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Isaac woke the following morning from the best sleep he could recall having to find that they had shifted during the night and Cass had spooned into his front with his arm over her side, her deliciously firm rump pressed back against his morning wood.
‘I can’t think of a better way to wake up than with the love of my life in my arms. God damn I feel like a king.’
He lay there with a contented smile, breathing in the fruity shampoo scent of her hair splayed out in front of him. Some time later after having dozed off again he was woken by Cass shifting and rolling over, he sleepily cracked an eye open to find her softly smiling face on the pillow bare inches away, her crystal blue eyes sparkled in the soft morning light filtering through the blinds.
“I’ll never get tired of waking up to your beautiful smile, Cass.” He mumbled happily.
Her soft smile shifted into a sardonic smirk as she replied, “I’ll never get tired of waking up with that monster stuffed between my butt cheeks.”
They both chuckled quietly at that, exchanging a sweet gentle kiss before Cass tossed back the covers and padded quietly to the bathroom.
Isaac got up and did some stretches, and went through a slow series of movements he’d honed over the last several years in a martial arts gym near his university.
He enjoyed the challenge of balance and control in executing those movements at a glacial pace, for him it was as good as a coffee to wake him up. Not that he would forgo his morning caffeine fix, but all the same it got him warmed up and ready to face the day.
He initially started at the gym as a way to burn off some energy, his preference would be to find somewhere to shift and run but since there were very limited places to do that in the built up area near his school he’d sought out other options. Given that fighting arts had a pivotal place in shifter society it was an obvious choice.
He was going to miss that gym, the mixed martial arts coaches and even a couple of their semipro fighters there had become good friends over the years.
That was especially true of the muay thai specialist coach Datu Alviso, a Filipino man of deceptively diminutive stature who had mentored him closely after seeing what he considered to be Isaacs poor form at the heavy bag.
As a shifter Isaac was stronger and faster than pretty much everyone in that gym, including the aspiring pro fighters, but Datu had quickly put paid to any delusions of grandeur he may have developed.
The little man happily took several bare knuckled strikes to the abdomen from Isaac without breaking a sweat to show him just how important proper form and shifting of weight was.
To be honest Isaac had grown addicted to the challenge of honing his technique, and while he had no interest in fighting competitively, after working with Datu for several months he did step up to spar and train with some of the guys and girls who were on that track.
His strength, speed and stamina, not to mention his ability to take a big hit, made Isaac a suitable whetstone for those aspiring fighters and he ended up working out an arrangement with the gym where he trained basically for free in exchange for a certain amount of time in the ring with their fighters.
It was a winwin arrangement since his shifter resilience gave the fighters a solid sparring partner who they didn’t have to pull punches for, and he got near free access to high quality gym facilities and coaching along with plenty of ring time to hone his craft against talented opponents.
As he worked through his forms he didn’t immediately notice his future wife leaning against the doorway and watching him with a grin, not until he stepped into a high kick and balanced on one foot slowly executing the leg extension at head height as he was interrupted by a rather unfeminine snort.
He lowered his foot and turned to her with a playful scowl, “What’s so funny Miss Sherman?”
“Oh honey, you looked so serious and focused, then when you raised your leg like that your dick flopped out of your boxers, I couldn’t help it!” She snickered and stepped forward to put both hands on his chest and nuzzle into the crook of his neck.
As he wrapped his arms around her he considered that mental image for a moment, then chuckled, yeah that was pretty funny.
Cass sighed into his shoulder and slipped her arms under his and around to his back, then lifted her head for a kiss, her sweet little pecks of affection made his heart feel light and free.
“We should throw a couple bags of clothes and stuff in the car. If the girls are okay with us staying a while it would save us a trip back.” Cass said while patting his cheek affectionately and drawing his attention to their plans for the day.
They were going to drive out to the Whitepaw pack lands and meet the Wintergreen sisters, and he was more than a little anxious about how it would all play out. He grabbed that anxiety by the scruff of its neck and tossed it away. He reminded himself that what happens, happens, and Cass would be with him throughout. He had no doubts that whatever the outcome of their meeting, he had a beautiful life to look forward to with her at his side.
