Cora, A Sidelines Story from Clayton

No More Compromises

The Characters of Clayton, Rya, Kennedy, Dallas, and the Valentines belong to Rachelle. The character of Cora is expanded on with Permission from Rachelle, and is written for the pleasure of the International Wildflower Pack, the WhiskeyQueenn fandom. #WildflowersUnited #iwp

::Thank you Rachelle Whiskeyqueenn for your wonderful narrative and 

for allowing us this little side journey in your world::

No More Compromises

"Mark, I'm not going with you, and that's final."

"You don't have a choice, Cora. You are my mate and where I go, you go, and that's final."

"I can't and I won't! I have one more semester of classes and student teaching before I go back to Adams," I yelled at my mate.

He towered over me but I didn't back down, power rolled off of us like the winds blowing out of a tornadic thunderstorm. There would be no compromise between us. This was hour four of our most recent fight, well not really recent, it was technically the same fight we had been having since our honeymoon ended almost a week ago. We were just having it over and over and over again.

Western custom was marked by dawn, mated by sundown, not much time to get to know each other and in the whirlwind of emotion of finding my mate, I had not told Mark about Rya and my promise to return to Adams pack. His answer each time I tried to bring it up was to dismiss it because I was his mate and I went where he did. Period. End of discussion. As if his dreams and promises were worth more than mine. My mark throbbed and burned as the bond thrashed us. I resisted the urge to rub it. His wolf had shown his power and mine had just smirked and laid her head down on her paws, unimpressed.

"I have competitions, I am ranked second nationally. I need you with me." Mark insisted again, the veins in his arms bulging out.

"Well, I am not leaving school and my students to ride around the country in a horse trailer to watch you and Shotgun chase cows," I glared. "Why should I have to give up my..."

"Steers," he interrupted.

"What?"

"They're steers," he corrected me.

"I don't care if they're steak tar-tar, I'm... not... go-ing," I hissed.

"Look, Cora. I need you to come with me, so I don't have to worry about you being unprotected," He tried to use this calm tone, but his words only infuriated me more.

"I don't need you to protect me, I can protect myself and..."

His derisive snort cut me off. My wolf's head came up so fast, I almost got whiplash.

"You don't believe me?" I asked. He actually rolled his eyes at me.

Oh it's on... my wolf growled.  I snarled at him, "Meet me down stairs in 10 minutes, Gamma. Wear something you don't mind getting bloody."

"Cora, I ain't gonna fight ya," Mark said exasperated.

"Females in your pack are trained to fight, aren't they?" I challenged.

"Yeah but..." He started.

"Fine, you beat me and I'll go," I know I am hedging my bets but I won't lose. I never lose. Leong and Ares taught me too well.