Hope

Waking up in Connor's arms never gets old. I know I should get up and help decide the finishing touches for our ceremony, but I decide to snuggle down into Connor's embrace and bask in his warmth. His arms tighten around me and I vibrate with pleasure. I turned to look at him, his strong jaw slack with sleep, his features almost boyish in their peace.

"I can feel you looking at me." He says his mouth twitching in a smile. I can't stop the grin on my face as I run my fingers over his plush lips.

"I can't help it. You're gorgeous." I practically whine and he chuckles while trying to nip at my fingers.

"Time to get up, sweet girl." He says sitting up in bed, causing the sheets to fall down to his waist exposing his delectable chest. My eyes widen as I chew on my bottom lip. He catches the movement and his eyes darken with lust as he reaches out to pull my lip from between my teeth.

"Let's take a shower." I say, my voice husky and he shakes his head.

"No time for that. We need to start your training and finish preparing for the ceremony. The Moon Goddess said to complete it as soon as possible. I want it moved up as much as possible." He says with me only catching about half of what he said. He waves his hand in front of my face, pulling me from my lustful thoughts and chuckles when my eyes refocus on him.

"Stóirín, we need to start training you to shield. I need you to focus, baby. It's important." He says and I nod somberly.

He sighs and pulls me into his lap, kissing me gently as he runs his hands along my body. He detaches from my lips and runs his tongue down my neck.

"I would spend all day with you in this bed. You know that, right baby? I would spend every second of every day enjoying your body and your mind but first, we have to make sure you are safe and strong. Ok?" He says, placating my bratiness.

"You're right." I say sighing, enjoying his mouth on me. "But I want a vacation after. Just you and me." I say wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him close to me so I can nuzzle my face in his neck and breathe in his scent. His bare scent, before he's showered, is my favorite.

"Anything for you, sweet girl. You know I'll do whatever I can to make you happy." This makes me grin like an idiot. I kiss him hard before jumping off the bed.

"I'll shower first." I say peeling off my shirt and shorts, dropping them to the ground. I hear Connor let out a strained moan behind me and can't stop my satisfied smirk.

After we shower we got to our back yard where Connor's mom is panicking about moving up the ceremonies.

"I just don't understand. Moving them up to the day after tomorrow will not give people enough time to travel here, Connor. None of our allies will witness you becoming Alpha." She says nearing hysterics. Connor just shakes his head.

"That doesn't matter, mom. What matters is Hope getting the power of an alpha." He says for probably the fourth time and his mom lets out an exasperated groan.

"But you won't tell me why?" She asks and Connor shakes his head again.

"No. Just trust me. It's important." He says and the look on his face must convince her because she simply nods and turns on her heels to finish up the plans.

Connor turns to look at me, running his eyes up and down my body as if appraising me.

"Let's see what you got, baby." He says with a cocky smile and I grin back.

"I have no idea how to do it, Connor. It was in the heat of the moment. You and Kade were being attacked and all I did was flick my wrist." I say and he paces in a small circle as he ponders this.

Shortly after, Dean and Kade find their way into the back yard and eye Connor and I with suspicion.

"What's up Alpha?" Kade asks. Connor looks around and sniffs the air, checking for other wolves before he speaks.

"What I'm about to tell you needs to be kept secret. Understood?" He asks and both Kade and Dean nod. Connor seems accepting of this as he continues.

"Hope has the power to shield. It's why that rogue didn't fuck your pretty face up." He says to Kade who rolls his eyes.

"I coulda taken him." Kade huffs out and Dean cups his cheek.

"Of course you could have, babe." Dean says in a sing song voice and Kade's face heats up in a blush as Connor chuckles.

"What's more important is that Hope learns to control this power. That she helps it grow." He says looking at Dean.

"Ok...." Dean says prompting Connor to continue.

"The only way she has triggered it before is when someone she loves is in danger." He says, his eyes never leaving Dean.

"Oh..." Dean says smiling a wicked smile as he cracks his knuckles. "So what you're saying is, she needs some motivation."

He barely finishes his sentence before he kicks off of the ground and lands on Connor, blow after blow landing on his face as Connor does little to struggle against him. I'm momentarily shocked by the savagery, but once blood begins to seep from Connor's mouth my instincts kick in.

"Connor!" I shout flicking my wrist at Dean but nothing happens. I start to panic and will whatever power that's in me to come forward. I try again, with no results. I look over at Kade who is wide eyed, watching the scene but is doing nothing to stop it. Tears well my eyes as Dean continues to wail on Connor's body. Blow after brutal blow to his ribs and abdomen before he catches his jaw again and I hear an audible crack. Connor groans in agony, and I feel a switch flip inside me and power course my veins. A gentle hum consumes me and I flick my wrist again. This time, Dean goes flying straight into Kade who barely catches him before they both fall to the ground.

I run to Connor's side and begin to heal his battered body.

"You idiot!" I cry. "Why the hell would you do that?" I ask as tears begin to cloud my eyes. Connor groans again as I heal his jaw. I hear the bone settle back into place, the sound a sickening snap, and Connor roars out in pain before his bruises fade. He sits up and wipes a trail of blood from his chin before smiling at me.

"You think you could heal my hand? I think I broke it on Connor's face." Dean says walking over to me and holding out his hand.

Instead of healing it I smack it hard making him yelp. Kade comes up behind him and wraps his arms around Dean before throwing me an ugly look.

"He was just following orders, Hope. Heal the man." He says gruffly pointing to Dean's bloody knuckles.

"He was doing what he was told." Connor says tucking a stray bit of hair behind my ear and kissing the corner of my mouth softly. "Heal him please." He says running his hand up and down my arm.

I huff out of annoyance and grab Dean's hand, a little harder than necessary making him wince again. Kade growls a little at me and I growl loudly back making his eyes widen.

"Nobody fucks with my mate." I tell him and he scoffs before kissing Dean gently on the lips and looking him over for any other injuries.

"Tell that to your mate." Kade throws back before taking Dean's hand and pulling him towards the house.

I look over at Connor and narrow my eyes to which he gives me a sheepish smile.

"What, baby? I had to get it out of you somehow. And it worked, I'd like to point out." He says making me cross my arms and level him with a glare.

"Next time, use Kade." I say to Connor's chuckles.

"I heard that!" Kade calls from the open doorway he just ushered Dean through.

"Good!" I shout back sticking my tongue out at him. He rolls his eyes at my childish behavior before Connor pulls me into his arms. His embrace immediately calms and soothes me until the anger has dissipated and I'm able to concentrate again. He senses my compliance and kisses my forehead.

"Good." He says taking a step back from me. "Again."