The Demon and His Plaything

18| What's next?

Godrick stood up straight as Samantha and Derek emerged from the cabin. He and Grim had settled to lean against the car, giving the Wolves the space they needed

He raised his eyebrow a fraction as a question. Samantha only gave him a small smile. He figured that meant she was okay.

"What now?" Grim asked.

Derek and Samantha looked at each other. Samantha spoke. "I guess we should be going home…"

"And do what exactly?" Godrick took a step towards her, he hesitated then thought, what the f**k, and took her hand. He could feel the male Wolf's eyes on him. "What are you going to do when you're back at home? Confront them? Pretend you don't know?"

Samantha shook her head tiredly. "I don't know."

"Let's go get a drink. We can strategise,” Grim suggested.

Godrick looked between the two werewolves. "I don't suppose you have shoes in that tiny backpack of yours."

Samantha shook her head and looked back at Derek. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know what I'll say to my dad yet but… A drink would be good."

They drove in silence into the city, heading to Godricks place. He had a moment to think how strange it was that she was finally coming over and it was with her fiance–maybe fiance. He wasn't sure yet what was going on there.

He let them in. His apartment was neat, a lot of dark colours and wood. He saw Samantha look around with interest.

"I'll grab us some drinks," Godrick said it in a way he hoped Samantha would come to the kitchen with him.

"Godrick, grab that whiskey I got you," Grim said as he guided Derek through the apartment. "There's a really good view from the balcony, let me show you." He was a great wingman.

The two wolves glanced at each other before following each individual demon.

As soon as they rounded the corner of the kitchen Godrick opened his arms and she threw herself in them. He held her with her head tucked under his chin. "You okay?"

"I don't know. This is all so…"

He hooked a finger under her chin, lifting her face and gently touched his lips to hers. He waited to make sure she wanted a kiss from him. She opened her mouth to him, surrendering to his mouth. He felt his want for her surge through him.

His hand snaked behind her neck, grasping her. She gave a little cry of pain and he pulled back confused. He pushed her hair and saw the dying bruise around the back of her neck and around his mark.

He inhaled sharply. "Who did that?" He couldn't help the sharpness in his voice.

"Don't worry," she said self-consciously. She rubbed her forearm absentmindedly and he grabbed her arm, pushing her sleeve up, revealing the scabbed over bite mark, also bruised to yellow as it healed.

"Jesus Christ! Did he do that?"

They could hear the sliding door being roughly opened as Derek came rushing in, having heard raised voices.

"You do this?" He stalked towards the male Wolf. He had no idea what he'd do when he got to him, he had no chance against a Werewolf but he wasn't thinking straight.

"Godrick!" Samantha cried out, catching up with him and grabbing his arm. "It's okay. It was a–wolf thing."

Godrick hesitated when he saw the look on Derek's face. Derek was ashamed and it made Godrick halt in his advance. He glanced back at Samantha, not disguising the hurt concern on his face.

She continued, "I thought it'd make his wolf feel better about everything…"

Godrick humpfed. "That doesn't work for everyone."

She just nodded but Derek was looking between the two of them looking lost.

Grim was looking between the three of them and thinking he didn't want to be the fourth wheel. "Well, I think maybe I should go and see if I can get any more info for you guys, yeah?" He looked at Godrick for confirmation.

He sighed, "That'd be great."

"I'll leave the car with you and just grab it tomorrow." Grim extracted himself out of the apartment in record time.

"So," Godrick started, "we need to air some things, I think."

He went back into the kitchen and grabbed the god-awful whisky Grim had got him. He snatched up three glasses and directed them to sit at the round dining table, pouring them all a large splash in each of their glasses.

"That's wolf-strength whisky," Derek commented.

Godrick looked at the label and smiled. The moon based logo made sense now. "Well, here's to good choices." He raised his glass and skulled the splash he'd placed in his glass. Samantha and Derek did the same.

"How exactly did you think this would work?" Derek asked dryly, motioning between Godrick and Samantha.

"I didn't think…" Samantha took a breath. "I didn't know what would develop between Godrick and I… it could have just been a…" she failed to put it into words and keep it delicate.

