Winds of Change (7/?)
Title: Winds of Change (7/?)
Chapter 7
Pairing: Jane/Maura
Rating: PG… for now
Disclaimer: I don’t own Jane or Maura or their counterparts from the TV show or books…I only wish. I am going to be adding a few of my own characters however.
I would like to say a quick thanks to all of you who have read and reviewed. Also it is great to see how many of you have added my story to your favorites list or story alerts. It all pumps me up to keep going with this story and my writing.
Summary: Learning more about their new reality.
Previously…
“Thanks. Why don’t the two of you take a walk down by the lake. It won’t take long for these guys to grill up some burgers and steaks. We will call you when it’s done.” Evie waved them off.
Jane straightened. “We’ll do that.” She slid her arm around Maura giving a quick wave. “Thanks.” The couple headed off down the path to the lake as Marcus and Evie headed towards the deck and patio area to see how things were coming along in the outdoor kitchen.
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CHAPTER 7
Jane and Maura kept their arms around one another as they made their way down to the lake. They didn’t go out onto the dock. Instead they turned walking along the perimeter of the water until they came to a bench set not too far from the water’s edge, but back far enough to be shaded by the trees behind it. They sat neither speaking for long moments as they simply enjoyed each other’s company and view across the lake.
“It’s real Maura. We both saw it, but more than that, I felt it. I don’t know exactly how to explain it. It’s not like there is a being inside me trying to take over, like on an alien movie or something.” Jane paused as she tried to find the right words. “It’s more like it is just another part of me, of my personality. I know I didn’t physically feel my wolf rubbing its fur against me, but mentally, I did.” She turned to Maura. “It was incredible, powerful. In that moment when the three Lycans threw their power together to try and back me down, I felt this overwhelming sense of…” she paused again “the only word I can come up with is confidence. I knew that I was more powerful. I almost felt invincible. I had you at my back if I needed you and between me and my wolf, those three didn’t stand a chance.” She fell silent once more knowing she had fallen short of putting into words how she had felt when she finally realized that not only were Lycans real, but she was now one of them. Jane was also even more aware of the woman next to her. Her wolf self had no hang-ups about having feelings for her female best friend. Her wolf self knew Maura as mate and wanted her. Jane had already decided to stop fighting her feelings and was in total agreement with her wolf. She wanted to claim Maura and soon.
Maura sat silently enjoying the feeling of Jane’s strong arm around her. She listened as Jane spoke. Maura had felt it when Jane’s wolf rose within her. Maura’s wolf had risen in response, knowing just as Maura did that their mate needed their calming presence. Mate? Maura thought a moment. Yes, Jane was her mate. The thought of sharing her life or body with anyone else felt wrong and intolerable. She and her wolf self were in total agreement. Jane was theirs and they were claiming her soon. “I understand Jane. I felt mine rise within me too. We really are Lycans. It’s surreal, but also very exciting. My senses have come alive. I have never been so aware of my surroundings before. I can see and hear more clearly. I am aware of the slightest change in the wind around me. Lunch should be interesting if our sense of taste has increased as much as our sight, hearing, and touch. However, I think the increase in our sense of smell will be the most difficult to get used to.” Maura wrinkled her nose.
Jane laughed hugging Maura close. “I know. I originally thought we would sit out on the dock, but god, it smelt like there were at least twenty dead fish under the thing.” The two laughed together. It felt good and eased some of the tension that had been building in them both since they awoke to Fenrir and Vivienne.
“I wonder how many dead fish are actually under the dock. It would give us a better idea of just how sensitive our noses are now.” Maura murmured.
