Of Wolves and Oranges

Chapter 32: Elizabeth

The next few days pass in a blur of sleep and pain. Getruide has demanded I stay at her house and she nurses me through the worst of it. I remember my mothers approach to illness was aromatherapy, crystals and vile tasting brews until she lost interest in me and wandered off to her art room. With Getruide, it all feels over the top. There is sweet tea, pain killers and lots of food. I catch her one morning Googling, How to look after a sick person. She admitted that she has never done this before, because shifters dont get sick. The only thing she does know is how to feed her boys.

Ford is never far away, he is often draped across my bed in wolf form or moving me around the house. They introduce me to the family room which is in the basement. It has a huge tv, gaming system and pool table. There are four couches, covered in throws, one for each of the wolves in the house. Its here that I spend the most time, surrounded by the brothers.

Ric is ignoring me. He gave me two days to recover, then he sat down and grilled me about every aspect of my life up until, and including, what happen that night. Then he left. Since then, he has ignored me, other than sniffing the air every time he comes into the room. Supposedly checking for mint.

It's four days after the attack, and I am just finishing another amazing lunch with Getruide and Ford, when Jabu and Ric enter the front door. Ric eyes the pot roast and grabs two plates as Ford offers Jabu a seat. They sit and eat, but there is a tension between the two of them. Once they finish, Jabu turns to me.

"So, we have found some information about the fae on the guardian network. Supposedly there are two kinds of Fae, the light and the dark fae. According to the net, the dark Fae are able to manipulate metals, the light fae are burnt by it. There has never been a Fae who came into their powers through electricity but then again, all fae seem to be aware of their powers. There are various portals to the Fae world, often on Lee lines, where there is a lot of magical power. So, we would have to see how they are arranged around your old house and if there is a way to cross there."

He looks towards Ford, "Jaco, this is something we have never had to deal with. We don't know how this will pan out. But if you need to take her as your mate, she pledges into the pack and you take her under your protection, we are prepared to accept Elizabeth, Fae or not."

Ford grasps my hand under the table and looks at me.

"Golfie? Will you be my mate?"

I nod, tears streaming down my face. "Yes, Ford. I do."

=================================================================

I lie on the huge bed and stare down at my mate. Far below, I can hear the crash of the waves, a ceaseless drone which reminds me of the party we went to on the day we met. The Oysterbox hotel is a little bit fancier than the blankets around the bonfire but it makes my girl happy.

She groans and reaches for the bowl of chocolate mousse we had had sent up earlier. Our romantic candlelit dinner at the resturant had descended into chaos when I realised that she wasn't wearing any underwear under her short black dress. Unable to control myself, I had thrown her over my shoulder as soon as we were finished our main course and headed to the elevator. We hadn't quite made it to the room before starting in the lift and had most probably scared a few people along the way, but when we finally made it, our clothes came off and we were making full use of the very large, very sturdy bed.

It was a few hours later that we had rung down to room service for our dessert of chocolate mousse and we needed the energy after all the exercise.

Golf scooped some mousse out of the cut glass bowl with her finger and bought it to my mouth, I held her hand steady and took her deep, swirling my tounge around her finger as I sucked hard. She groaned. "Now you're giving me ideas, Ford."

But as she dipped her finger back into the mousse she stopped and dug deeper, her shortened breaths causing her bare breasts to rise and fall quickly. Suddenly she gasped and pulled out the ring from the bottom. Platinum around a single solitaire. She squealed and jumped into my lap kissing me deeply. As she pulled back I look deep into her whiskey coloured eyes, shining with tears.

"I'll take that as a yes?"

"Yes, Ford."

"To move to my house and be mine forever?"

"Twenty five years and any change we are granted."

I kissed my girl, my Golf, my mate.