“Cass, will you marry me? I don’t have a ring yet, or I’d be down on one knee right now, I promise you I’ll get one as soon as I can but I don’t want to go another minute without being able to call you my fiancee.”
Cass’ eyes shimmered with unshed tears, “Of course I will Zack, I’m yours.”
They embraced for a long time, holding each other tightly, and only broke apart when Isaacs phone beeped an alarm.
“Time to get ready I guess. Let’s go meet your potential wives wolf boy.” Cass playfully jabbed at him.
Zack ran his hand through her hair and placed his palm on her cheek, kissing her gently, then smirked and responded, “one down, two to go.” she swatted at his chest with a false scowl and they both set about packing their things.
_________
It was a beautiful day, the blue skies broken up by a handful of wispy clouds, a gentle breeze blew a strand of Cass’ hair across her face as she sat eating her burger at the picnic table beside Isaac.
They’d been driving for a couple hours, chatting like old friends and holding hands like the new lovers they were.
They had stopped for fuel and lunch in this little town as it was the last stop before the reserve that housed the Whitepaw pack lands. They were ahead of schedule and decided to enjoy some sun in a small park as they ate.
Cass leaned against his shoulder and asked, “You nervous, honey?”
“Mmm, yeah, a little. Not about meeting them, but what comes after. It’s a minefield of expectations. The potential for new relationships, the political stuff reviving the pack and managerial concerns of running the pack businesses too. It’s just a lot.
“I got a feel for the pack businesses from the documents the lawyer gave us, and it seems they’re in good shape and pretty selfsufficient, but it’s a multimillion dollar portfolio and I’m not exactly a business major.”
Cass wiped her hands clean on a napkin before interlacing her fingers with his free hand, “I’ll help where I can, I don’t have any real world experience but I did more than a few business subjects in my marketing degree.
You’re not doing it alone. Besides, the girls may know a thing or two about how to run the pack businesses since their mum has been doing it the last 15 years. Who knows, she might have taught them all about it.”
“I hope so, gorgeous. It’d be nice to have someone in the know, I’m worried we’ll be flying blind.”
“Let’s get going handsome, the sooner we get there the less time you have to worry.”
As they drove out of town the landscape quickly shifted from houses and small farms to rolling woodlands and meadows with the occasional small mountain, it was picturesque countryside to say the least.
The turn off was marked with a single sign for “Whitepaw Lodge”, a single lane bitumen road winding up a wooded rise.
After a short while the road turned to well packed gravel and ended in a large circular loop next to a two wood lodge building with a wraparound deck and a wide open grassy area off to one side.
Pulling up to the lodge Isaac sent off a message to the sisters letting them know they’d arrived.
Isaac slipped his hand into Cass’ and she interlaced their fingers with a small smile.
They wandered for a few minutes to check the place out, enjoying the light breeze that crossed the grassy area, before finding a set of comfortable wicker chairs tucked on the deck next to the lodge.
The lodge itself was locked up, the windows covered in earthy coloured blinds and from what little he could see through the gaps the furniture was covered with drop sheets inside, it seemed the building was not currently being put to any use but it looked to be in good condition, well maintained at least.
Isaacs ears picked up the sound of running feet barely a second before a sleek darkgrey and tan wolf streaked into the clearing across from them at a run.
Isaac was on his feet in a moment, his instincts kicking in hard at this unknown wolf racing toward them. It took him a couple seconds to consciously overcome the growl that had started in his chest with a deep breath, obviously this was one of the sisters he was here to meet coming to guide them.
As the wolf slowed to a stop ten or so meters from the deck Isaac found himself appreciating her sleek form, her fur looked almost a metallic dark grey, the brown over her shoulders rich, thick and luxurious.
Instead of shifting as he expected the wolf simply cocked her head slightly before turning towards his car and taking a few steps, then looking back at them over her shoulder.
The look was dripping with sass, and quickly getting the message Isaac and Cass got back in his car and followed after the wolf who led them to a dirt path and further into the woodland.
A short drive later a beautiful, and quite large, wood cabin came into view with an expansive covered deck beside a pool bracketed on the far side by a three walled bali hut with log walls and a grass roof.
