22 Wild Instincts (2/2)

Bayberry Falls needed a new sheriff. I had just lost my parents and inherited the house around the time of the territory expansion. I was ready to be home and I wanted to make sure that the people here were safe. So I took the job. Bayberry Falls is now the safest place to live on the continent and I want it to stay that way.”

”We don't even have a town drunk anymore,” states Cougar with a smile and a wink at Talia because he had been the town drunk.

”Neither of you has been receiving the respect you deserve from your people,” says Aunt Seal. ”I know many people in our tribe think you just like living tame. They don't think you do anything to protect them. And now that they know you're a guardian Mist, they want you to challenge Fjord for chief.”

”I serve our tribe and all the others best by doing what I'm doing,” responds Richy. ”If I'm out here playing chief, I can't protect our tribe and the others from the bad guys out there. As far as Fjord is concerned, when he comes back, I'm hoping the threat I might challenge him will help him be a good boy.”

”If he comes back,” Otter hopeful, ”He's never been gone this long before, only for a month and it's been four. I know it's wrong to hope something bad happened to someone, but I can't help hoping he fell off a cliff or something.”

”You're feelings are justified,” Zenith tells Otter, ”So don't feel guilty.”

”I'll speak with the other elders,” Walter tells Richy. ”I'll explain what you do; how you keep the tribe safe.”

Richy shrugs as he swallows a bite of food, ”I'll keep doing what I'm doing to keep our territory safe, just like Talia's gonna keep doing what she's doing. But I want more time with Talia. I want to spend more time with her and our children than I do my job. My dad worked hard to give us financial security. He missed a lot of dinners and often worked Saturday and Sunday too. His sacrifice means I don't need to sacrifice like that. Six and seven days a week were fine when it was just me. But it's not just me anymore. It's us and our future little usses.”

Cougar snorts amused, ”You need to leave the joke making to me.”

”I have a sense of humor,” responds Richy with an amused smile.

”Yes you do,” Cougar tells him, ”but I'm the funny one. That's my job.”

”I thought your job was wise ass,” Bass teases Cougar.

Cougar smiles with an indifferent shrug as he responds, ”Better a wise ass than a dumb ass.”

There are a few amused ”ooo”s at the table. But Cougar said what he said in good humor. Except Bass doesn't take it that way. But there's nothing he can really say to hurt Cougar's feelings. Insults roll right off of Cougar. Yet he knows he can hurt Talia's feelings. And Talia's hurts are Cougar's hurts.

”So how's the mate sharing going,” asks Bass, ”Sharing a mate with your father that's got to be awkward.”

Cougar shrugs unconcerned, ”We're managing.”

”Talia seems to be managing just fine,” says Bass. ”She managed five different men this morning. You were lucky to get a turn. All those different men and she's still walking around smelling aroused. Unsatisfiable little whore you've got there.”

Now there's a ruckus as Talia burst into tears, the fluctuating hormones of pregnancy making her already sensitive emotions even more sensitive. Bass finds himself being yelled at from all directions. He was focusing on using Talia to hurt Cougar, but had forgotten about her other mates, friends and family. And a pregnant woman crying because some idiot said something to deliberately hurt her feelings evokes strong emotions. Greywolf grabs Bass out of his seat and tosses him.

”Greywolf don't,” Wildcat stops him because he knows Greywolf could easily rip Bass apart, ”Leave him be. Leave the jackass be.”

Greywolf obeys Wildcat. He looks over at Talia, who Richy and Cougar are trying to console unsuccessfully.

”Don't touch me! Just don't touch me,” Talia tells them.

”Dearest,” Wildcat reaches for Talia.

But Talia responds with a firm, ”Don't!”

Wildcat's hands fall to his sides. How do you calm and console your mate when she's refusing to be touched? She may not smell like a pregnant woman yet, but she's definitely pregnant. Only a pregnant woman would be standing there crying and in need of comfort and yet refuse to let those who love her do what's necessary to comfort her.

Zenith gets up and shoves her infant daughter into Talia's arms, ”I need you to look after Zulu for me.” Then she guides Talia into the house and down to the family room. ”Look after Zulu for me. I'll be back in a bit.”

