed my earlier assumption; I'd drained him thoroughly enough that he'd need to sleep before he could shift again. No one else seemed to notice. Or, at least, I didn't notice anyone else noticing. I was too busy grinning inwardly at the heady rush from knowing I'd done it. That didn't mean I wasn't concerned. If I drained the wrong wolf at the wrong time, I might cause a security issue within the pack. And then there was Dad wanting us all to show up at Greg's as a team. How could we? The first thing I realized was that I'd already caused that exact security issue. My inward grin turned sour. The scat just kept piling up. I needed to come up with a way out, quickly.

Stalling, I suggested we all take a shower, get something to eat, and put on clothes for our meeting with the rest of the pack. When everyone agreed, we all glanced around awkwardly for a moment or two. We had an outdoor shower on the deck, and one in each of the private baths. The implication being that unless we took turns, there would be some sharing going on.

Of course, my dad and Emily were both hoping I'd be washing their backs. Uncle Nathan glanced at his brother-in-law and daughter. They were giving each other jealous looks, knowing the other party had a legitimate claim on me regardless of their own. Pugs shook his head in resignation, saying, "I'll take the deck."

"No," I heard myself say, while not being sure if it had come from my wolf or 'me'. "You made the mess. You can clean it up. Plus, I have something I need to say to you about marking me." Turning to my mates, as if it had been solely my decision to make, I added, "We'll take the master bath. It has the biggest shower."

I really hadn't wanted to hurt or offend either of my mates, but I needed time alone with Pugs. I had to figure out how to share enough magical energy to allow him to slip his skin. If I couldn't, he would be seen as too weak to shift. If that happened, Greg or one of the other betas would be expected to challenge, or worse, kill him. For all I knew, even one of the omegas might be able to take him if he couldn't change. It didn't really matter how weak a werewolf is; a human doesn't stand much of a chance in unarmed combat. A normal wolf would be difficult enough. Against a werewolf, the odds drop to... well, let's just call it like it is, zero.