“Many things, but one is more dominant than the rest. If you conceive in your human form, more than likely, you will birth babies. But if you conceive as a wolf…”
“Oh.”
“So my human body can’t have puppies?”
The Elder grimaced before shaking her head. “That would be cruel and our goddess is not.”
“How many?” When Zahira looked confused, Vivienne elaborated. “If I were pregnant, how many would I have?”
She shrugged. “Some have one, some have more.” She smiled and added, “I’ve seen a litter of eight once.”
Vivienne shuddered, and Zahira laughed. “For your first, I don’t believe it will be so large.”
They didn’t speak for long moments as Vivienne processed everything Zahira had said. When she finally spoke, it was a slight change of subject. “Thank you for fixing the bedroom.”
“It was not a difficult task,” Zahira replied with a smile before adding, “You’re welcome, Vivienne.”
A few more minutes of silence passed between them before Vivienne asked, “Do you need me to do anything for the ceremony?”
“All of the preparations have been made, Vivienne,” Zahira said. “All you have to do is show up, and trust your mate completely.” She paused, and her eyes grew serious as she studied Vivienne. “Will you do that?”
Her answer was immediate. “Yes.”
“I thought so,” Zahira confided. Her eyes went back to the television in time to see a cheetah chasing a deer. “Magnificent creatures. An old friend of mine controls a were-cat pack that consists only of cheetahs….”
***
“Why do you keep doing that?” Vivienne asked softly. From the moment he’d arrived home, Conall had been sniffing at her. At first, she’d thought it affectionate, but now she’d begun to wonder if she were giving off an odor. Her shower had been hours ago, but still. She’d checked…very quickly…but that wasn’t it.
Conall lifted his head, and blinked. They were seated on the couch in his living room, Vivienne on his lap with her body pressed against his back as he reclined against the chair arm. The television was on, and some Lifetime movie was showing. They hadn’t been paying attention.
“What?”
“Sniffing me,” she murmured, turning in his arms. “Why do you keep sniffing me?”
His eyes narrowed briefly, and then he smiled, a slow smile that made her want to do wicked things to him. The slight soreness between her legs had faded so she was quite ready for any debauched activity he might…desire.
“Because I love your smell,” he replied, pulling her forward until her lips were inches from his. “And I love smelling myself on you.”
Her brows lifted and she sniffed at her skin. She smelled herself, the body wash, and a faint aroma of spice. She sniffed again, and he chuckled, pulling her up so that he could kiss her lips.
“You can’t smell it as much, alainn,” he said when his lips finally released hers.
A bit breathless, she replied, “Why not?”
“Because you are not male,” he said, smiling once more. He seemed awfully proud of himself. “Every male who comes into contact with you will know you are mine.”
They shouldn’t have, especially as he had been inside her countless times yesterday, but his words made her tingly and wet. She tried to act like they didn’t, by frowning at him, but he only winked at her, and ran his hands under the shirt and up her back.
“What about females?” she inquired, trying to ignore the feelings his warm hands were bringing about.
“There’s no threat from females,” he replied, licking at her neck.
“Th—that’s not what I meant,” she said, clearing her throat. “Does it work both ways? Will they smell me on you?”
He nodded once, pulling back to stare at her.
“I don’t want another female, alainn,” he said seriously, and she felt him brush her mind to see if she were thinking that. She wasn’t. Seeing that wasn’t the case, he continued, “There are some males who take other females in addition to the ones they select as mates….” Vivienne’s scowl was vicious. “But I don’t want any other females.”
“That’s good because you’re not getting any other female.” She kissed him quick before curiosity reared its head. “And what of the females? Do they take other males after they are mated?”
The glare he sent her was so full of hostility that she laughed, which only seemed to anger him more.
“Are you serious?” Vivienne finally managed after gathering her breath. “Males are allowed to have a mate, and any other female, but the females can’t do the same thing?”