The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 8

I eyed my nest, and then her. It hadn't been awful or awkward sharing a nest with her. In fact it had been rather pleasant. I wondered if she felt the same.
She cleared her throat and asked, "I am much warmer in your bed than on the rug. Is it ok if I share your bed?"
I nodded and lay down, dressed. She did the same, and curled up next to me, deeply inhaling my scent. She smiled and felt the fur on my arm, pulling it closer around her. I pulled her closer and breathed in her scent. She smelled like the mother to my child. I felt her arm. The skin was so soft.
She scooched closer. I could feel her heart racing. Or was it mine? My hand moved from her arm to her belly. Then her legs. She arched her back in response to my touch and lithely rubbed against me. My body responded. I tilted my head down until I could see her eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, my mate. I am sure."
My heart surged with joy as we pulled off our tunics and brought our bodies slowly, tenderly together. We moved rhythmically, exploring for pleasure. She moaned and arched her back panting, and that excited me more. I finished and we lay holding each other for a bit before doing it all over again. My brain finally cleared long enough for me to remember something.
"My mate, we must seal our union before the moon."
She blinked. "Outside?"
I nodded.
"Doing this?" she asked hopefully.
I smiled, barked laughter, and said, "Yes, it can be done this way, and swearing an oath to each other." I didn't tell her that it was really supposed to be an oath in front of friends and family, dressed up, with a large celebration. This, her, under the moon, was all I needed.
We stood and went out. It was freezing outside, but we went to the creek and swore to mate with no other, to join each to the others families, and to support and protect each others honor. They were old words. Words said under the moon by my people for ages.
I doubted they had ever been spoken to, or by, a Veneran. After our vows she reached down into the creek and made water flow around us. It was warm and covered all but our heads. I pulled her to me below the moon and felt my joy echoed back to me. I could feel her pleasure and she could feel mine. It was amazing.
We only stopped when the sun came up, but didn't really want to. She groaned and pulled me toward the den, "Once more. Please? I don't want this night to end."
"The sun has risen though." I was sorely tempted.
"The light has not touched our bed yet," she pointed out. I rumbled laughter and picked her up and ran into the den with her. She looked exhausted, like I felt.
But, "How often do you get mated to someone?"
She smiled and we made love. It was glorious.
I was absolutely exhausted all day long, but happier than ever. I had the beginnings of my own pack. I had a mate. We were going to have a small, small litter. My mate was not a Lycant, but had many fine qualities. She was fierce and resilient. She didn't take no for an answer, even when others treated her like a meal. She was smart, having picked up our language in a matter of moons. She had no fur, but her smooth skin was nicely marred with scars. I was lucky.