Spirits of the Earth

@GoblinFae
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Dusk was just settling over the little, but busy town of Bowliend nestled half inside and half outside of a small patch of the vast Draconi Forest. Well, little town compared to a huge city like Ketra, but the town boasted a veritable feast of services most truly small towns and villages could not say they had. There was a market, blacksmith, tanner, tailor, two taverns, an inn, and The Pumpkin Patch, a middle-class brothel that only wished it was as classy and high-collar as The Randy Peach in Ketra. Even so, it was the largest building in town.

It was in the sprawling, three story mansion that Lorelai Dell lived and worked her entire life. That particular evening was rather typical. The nymph was freshly bathed to prepare for the after dark crowd the establishment always attracted, although the building was technically open around the clock and she had entertained two clients already – hence the bath before dressing in her seductive, nearly-transparent dancing outfit consisting of a very skimpy top and flowing, colorful skirts that would spin and nearly float during her dances.

If she were lucky there would be several men to entertain through the night. Roald would be pleased with such a busy schedule. The more men Lorelai pleased, the more money Roald would make, and the more kindly he would treat her. It was simply how life worked here and the nymph was used to it. She'd never known anything else.

Before full dark the lounge was already nearing capacity, and her appearance caused immediate wolf whistles and cat calls. All the girls got similar treatment – but she was the most popular and the favorite of some of the best paying clients the brothel could claim.

As she glided towards the stage, hips already swaying teasingly and a flirty smile playing on her lips, Lorelai braced herself for another long night of dealing with groping men who were too poor to afford her and the unappetizing grunts of those that could afford her but weren't exactly treasures to be won in her bed.

Elsewhere in the town a young man began his trek home. The negotiations regarding a trade between his pack and the town had run on far longer than he had intended. What he had thought would be a done deal had quickly unraveled into resistance and higher demands for good that were not worth what he was bargaining for. Having arrived at dawn it had been the man's expectation to be home by noon yet it was now dusk and he was only starting on his journey back and with none of the hoped for goods. The pack would have to wait another day before possibly making the much needed trade.

It was as Logan was making his way back towards the forest that would lead him home that he stopped in front of the massive building. Without fail whenever he came to town he always felt compelled to stop and wrestle with himself to not go in. It was not that he was a male who regularly went looking for such dalliances. In fact it was quite the opposite. Logan while having had a few sexual encounters in his life, was not interested in anything more. He was a werewolf and hoped to wait to find his mate. Yet, without fail whenever he passed the Pumpkin Patch he could not help but feel a growing need to enter the establishment.

Feeling downtrodden and a bit curious he at last gave in to his urges to at the very least take a look inside. He did not see any harm in entering if it would at last quell his curiosity and allow him to go about his business without the constant inner struggle. He had absolutely no intention of staying or paying for any lady's services. The idea made him cringe as he found it disrespectful to the person with whom he would spend the night. If Logan was with a woman he would want it to be because of passion and desire, not money.

Logan found himself inside far faster than he had expected once the decision was made. The scents inside were overwhelming though and quickly made him dizzy. Sweat, perfume, and lust made him want to gag and retreat yet now that he was inside the pull to remain was even stronger than it had been outside.

He was instantly captivated by a tiny little woman moving past him to the stage where musicians had already begun to play. The men around him whistled and howled putting the true wolf in the room to shame. His cheeks flushed and he shifted uneasily as he was noticed by some of the staff and directed closer to the swaying woman. Logan only had eyes for her though as others tried to flirt with him. She was so incredibly beautiful and her scent-the werewolf shuddered in bliss as he picked it out above all the rest. The woman smelled of rain on a summer day, of morning dew on fresh grass, of home and hearth. Logan did not know what it was about her that mesmerized him so but he was caught, unable to breathe, unwilling to move as she kept him in a trance.

He knew then that it was not the building but her that had been the force driving him to come inside. Was she a siren? She certainly had already won his heart and she had not even spoken a single word. If only his packmates could see him now. He was unabashedly smitten and enthralled by the little woman.

 Something in the feeling of the room, the atmosphere of the building, changed drastically for Lorelai halfway to the stage. If not for her decades of training and natural grace she might have actually faltered over the sudden sense that something was overwhelmingly off the normal course. The strangeness of it was unsettling and impossibly comforting at the same time. It was the most peculiar sensation she had ever felt, but her nerve-endings tingled to life in an unfamiliar way even as she reached the stage.

It wasn't until the nymph turned to the crowd that her eyes found the giant of a man that had come in – someone she had certainly never seen before. Lorelai would have noticed and remembered a man so huge if he had visited before!

Having men stare was nothing new to her, but this gaze was full of an intensity she had never known, she actually had paused to stare back before impatient men seated near the stage began making lewd suggestions of other things she could do if she wasn't going to dance. Shaking off the strangeness, Lorelai began her semi-scripted routine; although no two performances were ever exactly alike she did follow a general guideline when performing for guests in the lounge.

The dance was Essyrni and involved fluidly graceful movements made with the entire body, in its native country performed by native dancers the movements would never be so sexualized or seductive, but this was not Essyrni and this was not considered fine art here.

Her pale green eyes kept being drawn back to the behemoth newcomer, and though her smile never slipped, she felt disturbed by the sight of the other girls attempting to flirt and entice. She should not feel that way. It was their job to entertain the guests and get newcomers to do more than simply look and browse. They wanted him to buy time with one of them. That was what this business had always been, and would always be, about.

It still bothered her.

Lorelai felt like the dance would never reach an end, but she finally spotted another girl making her way towards the stage, ready to take her turn in the spotlight. As the music began transitioning to change for the next girl's dance, the nymph gracefully vacated the stage, never having been quite so eager to be finished. Now she would be expected to find a client and quickly return to her room with him.

She had no shortage of eager men to choose from. Several immediately accosted her. It was not unusual for them to do so, as they eagerly jingled gold at her, some even laughing their foul alcohol-laden breath on her and questioning if they could split the bill with one of their eager friends. Or more than one.

Normally she would flip her hair and flirtatiously wiggle as much money from all of them as possible before leading them away, but strangely she did not wish to do that. Her eyes were trying to peek over their heads to catch a glimpse of the giant stranger. Given his towering height you'd think such a task would be easy, but with her short stature she found seeing over the small crowd around her a little difficult.

Her dancing fanned the flames of his desire for her. Logan wanted her but it was so much more than want, he needed her. She was heaven and though he was unworthy he still would beg on bent knee for her blessing if she would but cast her favor his way. It felt like seconds and eons all rolled into one as he watched her dance. She was like a flower dancing in the wind, bending this way and that but never breaking or falling, always popping back up to feel the sun on her face.

It was only when the dancing ended though that Logan finally snapped out of his trance, noticing the women fawning over him and the crowd forming around the little dancer. He easily brushed aside the women, doing his best to be polite but it was obvious just how distracted he was. He still only had eyes for her.

The crowd of dogs surrounding her, for there was no better way of describing the men, continued to squabble for her attention. Some back away though at the tall men's presence though it could have also been due to the faint growling that was coming from him as he jostled his way to the front. The man who was standing directly in front of her was being particularly slimy in Logan's opinion. The werewolf placed a firm, almost painful hand upon the cretin's shoulder and gave it a squeeze while relocating him to the side so that Logan had an uninhibited view of his little angel.

"Might I have the honor of this dance?" he rumbled deeply, offering his hand out to her as he stared into her eyes with such intensity that some of the other men complained about waiting his turn. His heart was racing and yet outwardly he had never felt so at peace as he did standing right in front of her. Even his wolf howled joyously as it took in her scent and basked in it.

The other women only persisted for a few moments more as they were brushed aside, finally noticing where his attention was so firmly fixated and giving up with a mixture of amused laughs, teasing, and hints of jealousy. A few of the other women certainly disliked just how popular the nymph was with so many clients. Every whore was in competition with the others to bring in the most money, after all, and such rivalry was encouraged by the owner.

Lorelai was beginning to feel a mix of frustration and panic as she was trapped by the crowd of men, having little choice but to take one just so that the rest would allow her through. Why this would panic her was a mystery, as normally it was easy enough to choose whomsoever jingled the most coin at her.

Not so today, but thankfully a mountain appeared to dwarf the little hills. Green eyes were drawn up and up as her giant stranger forcibly moved the last of the men out of his way. She should not encourage or allow such behavior. The clients were not allowed to fight physically. It was one of the few rules of the lounge. Fights could get out of hand and one of the valuable whores could accidentally be damaged so trouble-makers were removed.

However, the moved man immediately took a couple steps back when looking up at his rival for the nymph's attention. Since there was only now grumbling about the man's eagerness and expressions of desire for her time, Lorelai simply threw placating smiles at the men that had been usurped. She did not care for them, their leers, or their jeers.

All her focus was on the hand extended to her, so strange and gentlemanly. Very unlike the crude, crass behavior of the other men, and his choice of invitation was unusual and quite appealing. Everything about him was appealing. She had known that she would give herself to him tonight from the moment she'd seen him; although perhaps the nymph did not yet realize just how enormous the gravity of the situation was just yet.

"You can have." Lorelai purred softly. There was a brief, disgruntled chorus of protests. After all, this stranger had not even offered her payment yet. Her fans immediately offered to beat any price the giant freak offered, but they were ignored as she took his massive hand and began leading him through the lounge to the staircase that would take them up to the second floor where her room was located.

There was an enormous four poster bed that looked marvelously comfortable dominating the room, and reds were the primary colors. The luxury was not truly for her, but for the clients she entertained. Her use was just an unavoidable benefit.

Logan's heart soared, his wolf crowing in delight as the little lady led them away from the masses and up to a quiet room. He did not even notice the bed as the door shut behind them and they were at last alone. There in the stillness with nothing but the two of them did Logan finally realize who she was, or rather what she was to him. His mate at last!

The werewolf wanted to shout with joy, to jump and dance spinning her around in her arms yet with great restraint he kept still. His body shook with the need to scoop her up and claim her right then and there but the gentleman in him demanded he be more than another pervert client. This was his mate, Logan would treat her accordingly.

With his head bowed and his hands now at his sides clenched in tight fences he spoke softly, his voice sounding tight with need. "F-f-f-forg-g-give me, Little Flower." He breathed in deeply to try and calm his nerves only to instantly regret it as he her scent wrapped completely around him like a warm blanket, fueling his internal fire while distracting him further. "Oh Luna save me," he breathed, letting his head fall back and eyes squeeze shut.

Logan was panting now with the effort to not pounce her. "Logan," he growled slightly, tapping a hand against his chest as he fought the change, "werewolf." One finger pointed out towards her as it began to turn into a claw and the hair on his body became thicker like fur. "Mate mine. Need you," Logan whined, the change now coursing through him and forcing him to his knees. "Don't be scared," he hurried to say as he at last lost his control, praying with the rational part of himself that she had understood before the wolf took complete control and rose to stand in full unashamed glory before his mate.

The massive beast raised it's head scenting the air and let out a howl of delight. She has been found! She is mine! My mate completes me! it seemed to cry to all who dared listen. With massive hands, the werewolf reached out to the petite woman to take her into his arms. Despite his loss of control, Logan was still himself as he had always been and would do his very best in whatever form he held to be gentle and loving to the woman who had claimed his heart before he had ever seen her. He only hoped for both his and the wolf's sake that she did not decide to run. The need to claim was his primary objective. Should she run the need to hunt would surface and there would be little hope for gentleness on his part. As it was the moment he touched her Logan knew he would lose himself entirely to the act of mating, unable to regain himself until the act had been completed.

All the way up from the lounge Lorelai's anticipation had been building. The nymph may not have thought much of most of her clients or what she did with them, only doing what she was supposed to do, but this was different. She wanted this. Her giant stranger had not even offered any money, but she did not care. He could pay her nothing and she still wanted him.

Most unusual!

