Leader of the Pack Ch. 17

"I think that first order of business is that I'll get a hold of Jenna and thank her for the return of our people. Then I'll call the feds and check up on the weres that were handed over to them. I want you and Keith to get a feel on the atmosphere around here. Arrange something to improve moral. That includes dealing with pack doubt about Aislinn. I'll do my best to try and keep things more public. But if they think she's messing with my head I don't know how much that will help. I'm going to set up a meeting with the elders for after the funeral and I'll deal with the mating ceremony issues. I think the only other thing would be assigning Aislinn to work with some of the others. They'll get more comfortable with her if they meet her. And as much as I hate to bring this up," he looked at Aislinn apologetically. "Make sure everyone knows that Brinah was a druid from the same order as Rafe and that she gave her life to help us. That might help." Cullen took another drink of his beer.

Aislinn was playing with her cup and staring at it. Cullen looked over at her expectantly. "Whatever it is just ask it," he said.

"Now who's over reading whom," she snapped.

Cullen gave her a hard look. "I could have read that from anyone. Stop playing with your drink and say whatever it is."

There was a long pause. Sarah looked at the two of them and smiled in amusement. "How strong is your bond anyway?"

"That has yet to be completely determined." Cullen responded, wondering what Aislinn was afraid to ask. He shifted his gaze to Sarah. "How strong is yours? It's been a long time since I had that part of my lycan education," he clarified when Sarah chuckled.

"Well," she said thinking about it. "It's been so long since I was without Drake I don't really remember what it's like to feel by myself." She sat contemplative a moment. Both Cullen and Aislinn stared at her attentively. "We seem to have a connection that's good for most of the territory. I can still sense him even at the reservation, but it's weak from here. I know a couple people who have stronger links than that. I don't know really what determines the distance allotment. Uh," she thought some more about what he might be trying to find out. "Sometimes I pick up things that he didn't mean to project at me, but that's usually only when he's projecting at someone else and angry. From the sounds of things," she smiled, "you two go a bit beyond that."

Cullen glared at her. He wasn't finding it funny.

Aislinn growled. "You know, if it bothers you so much I could always try and teach you how I blocked Rafe out. Then you could shut me off whenever you wanted." Sarah suddenly felt like she was about to become the third wheel in a dangerous argument.

Cullen could feel the hurt coming from Aislinn. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings. "That's not it," he said gently.

"It just seems to me that everyone else around here accepts this part of mating. If you didn't want it you shouldn't have done it. Logically, considering that I'm the outsider here and the one who didn't see it coming I would have thought that I'd be the one having such a hard time adjusting." Aislinn almost started to cry. She wanted out of here. Her head was throbbing.

Cullen breathed out heavily. This was not a conversation that should be happening in front of Sarah. Sarah sensed the need for some privacy. She looked over at Aislinn sympathetically and excused herself to go to the lady's room.

Cullen reached across the table and took Aislinn's hands. She glared at him and tried to pull them back, but he wasn't about to let her have access to running away from him again. He knew she wanted to. He spoke very softly, trying to coax her into looking at him. "Piseagan, it's not that I don't want it. I love you with all I am. You can feel that can't you?"

Aislinn stopped trying to pull away from him, but still wasn't looking into his eyes. He decided a different tactic might be better. "Do you really feel so sure of yourself that you have no problem with me knowing everything that goes through your head?" Aislinn didn't answer. Cullen smiled, knowing that she caught his point and that her answer would have been 'no' if she were speaking to him. "Now add to that the fact that you seem to pick up far more from me than I get from you." She looked up at him when he said that. There was confusion on her features. "I know that I'm picking up more from you than normal bonds give the others. I can feel more reasoning behind your emotions than the others get from their mates. I know most of the others only know if their mate is happy or sad or whatever. I know you're upset now and somehow get why you're upset too. If that were all you were getting from me then I don't think I would be nearly so concerned. But you also seem to pick up on thought process as well. You answer me like I was talking. I've never had to censor my own head before and I don't think any of the others do either. How happy would you be with the situation if our positions were reversed? You only get to know feeling and why, but I could hear you thinking."

