POV: Sookie
Sookie woke up on the softest sheets she had ever slept on. They smelled so lovely. Someone was lighting amber and vanilla candles in here. It was the same scent from the night in the woods. It was as if this scent was the only thing she needed to feel at peace.
The horrible week of hot flashes was over. She could no longer feel the insatiable desire, but this scent made her core clench and her panties wet.
She did need to get home, but she would ask where they got these sheets. Maybe she would steal the pillowcase. She was fully aware of how weird that thought was.
The door opened and closed gently. Gasper didn't want to wake her, but she was already awake, so she rolled over to meet his eyes.
"You are still here," she whispered and swallowed hard.
He climbed into bed with her, and she rolled towards him and draped a leg over his hip to pull him in close.
"Maybe you are real," she said.
"I'm as real as you are, darling."
She liked that. She didn't want to, but she did. Being someone's darling felt nice. No, being his darling was the nice part. And she wasn't always convinced she was real anyway, so if he wasn't and she wasn't, she would enjoy being not real together.
"Whatever you wash the sheets with, I need to get some of that soap to take home." A smile tugged at her lips, looking at him.
"Sookie, I hope this will be your home now."
She stiffened. This all escalated so quickly. How could he want her to move in? Did he feel the same things she did? The pull, the high, the need? And would that wear off eventually and they would regret moving too fast?
"Do you feel what I do?" She asked, feeling brave in his arms.
"What do you feel?"
Okay, she regretted where this was going already, but she had opened the door, so she had no choice but to go in.
"I can almost see a light, connecting us. Your smell makes me want to do everything to you that you will let me. It's like the way you touch me sets me on fire, and I want to tear you apart." Now she sounded like some sort of psycho. Nice, Sookie, she thought and quickly added, "Not literally."
"I feel all of that, darling."
His tone was low, almost threatening. She couldn't figure out how his voice made her want to drop to her knees and bow to him. That wasn't possible since she was lying down, so she lowered her head into his chest. He lifted her chin back to look into his eyes.
"Never bow to me."
"Everyone else did when we came in last night. Plus, I'm not sure I can not do so." She admitted.
"It would be a crime to have your head bowed and for me not to be able to look into your beautiful icy green eyes. I'll watch my tone until you can resist it. But you will as the bond is stronger and you can control it. Then you will bow to no one. They will all be bowing to you."
The way he said that was hot. Such confidence and pride. Getting lost in those words was easy.
"Me?" She could not imagine a world where anyone would bow to her.
"Let's start with some other things first. What are you still unsure of?"
This would be easier. A factual conversation that did not involve feelings.
"Everything." She thought hard about it to come up with a better answer. "The structure of the organization here seems like a good place to start. They called you Alpha. What does that mean?"
"That I run the pack."
Right. Wolves lived in packs.
"Like a president?"
"Well, you vote for presidents. It's my birthright to be alpha, so more like a king."
Her eyes went wide on that one. Okay, she was in bed with a king. She tried not to move away, but this realization intimidated her.
"But it's also because, being the child of alphas, you are naturally stronger and paired with older wolves. So children of alphas usually take over the pack when they are old enough."
"Paired with wolves?"
Here's where it was going to get weird, she thought to herself. He laughed, so she wondered if he had heard that. Did she say it aloud?
"The Moon Goddess gives us the spirit of a wolf that helps us shift. The pairing is done with exceptional care and thought. So wolf spirits that have lived many lives are usually paired with strong alpha pups to help guide them in caring for the pack. Lower-ranking wolves often have newer wolf spirits. So arguably, our wolf determines our status more than birthright."
"So, this is a religious thing then."
That idea was oddly more complex to process than anything else he had said.
"I think religions involve a little more faith, but we know the Moon Goddess exists. She will show herself on occasion, and we know we have lived lives before. Azreal has lived hundreds of lives, and so has Katherine. So have we."
She wished she believed in something the way he believed in this. His eyes were steady, so sure of this Moon Goddess who had a plan for him. There was no plan for her that she saw.
"You just said that old wolves are paired with strong shifters. I don't think that's me." She was strong for a woman. But that was at home, in the city. She doubted that meant much here.
"You threw my father and the doctor into the wall. You are very strong, Sookie. You just didn't have anyone to teach you. I don't know where the strength comes from, but we can figure that out."
Did she do that? Shit.
"I'm sorry I did that." She should find them and apologize.
"The animal instinct is hard to control when you are stressed out. So you aren't the first of us to do something like that."
Did that make it better? She needed clarification.
"Can you test for this alpha blood or whatever?"
"Unfortunately, no. Maybe a DNA test, but there's no database to compare it to. You tell by strength, speed, and aura. It's not all that scientific."
That would have been too easy.
"And you say pack? I know wolves live in packs, but is that the same thing here?"
"Basically, yes. There are many different packs in the area and around the world. Each one has an alpha, similar to a small town. The Alpha King presides over the packs for any more complex issues. In our case, that is Alpha King Liam."
"It's harder and unsafe not to be in a pack. Some leave their pack either by banishment or by choice. The latter is not that common, but when it does happen, the wolf is usually running from some mistreatment. We refer to them as rogue. I take them in a lot. Those who are running. That's usually women and pups who are abused. We have things set up to help them."
That last part was nice. He cared enough to take in disadvantaged people.
"Sure. Okay, let's assume I believe all of that. Who is next in line?"