Standing at the open side of the hut in a light yellow and cream sundress was a tall slender young woman with glasses and a book in one hand. She raised a hand and waved demurely signaling them to join her as the wolf trotted off toward the cabin.
Cass gave Isaacs hand a brief squeeze before they got out and walked to the hut.
As they approached Isaac got a better look at the slender blonde woman and his first impression could be boiled down to one word; classy.
She was undeniably beautiful, with high but soft cheekbones and naturally plump light pink lips. She looked to be just shy of six feet of svelte curves and toned muscle, and the way she stood demurely with her hands clasping her book at her waist subtly pressed her pert bcup breasts together between her arms. She had the air of a teacher or librarian about her with her small black rimmed glasses perched on a cute button nose, over a soft, gentle and welcoming smile.
As she spoke and Isaac heard her voice for the first time he was captivated. Her voice was a light, breathy thing that carried warmth and happiness with a y undertone that reminded him of a less overtly ual Marilyn Monroe.
“Hello there, you must be Isaac, I’m Jasmine. It’s lovely to meet you. My older sister Bella will be out shortly.” She reached out to take Isaacs hand then turned to Cass, “I understand you’re Isaac’s girlfriend but he didn’t mention your name?”
Cass gently shook her hand as well before replying, “I’m Cassandra, but you can call me Cass, and we’re engaged unofficially, no ring yet” she said waving her left hand to show her bare finger.
If Isaac hadn’t been watching her pretty face closely he likely wouldn’t have noticed the slight twitch in her soft smile at that.
“Well, it’s lovely to meet you as well Cass. Come in and sit down, please.” She swept her hand to some comfortable looking wooden outdoor chairs around a glass table set with some light snacks and a large pitcher of juice with ice floating on top.
She poured each of them a glass from the pitcher as they settled into their seats and before the silence could drag out to an awkward length Bella sauntered barefoot out the back door of the cabin.
She was shorter and far curvier than her sister, wearing a pair of denim short shorts that hugged her thick thighs and a black tank top artfully cut to expose her soft midriff and barely concealing her easily Dcup breasts that jiggled with her every step. She clearly wasn’t wearing a bra based on the movement and a set of colourful bikini straps wrapped behind her neck and disappeared into her cleavage.
Bella sauntered around the pool and collapsed bonelessly into a chair beside her sister.
“Sup.” she said while grabbing a couple crackers from the table.
Isaac raised a brow momentarily before responding, “Hi Bella, good to meet you. I’m Isaac and this is Cass.”
“Yeah, okay.” She waved her hand dismissively.
“Bella! There’s no need to be rude.” Her sister admonished her, “Please excuse her Isaac, she might be the older sister but she can be a bit of a brat.”
Bella gave her sister a dirty look that seemed to wash off Jasmine like water off a duck’s back.
“It’s no problem. I’m sure this is just as awkward for you two as it is for us. I have to be honest though, it was a real surprise to find out that I’m in fact not the last Whitepaw. Until last week I thought it was just me, so whatever comes of this I’m grateful to know I’m not alone.”
Bella snorted and sneered across the table at him, “Huh, what a nice guy. How is this even awkward for you? You get to come in and snag two hot new bitches to breed, and you brought your human girl along for kicks as well, huh? Not like she’s going to be part of the pack bond, she’ll be an outsider for the rest of her life.”
“BELLA!” Jasmine exclaimed with her hand over her mouth in horror, “What is wrong with you!? He’s come all this way just to meet us and this is how you greet him? I am disgusted with you sister! Go run in the woods until you find your manners, for goodness sake!”
“Whatever, better than sitting here with a nose full of human stink.” Bella snapped as she stood and waved dismissively at Isaac and Cass before walking away and disappearing into the trees.
Jasmine turned watery eyes to Isaac and lowered her head in a vague bow.
“I’m so sorry, Isaac, I don’t know what came over her. That was so out of character for her. And Cass, I am sorry for her insults, you do actually smell quite lovely.”
Isaac blinked rapidly trying to process how their introduction had started off so explosively. It was clear that Bella held some resentment towards him and humans in general from her comments, but why? He’d been lead to believe that shifter society in general had embraced humanity, but maybe there was some more nuance he was missing there.
