Luna’s POV

*I was floating again, I was warm and surrounded by those that loved, if not loved then at least, cared about me. I was not exactly asleep but not quite awake either. I could feel the pull of a deeper more meaningful sleep tugging at me. With a sigh I was willing to surrender to it. That is, until I caught a glimpse of tan skin and dark hair. Then I was fighting to wake up. My fingers curled into whatever I was holding. A hand came up and stroked my back in a reassuring manner and that was enough to pull me back to almost wakefulness. The feeling of a strong muscled chest pressing into my own caused me to sigh and shift to find a more comfortable position. The hand that had stroked my back now grabbed my hip, holding me in place and I could feel the hard press of him, eager, waiting. I sighed and contented myself with the feel of him pressed against me, and those hands playing over my skin. *

*I was still in that half asleep half awake area. You know the one, where you feel like you could go back to sleep for about a thousand years. The hand on my hip eased up my back slowly, almost as if he too was asleep. I felt a sigh escape my lips and a hand tangled in my hair pulling my head back. His lips closed over mine possessive and demanding. Giving in with a soft moan, which he captured and swallowed. His tongue swept into my mouth questing and conquering. I gave as good as I got and the soft groan from my partner proved it. His hand pulled my thigh higher up on his hips and ground himself against me. Too many clothes, I thought. We have far too many clothes on. *

*Some voice of reason swam to the surface. Something about this kiss was all too familiar. I tried to push the thought aside but it wouldn’t leave me alone. Finally giving in to that voice I fought my way to the surface, to wakefulness. My eyes fluttered open at the same moment my partner’s did. To say I was shocked would have been a major understatement. There staring back at me was none other than Noah. My first thought was, “Oh my God, Maggie’s going to kill Me.” *

Maggie’s POV:

I whimpered as I again drifted off into the dream I had too many nights lately. I was running down a forest path lost....not knowing which way to go. Every path I wanted to take was blocked by someone that was always one step ahead of me, trying to guide my actions. I finally found a road I thought would take me where I wanted to go, and Noah was there, working on a barrier. Shaking his head, he told me no, that I was his mate and that road was forbidden. He loved me and would do whatever it took to keep me safe and happy. My eyes filled with tears. I loved him but he didn't understand. I needed to explore, I needed the freedom to choose to stay.

I ran past him as I had done too many times to count in the dream, coming to a sunny, warm open field, bordered by shade giving trees. I ran across the field as I had done several times, to find the same handsome man waiting for me. It was the Tore and he was holding out his hand for me to join him. I looked back. This was usually the point in the dream where Noah grabbed by the arm snatching me away from this dreamscape. But Noah wasn't there this time. Had he given up on me? If so, nothing was holding me back.

Taking the Lija's hand, he led me beneath the trees, and we both began to strip. I had watched him strip once before when he wanted to show me his panther form but somehow this seemed different, more intense. I could feel his skin as he shed the clothes and all I wanted to do was melt into him.

The dream shifted and the trees were gone. It was an almost full moon night, like the one when we danced on the rooftop. Satin sheets had been lain out on the grass and we were lying there naked looking up at the stars. I rolled over into his hard chiseled body and I couldn't stop myself from touching him. I ran my hands over his chest, tentatively at first but gaining confidence when he didn't stop me. Running my fingers around to lighly trace the contours of his back, I began to shower him with kisses.

I started at the center of his chest, kissing the spot right over his heart because he said our hearts were connected in a past life. One hand came around to play with his left nipple as my kisses move their way up his chest to his neck. Stopping at his neck, I breathed in his scent, clean and faintly smelling of soap...irish spring maybe. Man this dream was real. I prayed to the goddess I didn't wake up any time soon.

I moved up, rubbing my body against the length of his as I reached to lightly nip his earlobe, then licked my way from his ear to his mouth, capturing his lips in a soul stealing kiss.

I heard him gasp....did you gasp in dreams? Forcing myself to conciousness, I found myself face to face with the very real and very naked Tore. Breathing heavily, I looked over my shoulder to see Luna curled up with Noah. Still sleep muddled, I wondered, how did they get there and why did they look as guilty as I felt?

Lija’s POV:

I was standing in a wide open field, bordered by
trees.The sun was warm and bright. It was like dreams
before, I was waiting for someone. And just like
before she appeared. Running from a wooded path into
the open field Maggie came. I held out my hand to her
as always. And like before she took it. Only this time
the dream didn't end. Day gave way to night. We lay
naked on satin sheets staring up at the full moon.

Maggie ran her hand over my chest and around to my
back, just the touch was enough to make me shiver. The
dream never went this far. Maggie began to kiss my
chest moving up to my neck. As she stretched out along
my body, I felt like we would melt into one another. I
brought my arms around her as she captured my mouth
with hers. The kiss was powerful and held so many promises. I never wanted to wake up.

Something wasn't quite right and as she moved further
to lie on top, that I gasped bringing the dream to an
end as I realized the kiss was real and so was
she.

Maggie jumped back, breathing as heavily as I was and
looked over her shoulder. I followed her gaze to find
Luna and Noah very close. It was going to be a long
day.