It wasn't easy to think about. If something happened to him and it was a birthright, who got to take over? Did he have a kid?
"My heir would, but I don't have one, and even if I did, he would be too young to do it. So my beta is next in line. His name is Victor. He runs things when I'm otherwise occupied."
"Like now?"
He laughed at her.
"Yeah, like now. He's my best friend and the only one who truly can challenge me on my ruling. At least when I let him and in private. He is mainly responsible for ensuring he brings issues to my attention and protecting my luna."
"Luna?"
"Like a queen."
Sookie froze at that word. No longer able to process questions, she said, "Oh. She must not be too happy about, well, this."
"Sookie." He put his forehead on hers. "I don't have a luna yet. I've been waiting for my mate. I've been waiting for you."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," she sighed. He would have to work quickly to pick someone else.
"Why do you think I'm disappointed?" His eyes went wide at her words.
"How could you not be? Shit, I don't even know what being a luna means, let alone how to be one. You'll need to find someone else now, and I'm sure that won't be easy."
The look on his face showed his confusion and hurt, but it was true. How could she do any of this?
We have done it before in all our past lives. Often not knowing much more than you do now. We will be fine.
Katherine said in her head. Why wouldn't that bitch ever shut up?
"Katherine is right. She's as old as Azreal. They have been ruling packs for much longer than we can even comprehend."
Great, now he talked to her too?
"I can talk to her through you and Azreal, but I can't call her directly."
"You can hear my thoughts?"
"You don't realize it, but you are mind-linking things to me. You'll learn to control that over time." She was not thrilled with this idea, but she hoped she would learn to control it quickly. "Katherine can help you learn."
"She has ruined my life! She has never helped me!"
Sookie threw him off of her. He looked startled, and she was now standing in his oversized clothes, trying to look threatening. It didn't work. Or at least she thought it didn't until she saw his eyes. There was real fear there.
"I don't know what that power is, Sookie, but if it doesn't make you worthy of being a luna, I'm not sure I know what does."
He was almost drooling at his words.
"Power?"
"You reek of power when you are threatened."
What did that mean? What type of power? She tried to discreetly smell herself while he was collecting himself off the ground.
"I'm sorry?" Was that the right thing to say?
"No." He crawled over the bed to sit on the other side near her and reached out his hand to take hers. "It is amazing."
You have to submit to mate.
Katherine said.
We don't want him to be angry with us.
"Katherine doesn't agree with you."
"What does she know?" He asked with a laugh. "She ruined your life."
DON'T ENCOURAGE HER!
Katherine yelled for both of them to hear, and he rolled onto his side, laughing more.
He will beat us, Sookie. Please don't.
She flashed an image of them being whipped. With an actual whip. Sookie didn't see his face, but she knew it was Gasper. Or Katherine knew it was.
What is that?
Sookie asked Katherine.
Another life.
Katherine was afraid. Why did she want to stay here if she was fearful of him? Was there battered-wolf syndrome? Could they hold him to crimes he committed in a past life anyway? How did this past life thing even work?
When he stopped laughing, he caught a glimpse of her face.
"What? I'm sorry I laughed at you." He reached for her hand, and she felt like she couldn't breathe. "Sookie?"
Drop to your knees.
Katherine said, and Sookie listened, too afraid not to.
"Woah. What is it?"
"I-I'm sorry."
You'll never use your power on him again.
Katherine coached her.
"I won't do it again. Use my power on you."
"Sookie, it's fine." He grabbed her arm to pull her up, but Katherine took her over and fought back.
"Gasper, don't punish her. She doesn't know what she is doing yet," Katherine begged.
He dropped to his knees in front of her.
"Katherine, I would never punish her for anything."
She whimpered, and then Sookie was sure Gasper had let Azreal talk to her since his voice had become more gruff and his eyes went black.
"Mate, don't cry. Gasper isn't mad. You would know if he was mad. I have control and would never hurt you, would I?"
"No." Katherine fell into his chest, and he rubbed her face with his. "I love you, Azreal."
Then she backed down, and Sookie rushed to the bathroom, locking herself in. She couldn't do this. Now Katherine could use her body to talk to others?
I'm sorry I did that, Sookie. I just... alphas can be scary.
Sookie agreed but told her, You're scary too.
And so are you.
Sookie wasn't sure she believed that part.
Gasper tried to open the door and then resolved to knock when he realized it was locked.
"Sookie, please let me in."
"Not until I know Katherine is gone." She sat with her back against the door. "I won't let her control me. It's embarrassing."
"It shouldn't be. I can't always control Azreal. He takes over sometimes. I mean, he just did." She felt his heat as he leaned on the door from the other side. "We all struggle with it, Sookie. It takes a lot of practice to keep the balance between you and your wolf. Their animal instincts and their past lives creep into our minds. It is maddening at times."
"Please just go," she begged him.
"Darling, it's still very early morning. You really should sleep longer. I'll go to the other room if you want."
Did she want that? She didn't know what she wanted. The cognitive dissonance she was experiencing was what would drive her insane. The hallucinations seemed easy in comparison.
After a couple of deep breaths, she opened the door.
"Sorry, that wasn't very mature."
"Don't ever feel you need to apologize to me. I forgive everything you have ever done and will do."
She let him lead her back to the bed and tuck her in before he slowly got in bed. Instinctively, she cuddled up next to him and quickly fell back asleep.
When she was sleeping, she didn't need to think about this. And she didn't want to.