"I don't know why it's like that," Aislinn said. "I can try not to listen," she offered. "I mean I could probably block it out the way I did with Rafe. But," Aislinn hesitated, "I kinda like knowing you this well."

"It's certainly adding to your confidence level," he said with raised eyebrows, thinking about how she was carrying herself and the way she was talking to Sarah..

"Is there anything else weird with us that isn't there with the others that might be my druid fault?"

He let out a long breath. "Not your fault." He smiled. "It pleases me to think that we were meant to be together like this. The stronger the bond the more compatible the couple. At least that's what they teach. There's the projecting in human form. That only happens with really strong bonds. Most lycans can only project thoughts in hybrid or wolven forms. But that is part of lycan lore. So it's not your druid fault. I've even heard of partial bonds that ended up with the couple having the ability to project or sense each other without completely finishing the mating. But that's incredibly rare."

"But I don't want you to start feeling like I'm invading." She looked around. "Technically I seem to be able to get into anyone's head if I try to. I've done it while people were sleeping." Her eyes started to tear. It frightened her. "Before we mated I thought about trying to read your thoughts about me. I never did," she said quickly. "I don't want to be like Rafe. I don't know how to make it stop. And the more things I try the more things I seem to be able to do. What's worse is that there isn't anyone for me to ask about it. Not now." Aislinn's mind was overwhelmed by a feeling of her grandmother watching her. It only made her more upset.

Cullen felt her hands trembling in his. "If it makes you more comfortable to be inside my head, piseagan, then it's okay. Don't worry so much about what you can do. You'll never be like Rafe. It's not your capabilities; it's what you do with them that make a person. Just be more selective about what you choose to answer when you catch what's going on in my head. Especially if there are other people around." He smiled at her. Then he started thinking about what he'd like to do with her after dinner. "Although there are times that a man could grow to love having a mind reader around." His eyes sparkled and he could feel her upset fading away.

Aislinn smiled. The image she was getting was pretty graphic. "I love you," she said softly.

Just then Marta appeared with their dinner, Sarah came back from the restroom, and Liam came walking in with a storm cloud over his head promising to rain on their plates. It was as if they all decided to descend upon them at once. Aislinn felt a resigned annoyance take over Cullen. She sat back as he reluctantly released her hands. Cullen ignored Liam's approach and ravenously dug into the rare meat on his plate.

Liam grabbed a chair from a nearby table, spun it around and seated himself at the end of their booth, glaring at Cullen. Marta was nearly shoved out of the way and she had to reach over him to distribute the rest of the plates. Liam watched Cullen chew and glared some more. Though the glare was accompanied by a reluctant head bow. "I must ask why exactly dinner has taken precedence over a room full of battered, abused, tired, cold, frightened people."

Cullen slammed a fist holding a knife down on the table. His eyes blazed with anger at Liam and the man immediately backed down. Liam re-bowed his head. This time with submissive intent as an apology.

"Because," Cullen strained. "I'm more likely to do something drastic and unfortunate to the tired, cold, frightened traitors, if I don't get a grip on my wolf first."

Liam cleared his throat. "I guess that after the stories I've heard I've become a bit more sympathetic to their situation. I'm sorry Cullen. I didn't mean disrespect."

Cullen sat back and poked at his steak, mulling over what Liam had said. "Okay, so tell me."

With that Cullen sat forward and ate as Liam gave him the full report on what Rafe had done to the women, how he had gotten a hold of them, and the different threats that had been made. "Acutally the worst of it was Peter. Apparently he had been one of the first. When he decided that Zoe would rather die than help betray the pack he tried to go to you. Rafe threatened the others that if Peter managed to let you know what was going on then he'd kill three women for every one thing you found out. So it was our own men who stopped Peter from confessing. Then Rafe tortured and killed Zoe anyway. She's the only one who didn't come back. But Peter knew she was dead days ago. He's been sitting in a corner of the room ever since."

Aislinn lost her appetite and a tear streaked down her face in sympathy. Liam looked at her curiously. "You didn't even know Zoe," he said.

"Does it matter?" Aislinn looked at him with a glassy expression. "I'd have to be pretty cold hearted to not feel how much this has affected everyone here."