Noah’s POV:

*I had drifted off almost as soon as Maggie finished examining Luna. I knew she was safe with Zane standing guard outside and as a guard I had learned to take sleep when and where I could get it. It didn't seem long though before her warm body was pressed against mine and I drifted into a deeper sleep secure my mate was safe. Fingers clenching me tight brought me back from my deeper slumber. Maggie must be having that recurring dream she wouldn't tell me about. I gently stroked her back, knowing the touch usually calmed her down. She felt hot; guess the damned Tore was right about that one. Just thinking about the Tore's earlier comments about his ability to take my mate stirred my beast.

Desire to claim my mate then and there threatened to overwhelm me. Running my hands over her smooth skin, I pulled her nearer, grabbing her hip to get her closer to where I needed her to be. Drifting closer to wakefulness, I cursed the clothes that prevented a true joining.

Sighing, I would have to settle for Maggie's lush lips, I absently ran my hand up her back to grab her hair, forcing her head back to meet me, fighting to remember my mate was human and to be gentle. As my lips met hers, my beast took control, allowing no retreat. He was going to declare our claim on Maggie anyway he could. Plunging my tongue into her mouth, I put all the heat of my emotions into the kiss.

Remembering that Maggie was human, I eventually tried to gentle the kiss a bit, savoring her taste. It was familiar but for some reason tonight felt like a distant remembered treat rather than the one I looked forward to every night. Breathing in my mate's scent, I waited to be greeted by lilacs and clean skin as I always was..but the scent was different...It was still floral but smelled more of roses and underneath was....Pard.

Opening my eyes, I found myself face to face, well lip to lip with Luna. Oh god, what was I doing? Lust was strong in the air. I could smell mine, Luna's, Lija's and Maggie's....Maggie where the hell??? Looking over, I saw her lying in the Tore's arms, looking rather sleep muddled as she gazed at me and Luna. Realizing I was still holding Luna close, I released her hip and untangled my hand from her hair. Did she know what we were doing?

Noticing the color on her cheeks, and the slight glisten of moisture on the Tore's jaw and lips, it dawned on me that I wasn't the only one that had been dancing in my sleep with the wrong partner and I growled at both of them before I could stop myself.

Maggie, looking shocked, embarrassed and more than a bit hurt, tried to pull away from the Tore, making for the end of the bed to escape the room. He easily reached out catch her, pulling her back close to him, whether to make sure she didn't run away to cry or to guarantee I wouldn't attack him I wasn't sure. Sighing, I had to concede it was probably the former when he used his free hand to nudge her chin up, then gently wiped a tear from her cheek.

He teasingly told her, "You should know better than to run from a were" and I growled again. It should be me comforting her but I wasn't sure she would let me near. Looking at Luna lying next to me, she looked as confused as I felt. We could all scent Maggie's rising fear and it wasn't helping the tension in the room. Shit what did we do now?

I watched with something like confusion as Luna turned from me. Running her hand over Maggie's shoulder and arm. I watched her stiffen then relax into that touch. Maggie turned her tear streaked face to Luna. Luna for her part was ever so gentle with my mate. Soon she had Maggie cuddled up next to her murmuring words so low even I couldn't catch them. I would never understand their connection. However it didn't seem to matter; all that mattered was the fact they were safe and secure. I watched as they slowly relaxed and finally drifted off.

I was left with little else but to offer the warmth and healing touch of pard to Luna. As I moved forward my eyes met the Tore's. His gaze was inscruitable. I don't think he realized yet that I would not let her go. The Tore would have to kill me before I just let him have Maggie. He mirrored my actions; he placed his hands where I did. It didn't make me less suspicious of his motives but what could I do? Had I been foolish to trust him? He had protected Maggie from harm more than once, even saved her life. My trust had not come cheaply. Maybe my own guilt was making me suspicious. We would have to sort it out later. I layed my head on the pillow and closed my eyes, feigning sleep. I was pretty sure the Tore was doing the same thing, but I refused to open my eyes to find out. Finally without meaning to I felt the tug of sleep and gave in.

 

Lija’s POV:

*I was a bit dazed. Never had the dream become a
reality. Usually Maggie was jerked away before she
took my hand. Now looking from her to Luna and
Noah...I could only imagine how she felt. Dominance
was the way of most pards. But I didn't belong to this
pard. I didn't even belong here. I could sense
Maggie's hurt and confusion,and Noah's suspicion. I
knew that they were life mates. But there was this
irresistible pull between Maggie and myself. Something
that I couldn't explain. I felt Luna send calm to
Maggie. This even though she was injured. A true Oya
could do this. Place others above her own well being.
Maggie and Luna were truly close. As the two cuddled,
and drifted off, I could feel Noah's gaze. I met his
with my own. How could I convince him that Maggie and
I shared a past without causing a rift between them?
As sleep finally pulled them all under, I rose.
Getting dressed, I went out to the Maggie's office and
sat in the chair behind her desk. There was a lot on my
mind. A lot I needed to come to terms with. It was
going to be a long night.