Now alone in the relative privacy of her room, she had turned to her mountain of a man and...almost nothing had happened. She was accustomed to being grabbed or at least fondled immediately but this strange one merely clinched his hands at his sides and breathed deeply. Lorelai knew he was taking her scent – he was a werewolf. That had been obvious to her once he'd drawn close to her down in the lounge. They weren't common, but she'd entertained werewolves before, and they were often enough quite rough clients.

A tilt of the head was given, an expression of confusion coming to her face as he apologized, calling her Little Flower. How precious. Little Flower, she liked that, but why ask forgiveness? He had done nothing to her.

Lorelai figured he must be apologizing for taking so long – or for his obvious slipping of control. She could see the gradual changes coming over him as he introduced himself in a rather brisk fashion, simple fashion. This was all very strange. Werewolves could be quite wild, true, but this loss of control seemed different to her. She was the cause, but she had done nothing yet. The few wolves she had serviced had only become erratic and rough after she had overly excited them.

When he called her mate, the nymph's eyes fluttered closed and she placed her hands over her heart, the mere word sending a little shudder through her as Logan hit his knees and finished changing from man to hybrid. His howl would have been heard far beyond this room. In the enclosed space it was unbearably loud, but it only caused her to open her eyes, heart jumping and skipping in response to his call. Her green eyes roved over him unabashedly. Logan had started out unbelievably huge, but now he was downright enormous. Lorelai had never been so dwarfed by anyone before, not even the hybrid forms of the other wolves that had known her had been so massive.

"Not scared," Lorelai assured him quietly as he reached for her, although that wasn't entirely true as she stepped into his arms quite willingly. There was a sliver of apprehension squirming through her. Her desire for him had not cooled, but seeing his form now, glorious and beautiful as it was, she wondered if she could handle him properly. It did not matter. He had called her mate and she wanted him, wanted to please him, and wanted to make him howl for her again.

She let her fingers run through the fur on his abdomen, he was so huge and she was so tiny, her head did not even reach his chest proper in this form! "I Lorelai. Like Little Flower too."

The beast shivered beneath her touch as his arms firmly closed in around her, caging her close to his chest. Logan nuzzled her skin, enjoying her soothing scent while he allowed his hands to roam over her body. She was perfection and now that he had her, he was never going to let her go. He just could not and selfishly he knew he would refuse to now even if she begged him to. There was just no backing down now that the wolf was in charge.

Lorelai, the name was as beautiful as its owner. The werewolf did not think on it long though as his thoughts became solely focused on claiming her once and for all. He could take things slower after his current frenzy had died down. Later Logan would court her and love her properly as such a sweet little lady should be. But in that moment the primal beast was in charge and there was only so long it could be restrained before it finally grew too impatient to be calmed.

Logan scooped his mate up as if she weighed no more than a feather and quickly laid her down on the edge bed. His claws tore her gown from her body although not nearly as gently as he would have preferred. He did his best to not injure her but his lust and need for her was becoming unbearable as his senses became more and more overwhelmed and stimulated by her very presence.

A crooning sound echoed from his throat when he lowered himself to cover her body with his own, his neck bending to nuzzle and lick her throat. "Mate," he rumbled discordantly with pure pleasure. His hands which had rested on either side of her head to keep him from crushing her slid down eagerly to grip her hips so that he could at last become one with the other half of his soul. All his life he had searched for her and now at last, his Lorelai, his Little Flower would be his and his alone.

It was almost intimidating to feel those massive arms encircle her small frame. Maybe it should have been intimidating! Lorelai could feel the muscles beneath his fur and Logan felt like steel covered in a fuzzy pelt. Somehow the beast, so powerful that he could easily crush her if it so pleased him, did not inspire fear, not like those smaller ones that had used her before. This one could have easily torn those one to pieces and yet the nymph felt a warm sense of safety even as those clawed hand-paws moved over her in a way that oozed lust, but somehow also something else. Something...tender?

Lorelai couldn't be sure, but she liked whatever it was.

Her beast lifted her from the floor easily before moving her to the edge of the bed. That anticipation spiked again, reaching new levels of want and trepidation. She had no doubt that he would be able to smell her desire, especially as he ripped the thin, fragile cloth from her body. The nymph would have been upset to have her belongings destroyed under normal circumstances, but for now she did not care in the slightest.

No, she only cared about one thing at that moment. His crooning sent shivers through her small form and Lorelai gladly tilted her head back, exposing her throat to him with a submissive whimper as his tongue lapped over her heated skin.

Her mountain – Logan – he used that word again. Mate. She didn't fully understand what he meant, but knew that she was on the edge of something monumental, it almost felt like standing on the precipice of a cliff, about to fall down, down, down into an abyss from which there was no return. It was thrilling and frightening at the same time, but her green eyes looked up at the beast maneuvering himself to cover her body with his and she felt a sense of rightness with what was happening as his fingers gripped her hips almost painfully.

Lorelai moved one hand to run her fingers through the fur of his cheek. " I trust."

It was his mate's words that finally caused his fine line of restraint to shatter into millions of indecipherable pieces. Logan howled again although not nearly as loudly as the first time as he finally and fully enclosed himself within her embrace. From there it was nothing more than a blur of pleasure and passion for him infused with her sweet scent. Unbeknownst to him inhuman grunts, growls, and whines spilled from his throat as he experienced lust as he had never felt it before. He was a beast possessed by the need to dominate and claim.

His hands dug into her hips as he bore down upon her in quick, rough strokes while his head remained bowed over her to offer surprisingly gentle nips and kisses along her chest and shoulders. Logan was no longer coherent in the sounds he made but there still remained a part of him that desired to make love to this beautiful woman. With what little conscious thought remained during his frenzied haze he fought to keep his touch gentle and from causing her any lasting pain.

It was not long though before his movements increased before coming to an almost painful halt. Logan saw white and followed his instincts, biting down firmly on the juncture of Lorelai's neck and shoulder until he tasted blood. Joined on both a physical and spiritual level, the werewolf howled once more his pride and claim before carefully scooting them both more fully onto the bed and rolling them so that she was nestled and resting upon his broad chest. His hands which had held so firmly to her hips before moved to wrap warmly across her back in an attempt to keep her warm and safe against him.

She almost felt like a ragdoll at the mercy of the beast, but Lorelai was happy to surrender. While her nose might not have been on the same level of a werewolf, the nymph could distinguish the unique, heady musk that was Logan's scent, and it filled her with desire. He smelled like freshly turned earth and the forest. It was both comforting and erotic.

Lorelai had thought she was prepared for him, but the nymph didn't think that anything could have truly prepared her for that first thrust. All the air was forced from her lungs in a shuddering gasp. She had not been wrong; Logan was enormous in all aspects. For a moment she wondered if there was even room for air in her tiny body with him filling her until she felt she might burst, but then she sucked in a breath and the little spots that had begun forming in her vision cleared.

Despite her initial shock and discomfort from being unaccustomed to a man, or beast in this case, of such size and ferocity, Lorelai still was not afraid or in any real pain. If anything hurt it was the grip on her hips, there might be bruises from that later, but she could not really feel pain from that in the moment. No, everything was focused somewhere else entirely and that was eliciting whimpering moans from the tiny nymph. She would have wondered if her lover could even hear her cries of passion over his own, or given his single-minded lust, but then it was hard to think when one was receiving the sex of a lifetime.

Such a frenzied pace could never be maintained, and the last thrust was much like the first – driving all the air from Lorelai as her eyes widened in shock as Logan swelled, unbelievably, even larger inside of her, but that was not the only surprise awaiting her as her fuzzy lover sank his teeth into her shoulder and neck, drawing out a hoarse cry of both pain and pleasure as his seed filled her and sent her mind reeling into a dizzying climax.

Lorelai truly was at Logan's mercy. Not only because of his size and strength, but now she felt the pull inside her with each movement as he scooted them back on the bed before rolling them over so she was sprawled limply across his chest. The nymph felt fairly boneless as she panted against his chest, attempting to catch her breath and regain her full senses after such an overwhelming experience.

Her shoulder didn't hurt as much as she thought it should after having such massive jaws and sharp teeth clamped down on it. If anything her hips hurt more where his fingers had held her so tightly. Maybe she was just dazed overall. Lorelai had never felt anything like what had just happened. She entertained many men, all day, every day, but none had made her feel anything at all like Logan had. Not only with pleasure, but often she found herself feeling dirty and used after servicing a client, and laying there nestled against the chest of her beast she didn't feel used or dirty at all. She felt strange.

Safe, protected, cherished.

Those were not things she was used to feeling. Lorelai curled her fingers into the fur of his chest before burying her face against him as well. Her whole body began to shake and then she began to cry softly.

The sounds of her tears and the shudder of her tiny body upon his chest instantly set Logan on alert. He himself began to whine and whimper in distress at her sounds. Logan lifted on hand to gently stroke her cheek with the back of his knuckles, ever wary of his claws that he kept curled into the palm of his hand for fear of harming her.

"Mate hurt?" he asked, his tongue struggling to make the proper sounds around his elongated muzzle and sharp teeth. His own fur became matted not only with her scalding tear but his own in shame. He had brought his precious new mate to tears with his haste and lack of attention. Had he only been more careful, taken things slower, given her more warning this surely would not have been the result.

Logan curled himself up, still cradling her gently in his arms as he struggled to sit up and not cause either of them further discomfort in their joined state. He lowered his face worriedly to hers, nuzzling at her cheek and softly licking her tears away. "Thorry, thorry, thorry," he whimpered pitifully as his tears began to accidentally drop upon her shoulders.

 The whines and whimpers that suddenly began escaping her beast were quite pitiful, and Lorelai felt guilty for the sounds. She had upset him and that was not at all what she wanted to do. The nymph had wanted to please him from the moment she'd laid eyes on him, and she thought she had up until this point. Of course he was upset that she was crying like some silly amateur girl. This was a house for pleasure, not catering to crying whores.

And that was what she was. Lorelai hadn't thought that she really minded this life, and she really hadn't – until now. Perhaps the nymph had not known what she was missing and that had made prostituting herself to any man that paid easier.

As it was, the soft caress of his knuckles on her cheek caused her to cry harder as she shook her head furiously when he asked if she was hurt. No, Lorelai was not hurt, at least not by him. It wasn't a physical ache or pain that brought tears to her eyes. She was a whore and Logan would leave once he was finished and for some unfathomable reason that hurt her deeply. It was both forbidden and unwise to grow attached to clients, and until now she had never had an issue with maintaining a cool professional distance.

She felt him shifting their positions a little and gave a pitiful whimper, fingers curling tighter into his fur, probably pulling it a little, but she was afraid of letting him go. Probably an unfounded fear considering the bulge between them that still locked her body firmly to his. Lorelai sniffled, trying to control herself as his warm, wet tongue began swiping across her face, cleaning the tears from her cheeks.

It might have been funny, the way he talked through that gaping muzzle and wicked teeth, but there didn't seem to be much humor in her at that moment. She shook her head and buried her face against his chest, effectively clinging to him. "Not hurt, not hurt," The nymph cried softly, "I whore, you leave."

Her words confused her. Why would she cry if she was not hurt. "Mate fear?" he asked next. Logan fought to understand the meaning of her final phrase. "Mate want me leave? Why? Love mate!" He sniffled and buried his face against where he had bitten her, tenderly licking the spot in apology. His arms clung tightly to her, fearful of her leaving him despite the fact he felt if she wanted to leave she should be allowed to. "Wanted mate come with," he lamented pitifully. "Mate no want. Mate hate?" Logan cursed his inability to speak properly in this form. It made things all the more difficult and frustrating for a person who was known in his pack for being the most eloquent of speech. To make matters worse his post mate-claiming cuddle was not going at all like he had always dreamed. Instead she was sobbing in his arms, clinging tightly in fear while begging him to leave. It was a nightmare and he was helpless to fix it.

