Chapter 3

©2009 A. Jane

Dewi’s head jerked up when the door to the pub crashed open, causing him to fumble and nearly break the glass he was cleaning—the Tree was napping while waiting for the evening service to begin and so would be of little help right then to prevent said breakage. Neak bolted inside and shut the door behind her. She offered him no greeting or explanation, just ran up the stairs to the living area and into her room at the end of the hall—the slamming of her door reverberating throughout the pub. Moments later, the door to the pub was rattling and a variety of unmated male Wairs and non-Wairs were trying to enter, their eyes glazed over.

He could understand the sensation. All day he had been feeling restless. At odd moments, he would find himself scenting the air around him as an unfamiliar smell enticed him. The glorious scent was now at it’s strongest and it finally struck him what it was. Neak was pollinating. Were he in his wolf form he was certain his tongue would be lolling out the side of his mouth and he would be panting, whining. He growled when several of the Wairs burst inside.

He leapt over the bar in a single bound and ran to the stairwell, canines bared, daring any to pass. A nasty snarl rumbled with menace when a sleek, black and white patchwork-haired male Cat slunk forward. “Move another inch Kitty and I’ll rip your throat out.”

“Out of the way Wolfie, she’s mine.” The WairCat hissed and lunged.

At five feet in height, he was out of his league against the Lobo. Dewi proved it when he grabbed the Cat by the throat and threw him into the pack of on coming males. He wondered if Kitty had received a more potent dose of Neak’s pollen than the others, as he was the only one who dared challenge him. But then again, WairCats were known to be overzealous when it came to breeding.

The rest of the males started milling around, edgy, but unwilling to defy Dewi. Many sat at tables, others crowded the bar wanting to order drinks, thinking to wait Neak out, certain she would be down to serve the pub’s patrons at some point that day.

“Oben!”

Oben came out of the storage room and stared shocked at the sudden crowd. They were closed weren’t they? Even if they weren’t, they never had this big of a crowd when they opened for the evening hours. He made his way through said crowd over to Dewi. “Where did all these guys come from?”

“They followed Neak here from the village. Apparently, she’s started pollinating.”

“Oh damn.”

“That’s putting it mildly. Keep an eye on things down here. Make sure Kitty over there doesn’t try to sneak up the stairs.”

“Where are you going?”

“To check on Neak.” Dewi growled when Oben raised a brow. “To see if she’s all right.”

Oben’s other brow lifted. “Even I can feel the affect of the pollen and I wasn’t here when she came through.”

“Mistress Moon! I can control myself, I’m a grown Lobo.”

“Okay, okay, just be quick about it. I don’t think I can handle all of these guys by myself.”

“After I check on her, I’ll call Toff and see if he can help remedy the situation.” Dewi ran up the stairs and down the hall to Neak’s room. The wolf in him wanted to scratch at her door and beg entrance, but as he told Oben he was a grown Lobo, he could control such urges. He knocked like a civilized Wair. “Neak?”

“Go away.”

“Are you okay? Did any of those males hurt you?”

“I’m fine, just go away.” Sweet Mother, she wanted to throw herself into his arms, to find comfort in his embrace, but it was too dangerous. He would be overcome by lust and she wouldn’t stop him when he moved to fuck her.

Neak stepped away from the door, rubbing her hands over her face. Her fertile cycle was messing with her own hormones to want the Wolf, because, well, he was a Wolf. But wasn’t she the one who kept staring at his mouth, enjoying the way he stared at her.

Sure, fine, if the feelings were mutual she could see being with Dewi, but they weren’t mutual, he was under the affect of her pollen. Wasn’t he?

“Neak, are you certain you’re okay?”

“Please go away. You’re only here because the pollen is calling you.”

“I’m here because you’re my friend and I was worried.” He kept himself once more from scratching at her door, from panting. He was there because she was his friend, but that smell… He couldn’t ever recall being this eager to mount a female before. He adjusted his cock, rearranging the stiff length in his jeans.

“You’re denying the influence of the pollen?”

“No, I’m feeling it, I would have to be dead not to, but I’m capable of controlling my libido to check on a friend.”

Neak leaned against the door, liking how he called her friend. She forced herself away when she discovered she was rubbing up against the door, wanting to feel his hands on her. “Thank you, but you’re better off keeping a bit of distance.”

“Okay, as long as you’re uninjured.” Dewi turned away and headed back toward the pub.

“Dewi?” she called through the door.

He turned around and returned to the door. He knew she wasn’t going to open it and invite him in, but he couldn’t help becoming excited. The things he wanted to do with her, to her. The hours of pleasure they could have. He cleared his throat. “Yes?”

“Would you check on Meria? Make sure she didn’t get trampled. I’m afraid I bolted when the Cat started after me and left her behind. I also left my cell phone and my bags and…” She started to thump the door with her fist, angry with herself, but caught the action just in time, not up to explaining the noise. “I don’t know her number, since it was in my cell phone, or I would call her. I…”

“No problem. Maybe she’ll like to help out in the pub while you’re holed up in there.”

