Run With Me

Chapter Thirty Three

Terri let Kirk take over. They didn't speak, but she could feel his relief that she was okay and unharmed. But she was tired. When she had finally arrived back at the pack house after running for hours on end and then dealing with Darren, her paws had been sore and she was surprised they weren't covered in blood from running on the snow and ice. Once Kirk had the shower billowing with steam and Terri settled on her bench, she finally spoke.

"I had to fight him," she said in a small voice, "I had to draw my brother's blood to exert my dominance." She had hated every second of it. Kirk had felt the moment Terri had completed the task, the loathing she felt toward herself. She abhorred violence, so drawing blood from her brother was anathema to her.

"Tell me," Kirk grabbed the loofah and some soap and started gently washing Terri's feet, kneeling in the shower in his clothes.

"He couldn't stand," Terri began, telling the story for the first time, "I had run until I realized that his scent was growing too faint, so I slowed to a walk and doubled back," she sighed when Kirk's thumbs dug into the tired muscles of her legs, "I found him partially covered in snow, unable to move." Terri told Kirk of how Darren had barely been able to lift his head and growl at her. When she had placed her paws on his shoulders and bit into his throat, he had offered no fight.

"He was soundly defeated," Kirk could feel the pride for his mate flow through their bond and Terri relaxed into his ministrations as he bathed her.

"That alone hurt his pride more than anything," Terri admitted as she reached for a washcloth to get the rest of the blood off her face, "he has always used brute strength and power to lead. The fact that I defeated him through stamina alone must rankle something fierce in his soul." Kirk just laughed at the comment, turning off the shower and reaching for some towels. Terri had heard rustling in the bedroom and the lingering scent of Zoe. Kirk was unlikely to let any male near Terri for the next little while, so Zoe was about the only person to bring her clothes safely.

"What is your plan? Care to fill your mate, and your alpha," Kirk fluffed Terri's hair with the towel, side stepping the swatting of her hands, "I would like to know before you tell the others. In case I need to change up my own pack structure." Terri peeked out from under the towel and blushed.

"My plans do involve the members of our pack," she put the emphasis on 'our' as she spoke, "now that I seem to have inadvertently acquired another pack before even getting home." Both of them winced. This was going to be a political nightmare. They had just mated less than twenty four hours ago and she had taken over her former pack by right of official challenge. Most of the other packs could see this as a territorial violation.

"Who were you thinking of?" Kirk peeled his wet clothes off and reached for the clean sweater Zoe had brought him. Terri's hands twitched with the desire to touch him.

"Zoe, actually," she admitted, "as much as I would love to get to know her and meet my new pack with her by my side, Zoe and Michael would be perfect to lead this pack through the transition." Kirk paused, pants halfway down his thighs.

"Not John?" His tone was filled with surprise.