Now Lorelai was the one confused. Why would she be afraid? He had not harmed her, far from harmed her. The nymph had never enjoyed herself more in bed with a man, brief and frenzied as it might have been. Nobody had shown her such passion before! Of course, why would they? She was a whore; passion and tenderness were for other women, not ones like her. Women with lives of their own, women that didn't belong to creepy old men that rented them out to other men.

His tongue sliding over the wound he'd inflected caused Lorelai to whimper again. It only stung a little, but that wasn't what had caused the nymph to whimper. When he touched his bite mark it sent little shocks of pleasure through her. That was his mark. By its very nature the bite was primal and possessive, and considering it thrilled her.

"Not afraid! No hate. Never hate. You...love?" Still sniffling, she lightly nuzzled her face against his chest, scrubbing more tears from her cheeks. His fur was wet with her tears and she felt bad for it, but there was something more important.

Lorelai looked up at him, green eyes wide and almost pleading. No one had ever loved her, and with anyone else in the whole world she would have found the idea of being loved impossible. For some reason she really, really wanted Logan's love, his affection, his tenderness. It wasn't even a fully conscious need, but something deep and instinctual that drew her to him and didn't only want but truly needed him. "I go with?"

Logan nodded his head wildly. "Love mate." Had he been in his human form then he would have leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers. Unfortunately his muzzle got in the way of that, making him frown briefly before he attempted to place a true kiss to her forehead. Her green eyes staring up at him so wide and full of innocence made him want to hold her closer, to protect her, to never let go of her for as long as he lived.

Then she was asking him something and for a moment Logan was sure his heart had stopped with the way it heaved and shuddered so harshly. He could not tell if she was asking him to take her with him or what he meant by wanting to. Ever hopeful though, he rubbed her back lovingly.

"Mate want? Live with, be mate?" His eyes shifted back and forth across her face, looking for any signs of disgust or distaste. It was all so confusing to him what it was she wanted and his greatest fear was losing her forever because of his own foolishness. Logan let go of her back to gently run his hands up her arms to cup her cheeks. "My mate alwayth. Heart, thoul," he temporarily winced at his lisp, before continuing, "everything to me. Want mate come with...mate want?"

It was a lot to take in. Logan said he loved her. How could anyone love her? Lorelai was just a common whore, and he knew absolutely nothing else about her except her less than respectable profession. She didn't know anything about him except that he was a massive man and a werewolf, but that didn't stop her heart from swelling and jumping at the odd kiss to her forehead. Not to mention the shivers that went up her spine as his hands moved over her back so lovingly.

Lorelai continued to look up at him, green eyes searching his face for sincerity even as his beautiful wild eyes roamed over her face in a hunt for something as well. A tentative smile formed on the nymph's lips as his massive hands cupped her face as they looked at each other.

"I go with. I stay with...mate. Mate love. I want." Yes, she wanted all of that! What would it be like to be loved? She didn't really know, but she definitely wanted to find out. All her life had been spent in this brothel, it had never occurred to her to try to leave. Lorelai had never considered a life outside of these walls. It was almost as if she'd been waiting for this very night and for Logan.

Surely he was not hearing right. She did want to come with him. She did want him. As it sunk in his heart began to race, his breathing sped up, and a toothy grin split his face in half. Logan snatched her in close, nearly crushing her in the process as he snuggled her in close in joy. "My mate, love my mate. Mate coming home," he cried, yips interrupting his words and his tail wagging beneath them. "Never lettin' go," he told her firmly. Logan desperately wanted to kiss her right then but his excitement kept him from being still long enough to do so.

He stroked his claws gently through her hair while smiling down at her with the widest of smiles. "Mate happy? Mate really want me?"

Oh that grin, that enormous, goofy, wofly grin! Lorelai giggled at him, although she found the air pressed from her lungs again that night as he pulled her into a crushing hug, causing her to squirm a little in his arms, which in turn created some very interesting sensations from where their bodies were joined.

On some level she had realized that they were still connected and not only because he was still inside of her, but that he was actually stuck inside her. Lorelai had never had that happen before, not even with the other werewolves. It was strange, but she also kind of liked it. The nymph liked anything that connected her to her beastly lover, even his too-tight hug.

Lorelai sighed happily, cuddling against him closer as he informed her that he was never letting her go, which was something she was currently perfectly okay with. She peered up at him with a giddy smile as his claws combed through her hair. "Really, really want!"

Logan grunted quietly at all her shifting, trying not to let on how it was affecting him and making him want to start their frenzied love-making all over again and now most certainly was not the time. She made him so happy though. He was practically bursting at the seams with his excitement at finally finding her and being able to hold her in his arms. For this reason it was with a great deal of control he struggled to force himself back into his human form. It took several attempts but eventually he shrank and his fur receded back into the warm skin of his human form.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, Little Flower," he murmured softly while running a gentle hand across her cheek. "It is no excuse at all but when a werewolf finds his mate, the one he is meant to spend forever with, we are not completely in control of ourselves. I was a complete monster to you and I do apologize. I hope you can forgive me lovely one. My name is Logan and well as you know I'm a werewolf. I um I am part of a pack of werewolves not far from here. They're all very nice and will absolutely adore you I'm sure so you needn't fear about that.

"Um, um," he fumbled with what to say while his hands rubbed up and down her back lovingly and nervously. "Is there anything you wish to know Little Flo-I mean Lorelai? I know it's a bit late to be talking after what we've," he blushed fiercely, finding himself unable to say the actually word, "but I'd like to try and make amends with you. I really do love you and I would do anything for you. I hope you can understand that one day. I know it's all so sudden."

Lorelai blinked at Logan owlishly as he began transforming his shape from the massive wolf-beast to the still quite gigantic man that she'd first laid eyes on and wanted. That it was a struggle requiring a great amount of effort was obvious to her, and she wasn't sure if she should be frustrated with him for taxing himself when he didn't have to or pleased to be able to see his handsome human features again.

There was another entirely separate part of his changing that immediately left her curious. It had been the strangest sensation to feel him shifting inside her. He was smaller and softer now, but that was generally pretty normal after a man was spent. She wiggled her hips experimentally to see if the change in his size and shape had dislodged the huge mass of flesh that had previously trapped their bodies together, and almost immediately her curiosity was answered with the sensation of his cooling seed oozing from its previous place within her.

For a moment she felt a pang of disappointment, how strange, everything was strange about tonight. Lorelai was forced to take herbs preventing her from becoming pregnant, as most clients didn't want to hire whores with unsightly baby bumps – or stretch marks. For some reason knowing that she wouldn't become pregnant with Logan's baby tonight made her feel a little sad.

All of this only took a few moments, and then the nymph was blinking her eyes and looking up at her sweet mountain again. A soft smile crossed her lips as his fingers brushed across his cheeks, and a great warm surge of affection wrapped around her heart as he began rambling nervously. She could sense how nervous he was, but didn't quite understand everything he was saying, as some of it didn't really make sense to her.

"No hurt. No monster. Felt good." Lorelai tried to assure him gently, raising her arms to wrap around his neck, fingers lightly running through the hair at the nap of his neck. She herself began feeling a little nervous. He wanted to take her with him, wanted her to stay with him, and she surely did want that badly, but a whole pack of werewolves? The nymph had not realized that it would not only be him. Logan assured her that they would adore her, but what if they did not?

"Why bite?" She asked, leaning back slightly with a curious tilt to her head. One hand left his hair to lightly touch the bite mark he'd inflicted. It really didn't hurt all that much, a little sore, but not really painful. There was nothing accusatory about her tone, and Lorelai neither looked nor felt angry about what he'd done, she was just curious as to the purpose or reason.

He smiled softly to know that she had enjoyed it despite his lust-induced rush. "Next time I hope to take it slower for us both but I am glad you were able to enjoy it this time also." Logan just could not believe how fortunate he was to have her in his arms. This little woman made him feel as if he had swallowed the sun and now was glowing with its brilliance.

Her question about the mating mark brought him down to earth slightly but he was glad that it was something he could answer and that she seemed for the moment to not be very distressed. This," he replied with another fond smile as he gently traced the mark with a fingertip, "is called a mating mark in werewolf culture. It shows other wolves that we have a life-partner as well as bonds a mated pair together. In human terms you could consider it the equivalent of a married couple's wedding rings I believe, although I feel that the mating mark is much more special. The bite, and I do apologize for not being able to ask your consent Lorelai, I was run completely by instinct you see, but the bite is my promise to you to love you, to cherish you, to take care of and protect you all the days of our lives. That is of course if you'll have me."

"It you. I enjoy." Lorelai said softly, almost shyly. After decades as a whore much of the shyness had been wrung from her, but with Logan she felt it creeping up on her. It must be because she actually cared about what he thought of her. He wasn't there to use her and leave. It was hard to believe what he was really there to do - love her - but she trusted and believed him.

Slow or frenzied, she knew that it didn't matter, any way he made love to her was going to make her feel good - physically and emotionally.

The nymph listened with rapt attention as he explained the mating mark he'd created when he bit her. She supposed it made sense that werewolves wouldn't be able to just wear wedding rings, what with all their shifting shapes. So if the bite was like a wedding ring in symbol, did that mean she was married to him? Well, they called it mated, so she supposed it was like the same thing.

She had more questions, but despite his improved conversational skills, hers were still quite lacking. Lorelai didn't want to upset him with more understandings because of a poorly worded question. Instead she moved her fingers to lightly caress his cheek. "I have. I want. Mine."

It occurred to the nymph that he'd not kissed her properly yet. Lorelai hated kissing clients, it felt too intimate with people she only associated with because she had to, but this was not like that at all and she found herself quite curious as to how his lips would feel and taste. Drawing herself up, because he truly did tower over her, she pressed her lips against his softly to encourage him to give her what she wanted but felt too shy to ask for.

His heart fluttered at her affections. Lorelai's speech patterns did not bother or deter him from wanting to communicate more with her. Instead they delighted him; she was an adorable and sweet treasure. The only thing stopping him from asking her more questions about herself was her lips gently pressing against his own. For the briefest of moments he stilled, frozen in pleasant surprise but even that did not last. Logan smiled into the kiss, his hand coming up to cup the back of her neck lovingly and without thought. His fingers played with the hair at the nape of her neck, gently massaging at the base as he allowed their kiss to be soft and gentle. There was no need to rush now and as much as he desired to take things slow he let her lead.

"Thank you," he whispered against her lips once they were forced to part for air. He kept his forehead resting against hers, unwilling to part from her even that much. Logan gave her another chaste kiss before remembering to ask after her own comfort. "Forgive me Lorelai you seem to have bewitched me," he teased, "would you like to lay down? Are you comfortable?" The man blushed fiercely once he recalled how they were still intimately joined. He became flustered then, not knowing how to bring attention to it and whether or not he should move and possibly cause her discomfort by doing so.

The kiss met and exceeded her expectations, Lorelai loved how soft and warm his lips felt against hers in the sweet, gentle kiss. The nymph loved the way his lips curled against hers as he smiled, and the way his hand came up to lightly hold her in the kiss, skin tingling at the loving way his fingers caressed and massaged the back of her neck. Everything about the way he kissed her just filled her with this warmth and happiness. Nobody had ever touched her or kissed her like Logan did.

She adored it, craved it, loved it.

A soft giggle escaped her as their lips parted, her green eyes looking up at him giddily as he thanked her, though she wasn't sure for what she was being thanked. The kiss? It felt strange to feel so appreciated, but the nymph would be lying if she said she didn't like it. Being cared about filled her with quite the torrent of emotions, which were only increased as he asked after her comfort.

Lorelai shook her head, no, she didn't really want to lay down. She pulled her head away from the position of resting their foreheads together, but only so she could duck her head down to nuzzle and worm herself in his lap so her head was tucked under his chin. Despite how good Logan may have made her feel, her entire body ached slightly and she felt tired, but she didn't want to lay down or sleep in this bed ever again. For too many years she had been forced to bed men in this very room and all she wanted was to disassociate herself from it.

