The Wolf Who Loved Me

Chapter 4: A Change, But For The Better?









Remus was scanning the congregating clan for Hermione, his eyes darting back and forth nervously. His ears and nose twitched as he searched for any sign of her. He turned towards the wagons, his nose picking up her soft familiar scent on the breeze. He saw Katia step around the wagons, her ever present smile directed to someone behind the wagon. He saw her reach out and pull that person forward, leading her by the hand to the center of the camp.







His heart began to thump wildly in his chest as recognition sank in. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her as she walked towards him, a shy, uncertain expression on her face. She was beautiful, so beautiful that it made his chest ache to look at her. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her and he heard the low chuckles of the other males as they watched him take her in. The closer she came to him the stronger his reaction to her. He hadn’t realized what lay beneath the thick jumpers and loose tops she always wore.







He caught subtle changes in her scent as she neared. She was becoming aroused and he could pick up the increase in her heartrate. How in the hell was he supposed to focus with her looking like that? He should be watching the others but he couldn’t do anything but look at her.





“Hello, Remus. I trust that your meeting went well.” Katia smiled and gave Hermione a shove towards Remus. “I gave her a Rom makeover.” She said, chuckling when Hermione fell forward, stumbling into his arms. Mating pheromones filled the air around them and Katia smiled knowingly. “Well, I will just go and check on this evening’s meal.” She walked away leaving Remus holding Hermione by the arms and trying not to stare at the plump globes of her breasts pressed together so invitingly by the corset.





“I’m sorry…she insisted.” Hermione said softly as she found her footing. Remus was staring at her intensely. She could actually feel his gaze burning her skin and she shivered.







“Don’t be sorry, Katia is a good person, you can trust her.” He suddenly realized he was still holding her and let go, taking a step back. “You look…”







“She looks absolutely ravishing.” Gilford Greyback stepped forward stroking his goatee and eyeing her with clear lust shining in his eyes. “You look lovely in the dress of my people, Ms. Granger.”







“Oh…uhm….thank you.” She stammered as she moved closer to Remus, recalling his direction to be ‘clingy’. She threaded her fingers with his and pressed into his side.







“Oh, no need to hide from me, I wouldn’t dream of hurting such a pretty little bitch.” He drawled, his gaze lingering on her breasts.







“She is claimed, Gilford. You would do well to remember that.” Remus said menacingly.







“Is she? There doesn’t appear to be much in the way of your scent on her. If you were her lover I would think she would positively reek of it. But she smells clean….fresh….” He sniffed the air and leered at Hermione. “She smells untouched.”







“Stay away, Gilford, she isn’t a pack bitch and I am not a member of this pack, she is mine, believe what you will but SHE.IS.MINE.” Remus snarled as he pulled her closer.







“So you do have Alpha tendencies. Very interesting.” Gilford leaned in, his eyes level with Remus’s, “Is she worth fighting for?”







“Challenge me for her and you will regret it.” Remus growled, his teeth showing. Gilford just smiled and took a step back.







“Tempting, Lupin, very tempting.” He winked at Hermione and snapped his teeth at her before walking away. Remus watched him go, his arm securely around her shoulders.







“He frightens me.” She said, watching his back as he walked away. “I don’t trust him.”





“You shouldn’t. Whatever you do, if you get separated from me, do not let him corner you; always have your wand at hand.” He led her away from the center of camp and around a grouping of wagons. “He is very dangerous and he wants you, Hermione, the only thing saving me from being challenged for you is that you aren’t a pack female.”







“I promise to be careful; I can defend myself if I need to.” She looked behind him where Gilford stood with Paine and the young man from the woods with the crazed look in his eyes. He turned around and saw them, his ears twitching as he strained to listen in. He turned his eyes on Hermione but his attention was on the conversation taking place behind him.







”Are you certain there is going to be a demonstration?” Paine asked.





“The ministry issued them a permit to gather and protest in a public place. It’s a perfect opportunity, Diagon Alley is always busy, our message can’t help but get out, Ataman.” Gilford said gleefully.