A grin split Jane’s face. She loved how Maura’s mind worked. She always kept her on her toes. Jane leaned over. “I don’t think I can wait until lunch to try out my enhanced sense of taste.” Her hand came up cradling Maura’s face, turning it. She pressed her lips firmly to Maura’s and moaned in pleasure. She eased back just enough to swipe her tongue across her love’s soft lower lip taking her first enhanced taste. Maura instinctively opened for her. Jane did not hesitate. She gloried in the taste of Maura’s intoxicating mouth. The experience was only heightened as Maura explored Jane’s mouth just as thoroughly. The delicious aromas of Maura’s arousal made the encounter even sweeter.
There was no telling how far the kissing would have went had Jane not heard the gravel shifting and popping on the path. She gentled the kiss easing back enough to see down the trail finding Evie a few hundred yards away. “It looks like lunch is ready.” Jane caressed Maura’s back while Maura did the same to her, as they both worked to get their breathing and heart rates under control.
“Sorry to interrupt, but lunch is soon to be served and if you are late those hungry pups won’t leave you much more than scraps to eat.” Evie grinned at the couple.
Jane stood taking Maura’s hand helping her up. “Thanks Evie. Sounds like eating with them will be like eating with my brothers.”
“Those two only have table manners after me or you mother have taken a spoon to their hands a couple of times.” Maura added smiling, remembering the first time she had ate at the Rizzoli family table.
“I may have to try that.” Evie walked along beside the couple, who was walking hand in hand, in companionable silence. She briefly thought about asking them if they had any questions or concerns about shifting after lunch, but decided to let it drop. All could be addressed later.
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Lunch was a boisterous and enjoyable affair. It seemed that all was well after Jane proved her dominance. The three that had challenged her earlier shook her hands and talked jovially with her. They asked how she liked being a detective and were curious about the differences in what she did and what they did at Wolfe Security. Maura also enjoyed herself, no one seemed put off by the job she did and asked plenty of questions of her too. It seemed that both Jane and Maura could easily fit into this group.
While the others cleaned up from lunch, Marcus pulled Jane aside to speak with her, as Evie did the same with Maura.
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“Jane I know you are concerned about shifting; however shifting will be the easy part. The hard part will be fighting you and your wolf’s urges to claim your mate while in wolf form.”
“What?!”
“It is instinctual for us. You will claim Maura while you are in wolf form; it’s natural for your wolf selves to bond in this way. However, I don’t recommend that you claim your mate first as wolves. Let your wolf play and flirt with Maura, but keep a tight rein on yourself. You may also have to rein in Maura’s wolf for her if hers gets to aggressive, so to speak. Shifting is going to awaken the need to claim your mate to nearly unbearable levels.” Marcus paused. “My pack has all set up our living courters in that fancy bunkhouse on the edge of the lake. After you shift back and return to the main house no one will bother the two of you until you ask for us to return or you emerge from the house. Any couples first time together should be in their human form, especially when it involves claiming their mate.” He fell silent letting Jane absorb.
God, I never even thought about my wolf self wanting to claim Maura’s, Jane thought. The idea should bother her, but it didn’t. She felt her wolf stir inside of her at the thought. It felt right that both parts of her would claim Maura. “Thanks for the heads up and the assurance of privacy. Have any other information or advice?”
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Maura’s mind worked with all the new information Evie was imparting. “I am very curious to find out how the mating between female Lycan wolves happens.” She pondered aloud. “I will do my best to control my wolf side. I do want mine and Jane’s first time together to be as our human selves.” Her mind focused on how long she had wanted to get her hands on Jane’s exquisitely formed body.
“Maura? Maura!” Evie smirked at the look on the woman’s face. She really was head over heels for Jane. The two had an incredibly strong bond already. Becoming Lycan and claiming each other was only going to make that bond completely unbreakable.
Maura blushed. “Sorry, please continue.”
Chuckling Evie did. “The bite marks you leave on each other during claiming will not totally disappear, but will become more of a milky silver in appearance, as mine are.” She pulled her t-shirt aside showing Maura the area of her shoulder and lower neck. “I have matching marks on the other side as well. The initial claiming bite will always be the brightest, but during the claiming period you can leave numerous claiming marks on one another. These are symbols of a strong, loving, and healthy union among all Lycan kind. They are honored and coveted, not something to be ashamed of. The marks are also not seen by regular humans. Only those of the paranormal or preternatural world can see them. Sometimes humans awakened to our world can see the initial and brightest of our claiming marks.”