It felt wrong to be here with Logan. This wasn't where they belonged.

"We go home?" She asked tentatively, a hopeful air to the question. Yes, Lorelai thought she was definitely ready to go home.

"Yes," Logan beamed down at her with teary-eyes of adoration, "we can go home." He leaned in to give her another soft kiss before pulling back. "Would you like a hot bath though before we go my Little Flower? The lake at home is not very private," he explained feeling rather bashful that he could not provide the same comforts for his mate that she was accustomed to. "I'm sorry if my home isn't what you're used to. We'll work together to make it home for you though. I want only the best for you." He cupped her cheek gently. "Is there anything you need to pack to bring with you?"

All Lorelai could think about had been to leave this filthy place, and hearing his affirmation that they could go home only made her all the more eager to go with him, but the offer of a hot bath did sound nice. It would help soothe her aching muscles and they drying substance between her legs could be cleaned away before it became truly unpleasant against her skin.

"We bathe." She agreed softly, although she was curious about the lake now. Did the wolves bathe in that? Well, modesty wasn't exactly a commodity in her life so far, why she should be upset at a lack of privacy going forward was anyone's guess.

As for packing...that was going to take a great deal of effort to convey. How was she to explain to him that she didn't really own anything to pack? Roald was not going to just let her take things with her. Lorelai bit her bottom lip anxiously as she thought about how Roald was going to react when Logan took her away. He wasn't going to be pleased, but she was not staying.

She belonged with Logan now.

Which brought her to another thought. He wanted the best for her, was apologizing for his home not being "what she was used to" and that made her frown lightly up at him. She was used to not having a real home, living with him would be a profound improvement in the most important sense. "No home here. You best."

He smiled down at her, offering her a very warm hug in exchange for her kind words. "I just hope it will be home enough for you when you see it," Logan murmured, nuzzling against her jaw. "But we'll make it right together. I promise you that." The large man gave her a gentle kiss to her cheek before sitting up straight, though his arms remained locked around her. "Now you must forgive me my flower but in my haste to care for you I have forgotten some useful details." Logan flushed from the tips of his ears down his chest in embarrassment. "How does one go about getting a hot bath in this establishment? This is my um," he lowered his head in shame at feeling so weak to come inside though he knew now that it was her and not sex that had drawn him there, "first time."

The nymph wished that she knew how to reassure him that she would certainly feel at home with him, no matter the house itself. Lorelai closed her eyes and sighed softly as Logan nuzzled against her jaw before placing a kiss on her cheek. Part of her didn't care about the bath or even leaving, she just wanted to bask in all this affection and soak up as much of his attention as Logan would give her.

Green eyes opened and looked up at her mountain of a beast as he sat up straight, still holding her tightly. A smile tugged the corners of her mouth upwards as he blushed so sweetly as he asked about getting the promised bath. His first time, how cute! Well, she knew it hadn't been his first time with a woman, but the nymph was definitely certain it had been his first time here. It would be his last time at any brothel for that matter.

"Down hall, on right. It ready." Everyone had seen Lorelai bringing a client up to her room. One of the younger girls that worked at laundry and cleaning would have prepared a bath in anticipation of her needing one once she was through with entertaining Logan.

"Thank you sweetheart," he breathed, giving her yet another kiss before gently adjusting her in his arms so that he could carry her with an arm under her knees and one around her back. Prior to standing, Logan quickly snatched up the blanket off the bed and pulled it as best as he could around her to preserve as much of her modesty as he could. His mate's comfort was at the forefront of his thoughts and he would not allow the lecherous eyes of the brothel's other patrons to upset her.

He found the room easily enough despite the men and women loitering about in the hallway either waiting their turn or switching in and out of rooms. Logan curled himself protectively around Lorelai, refusing to allow the curious and hungry eyes to drink in her form. Once they were inside their desired room, he locked it and walked over to try and place her in the tub. "Here we are my little love. Just relax and allow me to take care of you."

It was strange and endearing, the way her giant lover treated her so protective and tender. Lorelai smiled widely, a light blush coming to her cheeks as she turned her head to press her face against his chest, arms clinging to him tightly as he wrapped her up in a blanket and lifted her so easily. He was so big and strong! The nymph had never felt so safe and treasured before, and she was still trying to fully grasp everything that had happened to her that night.

It was hard to figure out how she could go from a whore to someone's "sweetheart", "Little Flower", or "love" in the span of a few heartbeats.

It hardly mattered how, she guessed, as long as it was true.

The way Logan curled his body protectively around hers as he carried her down the hall caused Lorelai to giggle softly against his chest. She was used to being leered at and ogled! It was still insanely sweet that he wanted to shelter her from those lusty gazes, and soon enough they were once again alone in one of the bathing rooms, steam rising from the hot water.

"No," She gave a whining protest, lips pouting as she clung tightly to Logan as he tried to set her in the tub. He promised not to let her out of his arms and Lorelai was not ready to leave those protective arms. "We bathe. You in."

Logan grunted as he was nearly thrown off balance but his mate's sudden clinging in the moments of him bending and attempting to release her. He was forced to stumble slightly before being able to straighten with a chuckle. "As the lady commands, though I am more than willing to be your servant for your bath, sweetheart." He carefully lowered them both into the tub, although this time he did not release her even once she was settled once more into his lap, the blanket he had wrapped her in long forgotten by the door.

"Just lay back and relax, my Little Flower. Allow your unworthy mate to worship you as you deserve," he whispered against her ear while taking up one of the bars of scented soap to lather up against a soft bathing cloth. "I don't know what I did to deserve you. You're so...perfect, so full of light," he told her reverently as he began to gently scrub her back and shoulders. "I'm sorry I'm sure that sounds stupid." Logan blushed and bowed his head some. "We just met but I can't help it when I'm in the presence of such an angel."

"You in." Lorelai insisted, when he said he would have been willing to be her servant for her bath. Being pampered by him would be nice, but she was determined not to leave his arms until she was home unless she absolutely had no other choice. The nymph was still afraid that if he let her go she'd wake up and realize he was just part of a fanciful dream.

Thankfully Logan did as she asked and a delighted sigh escaped her as they settled into the hot water together. With minimal shuffling in his lap, Lorelai was able to make herself very comfortable.  Large green eyes only became larger as they widened, blinking up at him owlishly when he spoke of being unworthy and worship and things he thought she deserved.

"You say pretty things." Lorelai blushed deeply, still not sure what to make of being called such endearing things as sweetheart, angel, and little flower. It made happiness bubble up in her and such joy was not something familiar. The nymph squirmed in his lap slightly, the cloth rubbing against her skin as he cleaned her very sweetly only made her think about his hands running over her body as they had far too briefly earlier.

"I like." Even if his declaration of being unworthy made her uncomfortable.

"I'm glad," he replied, washing her arms as lovingly as he had her back. "I hope one day, every day actually, to show you how much you mean to me." Logan smiled sappily as he focused on cleansing her entirely. Her shifting about was slightly distracting but he tried his best to ignore his body's own desires for her comfort. He feared her feeling obligated to pleasure him because of the brutal way he had mated her or her own occupation. The werewolf did his best to fight down his urges even as his hand with the cloth caressed every part of her from her delicate shoulders to perfect bosom and below. "Do you have interests Lorelai? Hobbies?"

Lorelai's eyes had slid closed as Logan bathed her, the nymph could have purred like a cat she was so content and relaxed. Between his hands, his words, and the hot water her skin was flushed and warm. While she didn't really understand how Logan could love her, how he could mean so much to her, as he claimed, but she felt it would be bad luck to question such a good thing. If she looked to closely, dug too deep, would it all fall apart?

"Interests? Hobbies?" Her voice came out soft and breathy, her words questions as her eyes remained closed and she leaned further against his chest. She could have fallen asleep if not for having such a strong desire to be with him, to speak with him, to touch him. "Grow flowers. Knit things. I do."

Lorelai hummed happily, letting one of her hands smooth over his chest in curiosity. Her mate, to use his word, was so big and strong. She could feel the power beneath her palm as she caressed him lovingly. "What you like?"

Logan could not say it or think it enough. Lorelai was perfect. Her hobbies just suited her perfectly. Already he was imagining seeing her curled up and knitting clothes for their children and the house surrounded with flowers. For a moment he allowed himself to think of having a family with her before pushing that thought away gently to be cherished at a later time when they were much better acquainted and she was comfortable in his home and in his bed. He would never force it upon her and even if she wanted to never have children, he would still love her unconditionally.

The thought of flowers though gave him ideas he would act upon far sooner though. Right then as he slowly dipped her back into the warm water, a hand upon her back and one behind her neck so that he could soak her hair, he decided that he would bring her fresh flowers every day without fail. Logan would see her happy even in the smallest details of their lives.

Once her hair was wet, he once more gently raised her back up, careful not to jerk her too quickly or harshly even as he scooted himself forward to slouch in the tub, creating a reclined surface for her to lay forward upon. Only then once she was rested against his chest did he begin to soothingly massage shampoo into her hair and against her scalp in slow, circular patterns.

"When I am with the pack I love to play with them, from the littlest child up to even the alpha there is always sport to engage in. They're my family, took me in when I was but a child myself with no kin of my own and spoiled me rotten if you ask me," he chuckled softly. "We wrestle and scuffle playfully, no one gets hurt mind you but it's always good fun. Sometimes we swim in the lake and I enjoy that too. But um when I'm on my own I suppose I just enjoy um...being as it were. I like to lay out in the sand and feel the sun on my face or look at the stars as they move across the sky. Boring stuff really, nothing actually useful like yours," he laughed again.

Lorelai melted against her gentle giant, oblivious to his dreams of their future family or his notion to supply her endlessly with flowers. All she knew was that her body and mind were languid, a relaxation unknown before tonight had spread through her limbs. There wasn't the slightest flicker of tension or fear as Logan lowered her towards the water.

Her eyes remained lightly closed as her hair was soaked in preparation for cleaning and the nymph was content to be manipulated as her lover saw fit. It seemed so natural to her, allowing herself to submit to him so completely as he carefully pampered her. Lorelai gave a happy little hum as she sprawled against Logan's chest, looking very much as if she were on the brink of nodding off completely.

Although once his fingers began massaging her scalp soft little moans passed her lips. No one had washed her hair for her since she was very little, a very, very long time ago. Even then, no one had washed it like this. She hadn't known something so seemingly innocent could feel so stimulating.

Instead of focusing on the heat pooling in her belly, Lorelai tried to concentrate on his voice. It sounded so nice, having lots of family to love and be loved by. A grin tugged at her lips imagining him playing and wrestling with someone. He was so huge! Was that only a werewolf thing? She didn't recall those few werewolves she'd known being anywhere so big as he was.

The swimming sounded really fun. The nymph had never even seen a lake let alone had the chance to swim in one. Maybe he would take her swimming with him. Not that she could swim. Maybe he would teach her.

"Sound nice. I not have family. Never have family. We...family?" She opened her eyes to look up at him shyly. If mates were like husbands and wives then Lorelai supposed that they were family now.

"Yes," Logan replied emphatically and without any hesitation. "And my family will gladly be your family if you'll have them. The pack is so loving and accepting," he tried to assure her as his fingers worked to continue stroking through her hair. Unable to resist her, the werewolf paused to lean up and press his lips tenderly against her own. "I can't wait to have everyone meet you when you're ready. That is if I can stop kissing you." He laughed as he stole another kiss. "You my Little Flower are in serious danger of never being leaving my arms. I don't think I'm ever going to want to let you go."

His excitement and eagerness to show her to his family was evident; Lorelai couldn't help but feel a little of that jubilation herself, but there was also nervous anxiety. Logan seemed convinced that they would just love her and welcome her with open arms. The nymph couldn't feel quite the confident in her reception. It wasn't that she did not trust her mate, not at all, but to go from no family and unloved to overflowing with adoration from not only him but his family seemed daunting and overwhelming.

