chapter 32

A/N: Warning this chapter has a rating of MATURE!


Chapter 32
Black Wolf stood outside of his home with Fighting Dog and Mountain Lion Guides on either side of him. His mother, Gentle Otter, stood on the other side of Fighting Dog while not too far from the small group was an even bigger crowd of Quedeyona villagers which also included Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and a subdued Emmett. All of them were there to witness the hand-fasting of Black Wolf and White Swan.

Even though it was now the Moon of the Green Leaves, which meant that a few weeks had passed since the council had given their permission to the couple, it had taken that long to do the ceremony because there were several things that had to be done first. One of those things had been to get the village used to the idea of Black Wolf hand-fasting to White Swan.

Not all of the council had been happy to back up Mountain Lion Guides and Wise Bear in their steadfast agreement that White Swan was the best choice for their chief. She was a former slave after all, plus she was a white woman. So, not only did the rest of the council have to get over those things, but so did several other tribe members. It helped that those who backed Black Wolf were very vocal and firm in their support. It also helped that Black Wolf refused to back down on his decision.

In the end, it was Black Wolf’s leadership and White Swan’s reputation that won everyone over. The village knew just how much she had contributed over the years, not only to Crow Flies household, but to other members of the tribe. Crow Flies and his family were some of White Swan’s strongest supporters, letting anyone who would listen know that she was indeed the best person to become the mother of the tribe.

Even the once recalcitrant Badger Snaps was wholly behind White Swan being with Black Wolf. He made sure everyone knew how much he believed White Swan was the most nurturing, forgiving and non-judgmental person in the village. He even went so far as to say he believed she was more Quedeyona than many of the full-blooded villagers. It was her spirit that made her so, he said, and that’s what should count the most.

The other person who backed up the union was Gentle Otter, Black Wolf’s mother. She let it be known that both she and Bright Wolf had always welcomed White Swan into their home with open arms. She claimed that both her and her husband knew about their son’s feelings for the slave and neither of them had an issue with their blossoming relationship.

Granted, neither of them had known just how intimate the couple had been, but they had never been adverse to the idea of seeing their son hand-fasted to her one day. Gentle Otter reminded everyone that her husband had been a staunch supporter of good relations between the tribe and the whites, plus she herself felt the same as Badger Snaps. She believed White Swan acted more Quedeyona than the real Quedeyona did.

As they continued to get the village accustomed to the idea of their young chief’s upcoming union, Black Wolf also waited for White Swan to get settled into his home. She had needed to retrieve her belongings from Jasper’s cabin, then with the help of Black Wolf, she had made his home into their home. While the couple were doing that, Alice and Rosalie had been settling into their new freedom at Jasper’s cabin along with Emmett.

One other important thing that had them waiting for the right time was that both White Swan and Black Wolf wanted to do the hand-fasting as traditional as possible in the Quedeyona way. That meant that not only did they have to inform the Shaman so he could prepare the ritual, but her dress and his outfit had to be hand-made with the proper decorations too.

Finally the long-awaited day had arrived since Black Wolf now stood waiting outside his home for his bride. He was dressed in the soft buckskin pants and a shirt that had been dyed white as the ritual demanded. Granted, there wasn’t really a true white for the Quedeyona, but it was close enough.

His long-sleeved shirt had dyed black fringes that spanned from his shoulders to the front of his chest as if he were wearing a fringed necklace even though it was part of the shirt. A feather that bore his mark had been sewn into each sleeve and the front of his shirt. Black laces ran down each sleeve holding them together. Unlike his fancy shirt, the pants simply had black fringes running down the outside of the legs. Even the moccasins he wore were simply white with black lacing.

The only other decoration he wore was another feather with his mark which was woven into the single braid he wore down the left side of his face. His hair, now reaching his shoulders, was long enough for him to braid it once more in the way of his people.

As the murmuring from the crowd grew louder, Black Wolf looked in the direction of Crow Flies home. Since White Swan had once been a part of his family, they had all agreed that White Swan would dress there, then walk from there to Black Wolf’s home as part of the ceremony.

Black Wolf smiled as he saw White Swan approaching with Porcupine Smiles and Owl Sees Truth on either side of her. Crow Flies and his family walked behind them. All of them, even the once immature Badger Snaps wore proud, happy smiles for White Swan.

Like Black Wolf, White Swan’s buckskin dress had been dyed white, but the fringes that ran from her shoulders down to the end of the long sleeves were also white instead of black. So were the fringes that ran from her waist down both sides of the skirt part of her dress. Even her doeskin boots were white with white fringes down the sides of them.

At her waist hung a thin rope decorated with Black Wolf’s feathers in such a way that it created a lovely belt around her. She also wore his feathers around her neck as part of a necklace while small braids were spread throughout her hair with more feathers intertwined there.