Maura felt the skin on her neck and shoulders tingle at the thought of wearing Jane’s claiming mark.
“The moment of initial claiming is very intimate. Your hearts, bodies, minds, and souls will be completely opened to one another. A connection will form between you and Jane so strong that even death cannot break. A true mating among Lycans is for all time, neither of you will ever want nor need another. The claiming is an airtight lifelong and beyond commitment. A human marriage isn’t even a drop in a bucket in comparison.”
The fluttering of Maura’s heart grew stronger, but it wasn’t fear of such a commitment, but longing. She wanted this with Jane, she needed it. “I should be nervous of all this. I have never before met someone I would want to be that connected to accept for Jane. I have been drawn to her since the moment I met her.” Maura thought once again of the time when she was just a girl and met little Janie and then again when they were unknowingly reunited and she met the formidable Det. Jane Rizzoli.
“It would be wise for you and Jane to marry in the human world immediately, if possible. Once you are mated neither of you will respond well to others approaching your mate in a romantic fashion. Marriage and a wedding ring will go a long way in helping with that. It will also stop your families and friends from trying to set you up on anymore dates with men.”
The stirring of her wolf inside her was becoming familiar to Maura. They were both in agreement; no one touched their mate but them. “I agree. I will speak with Jane about it later. Is there anything else before we shift and run?”
Going over her mental checklist of the things she and Marcus wanted to impart, Evie believed she had covered everything. “No, I think we covered everything. Once you and Jane return to the main house you will have total privacy until you contact us. We will enjoy the lake and woods, and also patrol the property. The two of you only need to relax and enjoy claiming one another.”
“I am sure we will enjoy it. I will make a quick call to my caretakers and inform them that you and Marcus have authorization to order anything you need and have it delivered if you do not want to head into the nearest town for supplies. They are very discrete and have no problem gathering supplies for large groups. I believe I will also place an order for a few things for Jane and me, to help us keep our strength up.” Maura grinned.
“You and Marcus can bring the stuff into the kitchen when they deliver our order. I don’t think that will disturb us. The house also has excellent sound proofing, so as long as the doors and windows are shut we won’t be bothered by your lake activities. So fell free to barrow the ski and fishing boats, as well as the row boats, canoes and ski-doos that are in the boat house. There is also a volleyball net and other various equipment for beach games in the boathouse. Please feel free to utilize them all. You, Marcus, and your pack have been very helpful to us so far, introducing us into this new life Jane and I have been thrust into, also keeping an eye on Jo Friday, and I know there is much more to come. You all should enjoy yourselves when you can.”
Evie thanked her and surprised Maura with a brief hug before heading out of the house to join the others gathering to head to the woods.
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Maura and Jane had already changed into comfy shorts and t-shirts, neither wearing underwear as Evie advised. Jane had on canvas shoes she could easily slip on and off her bare feet and Maura opted for her glittery designer flip-flops. Maura took a moment to contact her cabin caretakers before she joined Jane, Evie, and Marcus out on the deck. She easily slipped her hand in Jane’s as the foursome made their way to the edge of the woods where they would shift and run.
Jane reveled in the ease she felt with Maura. She found such joy in not hiding her feelings any longer and knowing that those feelings were returned. She couldn’t wait to see her mating marks on Maura and to wear Maura’s. She also couldn’t wait to marry her and slip her ring on Maura’s finger. She would do so soon. They reached the others and listened as Marcus spoke.
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You won’t have to wait long, they will be shifting in the next chapter and I better warn you now that things get pretty steamy between our couple in the upcoming chapters. Please Read and Review and keep me informed on what you think.