The baby had the desired effect. Talia is focused on her niece. And as Zenith leaves Talia with the baby, she hears Talia sniff and say to her niece, ”Hello beautiful.”

Zenith steps back outside. Bass is surrounded be angry screaming women: his mother, his sister, the three women he spent the night with: Squirrel, Raccoon and Angel. She steps up next to Hyena, who's standing with her arms crossed under her breasts watching the show with a smirk on her face.

”He deliberately hurt her feelings,” Hyena states to Zenith.

”I don't think he was expecting her to fall apart like that,” Zenith responds.

”She's pregnant,” states Hyena. ”She could fall apart like that for no real reason at all… Ouch, that had to hurt. Hope Seal never gets mad at me.”

Zenith steps in among the group of angry women and they quiet down. She points a stern finger into Bass's face, ”Don't you ever ask to mount me ever again. You deliberately hurt her feelings. She was raised differently than the rest of us, and it's not your place to punish her for it or whatever the hell you thought you were doing.”

”Don't look to mount me again either,” Squirrel tells Bass. ”I wouldn't want you to waste time with a whore like me who's been with at least five different men before in one day.”

”Three of those men are her mates,” shouts Otter, whose own hormones are a little out of whack. She doesn't look or smell any more pregnant than Talia does, but she's just as sensitive. Plus, she's worried about Bob. So what her brother said to Talia hit a raw nerve for her.

”Go to your tepee or something,” Seal tells Bass, ”Stay out of the way for a while and just keep your mouth shut. Because if you don't have something good to say, you shouldn't say anything at all.”

Bass points at Cougar, ”But he called me a dumb ass.”

”No I didn't,” says Cougar. ”I just said it's better to be a wise ass than a dumb ass. I didn't say dumb ass like you or anything. I don't have to. You do that just fine all by yourself.”

”So you hurt my mate's feelings because you're mad at him,” Richy says to Bass. ”What's wrong with you?”

Bass throws his hands in the air, ”I don't know,” and he walks away before he says something else that gets his dumb ass seriously in trouble.

”Do you think she's calm enough to talk to us yet,” Richy asks Cougar.

Cougar shrugs, ”I've never seen her upset like that before.”

”Walter,” Wildcat asks him, ”will you go in and talk to her? You're her Grey-pa now. You're not attracted to her like we are and she respects you.”

”What's him not being attracted to her got to do with anything,” asks Greywolf.

”No threat,” answers Wildcat. ”Bass tied us all in as part of the problem. Part of our want to console her involves sex with her. Walter's not going to try to have sex with her.”

”I'll talk with her,” agrees Walter. Then he heads inside the house.

Walter finds Talia sitting on the couch down in the family room talking to the baby.

”Beautiful Zulu, Aunt Talia loves you so very, very much.” Zulu coos at Talia in response and pats Talia's face as Talia kisses her cheeks.

”Feeling better,” Walter asks Talia.

Talia responds with a half-hearted shrug. ”Babies are so wonderful. All they know is love. They love you and accept you without reservation or expectation.”

Walter sits next to Talia. ”There's only one problem with babies,” he tells Talia, ”They don't stay babies. They grow up. So it's important to enjoy every moment of your baby's infancy… Bass was angry at Cougar.”

Talia doesn't get it, ”If he was angry at Cougar, why call me a whore?”

Walter shrugs, ”Misplaced aggression perhaps. Besides, calling Cougar names wouldn't do him any good. Cougar would just turn anything he called him into a joke. But now Cougar is out there with your other mates upset, worried and concerned because you're upset and refusing to accept comfort from them… You're not a whore, Talia. You would never prostitute yourself. You're not a woman of loose morals. You have very high standards for yourself. Don't let anyone else's words make you think less of yourself. You are an invaluable, priceless treasure beyond measure. And there are some worried men outside that recognize that.”

Talia nods, ”I guess I better go let them know I'm okay.”

Walter follows Talia outside. She hands her niece to Zenith and tells her, ”Thank you.” She heads towards her three anxious mates, who are standing together silently waiting, not sure what to do and afraid they may do or say the wrong thing. She stops in front of them and softly says, ”Hey.” Then she finds herself enveloped in their arms, all three of them managing to hug her all at once, all three of them talking at the same time. Richy and Wildcat lean over to kiss her at the same time and bump heads. They all laugh as both men rub their heads. So Cougar gets to kiss her first, then Richy and then Wildcat.