Liam nodded. He watched her contemplatively for a moment. When Cullen growled a warning at him it got his attention. He looked over at Cullen questioningly. Cullen rubbed his face. His wolf was in high gear. Nothing was sating the beast this evening. He was far too worked up. Right then he only wanted to forget what was happening and that would involve Aislinn naked and on all fours. The image brought some small calm to his demeanor.

Liam looked at Cullen with uncertainty. "I don't want to add to your upset Cullen. But I would point out that I have a mate and you know that I have no intentions toward Aislinn. You've been acting so strangely with her. It's one of the things causing so much talk."

Cullen stabbed at another piece of meat on his plate. "I've heard all about the talk. I think what's pissing me off is that everyone seems to assume that I'm supposed to have this magical ability to turn my wolf off whenever I want and to not be possessive of a woman when I finally decide that I want to mate with someone."

Liam raised his eyebrows. "So you're making it official then?"

Cullen looked over at Aislinn. "She's agreed to it. I don't see a reason to hide my intentions. I don't intend to make anything formal until after the funeral. So don't go advertising."

Liam nodded. "You know I wouldn't. Congratulations," he said tentatively.

"Don't sound so happy about it Liam," Cullen growled.

"I'm sorry. But I've always been honest with you. I agree. When I first met Lizbeth, okay, I acted similarly to what you've been doing lately. But you have to admit that with Rafe and the mind control crap and it being so unlike you. It's not so strange that some of us would question the situation."

Cullen glared at him. "You know it's rather insulting to think that the whole of my pack thinks my mind could be so easily manipulated."

"Cullen, I didn't mean-"

"I know what you meant. You and the rest of the elders can just suck it up," he said violently.

Liam stiffened. "Things have just been so strange lately. I'm concerned."

"The implication in that statement seems farther reaching than my mating choice," Cullen said staring at the man.

"Just watch your back, my friend. You know that you have my loyalty. Regardless of your choices."

Sarah sat forward at that. "Liam, why exactly would Cullen need to watch his back?"

"I'm just saying that some of the rumors are going pretty far. I've heard about a pack split. There are people claiming that she's neutering him. I don't know what the general private thought process is. But the public talk is disturbing."

Cullen started growling again.

Aislinn knew that if the conversation went too much further he was going to lose it. "Well, hopefully, if I start spending more time trying to be social they'll all figure out that I'm just a normal person and not trying anything. Cullen are you sure I couldn't just go back to waiting tables here?" she asked hopefully. "I mean if I don't look like I'm trying to be in charge of anything and I'm willing to do my part maybe it'll stop."

Liam looked at her again. He was trying to read her. He had never had too much contact with her but this didn't strike him as a girl trying to take over a pack, mentally or any other way. Cullen shook his head at her. Liam cleared his throat before Aislinn could argue some more. "Aislinn," he said, "it's not appropriate for the alpha's mistress to be doing things like waiting tables down here. Even if you were an omega it wouldn't be allowed and from what I've heard you could qualify as a beta if you wanted to. But you don't want to, do you?"

Aislinn shook her head. Liam just stared into her eyes. He nodded back and sighed. "You are quite the enigma. I think that you'll win them all over eventually. Just keep being you and you'll be fine. That is after Cullen stops carrying you upstairs so often."

Sarah grinned and looked at Cullen with and I told you so expression. At which point, Cullen got out of the booth and held his hand out to Aislinn. Sarah had to move in order to let her out. "I'll do as I like," he said. Then he grabbed Aislinn. She squealed as he tossed her over his shoulder and headed out of the Taigh-Oèsda toward the elevator.

"Cullen put me down," she growled and pounded on his back. "This is not dignified."

Her protests drew quite a bit of attention and resulted in amused smiles and giggling from the few waitresses who were left in the restaurant. Liam looked over at Sarah, who sat back down and smiled to herself.

"He is the alpha," she said. "You tell him to stop something…"

Liam started to laugh. "I guess I should be happy for him. I just wish he had better timing."