It was impossible for her to stay focused on her worries and reservations, though. Not with her gentle giant giving her sweet, soft kisses like that. Lorelai practically purred when he called her his Little Flower, green eyes glinting happily. Flowers were beautiful and she loved them. It made her feel so...special.

"You hold. I like. Never leave arms. Okay." She gave a soft little smile before moving in to kiss him like he had kissed her - soft and loving.

Logan could not keep himself from humming and smiling against her tender lips. His massive arms cradled her close as if she were as delicate as a feather, he was so afraid of hurting her, of breaking her given their very different sizes. "Thank you," he breathed against her skin, unwilling to draw away from her even enough to look her in the eye. "Thank you for being strong until I could find you, for being strong even when I did," he told her, pressing little pecks to her cheeks and nose. "I thought I might never find you," he admitted fearfully. "My precious mate, my tiny Little Flower, my Lorelai."

For being strong? How was she strong? Lorelai thought she was probably very weak. Especially next to a werewolf! The little nymph could feel the strength in Logan's arms, although he was very gentle with her. Almost too gentle, as if afraid that she would crack like glass under his affection.

It confused her, but his kisses on her cheeks and nose drove away other thoughts.

She brought her hands up to lightly cup his face, letting her thumbs brush and caress over his cheeks lovingly. Lorelai could sense and feel his fear as he admitted that he hadn't thought he would find her. Before tonight she hadn't even known he was looking for her. It seemed odd to have been sought after, even if he hadn't known it was her until earlier when he had seen her dancing.

"You find. I yours. Now. Forever." Lorelai assured him quietly, pressing a few soft, nibbling kisses on his lips.

"Just as I am yours," he replied between her kisses, hoping his message got across to her that he would be her everything just as she was already his. Struggling to not become distracted by her sweetness, Logan shifted to sit up again and lean her back, her head and neck still cradled in his palm. "Best get this soap out of your hair before it gets in your eyes Little Flower. Can't have any tears from such beautiful eyes. Salty kisses are the worst," he teased her, hoping that he did not seem unappreciative of her attentions as he worked to lavish her in his own.

He combed his fingers through her hair to gently rinse it, massaging her head each time his hand reached her scalp again. "Such soft and pretty hair. I didn't even know it could be so soft," Logan chuckled bashfully, blushing lightly as he looked at her with nothing short of pure love.

While Lorelai was already very accepting of the fact that she belonged to Logan and with Logan, it hadn't fully sunk in that he was as much bound to her as she was to him. Yes, the little nymph felt surges of nearly overwhelming pleasure and happiness each time her beast told her how he loved her, told her how perfect she was, but to someone like her...well what right did she have to claim possession over anyone?

Although she already knew that feeling of possessiveness. That irrational jealousy she had felt earlier as the other whores had attempted to draw her mate's attention while she danced.

"Like mate kisses. Salty not care." A soft whine was followed by a pout as Logan gently leaned her back into the water so that he could rinse her hair. She hadn't wanted to let go of him, but did anyway. Once the soap was gone she could focus on him.  Of course her unhappiness with being displaced melted quickly as he massaged his fingers through her hair so gently. Lorelai felt her eyes close and a soft humming vibrate in her throat.

With a sound that was almost a purr the nymph tilted her head back just a little more into the water as he complimented her hair, which was currently a very dark green because of its wetness. She opened up her eyes, which were sparkling slightly as she gazed up at him adoringly. "Mate has pretty hair."

While Logan's hair might have been "just" brown, Lorelai couldn't believe how very long it was - much longer than hers.

Logan chuckled softly while shaking his head. "But your mate cares. I would not see you cry if I could help it. I would not be a good mate to you if I let you suffer when I could have helped keep you from such misery." He leaned in and kissed her again softly as she complimented his hair, making him laugh softly again. "Thank you, Little Flower although I would beg to differ my Lorelai. Your hair is like none I've ever seen before and suits your perfectly. No one in the pack has hair like you. I believe you will cause quite a stir as others may desire such beauty too and may seek to replicate it. Lucky for me though I have been gifted with the unequaled original for as long as she'll allow me to bask in her presence."

Misery? Lorelai tilted her head, looking up at her mate with confusion. While the nymph's life might have been unconventional and not exactly happy, she couldn't think of a moment where she'd felt true misery - except maybe that brief moment she feared that Logan would be leaving her once he was finished with a whore like her.

Now that she had him, knowing that he was going to take her away from this place forever to his home where she would be loved and protected she simply couldn't imagine feeling misery about anything at all.

The nymph squirmed in his lap as Logan talked about basking in her presence. Her cheeks heated with a blush, part pleasure at just how much he seemed to admire everything about her and part self-conscious embarrassment. It wasn't as if she wasn't used to admiration. Men had admired her for many, many years, but only through a haze of lust. They had wanted to use her for their own selfish needs and hadn't cared for her beyond her ability to satisfy them.

Logan was so very different. That's why it made her feel suddenly shy and embarrassed to hear him speak to her like that. He admired her for reasons other than pure lust. It was unfamiliar and caused little flutters in her heart and stomach.

"Mine forever." Lorelai hummed softly, it was unclear if it was a statement or a question, but it hardly mattered as she tilted her head up and pressed a firm kiss to her mate's lips, one hand tangling lightly in his hair at the back of his neck and the other trailing down his chest beneath the water until her fingers found and wrapped around him.

"Yes," he agreed, his words turning into a surprised hiss as she unexpectedly took him quite literally into hand. Logan inhaled sharply, the breath whistling through his nostrils as he shifted to lean the upper half of his body into her and try to angle his lower half away from her hand. Every line of his body was tensed in concern and worry.

"You don't need to do that," he murmured, his voice cracking as if he was a gangling teenager once more and not a full-grown werewolf. "I don't want to hurt you more or again even." He tried to reach for her hand to draw it away before he embarrassed himself or worse did something they would both regret. "This is about you, not me Lorelai. You never have to do that again unless you want to. I understand you need time and this is too fast."

For a moment Lorelai thought the sounds coming from her mate were a good sign. She liked the idea of taking his breath away. Except it wasn't quite going like the little nymph had thought it would. In her mind Logan would have been appreciative and receptive to her advances, but instead he'd tensed up and seemed to be trying to get away from her touch.

Her first reaction was confusion, drawing her hand back uncertainly when he'd reached for it. What didn't she need to do? Had she done something wrong? Confusion was joined by anxiety.

Nothing was ever about her. Why was this about her? If they were mates, shouldn't it have been about both of them? It didn't seem right that it would revolve solely around her. Why would it be wrong for her to touch him like that? Logan had certainly not held back in touching her as much as he liked earlier.

"Not hurt. Not fast. About us. I want." Lorelai sucked her lower lip between her teeth, lightly biting it as she peeked up at him, looking quite lost and unsure of herself suddenly.

Logan kissed the palm of her hand in apology. "My Little Flower," he breathed nervously against her damp skin. "I don't want to risk hurting you then and I don't," the werewolf choked on his next words, regret leaving a bitter taste in his mouth as his plans to properly court her and allow her to ease slowly into their new life together were not going accordingly. "I don't want you to hate me later, Lorelai." He looked at her with the saddest pair of puppy eyes without even realizing that he was. "You're too wonderful."

Why did Logan say such things? Lorelai felt even more confused, and the sadness in his beautiful, soulful eyes made her heart clench and ache. Did she cause him pain? She never, ever wanted to hurt him and couldn't believe that he would ever hurt her. Why did he think he was going to hurt her? It made no sense to her.

The nymph brought both hands up to gently cup her gorgeous werewolf's face, expression very, very serious as she looked Logan in the eyes. "No hurt. Never hurt. Never hate. Love mate."

Lorelai rose up so she could place a very sweet kiss on his forehead, then kissed the tip of his nose, before finally pressing a tender kiss on his lips. She didn't know why he looked so sad, but she just wanted to kiss whatever pain he held away. It was her hope that using his earlier words - love mate - would help.

He shivered in delight and awe of her sweet kisses. By the time she reached his lips he was ready to kiss her back, to hold on and to never let go. "You'll tell me if that changes?" he asked her hopefully, his eyes looking at her with worry but also with trust. Logan would have much to learn with a mate at his side to share in his life and he to share in hers. However, he was already beginning to understand how much trust she was putting into him and that it would be disrespectful not to do the same. "I don't want you to suffer because of my own stupidity."

"Not suffer. Not stupid. I tell. You make happy." Lorelai really wished she could better express to him that he truly had not and would not hurt her. She wanted him to understand that despite their very sudden joining that she was very happy to have been claimed. The nymph had never been loved, protected, or had a home before.

Logan gave her all of that without reservation and it made her little body ready to burst with appreciation and affection for her big beast of a mate.

Given his reaction to her touch, she decided it was probably for the best she didn't do that again just now. That didn't stop her at all from grabbing the cloth and soap he'd used to scrub her and begin gently and lovingly to wash him in return. Lorelai figured starting at his shoulders and working her way down would be the best approach - her beastly mountain seemed adorably skittish.

"I make happy?" It was an innocently given question, but she looked up at him obviously seeking reassurance that he was pleased with her.

"So, so indescribably happy," he whispered as tears formed at the corners of his eyes and his hands rose to gently cup her face. "At home the elders try to tell you how special it is finding your mate but," Logan shook his head, feeling choked up. "There are no words for how wonderful you are and how happy I am to have you." He gently brushed his lips against hers a bit hesitantly before slowly becoming bolder, kissing deeper, and pulling her closer in a warm and protective embrace. "I love you Lorelai. I really do."

The nymph wondered what life would have been like growing up in a place where you were so loved and they told you about things like mates and how wonderful it would be. Lorelai had never thought about love or finding someone to love her. Whores didn't have love. They had clients. Nobody had ever even suggested she could dare hope for more, let alone actually get it.

She leaned into the embrace, arms wrapping loosely around his neck as she tilted her head into the kiss and peeking up at him through lowered lashes as he confessed his love for her once again.

"Love you." Lorelai whispered happily as she moved to kiss him again. She liked kissing him. It was sweet and intimate and made her feel warm and loved. Everything about him made her feel warm and loved and safe. Things that had been severely lacking in her life until he'd walked through the doors.

Logan melted at her soft declaration, his heart all but racing out of his chest as his wolf howled in joy within him to hear that she loved him. He hummed softly into their kiss, pulling her closer still as he fought with himself to be gentle. When they pulled apart for air though the werewolf had made up his mind. He could not wait any longer, Logan hated this place his mate called home. It was loud and smelly and filled with men whose eyes spoke of a hunger he did not wish directed towards his precious little flower.

Scooping her up carefully and stepping out of the bathwater, he hurried to pull a towel over her so that she would not catch a chill. "Time to take you home my lovely," he murmured against her skin. "I want nothing more than to hold you in my arms in our soft and warm bed. I never want to let go of you. You smell too good," he teased lightly as he struggled to both dry her off and hold her at the same time. His lips were never too far from pressing a kiss here and there as he did so.

For her the brothel had been a sort of home all her life, and so Lorelai didn't notice the things that made Logan dislike the place. The noise, the smells, and the leers were all simply part of her life to that point. Even so, the place had never been a true home to the nymph. Such places were no real home to anyone.

She tightened her hold on her huge mountain of a mate as he stood and stepped from the tub. By now she was coming to terms with the fact that this was all actually happening.  Her disbelief had all but vanished as she laid her head against Logan's shoulder with a happy sigh.

Her eyes lifted to his face, a spark of excitement kindling within them as he wrapped her in a towel and attempted to dry her. "We go home now?"

Lorelai still had some trepidation at the idea of meeting Logan's family, still unsure that they would like her despite his reassurances, but that nervousness couldn't really squash the excitement of meeting these people that her sweet mountain so clearly cared for and loved. Her main fear was simply their disapproval at her profession, but whore was something that it seemed would be placed far behind her going forward.

