Black Cedar Forest

"Why?" Viridian looked down into her cup, the grit of the herbs settling into a thin layer on the bottom. "Why now? If I truly am kin to the Black Cedar Tribe, then why am I only now hearing of this connection?"

Gia placidly folded her hands on her lap and looked at Viridian. It was unsettling to have those blue eyes focused on her. "What do you know of your father and your mother?"

Viridian shrugged and nervously ran her finger over the lip of the cup. "My mother was a witch. A strong, beautiful, and fearless witch. A free spirit who fled from home because she fell in love with my father. They got married and had me. Then, when I was eight...they died."

The sadness in Viridian's eyes pulled at Gia's heart, but she pressed forward. "What do you remember of your father, what were you told of him?"

Viridian's hazel eyes became unfocused as she tried to recall the memory of her father. "I remember he was very tall and really strong. His eyes looked like mine and he was always so kind." A whisper of a smile played at Viridian's lips. "He looked at my mother as if she were the moon. Constantly amazed and enthralled by her. My aunt told me that he also ran away from his family to be with her and that they didn't know how to contact them. That's why I moved to Nhia with them. My aunt doesn't like to talk about them."

There was bitterness in her voice, but she smiled meekly when she looked up at Gia who maintained her placid expression. "So, for all that you knew, your father was human?"

Viridian nodded cautiously. Gia opened her mouth to speak, but turned her head abruptly as if she had just caught a whiff of something. "Damn him, why is he already coming back? Stay here, I'll be right back." Gia quickly left the room, muttering something about a juvenile wolf and sick rooms.

**

Daven turned left into the hall that led to his chambers and nearly crashed into Gia who stood, hands on hips, lips curled in a silent snarl. Stunned, it took a moment for him to regain his composure and return her gaze with a challenge. "Out of my way, Gia."

"Oh no, I am just making progress with her and I don't intend to let you into that room so that you can ravage her when she is already emotionally vulnerable." Her voice was a quiet hiss.

"You have no right to keep me from my mate." Daven took a step forward and glared down at Gia. "Thank you for looking after her. You are dismissed. I will let you know if you are needed again."

Gia gaped at Daven, ready to fight when he fixed her with a threatening gaze. It was not a demand from a concerned mate, but an order from her leader. Reluctantly, Gia moved aside and watched as Daven strode down the hallway to his rooms. She would leave, but she wouldn't go far. Anyone who wasn't completely senseless could tell that he intended to consummate the marking.

**

Viridian froze, the cup in her hand lingering over the bedside table as she heard the footsteps growing closer. She had known by Gia's reaction that Daven was coming to see her. Hope had her wanting to believe that the kind older woman would be able to stop him, but experience at having dealt with Daven-if only briefly-made her certain that Gia would not be the one to come through that door. Daven knocked twice before entering the bedchamber. His eyes were shadowed as he looked at her. Viridian shuddered.

"I would like to apologize for what happened today. It was not my place to come into your residence and upset you." He bowed and then stood, waiting for her reaction.

"Upset me? You think that all you did was upset me? You physically assaulted me, refused to leave my home, bit me, dampened my powers, and then kidnapped me! Am I a captive here, or should I add false imprisonment to your growing list of crimes?" Viridian set the cup down with an audible thunk before standing and squaring her shoulders as she glared at him. Daven's fingers flexed and then hung limp at his side, the initial flash of anger subsiding.

"I apologize for those offenses as well." He took a deep breath and released it in a long sigh. "Viridian, I am sorry for what I have done but it was-"

"If you say necessary, I am going to give you a piece of my mind." Viridian took a step toward him, her nails growing to that same sharp hardness that he had noticed previously.

"Temper, temper. Tell me, do you still reject the link to our tribe?" Daven watched her, intent to dance around her irritation so that he could make a little headway in convincing her to stay, at least a little longer, of her own volition.

"I reject any link to you." Viridian hissed.

"How can you reject it when there is physical proof? Look at your nails, little witch." Viridian's eyes flicked to her nails then back at him. She once again broke eye contact and stared down at the claws that protruded from her fingertips.

"Instinctive magic?" Her voice was small and uncertain. Daven took advantage of her startled uncertainty, her lack of focus, and moved closer to her.

"In a way, yes." Daven's voice came out in a soft, seductive pur. "Just as I, too, am subject to my instincts and the magic that created my kind. You, little witch, are much more than your mother's magic. You've felt it, haven't you? The call of the land and the moon. You've yearned for more."

Viridian was thrown off-guard and felt the words resonate with that same something she had often felt in her bones. Daven stalked closer to her. He could feel his words working. "Don't you want to satiate that hunger? Those instincts? It feels right to give into those instincts. You can feel it now, can't you? This link, burrowing deeper into you?" His breath whispered over the back of her neck, the mark now tingling with an odd heat. Viridian shuddered.

