Chapter 5

I heard his voice vividly in my head, just like in the bathroom. Was he able to
telepathically communicate with me?
Trust me, ma. I promise you, I won’t hurt you. He did a small step towards me.
I cautiously looked at his shaking hand. How was I sure he wasn’t going to hurt me?
I care too much for you to hurt you. It is your touch that steadies me. Please take my
hand.
I followed the sincerity in his voice as I carefully approached him, taking his hand.
Gratefully he smiled. “I love you.”
His touch and words had me drawn to him immediately and I had to hug him.
“Let’s go feed the wolf,” he said causing me to laugh.
We walked to a table that to my relief was far from the rude group that obviously was
talking about us.
Before I even properly sat down he said: “Fire away.”
I wasn’t surprised he knew I would be having questions. Something he must’ve
known by now was that I was curious by nature. Last thing I wanted was to set him off
again.
“I’m really, really, really sorry,” he then apologized as if he could read my mind and
emotions. “I know you must have thousands of questions, so go ahead.”
“Okay,” I sat straight, looking directly into the beautiful wolf-eyes. “First of all, are
you like the Hulk or something? Is it so that the minute you get mad or excited, you
transform?”
Benji laughed. “Is that the theory you came up with?”
I nodded. “Till now, I’ve seen you on the edge of transforming when you got mad.”
“You’re right about that,” I saw Benji wanted to say more, but he stopped when the
waitress came to our table offering us –though it seemed more, just Benji- a menu and
something to drink.
I wanted mocha while he asked for a can of orange juice.
“A big guy like you sure needs all the proteins he can get.”
I raised my eyebrow at her comment. Was that trick flirting with Benji in front of me?
Ugh, how cheap could she be?
With a wink she walked away.
Definitely something I’d have to get used to. Though I didn’t want to get used to it. I
didn’t want anyone to look at my Benji like that.
“Don’t worry about her. She got nothing on you.” Happy that he would never think
anyone’s more than I was, I smiled. “But to answer your question,” he continued. “I don’t
only transform when I’m angry or excited. As a matter of fact, I only used to transform in
cases like that when I was a younger pup.”
“A younger pup?”
“What? You thought I was born this big?” he joked.
I laughed. “No, but…”
“We grow up just like wolves. At our first transformation we’re smaller than I am
now. You’ve seen the smaller ones. They’re fifteen year old pups. Usually they’re the
one unable to control their temper and capable of transformation in a split second.
 Me, on the other hand, I’m now an adult wolf. That’s why I look older than I am. I
will look like this until I stop shifting.”
“You don’t age?”
The annoyingly, flirtatious waitress came by handing us our drinks. “Did you make
your choice?”
Benji gave me the chance to order first.
“I’d like scrambled eggs, heavy cheese, toast, two pancakes and one chocolate chip
muffin. And oh…Extra butter on the pancakes.”
“Careful doll, with a stud like him you might want to check your diet.”
Feeling awfully insulted I raised my brows. “Excuse me?!” Was she mocking my
figure? In front of Benji?
“She got nothing to worry about,” Benji then said. “I like my girls with a healthy
appetite and meat on the right places.” I smiled. He always knew what to say at the right
time. “I’d like the same as her, but double the portions and add three Joe burgers to that.”
The question where he was leaving it all was written all over her face, but instead she
left flashing a smile at Benji. I shook my head at her desperation.
“Now where was I,” Benji tried again. “Right, as a pup you’re barely capable to
manage your temper. Over the time we learn how to gain control. Once we do, we’ll be
able to morph whenever, wherever.”
“So the full moon story…”
“Is bullshit,” he finished. However, we do have a connection to the full moon. It is so
that when the full moon draws near the urge to mate grows.”
“Does that count for the imprint as well?” I asked rashly. Instantly I felt embarrassed.
Damn it, I wanted to ask him to know about the increasing horniness that was floating
through my body, without exposing myself.
In the contrary of my thought, Benji didn’t show any surprise after my question. “I’m
not sure. Why? Have you been feeling any different?”
Yeah, I suddenly feel the need of bending over and let you take me till my body feels
soar. Of course, that would be an inappropriate answer.
Benji chuckled. “So, you have been feeling different.”