”Dearest, we were so worried for you,” Wildcat caressing her cheek.

”I'm sorry,” Talia apologizes. ”I didn't mean to worry you.”

”You don't have anything to apologize for,” Richy tells her.

”We're just glad you're alright,” Cougar tells her. ”It scared me when you wouldn't let me touch you.”

Talia looks at her mates' faces. The face of each man is filled with love and concern. It makes her heart ache and her eyes well up. ”How can each of you have so much love for me? I've done nothing to deserve such adoration.”

”Sure you have,” Cougar tells her. ”You love us too. That's reason enough right there. Plus, you get my twisted sense of humor, Sheila never did.”

Richy lifts her chin, ”You're the love of my life, the first and only woman I've ever brought here or wanted to bring here. You're simply the center of the universe for me and soon to be the mother of my first child. You're everything I didn't know I wanted and needed.”

”You're my Dearest,” Wildcat tells her, ”you'll always be my Dearest. I've loved you from the moment you took your first breath. That love has grown and evolved in unexpected ways and I'm glad it has. I'm happy and proud to be one of your mates.”

Talia narrows her eyes at all three of them, ”Maybe you're all just crazy.”

”They're not crazy,” states Greywolf stepping up to Talia and kneeling down on one knee by her placing a hand on her lower abdomen. He repeats again softly, ”They're not crazy. You're beautiful, intelligent, kind… everything a man wants or needs but is usually too stupid to know it or too blind to see. They see you. They see your intelligence and how special you are. They see you, all of you and are happier than they ever imagined or even thought possible just because of you.”

Talia's mates hadn't said anything wrong but she had still been a little upset. But Greywolf has touched her heart. She takes his face in her hands and kisses him. She has no idea how much it means to Greywolf that she initiated a kiss with him.

”Thank you, Greywolf,” Talia tells him appreciatively feeling more like herself as Greywolf hugs her waist. ”I'm sorry. I love you all so much. I know I'm a blessed woman to have such wonderful mates who love me so much.”

Cougar tells her, ”Just come finish your dinner please.”

Talia nods her agreement and returns to the table. The rest of the evening is gratefully calm and quiet. When Talia starts to yawn sleepily, Cougar leads her up to the bedroom for some alone time before he has to leave for work. Talia is sleeping as Richy slips into his side of the bed next to Talia and Cougar slips out of bed to hop in the shower before he needs to leave for work. Wildcat slides in on Cougar's usual side of Talia as Greywolf stretches across the foot of the bed.

”You hate to leave her,” Greywolf states to Cougar.

”Yep,” confirms Cougar as he checks his duffle bag. ”It never bothered me to leave Sheila for three and a half days, not even after she became pregnant.”

”I heard why Mist does what he does, how he protects the tribes,” Greywolf says to Cougar, ”And I know how Talia's work is important, how she protects the tribes. But why do you do what you do?”

Cougar shrugs, ”I started out studying to be a gynecologist for all the wrong reasons. But when looking at women's punonies became work… (He shakes his head.) Anyway, I like medicine and helping people, but I was tired of studying and not getting enough wild time. They needed EMTs, so I did that for a while… Then my mom got sick with lung cancer and I came home to look after her. Dad and I were both with her when she moved on. Richy let me know a gal was leaving the fire station. She was getting married and they were relocating and they needed someone with an EMT background to replace her. I've been there ever since.”

”He's a good healer,” Richy tells Greywolf. ”He took good care of Talia after she was shot. I don't know if she would have made it without him.”

Cougar takes his shower and dons his uniform. He leans past his father and kisses Talia's forehead. ”Take care of our girl,” he tells the other three men.

”We will,” Greywolf responds.

When Talia awakens the next morning, the bruises are gone and her vision is clear. She shuts down her inner guardian. Richy's eyes open up to find Talia's brown eyes watching him.

Talia whispers to him, ”Good morning beautiful.”

Richy hushes Talia with a finger over his lips, then carefully slides out of bed. Then he helps Talia carefully out of bed on his side. A leg is carefully slid from under Greywolf's hand and her waist from under Wildcat's arm. Then Richy leads her into the bathroom to shower with him as well as get some intimate time alone with her before he needs to leave for work.