"Yes," he replied softly, his heart warm at the idea of bring her home and his face shining with love. "We're going home, my little love. That is of course if you're ready to. We shan't leave until you are." Logan nuzzled his face against his shoulder and neck. "I have barely known you my Flower and already I cannot have enough of your closeness. "Luna help us both if you should ever bore of me."

Wouldn't leave until she was ready? Lorelai tilted her head shyly, leaving a little kiss on his cheek as he pressed his face against her neck. Her voice was a timid whisper as she nuzzled against his ear softly. "I ready."

Pulling her head back she looked at him with a slight smile. "You dress?"

Being naked didn't much bother her, but she didn't know if he planned on walking home naked. Or if he would prefer that she have more than a towel on as they went home.

Logan looked down at her and then down at himself. "Well I suppose I probably should. Humans really are rather finicky about such things now aren't they? I mean at home you're more than welcome to be in either state. Nudity isn't really a um...concern I suppose you could say." He shrugged sheepishly. "Whatever makes you happy and comfortable dear. That's what matters most to me," the werewolf tried to assure her.

Well given her life up to this point, Lorelai didn't have a lot of problems with nudity, but most men came and left the brothel dressed. She was given to understand it was consider improper to be undressed out in public, and her limited experience outside this building seemed to support that assumption.

"No care, just want home." She didn't have anything that truly belonged to her that she could take, even if the nymph thought she might be able to get away with taking one dress or outfit with her when she left.

They still hadn't spoken to the man she had belonged to before Logan claimed her. She wasn't sure Logan even intended to, but maybe he hadn't thought that far. He seemed only able to think about her.

Logan nodded slowly, giving her a tight squeeze before attempting to put her down briefly. "I doubt the establishment would take too kindly to me running around pantsless my Flower. I know I asked before but I just wish to be sure. Is there anything you need or wish to bring with you? I can't promise they'll hold onto anything if you forget it. Do you have any keepsakes or things that are special to you to take along? I know clothes can be replaced but I don't want you feeling rushed out of here because your mate is so impatient to have you home," he chuckled, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Lorelai wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of being put down, but the nymph felt the floor beneath her feet and pressed herself close to the lumbering giant that claimed her. She felt uneasy with those strong arms no longer supporting her. Some part of her still afraid she would be snatched away from the promises of love and care Logan offered her.

"No things." She murmured softly, lowering her eyes to the floor. It seemed too complicated a thing to try to explain to her new mate that she wasn't taking anything because she had nothing to take.

Nothing except him.

The moment she was down on the ground, Logan busied himself with wrapping the towels around her better and working at drying her beautiful hair. The way she pressed against him made him want to howl with joy that his mate was close and all was good with the world.

"Nothing," he asked with concern, cupping her cheek in his massive hand to bring her eyes to meet his own. "No dresses? No trinkets? Nothing, my flower?" He felt a flame of anger begin to smoulder within his chest at the very idea that his precious mate had been abused and mistreated due to his own negligence at not finding her sooner.

A soft blush came to the nymph's cheeks as she pulled the towels around her tighter, holding them in place as her sweet mountain wrapped her up so lovingly. It was the way he began tenderly drying her hair that had put the rose in her pale cheeks, though.

When his hand, so very large and warm, cupped her cheek Lorelai reluctantly brought those huge green eyes up to look into his blue ones. She could sense the anger building in him as he questioned her, but knew that none of that anger was directed at her. Her dear Logan wouldn't be angry with her, though how she knew that was anyone's guess.

She shook her head, once again lowering her eyes sheepishly. "Only mate."

With her so close and looking so adorably cute, Logan could not feel angry for long. His expression softened as he tugged his mate back into his embrace and kissed the top of her towel-clas head. "Then your mate will see to your every desire from now until the end of time precious flower. Whatever you want I will do my best to provide. I promise you that my little mate."

He nuzzled his face against her, breathing in her unique scent and smiling unconsciously like a loon in love. "Let me get dressed and I'll take you home. How does that sound?"

A soft, shy smile tugged at the corners of Lorelai's lips as her mate's expression softened, but a moment later she was swallowed in his arms. The nymph took the opportunity to bury her face against his broad chest, breathing in his soothing scent and basking in the warm security that his embrace provided.

His sweet words had her little heart beating and fluttering as if it might burst from being overfilled with joy and love. Strange as having so much care and love being directed at her might be, Lorelai was loving all the very positive attention - something that had been painfully absent in her life until now. She could only look up at him in awe and adoration, blush kissing her normally pale cheeks as she nodded with a very simple reply. "Home."

Hearing her say home had his heart thrumming in his chest like a mighty drum. Logan's face practically split in two with the warmth and width of his toothy grin. "Home," he repeated softly while rubbing his hands up and down her shoulders before pulling away reluctantly. His eyes never left her though as he hurried and stumbled into his clothes despite his damp skin. Logan could not stand the idea of letting her go for even such a short amount of time now that he had found his precious mate.

The moment he was clothed once more albeit haphazardly, the werewolf was scooping his little mate back into his embrace. He nuzzled at her hair and face, enjoying her pleasant scent that caused a soft rumbling of pleasure deep within his chest. Kissing the tip of her nose he murmured words of love and adoration as he finally made his way towards exiting the brothel's main door. It was time to return home at last.

Soft hums of happiness cooed out of the nymph as Logan rubbed gently at her shoulders. Lorelai had never been so happy or excited in her life. For the first time ever she was going home. This place was no real home, it never had been. It had merely been a place to wait until her mate finally came to claim her.

While Logan dressed quickly, she felt as if she was out of his arms for far too long. Little shivers went through her by the time those warm arms scooped her back up where she belonged and wanted to be. A soft giggle escaped her as he nuzzled her face and kissed her nose. She tilted her head to kiss at his chin, then nuzzled her face into his neck as she clung to him.


As they made their way down the halls towards the exit, the sight of them sent other girls scurrying. Before they could leave Roald appeared, red-faced and looking rather enraged. "Stop right there you thief! Unhand my property and pay for the time you've already wasted or I'll have you arrested."

Lorelai shrank back fearfully, pressing herself closer to Logan with a whimper. "Home?" She murmured against his chest uncertainly.

A low rumble started from deep within Logan as his grip upon his beloved mate tightened and he turned slowly to face the screaming brother-owner. "I do believe you are quite mistaken sir as for one Lorelei is a person and not your property. She also happens to be my mate," he growled flashing a bit of tooth as he glared fiercely over her little head. "I am not a thief, quite the opposite in fact as I intend to honorably compensate you."

Reaching for his coin purse, he eventually tossed the whole brown drawstring bag onto a tabletop in front of the beet-red man. "Now you will accept this as my dowry payment for this young woman's removal from your service and into my home. What you do with the money is up to you but if you bother me or my lady any further then I will be forced to return to your village with my pack leader to officially announce to your town elder that our trade agreements are at an end and your people will receive no more protection or furs. Choose wisely as I assure you my people can afford to return the ways of old. The question is, can yours?"

Roald opened his mouth to furiously interject that yes Lorelai absolutely was his property, because the nymph was a slave that had belonged to his family for quite a long time - at great profit to both his father and himself! Slavery was perfectly legal in Adela and he had every right to demand his property be returned to him. His teeth clicked shut and he shrank back a little, face still red with fury, but feeling a bit intimidated now that he got a real idea of just how big Logan was and the use of the word mate to describe the small woman being cradled so very possessively.

Of course he knew about the arrangement the town had with the wolves. It certainly wasn't something he thought of fondly, especially in this moment as his best whore was being claimed by one of the unclean beasts. Not that he had ever minded taking coin from wolves willing to pay for time with one of his girls, but this was very different.

Feeling quite backed into a corner and with his hands tied, Roald cursed quite colorfully and snatched the bag of coins from the table. The whole town might string him up if he single-handedly destroyed the relationship with the pack.

"This ain't a fraction of what she's worth." He grumbled, cutting a fierce glare at them both. "Fine, take her, but get the hell out of my business and don't you or any of your flea-bitten friends be coming back. I'm not letting you raid my brothel on some whim of wanting to claim whatever pretty whore you set your sights on!" Not that he understood how the whole wolf-mate thing actually worked, only that girls claimed as mates were to be given to the wolves.

Logan continued to glare coldly at Roald, while waiting for him to finish. When at last he did he finally spoke in a voice that commanded obedience and respect. "I will be reporting this incident to my alpha. Except to your village elder to hear of this, Roald. My people will not be treated as inferior after all we do to live in harmony with yours."

Clutching his mate closer to his chest, the wolf bowed out of the room, his head held high as he finally took his precious one home. When they were at last out of sight of the village he finally spoke. "I'm sorry my little flower for the trouble I have caused you. He was right about one thing though. There is no amount of gold or coin in this world that could equal your worth to me. You are my world and more."

Roald paled at the threat, or warning, but continued to glower as they left, still shaking with rage at what he perceived to be a substantial loss to his business. Sure, he had other girls, but Lorelai was the most experienced and most popular. There was nothing else he could do.

The nymph had also been shaking as they left, but her reaction was one of fear. Yes, Logan had promised to take her home, and she trusted him, but Lorelai had still been afraid that she would be stopped from leaving. Before setting her eyes on her huge, gentle mate leaving wouldn't have even crossed her mind, but now that she had him, well, staying would have been unbearable!

By the time they were well out of town she had calmed considerably. She was nestled quite happily in Logan's arms, face tucked against his chest as she clung to him. His words washed over her and she hummed softly, nuzzling against his chest. "No sorry. We go home."

Home was all she could think about. She couldn't wait to see her new home. Her real home.

The werewolf carried his mate as if she was the most precious cargo in the world. In truth, to him she might as well have been. Logan could not get enough of her scent, her warmth, the beat of her heart that matched his own. Lorelai was his world now and he would challenge anyone that dared try and take her from him.

With her in his arms it did not seem long at all before he was slinking his way into the pack's territory and towards his humble little home. Most of the pack was asleep, so Logan took it as a blessing that he had yet to run into anyone on his way home. If his luck held then he could deal with them all in the morning and his Little Flower could get some much deserved sleep in a soft bed.

His luck was not meant to be though as the last voice he hoped to hear called out softly from behind him. "You're home late, Kotori," the man chuckled as the youngest pack beta whirled on his heel. Logan did not answer as he instead hunched forward in an impossible attempt to hide his mate from sight. "Alpha," he greeted gruffly, refusing to meet the other wolf's eyes.

Qaletaqa laughed as he realized what he was seeing. "And we thought you'd never find her. Thought you could sneak her in without noticing?" He moved to step forward but paused as Logan growled harshly and bared his teeth. The smaller man simply raised a brow, paying the insubordination no heed as it was not uncommon for newly mated pairs to be irrationally overprotective of their loved ones.

"Go hide her away, Kotori. You'll have the whole pack at your door by morning though. It was a pleasure to meet you, Miss...?" he trailed off not knowing her name but hoping she might provide it herself.

Lorelai was in a state of pure bliss as she was carried away from her old life. She could feel the strength in her mate's arms as they carried her effortlessly, but also the extreme gentleness of his hold. His heartbeat sounded steadily in her ear, a soothing rhythm that could have lulled her easily into a deep, restful slumber. No bed had ever been as warm or comfortable as his arms were.

Indeed, the petite nymph did doze lightly in the safety of her mate's arms as they made their way home. Their meeting had admittedly worn her out a little, and the hot bath before leaving had been quite relaxing. The little woman had been primed for sleep!

She blinked awake when she heard a man laughing. It wasn't her mate, she could tell immediately, but she also heard her mate's voice, and his growling practically vibrated his chest against her.

Lorelai used one hand to stroke him soothingly, peering from his arms at Qaletaqa curiously as he went from addressing Logan to speaking directly to her. She wondered why her mate growled at him, they seemed friendly.