Startled by his correct conclusion I looked at him. “How…”
Did I know? Benji finished my sentence without opening his mouth. He soothingly
held my hands in his on the table. “As your mate, I have the ability to read you mind and
communicate telepathically with you.”
“You- You- You can hear my thoughts?” At this point I was more than embarrassed
and I couldn’t even shelter in my own mind. Thus far for my privacy.
“Don’t be embarrassed, babe. It’s all good.”
“How long have you been able to do this? How much have you heard?”
“I’ve been able to do this after our first kiss, but I only started to be able to hear you
this morning. So I haven’t heard that much. Besides, you’re not a loud thinker.”
“So I also have the ability to block you out?”
“Yeah,” He frowned. “But why would you want to do that?”
I looked away flushed. “Not all my thoughts are valid for you to hear, you know.”
“If you’re talking about intimacy, don’t worry. Trust me, when you get this ability-”
My eyes went back on him when his words reached my ears. “I’m going to be able to
read your mind too? When? How?”
 Relaxed he leaned back in his seat. “Try now.” We locked gaze. “Try to listen to me
with your heart instead of your ears.”
I tried to find his voice, my voice of love.
Can you hear me say I love you more than any man could possibly love a woman?
Can you feel how much I want to kiss you, touch you, caress you, and make love to you?”
My eyes flew open after the last four words. “Don’t say things like that in public.”
Benji looked amused. “You. Didn’t. Say. Anything?”
Shaking his head, he proudly folded his arms behind his head. His biceps flexed
gorgeously. Of course, once again that didn’t go unnoticed.
“I see now where all the food goes to,” admired the waitress bringing our load of
food. “What keeps you so buff?”
My eyes followed the hand that slowly went to touch Benji’s bicep. My inside boiled
at the touch of her filthy fingers on my Benji.
“Are you just desperate or just plain retarded?” slipped out of my mouth, surprising
both Benji and the waitress.
“Excuse me?” the waitress replied on an insulted tone.
“I’m pretty damned sure I didn’t stutter,” I replied venomous. “You’re taking client-
friendly too literally.”
Babe, take it easy, Benji said in my head. His eyes were strongly fixed on mine.
Angrily I released myself from his stare, looking back at the waitress with my dirtiest
look. “If you don’t want me to report your desperate ass to your manager, you’ll stop
touching him and get stepping. Now!”
Her jaw clenched. Keeping her big mouth shut probably wasn’t as easy as flirting
with guests, but if she wanted to keep her job, she would. With an arrogant turn she
walked away.
Appeased I turned my attention to my food and the person sitting in front of me, who
was looking at me incredulous.
“What?” I asked uncomfortable.
“What was that?”
“That was me, pointing the trick she was very disrespectful by laying her hands on
you that in front of me like I wasn’t there!”
He narrowed his eyes as if he tried to recap the situation. “There was this something
in your voice. I felt it. This…Aggression.”
I lifted my eyes off the plate, to look him straight in the eyes. Some nerve he had to
talk about aggression.
He smirked. “I heard that.”
“Good,” As offended as I could I dug in my plate with the opposite effect.
Instead of sympathizing my feelings, Benji laughed at them. “You might want to stop
to pretend offended, because I can feel what you feel and it’s not offense.” Stupid mating,
mindreading. Benji laughed. “You might find it stupid now, but time will show the
opposite.”
Whatever, I mentally snorted.
You know, you’re sexy when you’re annoyed. Makes me want to grab you and hold
you as close to my body as you can imagine, so I can kiss you on those-
“Bench!” I squealed flushed by his thoughts he was sharing with me.
 He smiled his crooked smile. “Don’t act like you didn’t like it.” With much pride,
because he knew he was right, he ate his pancakes.
I was too ashamed to even look at him. I knew he was right, he knew he was right and
I had nothing to protect myself with.
“Babe, look at me,” he said with an authorizing tone. My head automatically jerked
up, without me even wanting to. “It’s no crime to have those thoughts or fantasies. You
don’t have to be ashamed of anything.”
I wanted to look down. I felt too exposed, too much of an open book, easy to read.
The sudden touch of his warm hands aroused me. “Trust me; I will never abuse this
ability. I will always respect your privacy.” The friendliness in his voice persuaded me,
bringing a smile on his face. “I will take you to the elders for a better look on
imprinting.” His hold on my hand became tighter. “I don’t want you to feel any
discomfort of what I am, alright precious.”