When they come out of the bathroom, the bedroom is empty. The shower is running across the hall so possibly either Greywolf or Wildcat could be in there getting a shower; especially since Walter and Savage are still in bed in the first guest bedroom. Down in the kitchen, Otter and Seal are both cooking. They find Wildcat helping the two women get the children breakfast.

Wildcat steals a quick kiss from Talia, ”We've got tea steeping for the two of ya on the counter there.”

”Thanks,” Richy responds. He sweetens Talia's tea with sugar and hands it to her. He sweetens his own with honey. No honey for the pregnant lady. Honey contains bacteria that can be very harmful to pregnant women, small children and infants.

The children wish Richy a good day at work after they finish their breakfast. Then they all head outside. Richy pulls out a chair for Talia and Otter as well. Seal places plates of food in front of them and Wildcat.

”Did you sleep well last night,” Talia asks Otter remembering how tired Otter was the day before.

Otter nods, ”Hyena volunteered to take my place and I slept outside in her tepee with the children. And you're looking very well today, how are you feeling?”

”Great,” answers Talia, ”bruises all gone and my vision is clear. The trouble seeing really scared me. I was afraid…” but Talia shakes her head deciding not to finish the thought. She smiles at Greywolf as he enters the kitchen. Richy rubs her back comfortingly as Wildcat pats her knee.

”It's okay,” Seal encourages Talia, ”Go ahead, you were afraid…”

”I was afraid my vision wouldn't clear up, that it might be permanent. I'm still worried,” Talia admits as she rubs her head, ”that it may mean something has been permanently damaged, that my migraines may increase in their frequency and intensity.” She shrugs it off with a slight shiver. It doesn't do her any good to worry about things she can't change.

Richy has seen this shiver from her before. It's not a cold shiver. It has nothing to do with being cold and it's not a nervous shiver either. It seems to be caused by a miscommunication in Talia's brain that sends out the involuntary uncontrolled shudder, and Talia always seems embarrassed by it.

”Sorry,” Talia apologizes embarrassed by the involuntary shiver. She hates when the uncontrolled tremor runs through her body in front of people. It makes her feel like a freak.

”Don't apologize,” Richy pinching her chin gently. ”You have nothing to apologize for… Walk me out please.”

Talia is happy to walk Richy out to his Bayberry Falls Sheriff vehicle. Richy's kiss good-bye is intense and probing, a slow savoring of Talia's mouth making her feel precious. Richy doesn't break eye contact with Talia as he hollers back to Wildcat, ”Take care of our girl.”

”I will,” Wildcat calls back from by the front door.

Richy takes another quick taste of Talia's full lips. Then he slides behind the steering wheel and pulls away as Talia waves to him.

Wildcat sidles up alongside Talia and takes her hand. He shares with her, ”Buck was asking Savage yesterday if he thought you would present to him if he asked. Savage came and talked with me and Mist last night after you and Cougar went in for the night. We're fine with you presenting to Buck if you feel like it, and if he can get up the nerve to ask ya.”

”I like Buck. He's sweet,” says Talia with a smile as they walk hand-in-hand around the house to the expansive back yard. ”I like him.”

”Good,” responds Wildcat with a pleased smile as he guides Talia to a bench under the dark shade of a stately tree for a sit down. ”We just want you to feel free to present yourself when asked. You're a beautiful pregnant woman. It's natural for men to be interested in you and okay for you to present to those you like or are expected to present to like Bass.”

Talia stiffens next to Wildcat and tells him unhappily, ”If I was a domesticated female, Bass wouldn't expect anything from me. And after the way he spoke to me yesterday, I am not going to present my ass to him.”

”Facts are facts, Dearest,” reminds Wildcat with his arm on the bench behind her. The fingers of his hand gently stroke the skin of her neck and shoulder. He continues, ”You're not a domesticated woman and Bass is Mist's first cousin, closest thing he has to a brother since Rain died. I know Bass has an abrasive personality. He's been through some tough times stuck with Fjord as his chief. So we need to cut him some slack… So when he comes to you and apologizes, and he will come to you and apologize because none of the other women will present to him until he has; so when he comes to you and apologizes, be the kind generous person we all know you are and accept his apology and present to him.”