"No. I won't give in to you." She shook her head, trying to rid herself from his silkily seductive words.

"I'm not asking you to give in to me, I'm asking you to give in to your own instincts." He was behind her now, fingertips grazing her skin. Where he touched, her skin burned. It was an odd sensation that seeped into her. Viridian blinked slowly. Daven's hands brushed down her arms then he pulled her against his chest, a low rumbling emanating from his chest. The noise seemed to push any coherent thought from her mind.

Viridian's head lolled back against his chest, the throbbing pain at the base of her neck seemed to grow more intense. Her voice was soft and placid as he deepened the growl "This bite..."

One large hand tangled in her deep brown curls and lifted her hair so her neck was bare. His lips brushed up her neck then settled at her ear. "That is the mating mark of werewolves. It is more than just a scar. It means that you belong to me forever, and I belong to y-"

Viridian managed to fling herself away from his embrace. Her eyes were foggy but still illuminated gold with her rising power. Daven froze. In this state of heightened emotional and physical response, her powers would be erratic at best which made her even more dangerous. "I don't belong to you!"

"We belong to each other." Daven pleaded as he put his hands up in a submissive gesture.

"I reject it. I reject you and I reject this mark. Whatever you think it means, know it doesn't mean that to me." She hissed the words.

"You can't reject the mark. What's done is done." Daven sighed and worried he wouldn't be able to convey its meaning.

"Fuck all that." She spat and began to walk toward the doors. "I'm leaving."

Daven blocked the door and growled at her, pleased when her rigid body language shifted to be slightly more submissive. She stopped in front of him and glared into his deep blue eyes. "I can't let you leave."

"Why not?" She shouted and turned around to pace the room.

There were many reasons. He couldn't even count them. She needed to stay and be treated. They needed to consummate the mark. Viridian would inevitably go back to her coven and he would then have her coven at war with his tribe. More than any of the reasons swirling in his head, he knew that he couldn't let her go because he wanted her there with him. Rather than be reasonable, her defiance was irritating him. "Because I said so, Viridian. I am your mate and I want you here. I need you here!"

Viridian turned on her heel and marched up to Daven. "I told you, I am not your mate. Now let me go, or I will use force."

Her voice was low and warning. Hazel eyes narrowed with anger and intent. Daven shook his head and stood strong in front of the door. She lunged at him and he felt her hands make contact with his chest before an invisible impact hit him and knocked him back into the door. He slouched against the wooden surface before standing again and glaring down at Viridian, his deep green eyes swirling with gilded anger.

"You're not strong enough right now to take me on, so give up." She then scratched at him with her long nails, cutting through the flannel of his shirt and nearly drawing blood from his chest. He grabbed her wrists and shook her. "I said stop!"

Viridian snarled at him and tried to wrench her arms away unsuccessfully. He shook her again to try and get her attention, but she was furious and intent on getting out of the door. When she growled at him again, he pushed her back and forced her toward the large bed. He then tossed her on it and pounced on top of her, pinning her with his body weight. She was helpless against his strength. "Let me go!"

This time her pleas were more of a whine. He looked down at her and saw the tears well in her eyes. Viridian began to cry out of frustration. Daven licked her tears and kissed her cheeks. "No, darling. I can't"

Whimpering beneath him, Viridian became aware of the position she was in. Daven had her arms pinned to her sides and her legs were pinned beneath his heavy body. Wriggling, she tried fruitlessly to gain freedom before eventually stopping and breathing heavily. "Daven, please. Please let me go."

His heart ached for her, but having her beneath him was a distraction. "If I let you go, your aunt will come after my tribe. I can't have a war on my hands, Viridian. If you leave, they won't let you return and that mark won't ever heal. It'll kill you slowly as you are away from me and everything, even your magic, will be taken from you."

She stared up at him now, grasping the gravity of the situation. Shaking her head, she began to cry again. "Why did you do this to me?"

Daven released her wrists and pulled her into an embrace. Guilt tore at his belly. "I'm sorry, Viridian. I couldn't help it. As soon as I saw you, I knew you were meant to be my mate."

He licked her cheeks as tears fell and sobs wracked her body. She cried herself into submission within his arms and he let her go when she finally stilled. Rolling onto the other side of the bed, he pulled her to him in a loose embrace; her back against his chest. She didn't resist. Daven licked the bite mark on the nape of her neck, using his own saliva to clean and heal the wound. Having him lick the mark sent waves of warm pleasure over Viridian and she let herself ease into it, needing something to take away the fear and uncertainty.

"Viridian." His voice was a soft caress against her cheek. "I'm sorry I forced this on you."

She shook her head, no tears left. "No, you aren't."

Daven thought for a moment then sighed. "You're right. I'm not."