With a kiss on my hand he had me sold. Was I ever going to be able to actually got
mad at this prince?
“I’m afraid my extraordinary charm won’t allow that,” Benji answered airy.
Shaking my head laughing I went back at my food.
My warning had worked, seeing the waitress returned with a formal attitude.
Sated we left Joe’s to meet the elders.
Sudden solicitude overcame. Who were the elders? What did they do to know all the
answers? Was I even dressed properly to meet them?”
“Don’t be nervous,” Benji tried to calm me after probably feeling, if not smelling, my
perturbation. “You got nothing to worry about. They’re just a bunch of retired
werewolves, leading our village.”
I snapped my head into his direction. Leaders of the village? “The Council? You’re
taking me to them?” Faintheartedness snatched my breath. I wasn’t prepared to meet
them yet. What were they going to think of me?
Benji pulled over. “Babe, look at me.” He held my face in his palms trying to find my
distorted eyes. “Stay with me, Jeanella.”
Our eyes locked; giving Benji the opportunity to calm me, speaking to me with his
voice so gentle, so warm. Oh God, making a fool of myself in front of him was starting to
become a custom.
Fiddled I hid my face in his neck. “You must think I’m a complete freak,” I
mumbled.
I felt him shaking his head. “Compared to me, I still consider you pretty normal.”
With his two fingers he moved my fringe to the side. His eyes went over my face as he let
out a chuckle. “You’re about to be in a room full of werewolves, yet you think you’re a
freak.”
I smiled, bowing my head. He was right. Compared to them there was nothing strange
about me at all. Slowly I lifted my head back to kiss him carefully, stroking his warm
face. His skin felt warm and creamy.
“Are you okay now?” he asked against my lips.
“Yeah,” I answered induced while nodding.
“Good, then sit back and relax. Everything will be fine,” he assured with a kiss on my
forehead.
Calmed I leaned back, attempting not to think of my upcoming meeting.
 *****
On a slow pace we drove on to what to me seemed to be the Rosebud Reservation. The
reservation had matched my idea of how it would look like. An ensemble of a few
midsize cottages, some bigger than the other, but none were like the villa’s I was used to
see. I guessed none of them had more than three bedrooms.
The houses didn’t have separate yards; it was all connected to each other with enough
distance between each house. Complaints of noise coming from the neighbors would be
rare.
Peaceful and cozy would be the appropriate words to describe the village.
We got to a halt in front of what in my frame of references was the biggest cottage in
the rez, resting next to the river. The house looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure.
“Here we are,” Benji said happily. “This is my home.”
I looked at the big cottage. “Your home? You live here with your pops?”
He shook his head. “At least not anymore.” He looked at me intruigingly. “Can’t you
remember? We were here last night.” My mouth formed an O. I knew this place was
familiar. He chuckled. “You almost had me thinking you were suffering Alzheimer.”
I wanted to smack him against his arm, but too quick for my eyes to follow he got out
and opened my door.
“Wow,” I gasped. “I will have to get used to that.”
Smiling down on me, Benji held me around my waist. “Babe, you got all the time in
the world to get used to everything.”
As always I blushed. It was a good thing he wanted to give me that much time. I was
going to need it to get used to his sweetness.
With a mild pull Benji gestured me to walk towards his house. At the moment we
walked in I recognized the house we were in last night. It was a lot emptier and more
spacious without the oversized guys.
Benji’s house had a warm ambiance. Even the kitchen we entered invited me to cook
–one of the last things I could do properly.
Benji’s quick pace didn’t allow me to have more than a swift look at the rest of the
house we walked through before we stopped in front of a carved door. They were the
kind of carvings I had only seen on Natural Geographic. Awed I let my fingertips follow
the tribal lines.
“This door is handmade by my grandfather Black Tips when he built the house all by
himself,” Benji explained proudly. “You can ask my father, he’s in there.”
“You mean, they’re here?” My heart raced behind my ribs.
The door opened before Benji could reply. I ended up standing eye in eye with a
middle-aged Native. The man was a portrait of Benji with round brown eyes that
wouldn’t let go of me.