Derek clucked his tongue. "So you guys were just hooking up… but I thought… you were a…" he threw back the next shot Godrick had poured for him.

Godrick and Samantha glanced at each other. Godrick opened his arms up, gesturing for her to share whatever she felt comfortable with. She grimaced so he started to talk. "We have a non-conventional relationship–well I mean, for human terms. I don't know what is conventional for you guys."

"Having a protector-type relationship, one being dominant over the other isn't so unusual in our society," Samantha offered.

Derek looked at her at that comment. "What exactly does that mean?"

She made a face at Godrick. He cleared his throat. "Have you heard of a sub dom–

"Enough!" Derek slammed his glass down, the motion cracking it.

Godrick sighed and got up to get him another glass. "I had no assumptions about the longevity of what we were doing, but when I met her, had her…" his eyes trailed to Samantha as he set the glass down.

A growl emitted from Derek. Godrick couldn't help but smile in amusement. He poured them another.

"I love her." He shrugged to emphasize the simplicity of his feelings.

Derek looked down at his new glass. After a few long minutes, he looked up at Samantha. "And you love him too?" She nodded. He looked away, pained.

Godrick could see Samantha was upset at hurting the other man. He wanted to say something to stick up for her, but he knew it wasn't his place.

"So, you just wanted a marriage of convenience with me?" Dereky voice hitched, "And you get your fun time f**k in when you want it?"

Samantha shook her head, opening her mouth to speak and then closing it. She tried again, "At first… maybe. But Derek, I really do care about you."

He stood and paced away from the table and then back again. "And what? You were just going to what? Share her?" He asked Godrick angrily.

Godrick sat back into his seat. "Yeah. I mean I wasn't cool with it immediately but… yeah."

Derek sat back down heavily. "This is so f****d up. And you're thinking as the Luna of our pack you will just keep your Demon lover?" Derek asked tiredly.

Godrick and Samantha glanced at each other. Godrick had to bite his cheek not to smile again. He'd actually never asked her why she picked the handle.

Samantha just shrugged, "There really was no thought process, Derek. I just did what I wanted, like I always have. It's just in the past that only ever impacted me."

"What do you want to happen now?"

Samantha was slow to answer. "I want to be with both of you."

"Well, you can't be with him and be Luna. Be real, Samantha. You think people would accept that?"

She frowned.

Godrick spoke up next. "But that's like the Queen of the pack–surely she can do whatever she wants."

"No," Derek spoke patronisingly. "She can't just do whatever she wants. She has to do what is expected of a Luna. Run the pack, have children–”

"She's not livestock." Godrick snapped. He was getting pissed off, mainly because he understood objectively that there was no easy way to have Samantha–he didn't need this guy pointing everything out to him.

"You don't understand," Derek took another shot and grabbed the bottle, pouring just himself a drink. A significantly longer pour. "We don't get to just freely live our lives. We have obligations to our pack, our people."

"Well, that's dumb," Godrick said lamely and looked at Samantha. She was staring off into space.

He reached over and held her hand. She looked at him, startled by the touch. "I think we should go home now."

~*~

Derek and Samantha moved through the pack lands swiftly and quietly. They got through undetected, which was a little concerning considering the increased security.

She led him to a way into the back stairwell. She went to exit onto the Beta floor with him but he looked at her sharply. "What are you doing?"

"I–" She bit her lip. "I'm supposed to be staying with you tonight. That's what I told my parents."

He shook his head and walked away from her. She wiped a quick tear from her eye and continued up the stairwell to the Alpha floor. She let herself into the apartment as quietly as she could.

"Sammy?" Her mother was in the kitchen, sipping a tea. "What are you doing here?"

"Derek and I had a fight." She felt like she had aged years over only a few days.

As she started towards her room, her mother came around the bench.

"Wait, Sammy. I'm sorry for snapping at you today. It's just–Demons are bad news sweetie. This recent incident only solidified what we already knew. We think the attack now was just some kind of dispute between the Half Moon Pack and some Demons they made some bad business deals with."

Samantha regarded her mother. She wondered if she actually truly didn't know.

"What's going to happen to their land?"