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”Is that an order,” asks Talia irritated.

”Does it need to be,” asks Wildcat frowning unhappily.

”No,” answers Talia with an unhappy sigh. But she brightens up when Greywolf joins them on the bench. And he's pleased when she rests her head on his shoulder, closes her eyes and relaxes. Seems to Greywolf that Talia has a hard time relaxing. He looks up and sees Roar approaching Otter. It's obvious immediately what Roar wants from Otter.

Roar runs a finger gently down Otter's cheek as his other hand slides her hair aside allowing his mouth to clamp gently onto her neck. His hand comes around her as he walks her forward to the picnic table. He leans her over the table and his hand finds its way under her skirt. He mounts her slowly, giving her time to adjust to his size. But once he's all in, he rides her well, good and thorough.

Talia feels the back of a finger slide gently down her cheek. She opens her eyes and smiles at Buck, who's finally not a virgin any more thanks to her. Yet he's still painfully shy and this is his first time to actually ask a female to mate.

Talia's smile causes Buck to blush deeply, ”Hey Miss Talia, gosh you sure have a pretty smile.”

”Thank you, Buck. So what would you have of me,” asks Talia happy Buck asked to mount her.

Buck shuffles his feet nervously as he answers, ”Would it be okay if I started by tasting you?”

”That sounds wonderful,” answers Talia happily.

”Here,” says Greywolf pulling Talia onto his lap, ”I want to hold you and watch your face while he taste you.”

Wildcat scoots out of Buck's way as Talia pulls up her skirt and opens her legs for Buck, who gets down on one knee. He runs his hands up her inner thighs and pulls her outer feminine lips apart with his thumbs. Then he begins to taste her gently. Talia's head falls back onto Greywolf. Her mouth opens and a soft ”Ahh” escapes her lips just before Greywolf clamps his mouth over hers, capturing the rest of the sounds of pleasure caused by Buck's intimate licking and sucking of her clitoris.

Wildcat watches with a nefarious smile. When the two young men are finished enjoying Talia, he'll enjoy his beautiful young mate himself. And for him, she'll purr. He watches the first orgasm wash over Talia. Then he gives Buck's shoulder a tap and nods for him to mount her. As Buck stands up, Talia stands to lean over and present to him. Greywolf has her lean over him, placing her hands on the back of the bench behind him so he can continue to kiss her and kneed her breasts.

Buck mounts Talia and the first sound to exit her mouth is a long ”Oohh.” Greywolf decides to listen to her sounds as Buck pumps his cock in and out of Talia. Greywolf reaches under her skirt and messages her clitoris with his middle finger. And he's glad it doesn't take Buck long to cum. Then he pulls Talia over his lap and onto his own erect cock. He grips her heart shaped bottom and guides her rhythm as he watches her face and listens to the sounds she's now making for him. For Greywolf, her inner guardian clicks on low with his, making her eyes go black while his go grey and eliciting a sexy howl from Greywolf.

Buck is sitting in the grass catching his breath as he watches Talia and Greywolf together in awe. He says, ”I'll never be that good with a woman.”

”Sure you will,” Wildcat tells Buck. ”It just takes experience, practice.”

”No girl is gonna just let me practice with her,” responds Buck.

Wildcat tells him, ”Sure they will. Didn't Talia just let you practice on her? How do you think any man gets good at pleasing a woman or vice versa? Ya practice with each other. There's a handful of Water Tribe fillies over yonder. They watched you walk over here and asks to mount Talia. That act alone won you a lot of points with them, a young man like yourself asking favor of a woman Talia's age and status takes balls. And Talia said yes and enjoyed you, that's pretty much a guarantee that if you asks any of those fillies to present to you, she will.”

Wildcat may be sure of that, but shy young Buck is not. But Greywolf cumming inside Talia gets his attention. He watches as Greywolf pushes up with his hips as he pushes Talia's hips down with his hands driving his cock deep inside Talia with a deep growl as ”Ah, ah, aahh,” escapes Talia's mouth just before she collapses forward onto his chest twitching.

Greywolf pushes Talia's hair off of her face and tries to devour her from the mouth down. He licks his lips and tells her in a voice half husky from sex and half other worldly from his inner guardian, ”Mother Earth, woman, you're beautiful. You'll never know what it means to me to be able to be with you like this.”