Was she just a prickly bitch? Or maybe she was just lashing out, with the uncertainty of her place in the pack after having been raised by a community at arms length? He could certainly see how emotions would be high at the loss of her mother but that didn’t excuse her acidic comment toward Cass. He took a deep breath and shook his head.
“It’s okay Jasmine, she’s obviously upset. I won’t say her behavior is okay but it’s a rough time for both of you I’m sure. Oh and please call me Zack if you don’t mind.”
Cass chimed in “Not cool, but I’ll get over it. She’s wrong anyway, I’m as much a wolf as she is.”
Jasmine blinked rapidly and tilted her head to the side. ‘Cute’ Isaac thought.
“Wait, you’re a shifter? What pack are you from?”
Cass smirked and took a sip of her drink.
“Well, I was human until last week. When Zack marked and mated me apparently it triggered some latent gene that initiated my first shift.”
The explanation of that bombshell opened the floodgates of conversation between the two ladies. Jasmine was struck near speechless at the revelation of Cassandra’s mixed heritage, but rallied and asked a flood of questions back to back.
Isaac sat back with a happy smile as they chatted about their lives and backgrounds, Cass did a great job summarising the highlights of their friendship over the years and he was very interested to learn that despite being barely nineteen years of age Jasmine was nearly finished with a degree in art hi.
Zacks first impression of Jasmine was confirmed and expanded, she was not just classy but intelligent and driven. She was well aware of the state of the pack holdings having been managing them for nearly a year since her mum first showed signs of being sick and she offered to review things with Zack at his leisure.
After an hour of easy conversation between the three of them, the ladies decided it was time to get in the pool.
Zack ducked into the back door of the cabin to get changed in the laundry room.
Slipping on his board shorts quickly he heard Cass’ laughing at something outside and when he emerged he struggled to stop his jaw from dropping.
Cass and Jasmine were posed side by side, each with a leg extended and a hand on the opposite hip. Cass had retrieved a white string bikini from her bag and standing beside her Jasmine was wearing an almost identical swimsuit.
The laughter he’d heard suddenly made sense.
Cass smirked and called out to him, while Jasmine tittered a laugh from across the pool. “Down boy!”
Zack walked around the edge of the pool to the girls making no secret of looking them up and down as he moved.
“Hmmm, you know what Cass? I don’t think I will.”
Her smirk twisted into a quizzical look and before she could ask what he meant, he burst forward to scoop her off her feet and tossed her shrieking into the pool.
He and Jasmine laughed, him a throaty chuckle and her a demure titter behind her elegant hand, as Cass came up for air sputtering and coughing.
Before long they were floating and swimming about while chatting, he and Cass kept the flirty play to a minimum to not make Jasmine uncomfortable but there was definitely some ual tension there.
Zack sat on the concrete step and splayed his arms out over the pool edge, Cass tucked herself under his arm and rested her head on his shoulder.
“So hey, Jasmine, we weren’t sure how long you wanted us to stay? We packed for a week or two, so we’re flexible, depending on you and Bella.”
“We might be in Limbo as far as our packs’ status, but technically you’re the pack Alpha here Isaac, so really it’s up to you.
This place should have been your home, as much as it should have been ours. I certainly wouldn’t be comfortable kicking you out.”
“Oh, okay sure. At the very least we should get to know each other better so you and Bella can make a decision about the pack I think. However long you need. So, since we’re probably staying a while, where do you want us to bunk down? I noticed the lodge is all closed up.”
“Yes the lodge is closed for now, it was only ever really used for guests and visitors in the past. Mother had three cabins built on this side of the reserve, just like this one but without the pool, but never did anything beyond clearing the site of the compound once it was demolished.
You can have your own cabin a few minute’s run away, or take the spare room here. It’s up to you.”
“You and Bella both live here?”
“Indeed. It’s a three bed, two bath. We’ve only been here for a little over half a year. When mothers health started to fail we came out here, she wanted to come home for her last days.” She said with a sad smile.
“Would Bella be okay with us moving in here, do you think?”
Jasmine maintained a stoic face as she replied, “I think if she wanted an opinion on your placement, then she should have held her tongue and joined our conversation.”
ero