"We're in discussions with the New Moon Pack, we think it'll be best to split it between us–we'll take the bulk–we have the biggest pack in the area, after all. And their businesses will be absorbed into ours–Alpha Jason doesn't know how to run those kinds…"

Samantha nodded sadly. There it was. "I'm going to bed."

~*~

Samantha got up and went to training as scheduled. She wasn't sure if it was on but she decided to work out in any case. There were a few others that showed up, though neither her father nor Beta Benjamin were there to run it. Everyone was just running through stretches, no clear next step so Samantha made her way to the obstacle course. Those present followed. It seemed as good as any day to kick their own arses.

She watched as other young warriors lazed around at the start of the course–no one taking the initiative.

Samantha felt angry, the group's quiet and laissez-faire attitude sparking a fury in her. She let out a frustrated growl at how inept everyone was and kicked off taking the course like it was something to be conquered.

Her launching into the course had brought a few packmembers to life, joining her on the course in a race.

Her lungs were burning by the time she reached the end, launching onto the final platform and standing triumphantly on the final platform, facing away into the woods. Cassandra landed next to her a good while later but still the only person anywhere near her time, half of the group still struggling at the midway point.

"Goddess, Samantha. You're gonna be a kick-ass Luna."

Samantha gave her a small smile and headed back down to do it again.

~*~

Derek watched as Samantha ran the course again. She was slower the second time but she still beat some of the others who were still struggling through their first run.

He couldn't help but watch how her body moved, the fluid way she flowed–making it look effortless. He remembered the training session when they'd sparred. He thought now she was showing something about herself then. The cocksure way she did things, how careless she was–how sneaky and sexy she could be.

He'd laid in bed for a long time the night before thinking through everything. He had to confront his dad. There was no way he was going to be able to be in the same room with this knowledge. He had mindlinked him asking for a meeting. He'd left the message brief and Benjamin had just replied his confirmation. He and Alpha Andrew were outside the pack that morning.

He'd seen his mother at breakfast in her room. She wasn't ready to be out amongst the pack. She didn't say much and he'd had to pester her to eat. He caught himself a few times, tempted to ask what she knew.

And what to do with Samantha. He couldn't believe he still wanted her. He wanted to hate her but he just didn't. She was like a different species to him, something exotic and enticing. He thought through every interaction, especially their first night at the ball. He recalled how he'd led and she had followed. She even told him at first to wait until they were sober to make decisions, but then relinquished to him. He guessed now she had spoken with her Demon and come to some agreement.

She had been so hot and cold with him. He understood now that was just her, she was segregated. Partitioning her feelings based on the situation. He thought through the first night she'd stayed over, the next morning… he sighed. She had been so fully present for him.

He didn't know what to do. Did he give her an ultimatum? It was him or Godrick? What if she chose Godrick..? He took a breath, moving forward to the start of the course.

Samantha was taking a breather, coaching others who had just made their way back after completing the course. "Take the outer edge, the woods less worn so you can get a better grip, and don't start jumping until your toes are at the very edge, that jump is deceptively big with the platform at a higher level." She looked up as he approached.

"You running the class today?" He asked, trying to keep his voice light.

She grinned at him. "Felt like everyone needed an outlet."

He nodded and looked out at the course. Everyone had cleared off of it. "Wanna race?"

Samantha c****d her head. "I've already done it twice."

"Yeah but you're an alpha," He said, loosening his shoulders and stretching his legs. When she made an unimpressed sound he added, "I'll give you a ten-second head start."

"Deal."

The rest of the group huddled around while the two of them set up at the start.

"I'll be the timekeeper," Cassandra stepped forward.

They both nodded to indicate they were ready. Cassandra set Samantha off, using a timer for Derek's start lag.

His body acted before his mind even could catch up as Cassandra indicated it was time for him to go. He watched Samantha book it through the course. She was scarily ahead of him, only marginally slower now. He caught up just an arm's reach behind her as they hit the three-quarter mark. He was awestruck by her speed and grace, the way she launched herself on the high platforms, using her legs to bunch under her and leap. She stumbled on one jump, landing just short and catching her arms on the platform. He passed her. He heard her growl of frustration and felt her push herself up and launch back to her feet. He could see her just in his periphery, he spurred himself on, hitting his second wind but Samantha came abreast with him within seconds.