Greywolf's reward for making Talia feel beautiful and cherished is she initiates a deep slow savoring of his mouth and tells him, ”Thank you.” He doesn't know why she's thanking him, but he's sure it should be the other way around. His you're welcome to her is another kiss.

Talia looks back and calls in a voice still husky from sex, but mostly other worldly from her inner guardian, ”Buck,” patting the bench for him to sit by her and Greywolf. Buck of course complies. Talia turns Buck's young face toward her. He looks her in her shiny black orbs noticing the countenance of her face has taken on a feline appearance. Her canines have extended slightly giving her a vampirish appearance as she speaks to him in that other worldly voice that's her voice but different. She runs her hand down his chest to message Buck's crotch and tells him, ”When you're up to it, you go over there to the prettiest young woman and ask to mount her. In the meantime, I have something for you.” She pulls Buck to her and latches onto his neck, sucking strongly. When she releases him, he has his first hicky.

”Wow,” says Buck touching the fresh hicky, ”I liked the way that felt.”

Talia hasn't marked him as one of her mates. But she has marked him as one of her current favorites, which guarantees when he gets up the nerve to approach one of the young Water Tribe women later, and he will, the young woman will say yes and present to him.

Wildcat lets Greywolf hold Talia for a while giving her a chance to rest and catch her breath. When she seems sufficiently rested, Wildcat says, ”Come on, Dearest. Let's go to the swimming hole,” and puts his hand out for Talia which she gladly takes.

Talia hadn't been aware of this swimming hole. It's in Water Tribe territory, but just outside of Richy's personal territory. Talia has always been careful to steer clear of other territories or quickly and quietly slipping through a small rarely used corner of another tribe's territory if she couldn't avoid the other territory completely. Males from other tribes have been known to try to take advantage of women traveling alone. And Fjord definitely would have tried to take advantage of Talia if he had caught her in any part of water tribe territory alone. Wildcat starts to strip, but Talia hesitates because there are other people already at the swimming hole.

”What's wrong,” Wildcat asks Talia.

Talia looks at Wildcat and the fear is as evident in her eyes as it is in her scent as she says afraid, ”… But father…”

Wildcat remembers, ”Forbid you to swim naked. But that was a long time ago. He's gone and along with him is gone everything he forbid you from doing. He didn't mean for it to be forever… Here, let me help you,” and Wildcat undresses Talia and leads her into the water. She clings to Wildcat, but that's alright with Wildcat. He wants her body pressed to his. He turns her face up toward his and distracts her with a kiss. And soon she's not worried about anyone else because she's focused on her mate, Wildcat.

And Wildcat is enjoying having his beautiful young mate focused on him. Young has never been a priority for him when it comes to women. He has always preferred a woman with experience. But Talia's lack of experience doesn't bother him. What she lacks in experience she more than makes up for with her love and desire for him, her enthusiasm and eagerness to please him. And that purr she does for him just drives him wild.

After enjoying his mate well, good and thorough, Wildcat leads Talia out of the water to a blanket where a Water Tribe couple shares their picnic lunch with them. Talia had wanted to put her clothes back on right away after coming out of the water, but Wildcat didn't let her. As they ate with the other couple, Wildcat pointed out gently and quietly that no one else who was swimming is dressed. Then as they lay on the blanket together, he holds her as she takes a nap.

As Talia wakes up, Wildcat kisses her forehead. He points and tells her, ”Look.” She turns her head in the direction of his point and smiles at the sight of Buck holding hands with one of the young Water Tribe women that were watching him with Talia this morning. Buck is barely making eye contact as they walk and talk, but they seem to be enjoying their conversation.

”Has he mated with her yet,” Talia asks Wildcat with a smile.

”Not that I've seen,” answers Wildcat, ”Here they come… Hey there, Buck. Who's your friend?”

Buck blushes as he answers, ”This is Sandy. Ain't she pretty?”

Sandy greets them with a little wave. She's not shy, so she gets right to the point, ”I'ld like to let Buck mount me, but I don't want to get pregnant yet. If it's alright with you sir, could Buck finish with your mate?”

Wildcat smiles, ”That would be just fine.” It's a nice normal social situation for Talia to participate in.