“You need to make certain and you need to be careful, Gilford. You went too far last time. We want our people heard, respected and given the same rights as others; we do not need to kill them to do it.” Paine said.





“It was an accident; I was distracted when I cast the spell and lost control of it. I will be more focused this time.” Gilford didn’t sound at all repentant. “There is another issue, Father…Lupin.”





“Remus is harmless.” Paine scoffed.





“He isn’t as neutered as you think, his alpha traits are awakened. He is protective of his bitch, violently so.”







“Perhaps he intends to mate her. It doesn’t matter, she is not a pack bitch therefore she is not open for challenge. You know the laws, Gilford. His female is off limits, besides, she is gadje, she is not for you.” Paine said. “Start planning, then come to me when you are ready to execute.”





“Yes, Father.” Gilford said, turning to walk away. “Lupin and his female..what are they doing?” He asked suspiciously.







“Damn it….he sees us.” Remus had to think quickly, find some excuse for what he and Hermione were doing out behind the wagons. He grabbed her around the waist and slowly walked her backwards until she hit the wagon. “Forgive me.” He whispered, just before his lips came down on hers.







Her eyes widened and a high pitched sound of surprise escaped her lips. Her shock wore away quickly as his lips pressed against hers; it was what she had always wanted after all. She softened, her shocked moan turning into a quiet whimper as she wrapped her arms around his torso and parted her lips beneath his.







It was Remus’s turn to be shocked as her soft lips parted and he felt the tip of her tongue flick at his lips. He had intended to just press their lips together, give a show, make them think he had pulled her back there for a little touch and feel, he didn’t expect her to actually respond. He couldn’t deny her, not when she made such sweet sounds into his mouth, so he parted his lips and slid his tongue against hers. At the first taste of her sweetness he felt it, a flash fire of arousal racing through his system. He hardened, lengthened and couldn’t fight the urge to press against her.







His hands slipped from her waist to curve around her bottom, lifting her and rubbing her against his erection. She brought one leg up, sliding it along the outside of his and hooking it over his hip as her hands dug into the flesh of his back. The kiss turned almost violent as they struggled to get closer. He started then growled deep in his chest in approval when she nipped his bottom lip then suckled gently. He pressed into her his hand sliding down to her thigh and slowly gathering up the length of her skirt to push it higher so he could feel the silky smooth skin beneath.







He had never wanted someone quite as much as he wanted her. The power of his arousal of his need was frightening. He felt out of control as though he would die if he couldn’t have her. His skin was on fire, his palms itched with the need to touch her and he began feeling an almost overwhelming urge to sink his teeth into her soft flesh and taste the blood pumping through her veins.







“So sorry to interrupt.” Awareness sank in at the sound of Paine’s voice and Remus realized what he was doing, and with whom. He pulled his lips from hers and stared down at her. If she had never been thoroughly kissed before she had been now. he thought. Her eyes were glassy and her lids heavy, her cheeks were flushed and she was drawing in ragged breaths between red swollen lips. His fingers bit into her thigh reflexively before letting her leg drop back down. He had forgotten all about the others, completely lost in her heat, in her passionate response to him.





He called on his training and shoved his desire and confusing feelings for Hermione aside and turned his head towards Paine. Gilford stepped forward and Remus snarled at him as he moved too close to Hermione.







“Easy, Remus, he is no threat to your gadje female, do not worry.” Paine said, watching the other man curiously. He was very, very protective of his female; one would think he had mated her from his reaction.







“Forgive me, Paine, I do not mean to be rude, you caught me off guard is all, I thought we were alone.” Remus lied easily.







“I can see that.” Paine chuckled. “I thought it polite to make you aware that you weren’t before things went any further.”







Remus saw the amused glint in his eyes and suspected that he had no idea of his sons near challenge for Hermione earlier. He also suspected the Gilford Greyback was maneuvering behind his father’s back. Remus was fairly good at sniffing out deception even from another werewolf. He never ignored it, not after learning the hard way with Pettigrew. He didn’t sense deception from Paine but it rolled off of Gilford in waves.