She glowed as she smiled at him while she walked towards him. When she was close enough, Black Wolf held out his left hand to her allowing her to slide her right hand into it. They stood facing each other as Crow Flies and Gentle Otter moved to stand on either side of their clasped hands so that they were facing each other too.

Gentle Otter’s back was to Black Wolf’s home as Crow Flies’ back was to the crowd. Fighting Dog and Mountain Lion Guides shifted to stand on either side of Black Wolf while Porcupine Smiles and Owl Sees Truth stood on either side of White Swan.

The village Shaman came up carrying a long, thin rope threaded with bits of feathers that represented all of the members of the Quedeyona village. As he held it over his head, asking the Great Spirit to add strength and longevity to the rope, Fighting Dog and Mountain Lion Guides each placed a hand on Black Wolf’s shoulders. Porcupine Smiles and Owl Sees Truth did the same to White Swan.

The Shaman then draped the rope over the couple’s clasped hands, then stepped back to allow Gentle Otter access to the rope. She took her end, then began to wrap it around White Swan’s right arm while Crow Flies did the same with his end around Black Wolf’s left arm.

As they worked, the Shaman explained the significance of all of it.

“Black Wolf, your friends lend you their support in your decision to accept White Swan as your other half. See that White Swan’s family is now binding you to her, in turn you are now a member of their family.


White Swan, your friends also lend you their support in your decision to accept Black Wolf as your other half. See that Black Wolf’s family is now binding you to him, in turn you are now a member of their family.”

When Gentle Otter and Crow Flies finished wrapping the rope around the couple’s arms, they lifted their hands to place one on each of Black Wolf and White Swan’s shoulders, joining the four friends as the Shaman went on.

“You have accepted each other and now each of your friends and family have accepted you. From this small circle of those who care for you both, runs an even stronger thread of the Quedeyona who surround you.”

As he spoke those lines, the crowd gathered closer until Black Wolf and White Swan were in the center of all of them, then the Shaman continued.

“May the strength of that thread support you and may you both have a long and happy life together. Know that not only will your friends and family be there for you, but so will the people of the tribe, your home.


Chief Black Wolf, with the blessing of all of us here today, take your bride, White Swan. Go begin your new life together and may the Great Spirit bless you both, as we do.”

When he finished speaking, the crowd parted, allowing Black Wolf and White Swan to make their way to Black Wolf’s home. With their hands clasped where the rope was still binding them together, Black Wolf held the flap aside with his free hand for White Swan to enter first. He followed after her to secure the flap into place.

As soon as the flap was closed, the entire village began whooping as drums and flutes sounded nearby. It was now time for the celebration to begin in the center of the village, while Black Wolf and White Swan did their own celebrating inside their home.

When Black Wolf turned to White Swan after securing the flap, she grinned up at him before wrapping her free arm around him.

“Oh Black Wolf! We did it! We’re married!”

He chuckled as he embraced her with his own free arm. “Yes, we did it!”

He leaned down to kiss her lips, deepening the kiss for a few moments as the music and revelry outside seemed to grow louder. When his lips moved away, White Swan giggled.

“I’m glad we’re not the only ones happy right now!”

Black Wolf grinned wickedly as his eyes began to darken. “Mm, me too, so why don’t we get started with our own celebration.”

He bent down as he motioned to White Swan to step over their rope-entwined, clasped hands. When she did, he slid his arm up under her knees and swept her up with his free arm around her back. White Swan laughed at his ability to still carry her despite the fact that their hands were still wrapped by the rope.

He carried her through the house until he reached the bedroom. When he set her on her feet at the edge of their pallet, she stepped over his arm again while he went down to his knees. She smiled down at him as he unlaced her boots, then helped her step out of them before setting them aside.

Standing up again, he stepped out of his own moccasins before pulling her close to him. White Swan tilted her head back, welcoming his lips to hers again. As his free hand cupped her head, she parted her lips allowing his tongue to sweep inside of her mouth.

Black Wolf’s tongue continued to slide against hers, as his mouth seemed to hungrily devour her sweet taste. He let his free hand wander down her slender neck, then to the front of her dress where he gently cupped her soft breast through the material. White Swan’s free hand moved up to tangle in his hair as he continued to knead her rapidly swelling flesh a little harder.

Both of them could feel the need they had for each other after a few weeks of abstinence, wanting to wait for the hand-fasting before being intimate again. They had both agreed it would be that much more special if they did wait. It hadn’t been easy, but they had managed to do it, with White Swan even staying the night at Crow Flies home the day before the ceremony.

Now that they were together, the urgency was upon them despite the fact that they both wanted to savor each other. So, when White Swan moaned, Black Wolf playfully nipped at her bottom lip before resuming his devouring kiss.