His vigorous look intimidated me, until it changed into the warm smile –just like
Benji would. He held out a big hand. “You must be Jeanella. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Chary I took the hand and got pulled close with an immense force. Did the man
realize I was a normal human with bones that could actually break?
“Dad, you’ll hurt her!” Benji panicked behind me.
Dad? This was Benji’s father who had me in such a strong embrace?
His grasp went loose. “She can handle it, son,” his bass voice said.
If only I was as sure about that as he was.
 Benji’s father let go of me.
“Jeanella, meet my father. Chief ‘Great Paw’ Samuel.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Chief,” I greeted him with a polite bow.
The chief greeted me back with a formal nod. “Come in,” he said gesturing inside.
“We’ve been waiting for you.”
I looked at Benji, who nodded towards the room. With my head up I walked in,
wanting to run out as soon as I saw eleven more men like Samuel take place around
wooden table. They reminded me of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Did princess Guinevre also wanted to run out at their first encounter or was I being a
complete coward?
Like any leader, Samuel took his place at the head of the table. I noticed two empty
seats next to him and figured that one belonged to no other, but the Chief’s son. We took
place, while all the other eleven men looked at us.
“My fellow brothers,” Samuel’s voice boomed calmly, getting their attention. “We
have the honor to have a new soul in our presence, Jeanella.”
The firm eyes were back upon us. “Hi,” I greeted on an attempt to break the
awkwardness. Earth could swallow me any minute now.
Samuel looked at me eagerly. “Go ahead elf; we shall listen to you as you ask.”
Right, because I did have a lot questions regarding the werewolves and the
consequences of imprinting on their mates. But where did the ability of creating a
coherent sentence go?
“She would like to know the reason of our existence as well as what imprinting can
do to me and her.”
If we weren’t surrounded by all these elders, I would’ve kissed him for relieving me.
Yet, apparently my questions caused quite uproar. Every member was mumbling.
“May I do the honor?” said someone sitting diagonally across us. This elder had a
couple of grey streaks in his tight pulled back hair. I calculated him older than Samuel.
Getting Samuel’s approval, the man continued his explanation. “Werewolves exist
almost as long as our tribe does. Our ancestors used the wolves in the area to find food
for the tribe. As time went by, the hunters hunted among the wolves considering them our
brothers. We learned how to hunt, be one with nature and one with them.
“When one of the wolf-brothers deceased, the hunters would use the skin as an honor
to the fallen. But as time went by, the skin would grow one to the human and literally
become one with the animal.
That is how they became shape shifters or as the public likes to call them:
werewolves, men and animal merged.”
This man had me blown away. I couldn’t believe men had actually fused with wolves.
But now that they were, what did they do? “What do the were-” I quickly stopped to
correct my word. “Shape shifters actually do for the tribe?”
“Shape shifters do not hunt for our tribe anymore,” the same man replied. “They
protect our tribe against any kind of evil.”
I remember Benji telling me that, but he never told me kind of evil they were
protecting the tribe from. “What kind of evil are we talking about?”
No one replied on my question. Had I said something wrong?
 The chief scratched his throat. “Any outsider knowing the truth behind our legend
amplifies the chance for the wolves to get caught for experiments or any malicious
purpose.”
I spread my eyes at the thought what could possible happen if the world found out
about their existence; zoo, circus, carnival, freak show, lab-rats and whatever I didn’t
allow myself to think of. The essence of their secrecy was as clear as daylight. “I
wouldn’t want anything to happen to my Benji or his pack,” I said firm aiming to let them
know I was for real.
Samuel’s broad smile showed his belief. I hoped the rest would too.
“I’m afraid that when it comes to protecting our tribe, there’s no warranty of no harm
done to your Benji,” another elder finally replied regarding my question. The words
spoken stung, but I wanted to know what they were up against. “One of the things we’re
facing is enemy tribes attempting to take over our village.”
“Why would they do that?”
“We are the only tribe having wolves protecting us. This makes us the strongest. Any
tribe conquering our village has power over the wolves as well. With the wolves in their
command can continue occupying other communities,” Samuel explained.
“So, there are actually tribes trying to conquer all others?” And I thought Indians
were the most peaceful culture.
“In every culture you find rotten apples. We have outlaws; banished from their tribe,
forced to live alone in different woods. These outlaws have united forming their own
tribe, traveling spreading agony and terror.”