Sandy is delighted as she gets on her hands and knees and presents to Buck on the blanket next to Talia. Buck mounts Sandy. Talia lies on the blanket next to Wildcat relaxing as she waits for Buck to need her. Talia thinks Sandy's a smart girl as she and Wildcat watch. She's being careful not to have a baby before she's sure she's ready for one. She can also use this reason to avoid mating with men she's not really interested in without actually saying no. She can say okay, but you have to find someone to finish with because I don't want to get pregnant. If he can't find someone to finish with, then she can say she's sorry maybe another time.

It's obvious to Talia that Sandy really likes Buck as he's giving her inner thigh a squeeze while he's tapping Sandy. Talia smiles and winks at Buck. But Talia has noticed that she and Wildcat aren't the only one's watching. Free males can be very opportunistic in looking for opportunities to mate. If Sandy doesn't get up fast enough when Buck pulls out of her, she'll find herself sharing herself with more than Buck and Talia will be expected to finish them for her.

Talia points out to Wildcat a couple of the other male spectators. Wildcat kisses her as he feels a breast and tells her, ”A couple of extra won't hurt. I won't let it turn into a free for all.”

Talia's not tickled by what Wildcat just said. She barely registers hearing Sandy orgasm. But Buck gets her attention by pushing his finger into her. He wants her to be ready for him. Sandy has another orgasm and Buck pulls out of her and slides between Talia's thighs. Then there's a sound of surprise and shock from Sandy. Talia looks over to see that Sandy has been mounted by Clam's father, and his brother has moved in to be next. Talia focuses on Buck, meeting him stroke for stroke and orgasming for him quickly.

Buck thanks Talia, and Clam's father eagerly takes his place between Talia's thighs. There's another sound of surprise from Sandy as Shell's father mounts her. Talia meets Clam's father's strokes, but not eagerly like she did for Buck. She just wants him to finish quickly except he's taking his time with Talia, savoring the feel of her. But by the time he cums, he's banging Talia hard and fast. Then Shell's father eagerly slides between Talia's thighs and this time Sandy gets herself up and out of there quick before someone else can mount her she wasn't planning on. And Talia's relieved when Shell's father finishes quickly. Wildcat sensing she's tired and a little over whelmed from the experience shoos all the men away for the rest of the day, making sure she eats and rest.

Late in the evening, Richy calls and tells Talia he's not going to make it home that night. There's been a huge accident involving a semi and several passenger vehicles. Talia asks if he's in any danger and he assures her he's not. Then he lets her talk to Cougar who also assures her they're not in any danger and that they love her and miss her.

Talia is of course sad and worried after the call. She retires early to Richy's room. Wildcat along with Greywolf and Savage join her a little later. Savage takes his turn with her first. Then Greywolf, who gave her space today because he sensed she needed it. Wildcat takes his turn last and he takes his time with Talia even though he knows they're not really distracting her from her worries. But she does find it comforting with Wildcat. She holds tightly to Wildcat disturbed by the possibility of losing one of her mates. She sleeps clinging to Wildcat and occasionally murmuring in her sleep that she loves him.

Richy makes it home the next evening. Talia throws her arms around his neck before he's even all the way out of the car. He holds her tightly and strokes her hair. He assures her, ”It's okay. I'm fine and Cougar's fine too.” He kisses her and wipes away a tear. He greets Wildcat and Greywolf and waves to everyone outside through the sliding glass doors. Then he heads upstairs with Talia. Wildcat and Greywolf give them time alone.

Richy home safely is a huge relief to Talia. But she still won't be completely relieved until Cougar comes home to her and she can see him and smell him for herself. Richy smells of stress, smoke, fear and death. People died in that accident. Talia can smell it on Richy, just like she can smell his relief to be home and that he missed her. He's comforted by her touch, the taste and smell of her.