***

Cullen set Aislinn down once they were in the elevator. Immediately, he pinned her against the wall, kissing her roughly and deeply. The doors slid closed but the elevator went nowhere, since Cullen hadn't pushed any buttons. His hands were far too busy.

Aislinn started to protest again as the elevator went up a floor and the doors slid apart to reveal an elderly couple headed down to the casino. The older couple stepped into the elevator as if there was nothing going on. Cullen watched Aislinn blush strawberry red and he smiled with tremendous amusement. He leaned in for another deep kiss amidst unspoken protests as she tried to push him off of her. He was having far too much fun with this distraction to allow for her to win. Cullen grabbed her hands and wrapped her arms around his back as he kissed her again and tried to slide his tongue into her mouth as she softly asked him to behave.

The doors opened again on the lobby and the couple got out of the car, still pretending to not notice the young lovers. Though Aislinn heard the woman comment, "Remember when we were like that?" to her companion. As Cullen let Aislinn loose so that he could put his key in the panel and push the button for the penthouse he saw the old man reach over and grab his wife's butt. She giggled and the two of them headed for the casino across the lobby.

Cullen chuckled. When he had the elevator on its way he turned around and his eyes shifted to swirling amber as he refocused on Aislinn. She smiled back at him widely and bit her bottom lip. "Where was I," he asked. "Oh, I was just about to do this," he said as if he remembered something brilliant. Before Aislinn could move he had pounced on her and was ripping her t-shirt down the back as he smashed his mouth against hers.

Aislinn gave in. She knew there was no fighting him on this. He wanted her and she wasn't far behind him. She could feel her cat growling in the back of her mind and totally eradicating any embarrassment factor that might have been created by being caught by the older couple. When the elevator opened on the penthouse Aislinn was already naked. Her clothes were left in shredded piles in the elevator as they tumbled into the penthouse.

Cullen started pulling at his own clothes as Aislinn giggled and ran from him into the main room. His shirt and pants hit the floor in short order and he stalked toward her. Aislinn grinned wickedly at him. She felt the strangest sensations running through her body. Cullen could see her cat fighting to take over as her eyes swam in amber and blue, shifting to an incredible iridescent green.

He lunged to grab her and she managed to duck under his arms. She giggled and circled round to hide behind his desk. Cullen growled at her as his wolf took over, turning him to his hybrid form. He couldn't hold it down with her teasing him like this. You play games and you're going to get me more worked up. He warned. It's not smart to run from a wolf.

Aislinn could feel how much he was enjoying this game. She decided that she wasn't going to go easily. "I think you're going to have to work for it if you want it tonight. I can't have you thinking I'm easy." She grinned and ducked out of reach again as he came over the desk after her.

Cullen knocked everything on his desk off onto the floor. The lamp almost tripped him as he tried to grab her trailing hand. But Aislinn was too quick and she managed to escape him again. He was growling louder and as he wheeled to see where she was he almost howled his amusement. I'd never make the mistake of thinking you were easy, mo piseagan.

Aislinn missed the lunge as he came after her. He managed to get her just around the waist. Cullen twisted so that his shoulder would hit the floor and she wouldn't take his weight. But the consideration cost him. Aislinn's cat wasn't about to let her lose this easily. She felt the beast force its way free and she shifted into her hybrid form as well. It was as though some part of herself had pushed her further back in her own mind. She felt almost lightheaded as the fur grew instantaneously and her body changed. When they hit the floor, Cullen's grip loosened just enough for her to twist free of his grip.

Aislinn seemed to fly across the room and through the bedroom door. Cullen only barely caught the change, it happened so quickly. He was more than a little impressed, considering how much trouble she was having with it. I guess given the right situation you've got enough control over that beast of yours, he threw at her as he charged toward the door, only barely stopping himself from barreling through it after her.

I didn't do it on purpose. It just slipped out, she thought back.

Cullen could feel the concern tinting her thought. But it was overridden by the desire to continue their game. By the time he opened the door she was nowhere to be seen. He smiled and raised his nose to the air. There aren't that many places to hide in here, piseagan. And I could find your scent anywhere. By the time he finished the thought he had already honed in on her. She had gone out onto the balcony. He pushed the curtains aside and headed slowly out onto the balcony.