Viridian shifted to look at him, surprised at his honesty. There was something in his eyes even now that desired her and sought to devour her. It pulled her in and made her want to give in to him. Suddenly, he kissed her. His lips met with hers and he savored the feel of her pliant mouth against his for just a moment before she bit his bottom lip and he snapped back. She was teasing the wolf inside of him. Growling, Daven deepened the kiss and stroked Viridian's side. She pulled back and he pulled her toward him again, hand cradling her head as he pressed his lips to hers. She pushed against him and he was as immovable as stone.

Daven pulled her hips toward him, flipping her around so her body was now facing him, and pressed against her. Viridian could feel his growing erection against her belly and even as panic welled inside of her, the pleasure she felt was beginning to overwhelm her senses. Daven kissed her desperately as if he were a man in search of an oasis. She'd never been kissed so passionately before. Slowly, it didn't matter that she was a captive or his niece. He was winning her over with his lips. Viridian had no doubt the mark had something to do with the waves of pleasure she felt at just kissing him.

Daven rolle her onto her back and slid between her legs. His body was large and solid. It overwhelmed Viridian. His big hands roamed over her sides, her hips, and then over her belly and up to her breasts. Her body moved with his hands, rolling to meet them and arching in a seductive way that pressed her body against his. Daven's low growl resounded through her and set her aflame. Viridian didn't know why she gave in, but she was turned-on beyond her limits and the masculine body atop her was a delicious temptation.

When her hands met his body, Daven rejoiced and began to seek out her soft breasts and the stiff nippled that tipped them. His palms rubbed over the soft mounds covered by her tank top and she groaned into his mouth. He took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth and taste her. His tongue moved against her own and stroked the inside of her soft cheeks. Viridian's hands roamed over his broad chest, savoring the feel of muscles beneath skin.

He pulled her tank top off and revealed the pale jiggling mounds to his eyes and then his lips which fastened over one nipple then the other, sucking and nibbling as she cried out beneath him. Viridian shuddered at the feeling of the cool air and hot mouth on her breasts. She then unbuttoned his shirt with clumsy fingers, suddenly needing his skin against her own. He worked her pants and panties down revealing her bare mound to him which he gently stroked, working slowly to find the hard little nub of her clitoris. The scent of her arousal had him fully hard now.

Viridian moaned into Daven's mouth as her own tongue stroked his. His fingers dipped lower to her wet entrance and began sliding one finger into her tight hole, pumping in and out and readying her for him. She panted beneath him and moaned lowly as he slid a second finger inside of her and pumped his fingers in and out. Her slickness wet his hand as he finger-fucked her.

Daven crawled down her body till he was at face level with her pubic mound, delicious tart scent teasing his nose as he then buried her face in her pussy, lips fastening around her clit and sucking while his fingers continued to work inside of her. He curled his fingers to find her g-spot and pounded against it with the pads of his fingers. Viridian's orgasm came on suddenly, the pleasure rising to a peak with his lips and then sending her overboard with his fingers. She soaked his hand as she came.

Rising to his knees, Daven freed his cock then dragged Viridian by her hips to meet him. She was pink-faced and breathing heavily from the force of her orgasm as he looked down on her. She was beautiful. He lined his cock with her entrance and pushed inside, savoring the feeling of her slick velvet folds against his shaft as he pushed all the way till his balls were resting against her ass. Viridian's mark thrummed in time with her pounding heart as Daven began to slowly move inside of her, fucking her softly at first. Then he picked up speed and began to pummel her into the mattress. Viridian cried out in gasps each time he came down to fully sheath himself inside of her. Daven huffed as he worked inside of her, his hips thrusting in a rhythm as he held back his orgasm trying to force her second. He shifted the angle and heard her moan. Continuing his assault he felt her tighten then spasm around him with her second orgasm. He came then, letting her convulsions milk him dry as he emptied his load into his niece. Panting, he looked down at the glowing angel beneath him and couldn't help but grin in triumph. He'd consummated the mark and they were now a mated pair.

Viridian's head felt fuzzy as she came down from her high. She felt warm and complete in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. The image of the lover's tarot card came to mind and she groaned in recognition of its meaning. Daven pulled her to him and held her close as he kissed her brow. She was still far from tame, but she had accepted him at least for a moment.

"What now?" She asked cautiously.

"Now?" Daven struggled to think of a response. He had a mate now. The proper thing to do would be to introduce her to the tribe, though he wasn't sure how well that would go in regards to the multiple social taboos he had broken in making her his mate. They should also notify Viridian's aunt and uncle but he knew the mess that would cause. His head began to ache as he thought of it. "Now, we sleep."

They cuddled close and fell asleep, exhausted after their ordeal. Viridian still felt conflicted as she fell asleep, not knowing what the future held for her since this mark seemed to be able to turn her anger into lust with such ease. It was fearsome magic. As she slept, she dreamed of starry skies and running beneath them. Daven joined her in this dream.

TBC