“I appreciate that, my Hermione isn’t an exhibitionist, she is rather shy.” Remus tucked her against his chest where she buried her face. She wasn’t shy at all and Remus knew that but she trusted him and would follow his lead because she knew he would never let any harm come to her.







“It grows late, join us in the circle for the evening meal and celebrate this day with us, Remus and Hermione.” He smiled and led the other two men back into the common area of the camp. Gilford followed with a smug smile on his lips, his eyes narrowed on Remus in obvious challenge. When they were alone Remus looked down at Hermione and had to catch his breath. She was staring at his lips and he could see the desire in her eyes, smell her arousal on the air thick and sweet.







“Are you alright?” He asked, his voice low and raspy. Her hands were clutching the front of his shirt and she licked her lips, tempting him to swoop in and capture them again. He released her and her knees buckled, forcing him to once again take her in his arms. “Hermione?”







“Sorry…just…oh…” She was dumbfounded, staring at his lips and wishing he would kiss her again, continue what they had been doing before they were interrupted. “I…uhm…wow, Remus.”







He laughed softly at her reaction, pleased to have been able to affect her so deeply with just a kiss. His own reaction was just as puzzling. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been with other women, he just hadn’t responded so ardently to them. He hadn’t felt anything like his reaction to kissing Hermione in his life.







“I apologize…”







“Don’t…don’t apologize. Just…just don’t.” She said, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths as she steadied herself. “Just don’t say anything, Remus, we should join the others before anyone comes looking for us.”







“Hermione, don’t hide your face, not from me.” He said softly, grasping her chin and angling her head so that she was looking into his eyes. “We will talk about this later.”







She nodded, knowing there was no getting around the discussion. She had brought it all on herself by following him, by revealing her feelings to him. Things were going to change and she would likely lose a dear friend because of it. She felt the sick roll of her stomach at the thought of losing him completely. It was why she had kept her feelings to herself, out of fear of losing him. Her fear was now going to become a reality and there was nothing she could do about it.







He slid his hand down her arm, linking their fingers and giving her hand a reassuring squeeze before pulling her back into the center of the camp. They settled onto the ground and enjoyed a meal of meat and potatoes while Paine and the other elders told stories, Rom variations on old folk and fairy tales that had Hermione entranced. As darkness fell the children were tucked into their beds and the adults began to play music and dance.







As Hermione relaxed against Remus’s side Katia slowly moved towards them, her body swaying to the music.







“Come little gadje witch, come and let me teach you the ways of the Rom.” She grinned as she extended her hands towards Hermione. She looked over at Remus and he gestured with his head that it was okay for her to go. She laid her hands in the other woman’s and allowed herself to be pulled closer to the fire. “Now, listen to the music.”







Hermione listened to the heavy beat of the drums accompanied by the light sound of a flute and violin. Katia’s hands gripped her hips and guided her through the slow, undulating movements of the dance. Remus once again found himself unable to look away as she moved her body so sensuously in the firelight. How many nights had he spent with her of the years? How could he have never noticed the way she moved with such grace? Katia guided her hands above her head and showed her how to roll her hips provocatively and Remus wondered how it would feel to have her roll them that way against him.







“Your little bitch sure can move.” Remus went instantly tense. “I wonder how well she moves when she has a man bent over her?” Gilford was squat down beside him, his elbows resting on his knees and hands clasped between them. “She would make a pretty little wolf, wouldn’t she, Lupin? But you aren’t man enough to sire her are you? I am, I got a nice nose-full of sweet, hot woman when you had her pinned up against the wagons earlier and now I find myself hungry for young gadje pussy.”







“She’d never have you, Greyback. She is picky about who graces her bed.” Remus was trembling inside, fighting the urge to attack the young prick but it wouldn’t go over well and he needed to be there in order to complete his mission.







“I don’t have to give her a choice in the matter, now do I?” He said as he stood up and strolled off towards the woods, his eyes never leaving Hermione.