“You’re a good friend.” Neak rubbed her hands over her body, aching with desire. She could hardly think of anything, but her physical needs.

Normally she didn’t feel like this during her fertile cycles. Not even during those five years in The Capitol had she wanted to be ravished, and she wanted more than anything to have Dewi break down her door and ravish her right then. She threw herself onto her bed and dug under her pillow for her vibrator, she needed some relief.

“You too.” Dewi once more turned away and headed down to the pub.

He checked in on Sabelle first and found her building towers of blocks with Milmar and Romie. The two Dew Drops were placing the blocks at the top of the tower while Sabelle directed them and worked on building the tower walls.

“Uncle Dewi!” Sabelle grinned seeing him and scrambled to her feet. She ran over to him, her little arms held out.

“Hello, Pup.” He scooped her up and planted a noisy kiss on her cheek.

“Neak’s pollinating, isn’t she?” Romie asked, his little face smug. “Did she start a stampede in the village?”

“Milmar, put your hand over your hubby’s mouth.”

“What?” Romie grinned wider. “I was right.”

“Shouldn’t talk about that in front of the pup, Romie.” Milmar grabbed Romie and put his hand over his mouth as Dewi wanted. He grimaced when Romie licked his palm. He would get his hubby for that later.

“What’s polnating, Uncle Dewi?” Sabelle looked at her uncle with wide, oak-colored eyes. Her eyes were one of the few physical Melodyhowl traits she possessed.

“It’s what flowers do to make more flowers.”

“Oh.” Gaining the answer, she then promptly changed the subject. “Is Azy better?”

“Not yet. Soon though.” Dewi placed her on the floor. “Why don’t you play with Romie and Milmar for now and I’ll be back up to play with you myself before bedtime.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” He waited until his niece returned to playing with the blocks before leaving.

Dewi was at the top of the stairs when he ran into the Cat. Kitty jumped back and hissed, then tried to bolt around him. With hackles raised, he changed into a wolf. Lips peeled back as he snarled and snapped, daring the feline. When the Cat took a step back, Dewi took a step forward. He was going to tear him apart for daring to invade his home.

Kitty hissed and growled as he continued to back away. He changed into cat form, still growling, hair fully puffed out. He swiped at the Lobo’s nose with his claws hoping to distract him long enough for a head start. He swiped again, then turned and bolted down the stairs, but the Wolf was on his tail.

Oben started pouring drinks for thirsty, pollen-infected patrons, keeping his eye on the WairCat Dewi mentioned. The Cat had to be new to the area. He didn’t recognize him and the fool feline had dared to challenge Dewi, the Alpha of Oak’s Holm.

Kitty kept prowling ever closer to the stairwell, growling and hissing at anyone who dared near it. It would probably be a good idea to ask the Tree to grab the Kitty and hold him until he calmed down, because he didn’t want to get into a fight with a Cat; it hurt when they scratched.

He shook his head. This was ridiculous. Sure, he had heard about the effects of a Tree Nymph’s pollen, but he hadn’t expected this. Even he was experiencing the call. He shifted his body trying to ease the discomfort his semi-aroused prick was in.

Poor Neak. If it was this bad for the males, it had to be twice as bad for her. Not only did she have to fend off the males, but she also had to deal with her own call to mate and she wouldn’t know whom to trust. It did make him wonder, once she found a mate, if these episodes would calm down, like it did for the WairFolk with the New Moon Frenzy or even when a Wair was in season. Once mated, a female Wair’s season only tempted her mate.

He hoped Dewi returned soon. Kitty was getting obnoxious and there were more patrons with noses lifted to the air filing in by the minute. He couldn’t keep up with the demand. Mistress Moon, please don’t let one of the Bears wander this way. Just what he needed a pollen-infected Grizzly. Even more important, he hoped Zabasti had left the area already—he didn’t know if Dragons could be affected, but he didn’t want to find out.

“Back away from the stairs or lose a life, Kitty,” he barked when the Cat appeared close to bolting up the stairs. “I will report you to Luna if you so much as lay a hand on the Tree Nymph.”

The Cat yowled but circled away from the stairs.

Oben wondered if the Tree would be willing to move the stairs to a different section, maybe behind the bar so patrons couldn’t sneak up to the living area. He decided to talk to Dewi and Neak about the matter, because this could prove dangerous. That Cat was intent on getting to Neak and he was afraid that if Kitty managed to sneak by, he would try to rape her. Just as scary, what if Kitty hurt Sabelle in his search for Neak?

He swore when a scuffle broke out between an Elf and a Mage and rushed over to put a stop to it. When he turned around Kitty was nowhere. He swore again and started up the stairs, but was nearly run down by a large, black and white, longhaired cat and the even larger, grey wolf snapping at its heels.

The cat jumped up on tables, scrambled up and over the patrons, the wolf never far behind. Finally, Kitty bolted for the open door and ran out of the pub with Dewi still chasing it, determined to tear him to pieces.

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