Soon his hand moved over her breasts, grazing the taunt nipples with his fingers before he moved to undo the lacing that ran from her right shoulder down to the end of the sleeve. The fringes there hid the lacing well, which meant Black Wolf had to stop kissing her so he could see what he was doing. White Swan turned slightly, allowing him to undo the lacings there, then she helped him to pull her sleeve from out of the rope bindings without that falling off too.

Tradition said that the couple was supposed to keep the rope binding on until they had fully consummated since that act signaled the end of the hand-fasting ritual. If the rope remained around their clasped hands for the entire ritual, the couple’s union was said to be truly blessed by the Great Spirit.

That was why the dress and his shirt were designed in such a way that they could easily remove the entire thing without disturbing the rope much. Once her sleeve was off of her arm, Black Wolf undid the lacings hidden beneath the fringes of her other shoulder. Then he pulled the dress down as White Swan lifted her right arm out of the sleeve. Black Wolf let the dress drop to the floor before helping her to step out of it.

White Swan smiled at him as his eyes drank in the sight of her standing nearly naked before him. While he took his fill, she slipped off the last remaining garment she wore, her loincloth.

As soon as she was bare, she stepped closer to Black Wolf and began to undo the lacings of his sleeves. Black Wolf helped her to remove his left sleeve from beneath the rope bindings, then pulled his right arm out of the other sleeve before pushing the shirt down his torso. With White Swan’s help, both the shirt and his pants were pushed to the ground before Black Wolf stepped out of them.

White Swan grinned at the sight of Black Wolf, she had known he would be true to his nature by wearing nothing beneath his outfit, not even a loincloth. Black Wolf returned her grin before walking her backwards to the pallet. He helped her lay down before pressing his body over hers.

Lifting their rope-entwined hands over her head, Black Wolf leaned down to take her reddened lips with his again. As he reclaimed her mouth, White Swan lifted her legs to wrap them around his muscular ones. Both of them moaned as their intimate areas came into contact with each others.

Black Wolf trailed his lips from White Swan’s sweet mouth to her pale neck before settling his mouth over one of her plump mounds. White Swan closed her eyes as she arched her back, offering more of her swollen peaks to his hungry mouth. As his tongue flicked her hardened nipple, White Swan writhed beneath him, moaning some more before lifting her hips higher trying to get closer to him.

Taking her free hand, she let it wander over his powerful back, traveling down to his tight behind, enjoying the way his muscles flexed at her touch and the feel of his warm, smooth skin beneath her fingers. When Black Wolf moved to her other breast where he repeated a pattern much like he had with the first, White Swan gasped, rubbing her groin over his as she tried to entice him to fill her.

When her hand gripped his behind harder even as she tried to tug him closer, Black Wolf knew White Swan was reaching her limit. Sliding his rigid arousal between her nether lips, he rubbed himself against her bundle of nerves until she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Black Wolf…please!” she groaned.

He lifted his head up to look down into her eyes so that she could see what this was doing to him. “I love you, White Swan.”

She gave him a beautiful smile as she responded to him. “I love you too, Black Wolf.”

With that, he quickly thrust deep inside of her welcoming body, eliciting soft sighs from both of them once he was buried to the hilt. White Swan’s legs wrapped tighter around his waist as she lifted her hips to meet his rapidly increasing strokes.

They continued to look into each others eyes until it became too much for them. At that point, Black Wolf buried his face against White Swan’s neck as her body clung to his.

“Yes! Oh yes! Black Wolf!” White Swan cried, signaling her approaching end.

Black Wolf used his fingers to stroke her swollen pearl in time to his quickening thrusts. White Swan threw her head back as his shaft reached deep and hard into her body, then just when she was sure he was touching her soul, her body exploded.

“Black Wolf!” came her elated scream which seemed to vibrate down his spine straight to his groin.

There it exploded out of him where it bathed her walls with his seed as his own joyous shout joined hers.“White Swan!”

Long after their orgasms had faded away, her body continued to cradle his as both of them enjoyed the aftermath of their lovemaking. Eventually Black Wolf rolled off of her, pulling her into his chest so that his weight didn’t crush her any longer. They continued to hold each other, sharing sweet kisses and caressing touches until they drifted off to sleep.

Not even the continuous celebrating of the village was enough to keep the happy, sated couple awake. Which was a good thing since the rope bindings finally came undone some time later as they slept. The fact that the rope had remained on that long was truly a sign that the Great Spirit had blessed their union completely.

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As the night grew darker and the celebrating began winding down, the crowd began thinning out. Still, there were several people doing their own celebrating. Even Owl Sees Truth was still out celebrating with Mountain Lion Guides and their friends despite the late hour or her progressing pregnancy.

As soon as she saw the opening, Rosalie left Emmett with Jasper and Alice to go talk to her sister. She knew it would be one of the very last rare opportunities for her to do so. Making her way through the thinning crowd, she prepared herself for the talk she was about to have with her older sister.