"I Lorelai." She supplied shyly, glancing between them before snuggling even closer against Logan's chest, if it was even possible.

Logan was soothed in the heartbeat it took for Lorelai to touch him. Never in his entire life had he felt something so calming work so quickly, yet knowing that she was safe and secure in his arms was enough to quell the beast so that the man could see that his Alpha was no threat to him. Nevertheless he hugged the little woman closer to his chest as he stood up straight so that she could see.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lorelai. I am Alpha Qaletaqa," Qaletaqa intoned in his deep rumble of a voice. He bowed his head in greeting, allowing his eyes to lower as well, much to Logan's surprise. "Welcome to our pack dear sister, we have been waiting for you for a long time. Take good care of him for us. We love him dearly." The Alpha smiled warmly at her before nodding his approval to Logan. In a matter of two words, the newest packmate had already won the Alpha's heart. She was precious and he had no doubt in the world that she truly was made just for his own young beta.

While it was pleasing to feel him relax under her touch, Lorelai actually hadn't even questioned the idea that her touch would have soothed the growling beast. She just instinctively knew that her mate would calm beneath her hand. It still had a little smile curving the corners of her mouth and she nuzzled against his chest with a happy little hum.

All while watching the other man's display. Alpha meant boss, or leader, she was sure. Her mate's superior. Although her little smitten heart suggested that there was no one superior to her mate in her eyes. She bowed her head, returning the gesture and lowering her gaze for a moment.

Then the little nymph turned her face up to look at Logan adoringly. "Love mate." She offered as assurance to the alpha that she did, indeed, plan on taking good care of him, and that she loved him too. Except she tried to express it in two simple words and let the way she looked up at her mate with utter idolization say the rest.

"And I love you," Logan cooed back, pressing his lips to her forehead. He did not even notice as his Alpha faded back into the shadows and left the lovebirds to themselves. "I'm sorry I woke you. Just a few more steps and I can tuck you into bed and you can go back to dreaming. That alright?" He cuddled her close even as he moved them forwards and fumbled with trying to open his- their front door while still cradling her close.

It was obvious the two of them were locked in their own little world, because Lorelai was also oblivious to Qaletaqa's departure. Her eyes closed and a huge grin had brightened her entire face as Logan pressed the tender kiss to her forehead.

She was in utter heaven.

"No sorry." The little nymph purred, nuzzling and stroking his chest lovingly. She was still tired, but was glad to be awake. Lorelai wanted to see her new home! When he fumbled with the door she squirmed slightly in his arms, attempting to get down. If he needed his hands that was fine. She wanted to actually look at their home before settling back again.

"Show home?" She questioned, looking up at him with a smile.

Logan set her down the moment she indicated that she wanted to though he still kept an arm about her waist. He could not bear to let her get too far from him as of yet. "Well uh you see," he fumbled with his words as the door finally opened and his cheeks flushed darkly, "it's really a mess, my dear. I wasn't exactly expecting to, well to find you and that's really a lousy excuse but yeah. This is it," he finished weakly while staring at the floor.

He could not stand to see the look on her face as she encountered the piles upon piles of dirty and clean clothes scattered about every inch of the small home. His home carried a musty smell of dried sweat and dust that in the past had never been high on his list to fix but now suddenly made him cringe and want to bury his nose in shame.

"I'll show you to bed if you're tired dear. I promise the rest of the disaster can wait until morning when I've...managed to try and make it a bit more presentable. I'm so sorry dear," he apologized profusely.

Lorelai didn't mind the arm around her waist. Not one bit. Her little hands moved to grip his forearm gently, still instinctively wishing to cling to him. She was as loathed to be separated from him even a tiny amount. Keeping a skin-to-skin contact with him soothed her.

At least until the door opened. The little nymph vaguely heard his attempted explanation, but her nose crinkled slightly at the sight revealed to her.

From the moment she'd first gotten a small whiff of the smell that was her mate, she'd fallen in love with it. This was his smell, but musty and dirty. Also dusty, she realized with a soft sneeze. Well this wouldn't do at all. How was she to sleep comfortably with her home in such a state? Lorelai peeked up at him as he tried to convince her to go to bed.

"I clean." She said, gesturing at all the strewn about clothing and the dust and the cobwebs. Her mate was not a very neat man! Well, that was okay. Now he had her to take care of him and their home.

"NOOOOO!" Logan cried out, sounding far more panicked than he had meant to. His cheeks flamed crimson as he tried to shift her away from seeing all the mess. "No no no no no that won't be necessary my dear. I'll...take...care...of it," he continued in a tight, clipped manner before clearing his throat. "You must be so exhausted my dear. Let me show you where to bed and tomorrow I can give you a proper tour of the place. Would that be alright?"

It was true that Lorelai had been tired and sleepy just minutes before, but after meeting the first of Logan's pack mates - and the alpha no less - the little nymph was practically buzzing with energy that was both nervous and excited. How could she be expected to simply go to bed now?

Of course there was also the issue of the mess.

How could she be expected to just rest when her new home was in such disarray? She would lay awake all night thinking about the dust and cobwebs and dirty laundry. No, no, it would simply never do. Lorelai needed to tidy the home if she was ever going to get to sleep.

"I clean!" She repeated herself, gesturing at the mess once again as if that should settle it. Surely he would understand that she simply couldn't leave the house like this until morning.

The massive werewolf groaned at her instanced. He felt completely ashamed of himself that he had not provided for his mate properly. He had brought her back to a messy and disorderly home that she now felt the need to clean immediately. She was not to be his slave and if that is what she thought of him then he had failed her most miserably.

"Oh Little Flower, sweet, sweet Lorelai no dearest. You don't need to clean. I didn't bring you here for that. I'm sorry I didn't provide you with a proper home but I do promise to make it up to you. For how little my word is worth I promise to do better by you. I just...I never thought I'd have a mate. Cleaning wasn't something I ever thought much of until...now." Logan whined softly, his head hanging in shame. Had he been in his wolf form his ears would have been laid flat against his skull and his tail tucked firmly between his legs.

Of course she needed to clean! Did he not see the mess? It seemed like he did. Lorelai made a little sound of frustration as she looked between him and the rest of the house. Why did he seem upset? Was he upset with her? Obviously she was doing something wrong. All his words and actions were confusing her.

All she wanted to do was clean. Why was this a problem?

"House nice." The little nymph insisted. She thought it was wonderful! Her own little house with her sweet, sweet mountain. It was the most beautiful, amazing house in her mind, because it was hers and his. That's all that mattered in regards to the house itself.

It just needed to be cleaned. That was not a big deal at all.

Lorelai reached for her unhappy mate, smoothing her hands up his chest. Even on tip toes she could barely reach his face to cup at his face gently. "No sad. Love mate. Need clean. I clean."

Logan could not help himself. The moment that she was there trying to soothe him, his arms were wrapping around her and pulling her close to nuzzle her hair and breathe in her scent. "I'm sorry dearest," he murmured, petting her hair. "If you really want to clean though, then I won't stop you. I'll help too. I'm sorry that it's not perfect yet. It's probably your worst nightmare for a home." Logan pouted but gave her a tight squeeze. "Let's get to it then."

A soft hum of happiness came from the little nymph. Her arms immediately went around his neck, hugging him tightly as he pulled her close and nuzzled into her hair. It felt so nice, she could almost forget about the mess that needed cleaned.

Almost.

"No nightmare." She insisted stubbornly. Honestly, it wasn't that bad. All his apologies made her squirmy and caused her to feel bad. Why did he have to be so cute and earnest and irresistible? Lorelai sighed softly and stroked his cheeks, tilting her head to press a soft little kiss on his lips. "We clean."

With that settled, she ducked out of his arms and immediately set in on the task of picking up all the laundry from the floor, although her arms became full quickly and she looked around puzzled about what to do with all the clothes. She didn't know where he hid his hamper or basket.

"Yes, we'll clean," he reaffirmed before letting her go and racing off to go about it. While Lorelai began to collect the clothes strewn about the place, Logan was busy grabbing every odd and end he could find that was most likely out of place and attempting to shove it in dark corners and closets. Out of sight, out of mind worked well to describe his attempts. The faster he could get it all done the sooner he could talk his precious mate into bed and snuggle up to her. Every hair on his body was itching to just scoop her up and take her there now but he resisted in order to allow her her wishes.

Efforts to clean froze as Lorelai's eyes widened, the little woman watching Logan's idea of cleaning with a touch of distinct horror. What was he doing? He was making a mess!

...an even bigger mess.

With no designated laundry bin in sight, she had little choice but to make a pile in a corner and rush over to her mate. Delicate fingers grabbed him by the shirt, her sweet face twisted in a mixture of frustration and confusion.

"Not clean!" The nymph gestured at his attempts to shove everything into hiding. She sighed and looked around the impressive disarray of the home and shook her head. Her mate was not a neat or clean person when it came to housekeeping. That was painfully obvious, and she realized if she wanted the home clean she would have to do it herself.

She didn't mind, but doing it would be difficult with him there.

"Clothes there." Lorelai said sternly, pointing at the pile she'd begun. Getting the laundry into a cohesive pile for her to take care of would be a start. The rest could wait until her sweet Logan was out of the house.

Logan flinched, his features pinched in concern. Had he been in his wolf form his tail would have been firmly tucked between his legs and his ears flat against his skull. He had angered his mate and it frightened him. That was the last thing he wanted to do. A displeased mate was not a good thing. He whined softly in the back of his throat, dipping his head in shame.

He was quick to obey her directions though, scooping up the clothes from where he had shoved them in the closet and depositing them exactly where she said to. Hanging his head he stood in front of her sadly before kneeling down to hug her around her waist. "I'm a bad mate. I'm so sorry, my Little Flower. I'll be better."

It made her chest tighten to hear him whine so pitifully and see the way his head bowed in shame. Lorelai made a soft, frustrated sound in her throat, but moved to quickly help him gather up the clothes and toss them in the pile. One thing at a time, and first they would get the laundry together. Then they could work on smoothing out whatever worries and cares her silly mate was conjuring up needlessly.

Once everything was piled up, she stood looking around, assessing what else she would need to clean when she could. For now, the little nymph knew cleaning was over.

Lorelai buried her hands in his hair, lightly massaging over his scalp as he kneeled before her, drawing his head against her stomach as she stroked him soothingly. Why was he so sure that he was a bad mate? It made her upset that he thought that. He was wonderful!

"Not bad!" She told him fiercely, leaning down so she could kiss the top of his head lovingly. "I tired. Mate...bed?"

He quickly relaxed at her gentle touches. It did not take much for him to just melt and be at ease in her hands. A soft almost purr-like hum rose in his throat that Logan did nothing to stop as he instead nuzzled his face further into her stomach. "Horrible mate," he disagreed. "I didn't provide you with a proper home, then failed to do what you wanted the way you wanted and instead angered you. I don't deserve you," he sighed sadly, giving her a tight squeeze.

Scooping her up he was quick to obey her next request though. "Perhaps it's best if you close your eyes dear. I don't wish to upset you further with more of the mess. You need your sleep. You've had a very long night already and I'm sorry for my part in it both good and bad."

How could he think he was a terrible mate? It simply boggled Lorelai's little mind! Her sweet, precious mountain had swooped in and literally carried her away from a life of slavery and prostitution. Not that she'd ever been particularly bothered by her old life, it had simply been the way things were, but now that she had met her mate, she felt happiness before thought impossible!

"Not sorry." She insisted softly as she snuggled against his chest, hands clutching at his broad shoulders as he carried her away to bed. Her face was pressed against his neck and she gave a few little fluttery kisses. "Love mate."

Logan petted her back and side as she cuddled so easily up against him. She was entirely too trusting of him in his opinion. In that moment Logan knew that he had to take the best care of her in the world. She deserved more than he could give but he could try his hardest or the amazing woman who had been fated to be his mate.