They both leapt for the final platform at the same time. He looked to the side, watching her as they took the last jump. He could see her face had a wild playfulness to it.

They hit the platform together, both reaching for the rope to signal the end. They crashed into each other in their hast to come first. He grabbed her as he went down, twisting so she fell on him and not the other way around. He was significantly heavier than her.

They could hear the cheering of their spectators. Samantha grinned down at him, puffing breaths, "I totally won."

"Dream on." His hands rested on her waist instinctively.

She slapped his chest and jumped to her feet, reaching to help him up. He took her hand and got to his feet, keeping her hand in his. She looked at him in surprise.

"Come with me," he said thickly.

She nodded. They farewelled the others, a few of them trying to run it again, feeling bolder after seeing them run it so effortlessly.

They took the stairs, as Samantha preferred. He understood so much more about her now. They had barely entered his apartment when he grabbed her and pushed her against a wall. He kissed her madly.

She tried to speak but he shut her up with another kiss. He lifted her and her legs wrapped around him as they had done every other time.

He walked them to his room, only setting her down long enough to get them out of their clothes. They were sweaty from their workout, their natural scents enhanced and intoxicating to each other.

"Derek..?" She called his name as he kissed down her neck, taking an already pebbled n****e into his mouth. "Are you sure you want me?"

"I've only ever wanted you," he mumbled, taking his mouth lower, growling as he tasted her. He liked how her body moved under his touch. He had a fleeting thought if she was so responsive to Godrick but he pushed the intrusive thought aside.

He rose back up her body, watching her face as he entered her. She curled around him, moaning as his thickness filled her.

He felt freer with her, taking to heart now how she'd always told him he didn't need to be so gentle with her. As he pushed harder and faster into her she bucked and cried out, gripping his hips with her thighs, her hand rubbing herself between them. He pushed her hand away, taking over.

Feeling too close too soon, Derek withdrew and flipped her over on her hands and knees. She gave a pleasantly surprised sound and pushed back against him as he took her. He hooked his hand around under her to give her extra pleasure.

"Oh, Derek. Yes…"

Her hair slipped from her neck and he could see her other mark there. He felt a rise inside him, intent on making her see why she should stay with him. How he could give her what she needed.

Her cries pitched as she came, shuddering under him. He panted, groaning as her pulsing took him to the edge, her movements against him slowed at first as her climax petered out, quickly pushing back against him with renewed steam. He gripped her hips, grasping her flesh. He bent over her, close again. She twisted under him and caught his mouth, panting as they kissed. Her shift of angle and the heat from her mouth undid him. He buried his face into her neck as he came, thrusting hard one final time. His arms encircled her and she kept him up, taking the weight he briefly leant against her with.

He slowly moved away from her, flopping on the bed on his back and looking up at the ceiling. "f**k. That was amazing," he breathed as she tentatively moved next to him, not touching him but propping herself on her elbow on her side next to him.

"Hmmm," she hummed. He glanced at her. Her eyes were a little glassy. He could see how she cupped her hands together.

"Did you want to say something?" He asked. She seemed to be about to speak only to stop herself.

"I wanted to understand where we stand."

"Let's just see…" He said non-committedly. "I can't promise anything yet, Samantha. I don't understand what this is all going to mean for us… what the future of this pack even is."

She nodded. He watched as she slipped out of his bed and pulled her workout gear back on. "Okay. I have to start work with Mum. We're surveying how many refugees want to swear into the pack or want to leave for another one. We're absorbing practically all land and assets here, giving a token amount to the New Moon Pack–I wonder if it is to pay for their silence."

"I'll be speaking with my father today."

She adjusted her top and looked up at him. "Do you want me there? Should we speak with them both together or at the same time?"

He shook his head. "I need to know Samantha. Not from him as your father's Beta but as Tracy's and my dad."

She nodded in understanding. She stared off into space, obviously thinking. "Be safe."

She swiftly made her way to him and gave him a quick kiss. He slowly opened his eyes as her lips left his. He wanted to say something. That he still loved her, for her to be safe too, but she had already turned around and was exiting his room.

~*~