Mountain Lion Guides had just turned to his visibly pregnant wife to ask if she was ready to return home when he saw Rosalie approaching them. Judging from the look on her face, he knew Rosalie needed some time alone with her sister. So, he kissed Owl Sees Truth on the cheek then asked Porcupine Smiles and Fighting Dog if he could talk to them alone for a few moments.

At his inclination in the direction of the approaching Rosalie, Fighting Dog and Porcupine Smiles both nodded before walking off with Mountain Lion Guides so that Owl Sees Truth could be alone with Rosalie. However, Mountain Lion Guides wasn’t too far away just in case his wife should still need his assistance.

Owl Sees Truth gave Rosalie a welcoming smile as she came closer, then motioned for her to have a seat next to her.

Rosalie sat down before giving Owl Sees Truth a smile of her own. “How are you, Leah?”

Owl Sees Truth chuckled softly. “As well as I can be, given my condition.”

Rosalie’s eyes widened. “Is it getting harder?”

Owl Sees Truth shrugged. “No more than I would imagine most pregnancies go. It’s nothing bad, I assure you. But sometimes I do wish the time was here for me to give birth.”

Rosalie nodded. “Oh, I understand.”

They were silent for a few moments before Owl Sees Truth spoke up again. “Rose, is there something you wanted to say?”

Rosalie sighed as she looked up at her older sister. “Yes, actually there is.”

Owl Sees Truth nodded, but remained quiet. She knew Rosalie needed time to get it out.

Finally, Rosalie squared her shoulders and spoke. “First, I just want to say that I am sorry for all the headaches I’ve given you and Mountain Lion Guides these past few months. I…I know that he really does care for you and he’s not as bad as I made him out to be.”

She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts before going on. “I guess what I’m really trying to say is that I took all of my anger and frustration out on everyone I was close to…even Bella, who was always there to take care of me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m very glad to be out of the village now and back among my own people, but I shouldn’t have let those things come between you and I. Especially since we spent most of our lives apart.”

Owl Sees Truth slid her arm around her little sister’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Rose. I know why you did it.”

“Really? Because I…I still haven’t changed my mind about the sav…uh, natives.”

Owl Sees Truth sighed at her slip. “I know. It’s okay. I’m just glad that you’re happier now. As long as you’re happy, I can be happy.”

Rosalie nodded. “I am happy for you, you know. I’m glad you found your place in this world, Leah. I know you’ll be okay.”

Owl Sees Truth smiled. “Thanks, little sister. How about you?”

Rosalie gave her a nervous smile. “Um, actually, Emmett asked me to marry him.”

Owl Sees Truth’s smile widened. “Really? Well that’s great. That is what you want, right?”

“Yes, it is. He’s also said that when…when the time is right, we are returning to the East. Jasper’s father is going to help…help us get settled somewhere up there.”

“Oh. Oh I see. Well, you always said you wanted to go back home. So, I guess that will be good for you.”

Rosalie nodded sadly. “It will.” She paused for a moment before looking up at Owl Sees Truth with tears in her eyes. “Leah…”

Owl Sees Truth shook her head. “Now don’t you go worrying about me, little sister. Hear me? I’m going to be just fine out here where I am.”

She took both of Rosalie’s hands in hers and looked her dead in the eyes. “I mean it Rose. I want you to go with Emmett and find that life you’ve always wanted, okay? I’m going to do the same here. That’s all that matters for all of us. We all need to find our place in this world and if that means you have to go back East to find yours, then you do that. Promise me, Rose?”

Rosalie nodded. “I…I promise.”

Owl Sees Truth smiled. “Good.” She let go of Rosalie’s hands and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m going to miss you, but I know you’ll be okay.”

Rosalie hugged her sister tighter. “I’m going to miss you too, Leah. I love you.”

Owl Sees Truth nodded. “I love you too, Rose.”

They hugged once more before Owl Sees Truth let her go and watched as she returned to Emmett’s side. It was a few moments more before Mountain Lion Guides joined her again.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Owl Sees Truth nodded as she looked up into his eyes with a wistful smile. “I’m fine.”

Before he could ask what had happened, she held out her hand to him. “Why don’t you help me up and I’ll tell you all about it on the way back home.”

Mountain Lion Guides smiled as he helped her up from her seat so the two of them could say goodnight to the others before making their way back to their home. It was during that walk that Mountain Lion Guides became the only other person in the village to find out about Emmett and Rosalie’s plans for the future. Jasper and Alice already knew since all of them were currently living at Jasper’s cabin, but this was the first any of them had discussed it with anyone from the village.

However, it wouldn’t be long before everyone else who needed to know would be informed, thus setting the course for many of the lives involved. It was a safe bet to say that from that night on, all of their lives began to evolve from there. Whether it be a good future or bad one…only the Great Spirit would know for sure.