"I love you too," he murmured, kissing her forehead before gently lowering her onto the bed. He then busied himself with gathering up the blankets and furs to lay on her properly. Things had to be just so for her. If she could not come home to a clean house then at least her first night in her new home would be the most wonderful sleep ever. Logan kissed her forehead again after ensuring she was fully tucked in and then joining her on top of the covers. "Do you need anything else sweetheart?"

It was easy for Lorelai to trust him. From the moment she'd laid eyes on him at the brothel the little nymph had wanted to be with the giant man now cradling her in his arms. She didn't have to understand why, but Logan made her feel safe, warm, protected, and loved - and that was good enough for her to embrace him without further question or hesitation.

Lorelai looked up at him owlishly when he laid her so gently upon the bed, watching him as he pulled furs and blankets over her, nestling her in a cocoon of warmth as he tucked her into bed. Despite herself, the little nymph felt her eyes growing heavy quickly.

She made a soft little squeaking sound as he kissed her forehead again, arms reaching for him as he laid down on top the covers. That wouldn't do. Lorelai plucked at the blankets, trying to pull them out from under him so that he would also be under the blankets with her. She wanted to feel his skin against hers. "Need mate."

"Aww," he cooed, snuggling up close to her and not understanding what she was trying to accomplish. "I'm right here dearest. I'm not going anywhere I promise," he assured her, tucking his body in close beside hers and reaching over her to pull Lorelai flush against his warm body through the covers. Logan could not help himself as he nuzzled his face in against her shoulder and breathed in the scent of her shampoo still on her damp hair. "I promise to never leave you my Little Flower. I will always be with you."

Well, she was pressed against his chest with his arms around her, but Lorelai let out a frustrated little squeak. The little nymph began squirming, tugging at the blankets that separated them even slightly. She wanted nothing between them.

"Mate under." Lorelai pleaded insistently, still attempting to pull blankets away. If she couldn't get him under, she'd just have to join him on top of the blankets. His body heat would keep her nice and warm even without the blankets. She began squirming out from his careful tucking of her in, attempting to push the fabrics away. "Want mate skin."

Logan furrowed his brow in confusion. "Under?" he repeated, moving to pull her, still under the covers, onto of his body. At her further clarification though, he flushed uttering a very long, "oh" before gently placing her back down again. "Lorelai I don't want you to feel you have to dear. We can just lay like this or if you'd really prefer I can sleep on the floor or in the other room. You are not a slave here. You are not a..." he paused, struggling for the right word to describe the trade she had been in her entire life, "consort. I respect you too much. I hope you can understand that," he continued, looking at her with a great deal of apprehension and anxiety. The last thing he wanted was his mate to despise him.

Lorelai felt herself pulled up, making a soft little sound in her throat as she was held against his chest. Had the covers not still been in the way against her wishes the little nymph would have found laying on top of her huge mate to be very agreeable. Being so close to him was what she wanted, after all.

"Not have." She protested as he set her back down, much to her frustration. It was difficult for her to understand why he thought she didn't know she wasn't his slave.

Being his mate had seemed pretty clear to her!

"Not consort." Lorelai grumbled, choosing to use the word he used. She really wished to know how to make him understand that she was asking for things she wanted, not things she thought required of her. "I mate. Want mate. Love mate."

Her big eyes looked at him in helpless frustration.

"Okay. Okay, alright," Logan soothed softly, petting at his mate's hair while looking at her with wide, sad eyes. He felt terrible for having just ripped his mate from her home and lifestyle. He was not convinced that she knew what she was saying either. But, he was willing to not upset her, because whether she really did love him or not, he most certainly did love her.

Lifting the covers up, Logan wiggled his way under them before lifting his sweet, precious Little Flower up onto his chest and wrapping his strong arms protectively around her. "Is this better, sweetheart? Is this what you wanted?" He looked at her hesitantly, every muscle tense and prepared to move should she find she had changed her mind and she did not want this after all.

 Immediately the tiny nymph settled as her giant mountain did as she wished, sliding his body under the covers with her. Lorelai gave a happy sigh as she was dragged to sprawl against his chest, nuzzling her face against the powerful body beneath her contently. She loved the musky, masculine scent of her werewolf mate. Logan smelled of natured and it was heavenly.

"Is better. I want." She reassured him softly as she cuddled against him and closed her eyes. Now that all the excitement was over, Lorelai felt drained and weary. Being claimed by her mate had taken a lot out of her! The small nymph gave a quiet, sleepy final yawn. "Love mate."

Her words, though few in number carried the world's weight in them. He felt all the tension leave him just knowing that she was happy and content in his arms. A gentle rumble escaped him unconsciously at her final sleepy declaration. "I love you too my Little Flower," her growled back. Logan smoothed his hands up and down her back in what he prayed was a reassuring manner.

'I love you more than words could say, my mate. I hope I can show you just how much though. You are my world.' His thoughts warmed his heart and it was not long before the big man was drifting off to sleep himself. His grip remained firm yet gentle about his precious one as he snuggled her close.

It would turn out to be the best sleep he had ever remembered having in his life. The sun was just barely creeping across the horizon when he awoke. She still remained sprawled across his chest, her soft locks of hair tickling his neck and chest where they fell. For a moment Logan marveled at the fact that it was not all a dream after all. He stroked a gentle hand through her hair before trying to disentangle them. He had plans for his precious mate and he wanted her to awake feeling just as precious and loved as she truly was.

Lorelai couldn't believe how easy it was to drift off to sleep. It wasn't as if the nymph had ever had particular trouble sleeping, but she had never felt so safe and loved. Lying on Logan's chest with his arms around her and his hands gently rubbing at her back she felt totally at home for the first time in forever. She still couldn't stop smiling at that thought.

Home.

The tiny woman hadn't stirred through the night, not until her bed started moving. It was odd, beds didn't usually do that. She gave a sleepy little sigh, nuzzling her face against his chest as her memories of the night before came flooding back. That explained why her bed was so warm and comfortable and moving.

"Mate stay." Lorelai murmured sleepily, redoubling her efforts to snuggle with her mountain even as he had been trying to escape.

Logan winced at his little mate's stirring, hating that he had disturbed her even as he froze and prayed she would slumber on. His prayers remained unheard though as she clung tighter to him and begged him to stay instead. It tugged mightily on his heartstrings as the wolf inside whined, demanding that he stay and obey.

He had obligations though, to his pack, his alpha, and yes even to his mate. With a heavy heart but a bright smile, Logan carefully attempted to peel his sweet Lorelai off him and tuck her back into bed.

"I'll be back soon, Little Flower. I just need to get a few things for our home here. Sleep and I'll be back before you wake."

Unable to contain himself, he leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to her brow. Just one more before he left, he consoled himself. The human in him rolled its eyes at the absurdity of carrying on as if he was going to war. He just wanted to get some supplies, talk to his Alpha. It wouldn't take more than a few moments after all.

Maybe the request for him to stay was selfish, but Lorelai couldn't really be blamed for not wanting last night to come to an end. After all, she had been found by Logan and whisked away from a life of lonely prostitution and exploitation, brought to her very own home where she would be loved and cared for in ways the nymph hadn't even thought to dream of before setting eyes on her mountain of a mate.

The little fae was nothing if not compliant, however. With a bit of a pout she allowed herself to be tucked back into the bed as her warm wolf abandoned cuddles in favor of...whatever he needed to go do. She could not stay angry, of course, he had things to do other than snuggle.

A soft smile curved her mouth as she nuzzled her head down against the pillow after he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Mate back soon."

"Very soon," he murmured back, making sure the covers were tucked in around her just so one last time. Only then did he go about finding his trousers and wriggling into them quickly. Logan padded on quiet feet out the door and into the warm morning rays that were just creeping out from the horizon.

It seemed though that he was far from the first one up with the way several of his pack had already gathered around his home. The women giggled behind their hands and all tried to peek around him to see inside. Their eyes were wide with anticipation and excitement although several of them suitably cowered at the warning growl that issued from the overprotective male.

"She is resting," he whispered gruffly, his voice still rough with sleep. "Leave my mate be," he ordered even as they tittered and his alpha called for him. Logan had only enough time to give a warning look before he trotted off to obey. Of course with him gone, it was not long before the bolder ones were pressing in close to try and catch a glimpse of their newest pack member.

There was some pushing and shoving as the women dared each other wordlessly to be the first to enter. Once a single foot was over the threshold though it was not long before others followed. No one knew who the first was but it didn't truly matter as they all poked their heads in and around corners to stare at the young woman in the bed.

"Welcome home, sister," one of the more boisterous ones called as she waved enthusiastically.

The bed wasn't nearly as inviting without Logan in it. Oh it was a comfortable enough bed, to be sure, but the lack of her mountain of a mate was painfully noticeable as Lorelai tried to go back to sleep as she'd been told. She only managed a sort of drifting doze, neither awake nor asleep.If left for long enough she probably would have managed to truly sleep, but the nymph didn't remain alone for very long at all.

A feminine voice calling out to her caused the green-haired former prostitute jolt awake. With a rather owlish expression Lorelai sat up, staring at the women crowded around the entrance to her mate's room.

She remembered that she was naked beneath the covers, and while she didn't really have a sense of modesty, she knew most did. With an uncertain smile the nervous woman tugged the blankets up to cover herself, so as not to offend. She was amazingly calm for having a bunch of strangers staring at her in bed. These women must be part of Logan's family, and therefore she was perfectly safe.

Yes?

Yes.

"Hi. I Lorelai." She murmured with a sheepish wave.

Lorelai. The single word whispered in a wave through the women like a sacred prayer before together they all began to smile and approached in a more orderly fashion. One of the older women, tall and scarred with bright eyes and a large grin was the one to move beside the young woman finally though. She knelt beside the bed and patted Lorelai's shoulder gently.

"I am called Kheena'ah, Lorelai. We are very excited to meet you. How do you feel? You must have so many questions. I am promise none of us," she waved at the other women and herself with an open-palmed hand, "will harm you. You are family now and we will love you and keep you safe."

As the women began crowding around Lorelai didn't seem afraid of them, but her large green eyes did move from woman to woman curiously. These people belonged to Logan's family, and that meant that they were good and it would benefit her immensely to learn their faces. She shyly turned her attention to the one that touched her shoulder and spoke. The nymph felt very small next to everyone she had met so far. Were all of Logan's family so much larger than her?

"I alright. Not scared. Feel safe. Happy." Lorelai smiled and glanced down at herself, currently covered in a blanket and not a stitch more. Her smiled faded and she gestured to herself. "No clothes."

The women twittered with laughter among themselves. "Your Kotori has been too focused on you to provide. Naughty wolf." Kheena'ah shook her head in disapproval even as she moved to sit on the bed right beside Lorelai and helped drag the blankets around her small frame to provide her with more privacy and comfort.

"Would you join us, sister? We will bathe you and make you pretty for our Kotori, yes?"

Lorelai couldn't help but giggle softly at this woman calling Logan a naughty wolf. Who was she to argue with that? She was somewhat confused still at the name Kotori, but she had at least figured out they were talking about her gentle mountain of a mate.

"Yes!" The nymph was extremely excited. They had bathed before leaving the night before, but she was eager to look her best for Logan. "Pretty for mate!"

The women around her beamed back in delight. Lorelai was going to fit in with them just fine. Kheena'ah shooed some of the younger ones away as she took the young woman's hand and helped her out of bed, making quick work with wrapping the blankets around warm and tight.

Orders were given to the others to collect clothes and other necessities while another middle-aged woman knelt and slipped soft slippers on Lorelai's feet before standing to rub cheeks with her with a soft 'welcome sister.'

The younger girls soon swooped in to take Lorelai's hands and half skip half drag her down to the river with them all chattering and cheering and dancing about with joy. More joined the entourage on their way even as the men shook their heads and laughed in amusement as they passed, not a care in the world.