“Basically the pack constantly has to guard the village from outlaws?” Samuel
nodded. I brought to mind how he said it was ‘one of the things’. “What are the other
dangers?”
“Rabid werewolves created by the outlaws themselves.”
“If the can create them, why they still try to have the pack?”
“When a black sorcerer creates shape shifters, they are rabid and thus uncontrollable.”
“Like werewolf pups?”
“Only worse. These are being to bring down our guard.”
“Bring down the guard, as in…” I looked at Benji, who had an anguished look in his
eyes. “They’re built to kill.”
Samuel nodded without flinching. A shiver ran over my spine at the expected
confirmation.
Benji grabbed my hand. “Don’t worry about it, though. We’re built to fight them
back. The chances of anything happening to us are minimum.” His touch was allaying,
but the words were still swarming around. Last thing I wanted was Benji getting hurt –or
worse.
“Did you know that when a werewolf imprints, his senses become sharper? Samuel
mentioned with a thrilled tone. I indeed did not know. Information like that enlightened
the bad. “Ahhh, so you didn’t know.”
“I didn’t even know!” Benji spat.
“You should’ve noticed,” another elder said.
I chuckled.
“Let the boy, Mano,” Benji’s father defended. “He’s too focused on his flame.” There
I went blushing again. He went on. “When a werewolf imprints, his senses become
sharper since he has an extra person to look out for. He shall be able to recognize your
scent, hear your movements and see you on a distance unknown for the premature.”
“Which can be of good as well as an obstacle,” Mano, who I considered the grumpy
among them, carried on. “The good is he’ll practically give his life up to look at for you
and please you, which is also the obstacle of serving as the Alpha that the pack requires.”
“Benji is the Alpha?” I let out unbelieving. From what I remembered of my animal
knowledge, Alpha’s were the leaders of the pack. Had the leader imprinted on me?”
“Yes, elf. Born to become a chief, he was also born to be a pack leader.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked hoping no one else would hear.
“I didn’t think it actually mattered,” he whispered back to me.
“It kind of does,” I contradicted him, which from the questioning look upon his face
he clearly couldn’t comprehend why. I looked at all the other sitting at the table. From
what I knew about family ties in Native American culture is that family’s first. I know
Benji’s pack was his family, therefore I’d never want or ask for him to com for me in a
time his pack would needed him.
“Jeanella, you don’t have to explain yourself,” Benji whispered to me.
But I felt different. “I feel like I need to do so. I don’t want your family to think I’m
going to take you away from them. You have responsibilities to fulfill.”
“Which he better do right, or the second descend gets to take his place as the Alpha!”
Mano threatened.
“He shall not fail!” Samuel thundered.
“But if he will, my son shall take his place and show what a true Alpha is!” Mano’s
statement was loud and clear.
The room was filled with thick tension. The two elders held each other’s eyes like
kids holding a staring competition. I felt like I was experiencing a déjà-vu, though I
couldn’t dredge up where from.
Finally Mano stood up. “I believe the most important things are clear,” he said
looking at me with a wintry gaze.
His coldness made the hairs on my back stand up straight. Benji held my hand tighter,
getting my attention off of the intimidating elder.
“Permission to leave granted,” Samuel said starched without showing any emotions.
“It was my pleasure, little elf.” The nickname had just given me sounded a lot less
cute when it came from Mano’s mouth. “I hope we meet again.”
I didn’t.
With a smirk he left the room and the room immediately warmed up, including my
tensed body.
“My apologies for my brother’s behaviour,” Samuel said to me with a brighter
expression. “He has a golden heart.”
“But a black soul,” an elder wearing a headband with a black tipped eagle feather,
finished.
The other elder immediately stood up with their head bowed. Who was this man
earning so much respect from the Council and why had I not seen him at the table when I
cam in. I had no answers, but I knew I better bowed as well.
My head snapped up at a warm touch at my shoulder. It was the man who had just
arrived, standing next to me. Wisdom was written on his face and truth beaming from his
eyes. His eyes narrowed as he took in my face. The silence was nerve wrecking. Again,
when was earth going to swallow me?
“Worry not, elf,” he spoke with a warm soft voice. “You’re midst family now. No
harm will be done to you by any of the men in this room, but be on the lookout as not
everyone accepts the bond between you and you mate.”
