The White Wolf

Grooming (AveryPOV)

Hey whoever reads this, I know I said I'd start doing more frequent updates, but my wattpad completely screwed up and I took it off my phone. Recently I redownloaded it and its fine again. So sorry about that.

Just Ryders abs. Ya know, cause why not? Ok so I wanted him to be fit and stuff but not so muscly that he couldnt touch his own hips so...Anyway...Enjoy! ~Tianna

After hours of playing around in the water with Ryder and my pack, we all moved up to the bank to lay in the sun to dry. I was back in wolf form and laying with Ryder to my right, and a pup from my pack, to the left. I felt the pup wriggle and scoot closer to me. She laid her head on my paws and looked up at me, I knew what she wanted. She wants me to groom her, these wolves all crave any bit of attention I can give them. Ive never understood it, but I'm more than happy to give them what they want.

I leaned forward and ran my tongue over her ears and the top of her head and along her powerful jaw. She let a little rumble of appreciation escape her throat, almost like a pur. As soon as the other pups heard her, they lifted their heads and whined wanting the attention she was getting. I let out a small yip and motioned with my head for them to come over to me. They did so without hesitation, lining up patiently waiting their turns as I groomed all ten of them one by one. Sure it was tiring and it hurt my neck a bit, but I'd do anything for them. They're my family.

RyderPOV

I watched with curiosity as Avery groomed the small pup beside her, as if she were her own. She looked beautiful. Her pure white fur having stunning contrast against the dark brown and grey pup she was tending to. I watched for a few more minutes, until the sound of small whines brought me out of my thoughts. I tensed, looking for signs of danger, only relaxing when I found none. All I saw were about nine pups looking at Avery and the pup with jealousy, that was until Avery motioned for them to come over to her. They wasted no time in barreling over to her, lining up, waiting for the attention of their alpha.

I continued watching as she groomed them one by one, not stopping until they were all completely satisfied. Each one gave her a little lick of apprectiation on her cheek as they passed to go lay with the rest of the pack. And the most amazing part, no matter how tired I could tell she was, she looked as though she enjoyed every bit of it.

I was once again brought from my thoughts, this time by one of the pups sitting in front of me. He latched on to one of my ears and began pulling, I rose from my laying postion to stumble a few feet forward. Not seeing where I was going because my head was tilted down due to the size of the small pup. I mentally chuckled as he made me lay back down by giving a few small tugs and a little growl. It was only when he moved from in front of my face did I realize where he dragged me.

I looked into Avery's face, her red markings making her look fierce, but her eyes softening her features. She watched me for a bit, and when I moved to get up, I was once again stopped by the growls of the pup and another bite to my ear. He tugged my ear making me lay my head on Avery's paws. I watched as she watched the pup in amusement as he looked at her expectantly. After a few seconds of this Avery nodded and the pup released my ear and gave it a little lick.

I went to move once again, but was stopped again when I felt her lick the top of my head. I felt her lick a few more spots and it was then I realized she was grooming me. I moved to get up, knowing how tired she was, but stopped when I saw the pup glare at me from his small group of play mates a few yards away. I watched in fear knowing he would bite my ear off if I tried to move. I heard Avery let out a rumble that would be considered a laugh. I looked at her appologetically, but she only shrugged and continued grooming me.

I soon began to relax and completely settle down as she licked at my fur. My eyelids feeling heavy and my mind going groggy. Without even realizing it, I soon fell asleep to the soothing feeling, and my head rested on her paws.

**~~~**

AveryPOV

I couldn't help but laugh, when big bad Ryder seemed intimidated by the pup. He looked up at me apologetically, asking if he should get up. I shrugged my shoulders, I don't mind grooming one more.

As I began licking at his fur, I watched him visibly relax. His shoulders sagged, and I felt his head get a little heavier on my paws. He was asleep. As I groomed him, I took the chance to observe his features. He had three scars on his face. One small one right over his left eye, that you wouldn't see if you weren't as close as I was. Another small one on his right cheek, and one across the top of his nose. Other than that, his wolf was flawless. I soon stopped and rested my head on his, closing my eyes and nussling his ears. I too began to drift off.

**~~~**

RydersPOV

I woke up to something quietly breathing above me. Carefully wiggling my head a little and pulling back, I found that Avery had fallen asleep too. I stood and stretched out getting a look around us. Most of her pack was still there, but some of the larger wolves were gone. My guess would be that they went on a hunt for dinner. I shifted, kneeling down and began petting Avery's wolf, giving her shoulder a slight shake.

She looked up at me through sleepy eyes, rolling onto her side and stretching out. She blinked a few times watching me before shifting too. She stayed there for a second before her eyes closed again. I chuckled quietly before picking her up and began walking. As soon as I took the first step, all of her pack stood and stretched following closely behind.

We soon reached the clearing where her pack stays and I stopped and watched as the wolves continued on into a huge cave. Assuming this is where they sleep, I followed them in. What I saw surprised me, there were rugs, blankets, some made of deer skin and others made of cloth, and even a small mattress that the pups slept on. Avery must have ventured out of the woods and brought back what she could find. I continued on in to the back of the cave and found a spot with candles circled around a big fluffy bear skin as the bed and two deer skin sewn together as a blanket.

I gently laid Avery down, and lit only two candles, one at either side of the room. I went back to where she lay debating whether or not to lie with her or the wolves. I already vetoed the idea of heading back home for three reasons. One, I was exhausted. Two, it was a long way back and I'm not used to these parts of the woods. And tree, I really wanted stay with Avery.

I finally decided to just lay with her, mainly because I'm selfish and really want to be around her. Although, no matter how close I wanted to be, I new I had to give her space. That didn't exactly last long though.

I was laying there, rolling from side, to trying to find a comfortable position to no avail. It wasn't until I gave up and just flopped onto my back staring at the ceiling that I felt Avery move beside me. Soon I felt her arm lay across my chest, bent so she could tangle her hand in my hair, her face nussled into my neck. I jolted when her leg slid across my hips and rested dangerously close to mini me.

I tried to ignore that and instead focused on how warm and soft she was. It took me only minutes after that to call into a deep sleep, the best I've had in years.