Chapter 57

Christmas was quickly approaching. Adira had the whole pack house and grounds decorated; there wasn't a place that was left forgotten. She'd never had a real Christmas before, so she went all out. Duncan looked around and was pleased; the pack house hadn't looked this good since he was a pup.
He had decided that he was going to make sure she was spoiled rotten, besides the normal gifts she would receive from the pack. He had also brought her a special gift: his family's diamond and saphire necklace, earrings, and bracelet set.
He was now taking a tray up to Adira for lunch. She was so close to her time and was having problems with her feet and ankles swelling that the doc put her on bed rest. This is, of course, making her a bit restless and cranky.
The last two days, she has been getting more and more uncomfortable. So he had been dividing up his time with her mostly, and then, due to pack issues, Marcus had been taking care of everything else. Thank God for Marcus, his best friend since their crib days.
He also wondered what it was going to be like to be a dad. Wow, he never had the time to give it too much thought until now. He started to smile with thoughts of his little pup running around the house.
He got up to their door while juggling the tray. He managed to open the door, and there was Adira doubled over on the side of the bed. Clearly in pain. He dropped the tray and ran to her. She looked up at his face with a painful smile.
"Duncan, I think it's time."
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Felicia was still pissed two days later; she was given a blanket, a pillow, and a bucket. The rogue in the other cell went quiet again.
She sat there, staring off into the dark, planning her revenge. That little bitch of a wolf is going to pay; how dare she do this to her? Her plans were all about murder and betrayal. She was going to get her revenge one way or another. Two more days, and she was out of this hell hole.
Once she was in the pack house again, she would start putting her plan into motion. Then they will all be sorry for what they have done to her. Maybe Archer will be forced by Daddy to marry me as some sort of compensation for what he allowed to happen to her.
Though right now she wasn't sure she was going to stand the smell the dungeon was becoming engulfed in for the next two days,. 
"What the hell is that smell!? Then it hit her; that smell was death. Is that why that rogue went quiet? Oh, God, did they leave her down here alone with a dead body?."
"GUARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GUARD!!!!!!!!!! LET ME OUT OF HERE, HE IS DEAD!!!!!GUARD PLEASE!!."
The only thing her screaming got her was more silence; she started to cry. They will have to take him out of here when they bring her a once-a-day meal. Oh, god, she was so hungry, but how would she eat knowing what was rotting two doors down?
She curled up into a ball on her blanket, plotting a few more nasty things she was going to do when she got out of here. She was crying; she was never going to get that smell out of her mind. She did have one hope, though.
I hope they let me take a bath.

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Lily was sitting on a stool next to the king while he held court. Everyone was looking at her in curiosity or with a scowl. To be honest, she didn't give a sh*t. One good thing about going through all that abuse is that it gave her inner strength. She stopped caring a long time ago what anyone thought of her.
It was fascinating to watch her mate hold court, but it was also quite boring. Most of it was legalities and land contracts—things of that nature. Once it was all done, the king introduced his mate to the council.
Lily almost giggled at the looks on their faces. She managed, though, to stand tall and regal. Some were just surprised but happy for the King; others were quiet; and others were still outright angry.
"As your king, I have the right, through the Mate Law, to choose my own for when my true mate comes. Lily is my second chance mate, and I am hers. I understand that she can't be an official queen; she will be queen in name only." 
"However, she will be given the respect that is her due. I will also allow her to have some authority to make laws regarding children and women. These laws will pertain to their treatment and rights to be protected and to seek justice."
"She will be given the people and the resources to do these things; she will only have to seek permission from myself. Since the Queen, even if it's only in name, still only has to answer to the King."
"She will travel to all the packs in our care; no longer will the royal family stay within the walls of this castle alone. It is time to go out into the world and make sure what we are being told is the actual truth."
"It makes me sick that something as evil as all that was able to get such a big foothold on us. From now on, I and my queen will do everything in our power to see that it never happens again." 
"I will no longer hold to the old stuffy and blind traditions of the past. Anyone here now who disagrees with anything I have said today may step down and leave."
With that, he turned and kissed Lily deeply and possessively, sending his point out loud and clear.
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Marnie was finally in her own bed; she was fully healed now, and no side effects were left from the poison. She wasn't alone in her bed either.
Ash was still with her, tighter than a tick in a butt crack. She didn't mind it, though; she was coming to love it. Her wolf, Myan, loved it too, though she was a bit unnerved by the really loud purring. When he would make her grumpy, she would tell him to go cough up a hairball, which in turn made Marnie laugh.
She rolled onto her side to get a better look at the sleeping Mr. Kitty. When she looked at him, he looked so handsome asleep, almost like he was a young cub again. 
"Liking what you are seeing, my naughty little wolf?."
Startled, she blushed when she realized he was awake the whole time she was staring at him. He didn't say anything more as he pulled her to him and kissed her possessively. She didn't think that a simple kiss could turn her on so much; her pants were getting wet just the same.
"I can smell your arousal; you smell so delicious. I want to lick all that wonderful cream. I want to know what you taste like. I want to feel myself inside you as we become one. I want to know what you sound like when I bring you to the climax of your passion."
"I want your everything, and I want you to have my everything. Forever."
Before she even knew it, she was naked and under an equally naked Ash. He was sucking on her nipples, and his hands were everywhere. He moved his mouth slowly downward to her center.
His tongue did things she wasn't aware that they could do; he licked all of her cream and then slipped his tongue inside her to get more. She was screaming in her desire, arching her body to get closer to him. When she finally came, she thought, for just that moment in time, that she had left the earth for heaven.
Once she came back to his arms again, he positioned himself between her thighs."Now, my love, we will ascend the heavens together." In one swift move, he joined them together in bliss.
It was like nothing she had ever thought or was told it would be.
It was so much, much more.
It was right at this blissful moment that Marco popped into her head.
"Marnie!!! It's time; Adira is on her way to the pack hospital to have the pup."
Marnie, to Ash's surprise, flew out of their bed and started to put random clothes on; all the while, in a happy singing voice, she kept saying, "I'm an aunt; I'm an auntie aunt."
She looked over at Ash as he was just watching her. "Come on, Mr. Kitty, we gotta go. We are about to be aunts and uncles. Get a move on.!!"
With that, she was out the door, running down the stairs, while he was still putting on his shoes as he hopped out the door after her.