I listened closely, letting each word sink in. It was clear that becoming Benji’s mate
made me part of the family, yet it would be no walk in the park. Looking into Benji’s
lovable eyes I knew I’d walk over the sun for this guy.
“You shall be a great mate for our Alpha. Somehow, you’re not so sure about that
yourself.”
“I…Ehm…Still have a few unanswered questions.”
“Of course, if you’ll allow me to take a seat. These legs aren’t what they used to be.”
Before the man finished talking, Benji had already given up his seat. He was such a
gentleman.
The old man gestured for me to sit as well, thus I did. Meanwhile, I was thinking of a
correct way to formulate my thoughts. “Basically, I already know why the shape shifters
need a mate as well as based upon what they’re chosen. But I still want to know, what
will happen to me?”
“Very well, you’re probably already aware of the unbreakable bond and the
telekinesis between the two of you?” I nodded. “Then you’re probably still wondering
about the physical changes?” As ashamed as I was to bring this topic up, I nodded. “In
the life of the werewolf everything goes by stage. The meeting’s first, where the imprint
is done. Then follows the lip print; where the telekinesis begins as well as the physical
attraction in which the female experiences heat. Both shall crave for interaction, but it is
the female who’s fluid shall be flowing, creating an irresistible scent to any were and
highly active male.
“This is the stage where the wolf should be on the lookout for its mate as there shall
be other ripe males. Only one system shall they not harass her, the mate’s mark. The
mates shall have intercourse in which at the physical explosion, he shall sink his teeth in
her skin and male shall recognize you as taken.”

You didn’t have to be her mate to see the message sent by Black Tips had made an
impact on Jeanella. Relief washed over her when the meeting was adjourned. The
Council went back to their homes, leaving me and Jeanella behind.
She was sitting awfully quiet in the corner of the sofa in the living room, clenching to
the tea I made her.
Carefully I seated next to her, stroking her legs. “Are you okay, babe?”
Her warm brown eyes reacted on my voice. She let out a deep sigh, meaning she had
been in deep, silent thoughts.
“It makes sense now,” she finally said. “I have a clearer view on things now. “ She
shyly smiled at me, “The jealousy, the connection, and my body’s reactions. It all makes
sense.” I smiled back at her, glad there was no more confusion in her anymore. “You and
I…” She held my hand giving me a pleasant chill. “We were made for each other, huh?” I
nodded. “It was destiny who pulled us together?” Again I nodded.
 Observably she was repeating what I had tried to explain before. Imprinting was a
connection stronger than a magnet pulled to iron. It’s more like fire and oxygen. I need
her to burn and I’m her oxygen as well, without me she can’t breathe.
“And now, I’m in heat,” she mocked laughing at it herself. “Meaning I’m a walking
bunch of raging hormones and a target for testosterone.”
“You were a target for testosterone before,” I tried to joke.
Her eyes went back to mine and smiled along with her lips.
I had to admit, sharing emotions weren’t any of my specialties, but this was my
precious. She needed the comfort and whatever she needed I would give.
I opened my arms as a gesture for her to come lay in them. As predicted she cuddled
against my chest, her favorite spot, where she shrank into a ball. I laid my head upon
hers, consoling as much as I could.
Her emotions were flooding; I felt it in within me. She had kept herself strong, but
now that it had all sank in, it overwhelmed her.
“Jeanella,” I broke the silence. “I know this is a lot for you to take down, but we’re in
this together. I shall guard over you twenty-four seven. No one shall lay a hand on you
without you wanting so.”
“How?” she asked without looking up. “I’m moving to my dorm tomorrow. I won’t
be near you.” She gulped. “And you won’t be near me.” I heard her voice saddened.
The hell I was going to be near her. I knew I’d take every opportunity to check
Jeanella. She wasn’t going to be alone. Besides, it was pretty usual for the pack to spread
over entire South Dakota for patrol. I’d have more reason to patrol more often.
“You think the pack would do that?”
“I know the pack would do anything I ask them to.”
She shifted her head away from under me to look me in the eye. There was joy, relief
and wonder all together in her eyes.
Looking through the windows of her soul, I heard what she was wondering. She was
actually surprised that even though we could have sex and I could mark her, I chose to
protect her full-time.