When Cougar gets off of work, they move into the big house on Talia's estate. They don't remove much furniture from Richy's house, mostly just Richy's personal belongings, his favorite blanket that his mother made for him etc. But they clear out his home office: books, computer, guitar, desks etc. Then they go to Cougar's house where they basically clear it out all of his furniture except for kitchen appliances and the washer and dryer in the laundry room. Cougar thinks he's already found a renter for the modest yet comfortable three bedroom home. Then they head to the estate with Richy driving his motorcycle. Talia drives Cougar's car. While Cougar drives the U-Tote-It truck with Richy's personal car being towed behind it. Deputy Al drives Richy's Bayberry Falls Sheriff vehicle for him. Bass along with his two children, Beaver and Minnow, and his mother Seal remain in Richy's house. But Otter and her two children, Shell and Clam, go with them. They'll live in the big house on Talia's estate too.

At the estate, people exit the vehicles. There were a number of firsts. Wildcat got his first motorcycle ride which he found exhilarating. It was Zenith's first car ride as well as a first car ride for Greywolf, Howl, Talon, Clam and Shell. Everyone pitches in to carry everything inside.

”So what rooms are we going to sleep in,” asks Cougar.

”Talia, do you want to move into your old room,” asks Richy.

Talia shakes her head, ”I was thinking we should take over the master suite. It has a large nursery off of it that my grandparents used for my mother after she was born.”

”That's an excellent idea, Dearest,” praises Wildcat.

Cougar's bed is the same size as the one already in the master suite. They push the two beds together making one large bed so things aren't so crowded when all the men are with Talia. They also bring in the rest of Cougar's bedroom furniture into the suite. They set up his living room furniture as a sitting area in one corner of the suite. The baby stuff he and Sheila had started to collect is put in the nursery which is as large as Richy's master bedroom back at his house.

”This closet is huge,” states Cougar. ”You could get lost in it… Echo, echo, echo…”

Otter and her two children are set up in two bedrooms that share a large bathroom and another room between them. Otter's not sure what to do with the shared room yet. She'll have to think about it.

Richy sets up his home office in a corner of the library. Cougar sets up an office area too for his on-line continuing education for his medic license. Then they move Talia's home office from the guest house to the library as well. And after a place has been found for everything, Richy thanks Al for all his help. Then Al drives the U-Tote-It and auto tower back to town for Richy.

”In the morning,” Wildcat tells them, ”I'll accompany Roar and Zenith back to the tribe and return with my things.”

”I'll go with you,” volunteers Greywolf.

”Are you going to be happy here,” Talia asks Wildcat feeling guilty for making him her mate and feeling as if she's stealing him from Roar and the tribe.

”Well I certainly wouldn't be happy there without you,” states Wildcat firmly. Then he takes her face in his hands, ”Dearest, I'm your mate. I belong with you and I'm happy with you. Roar knows exactly where I am and will come get me when he needs me. But as your mate, my main priority is you and our family.” Then he kisses her.

The two beds pushed together to make one big bed does make things roomier, not that with Richy, Cougar, Wildcat and Greywolf surrounding her does Talia notice the difference. Zenith, the baby and the boys stay in the bedroom with Clam and Shell while Roar spends the night with Otter. And as Talia and her mates settle into the mansion together along with Otter and her children, Talia's scent changes to tell everyone with a nose sensitive enough to detect it that she's pregnant. When she feels the first flutterings in her womb, the pregnancy is finally real for Talia. And her tummy begins to swell.

Uncle Bob has moved in with them to be with Otter. And at first, he wasn't sure how to feel about sharing Otter with Roar, but what could he say? Roar shares Zenith with him. Plus, Margie has accepted sharing him; so, it's not like Otter gets him all to herself in any way. And since Margie has to share him, she's made it clear to him that he's not allowed to get upset with her about any extracurricular relationships she has with any other males. Bob didn't try to argue with her.

Bass apologized to Talia shortly after the move when he, Seal and his two children came for a visit with Walter. And as part of her acceptance of his apology, Talia presented to him. The good thing about being here at the estate is there's really no pressure for her to be sociable except for when Bass visits. Her tribe is always close by and Roar and Zenith come to visit with her niece and nephews often. Buck likes to pay her social visits and she's always tickled to see him. Greywolf lives with them in the house and checks on how his brother and sister are doing with the dogs once a week for a day or two, but he's always anxious to get back to Talia. Sometimes Savage comes back with him for a visit with him, but Talia doesn't mind being social with him. But she hasn't really visited the tribe because she's not in the mood to be social with most of the males of her tribe. Pregnant and still untried by most of the males in her tribe means they'ld be anxious to mount her.