Chapter 42: Chapter 42

EVIE

Elder Jacob disappeared from sight, and I sensed Noah approaching from behind. I tensed up, anticipating his touch as he wrapped his arms around my waist, his face buried in my neck.

“I missed you, baby,” he murmured into my skin.

I chuckled. “Really? Didn’t you enjoy your time with Mr. Jacob?”

Noah moved to stand beside me, watching Sawyer and me share a laugh.

“You met him?” he asked.

“Unfortunately, yes,” I replied.

“He kept referring to her as Miss Evie,” Sawyer chimed in, his face twisted in distaste.

“No surprise there,” Noah sighed, rolling his eyes. “I’m sorry you had to put up with that.”

“She handled him like a champ, just like she did with those girls in the rec room,” Sawyer said, grinning.

I shot him a stern look. “That’s not very nice, Sawyer.”

“Who are we talking about?” Noah asked.

“Lauren, Rachel, and Madison,” Sawyer answered dismissively.

“Did they give you trouble?” Noah asked, his tone serious as he turned me to face him.

“Not anymore.” I shrugged.

“Evie…,” Noah began, but I cut him off.

“I’m not worried about it, Noah. They’re old news,” I reassured him, wrapping my arm around his and pressing my cheek to his shoulder.

“How did I get so lucky?” Noah murmured, kissing the top of my head.

“What brings you two here?” Noah asked Elijah and Molly.

“We just got back from lunch,” Molly replied.

“Talk about bad timing. They ran right into Elder Jackass,” Sawyer grumbled.

“How did it go?” I asked my brother.

Both he and Molly were grinning widely.

“Really well,” Elijah replied, glancing at Molly.

“Oh, I’m so happy for you!” I clapped my hands together in delight.

“We were thinking of catching a movie in the theater,” Molly suggested.

I exchanged a knowing look with her, winking and laughing as she blushed.

“Have fun!” I called after them as they left.

“I could go for a movie, too,” Noah suggested, pulling me close.

“Really?” I asked, a bit disappointed. I didn’t want to intrude on their date.

“Yeah, a movie in our room. And by movie, I mean…” Noah waggled his eyebrows suggestively, causing Sawyer to make gagging noises and retreat.

“Noah…,” I gasped, playfully slapping his arm.

“You asked for it, my luna,” Noah purred, giving my butt a playful pinch.

I squealed and darted toward the elevator, laughing.

Noah easily caught up and chased me into the elevator, pinning me against the wall. The doors closed with a ding. Noah pressed himself against me, his hands roaming my body.

He gripped my hips. I moved against him, a moan of desire escaping my lips. I reached behind him and pressed the button for our floor.

The elevator jolted upward as Noah’s mouth explored my neck.

We stumbled into the hallway and made our way to the bedroom. Noah’s lips never left my skin, and my arms stayed wrapped around him.

We crashed through the bedroom door and fell onto the bed. Clothes were quickly discarded, and Noah’s body covered mine.

The following week was pretty normal. Elijah stayed the entire week, telling our parents we were having too much fun catching up for him to leave.

We both conveniently forgot to update our relationship status. Elijah and Molly were getting along great. He was handling everything better than I was.

But, to be fair, I didn’t have my twin to help me cope.

Elijah was hesitant to leave on Sunday, and Molly was practically panicking. I felt bad for them and wasn’t sure what the solution was.

I was lucky. I met Noah in the town where I lived. I didn’t have to decide to move to another state to be with someone I had just met a week ago.

I had no clue how he was going to explain that to Mom and Dad.

Every day, I found myself growing closer to the pack. I spent my time in the game room, the parlor, and the kitchen while Noah was busy in his office.

When evening came, Noah and I would lose ourselves in each other, drunk on our emotions. I was addicted to him, and I knew he felt the same about me.

Noah’s desire to mark me was growing stronger. He explained it as his wolf’s instincts growing impatient.

As our time together increased, so did my exposure to unmarked males; he became more protective. He described it as a constant state of unease, even when we were together.

The feeling was almost unbearable when we were apart.

I knew he was trying to respect my boundaries, but he was also wrestling with his own instincts.

The thought of him biting me was terrifying, but I also felt a strong need to comfort Noah and alleviate his pain.

I had no doubt that he would never hurt me or put me in harm’s way, so my fear of being marked was unfounded.

“What’s on your mind, little mate?” Noah asked, propping himself up on his elbow and running his fingers through my hair.

It was Saturday morning, and I had been lying awake in Noah’s arms for about twenty minutes.

I had long given up on the idea of sleeping in my own room, and I was on the verge of moving all my stuff into his room.

“I was just thinking about our conversation last night,” I replied.

Noah and I had discussed marking extensively the previous night.

“Do you have any more questions?” he asked.

“No, no more questions.”

I had bombarded him with nearly a thousand questions, talking until well past midnight as I tried to understand everything about marking.

“Good.” Noah sighed in relief.

I laughed at his reaction.

“I know I drove you crazy last night.”

“Not at all, love. I just wasn’t sure if I had any more answers.” He chuckled.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

I rolled over to face him.

“I want you to call the witch and find out how I can mark you. I want us to do it together,” I said.

Noah pressed his forehead against mine.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” he whispered, his voice soft as velvet.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for something like this, but I trust you and I love you. I want to do this,” I assured him.

“I love you,” Noah said, kissing me deeply.

“Come on, we need to get up,” I groaned, pushing him away before I gave in to his desires.

Noah grumbled as I climbed out of bed.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, watching me as I scurried across the room in one of his oversized shirts and nothing else.

I grabbed a throw pillow from the sitting area and tossed it at him before disappearing into the bathroom.

“What are we going to do about Molly and Elijah?” I asked Noah as I got dressed in his closet.

Noah pulled a shirt over his well-maintained chest, his eyes following me as I slipped into my pants.

“It’s up to them, Evie,” Noah said, his gaze lingering on my chest.

I rolled my eyes at him as I pulled on a thin T-shirt. “That’s not helpful,” I muttered.

“What are we supposed to do?” Noah asked.

“I don’t know what I would have done if I were in Eli’s situation,” I admitted.

“I know what I would have done.” Noah shrugged, tying his shoes.

“What?” I asked, intrigued.

“I would have followed you.”

“All the way to Hawaii?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Hell yeah,” Noah said emphatically, his eyes wide. “I wouldn’t have let you out of my sight.”

“So, you think Molly will go to Hawaii?” I asked.

“I don’t know what she’ll do,” Noah replied.

“I’m going to ask her,” I declared, bounding out of the closet.

“Leave it alone, Everleigh!” Noah called after me as I skipped out of the room.