35: Concessions and Confessions

ALEX

I love Ariel.

I really, truly do.

She means the absolute world to me.

She helped me heal from the death of my mate.

She saved the whole kingdom when the rogues tried to infiltrate us.

Even when I’m being a dick, she chooses to see the good in me.

She has a gift, given to her by the Goddess herself.

And she wants to use it.

Help make the world a better place.

But right now…

I’m questioning if her need to heal others—her need to see the good in people—is clouding her judgment.

“Ariel, we don’t know ~anything~ about him,” I say, starting to get frustrated. “He could be a rogue for all we know.”

Initially, we spoke in hushed tones, since the stranger Ariel brought back is right outside my office, but now our voices are starting to rise.

“It wouldn’t be the first time you let a rogue into your borders,” she shoots back.

~Ouch.~

~Harsh…~

~But also fair.~

“You’re exactly right,” I reply. “And I can’t fuck up like that again.”

“Alex, how is this any different than when you found me in the woods, and I needed someone to help me. I needed someone to look at me like I was ~normal.~ He’s going through the exact same thing. And I can guide him through it.”

“It’s… It’s not the same…”

“Why?” she asks, not willing to let it go.

“Because you’re ~you~,” I reply, exasperated.

She looks disappointed by my answer.

“What? What’d I say?”

“Nothing… It’s just… Someone told me you’d say that,” she replies distantly.

~Fuck, now I’ve let her down.~

I wrap my arms around Ariel and kiss her neck, trying to do some damage control.

“All I meant was that I ~trusted~ you because I felt a connection,” I say, breathing in her scent.

She turns around and gently cups my face in her hands.

“I know you’re just trying to keep your pack safe, and I respect that,” she says. “But I believe that he deserves the same benefit of the doubt that I did. He’s a victim of the hunters. I won’t just abandon him.”

“You never give up on people,” I say, sighing. “I have to admit… that’s one of the things I love most about you.”

“So he can stay?” she asks eagerly, her sunflower eyes blooming with hope.

“If it means that much to you… then, yes. I’ll give him a chance,” I reply.

~Let’s be real… I can never say no to Ariel.~

“Alex, thank you!” She suddenly presses her lips against mine in a feverish kiss. I lean into it and scoop her up in my arms.

“Just how thankful ~are~ you?” I ask with a smirk.

Ariel pouts her lips seductively and teasingly runs her finger down my chest.

“Once you get him settled in, meet me in your room.”

~Damn, if she started with that, there wouldn’t even have been an argument.~

I kiss Ariel once more, then head for the door.

“I’ll be back in a split-shift! And you’d better be naked!”

***

As I lead Ariel’s “experiment” through the halls of the palace, I examine his visible tattoos, hoping maybe one of them could tell me something about him.

“Those are quite good,” I say, admiring the artistry.

“I wish I knew where I got them,” he replies, a hint of sadness in his tone.

“Maybe it’s a specific style from your pack,” I say, making a guess.

“Maybe. I’d like to think I have a pack out there, somewhere.”

He doesn’t ~seem~ like a bad guy. But I can’t rule out the possibility of another rogue trying to infiltrate my pack.

I trust Ariel’s judgment, but…

There are still a million unanswered questions about him.

Like for starters…

“Do you have a name?” I ask.

“Not one that I can remember…”

I suppose calling him “The Experiment” would be a bit insensitive.

“Well, I’m sure Ariel will help you retrieve your memories. She’s got healing hands... and I mean that literally.”

“I noticed... when she touched me,” he responds.

I raise my eyebrows, but he quickly waves his hands.

“No, no... I mean when she woke me up in the woods. I felt an energy surging through me. It took away the pain I was feeling. And some of my burns too.”

I nod. “She’s special. So don’t take advantage of her kindness. Or you’ll have me to answer to.”

As we reach the guest room, the wary-looking man musters a smile and extends his hand.

“Thank you... for giving me a chance.”

I shake it firmly and sense that his intentions are good.

Maybe Ariel is right.

This tattooed outsider needs our help. I just couldn’t see it right away.

A thought suddenly occurs to me that makes me smile.

~Ariel will make an amazing Luna someday.~

ARIEL

I dim the light in Alex’s chambers and crawl on the bed, waiting for him to return.

~Should I get into some sort of sexy position?~

I try to arrange my limbs in an appealing fashion but end up looking like a twisted pretzel.

I think of my warrior training and try to get into a familiar defensive stance.

~I look like I’m going to kill Alex. This couldn’t be less sexy.~

I collapse on the bed and stare at the ceiling.

I really don’t have much experience with this sort of thing.

I’ve never really felt ~sexy.~

Strong, yes, but sexy... definitely not.

Although I suppose being strong is its own kind of sexy.

~Maybe I should show my strength?~

I stand up and reach into the rafters of Alex’s bed, hoisting myself up like it’s a pull-up bar.

The door suddenly clicks, and Alex walks in. When he sees me, his jaw drops open.

I’m hanging from his bed like a monkey, completely naked.

He starts laughing his head off, which pisses me off a bit.

“~What~ are you doing?” he asks through his uncontrollable laughing.

“Trying to be sexy,” I say, pouting as I drop back onto the bed. “Clearly I suck at it.”

Alex pulls off his boots, followed by his shirt, and jumps on the bed, crawling on top of me.

“You do realize that you’re ~always~ sexy, right?” he asks as he begins kissing my neck.

My fingers caress his deeply ridged abs as his breathing gets heavier.

“Or maybe you’re just easy to please,” I say as my legs instinctively wrap around him.

“Trust me, I’m ~very~ pleased,” he replies, drinking in my body with his eyes.

I unbutton Alex’s pants and, as I slide them down, I see exactly how ~pleased~ he is.

“I hope you’re ready for a long night,” Alex says, grinning. “Because we have a couple nights to make up for.”

I can’t deny that the whole time I was at the Crescent Moon Pack with Xavier, I was thinking about being back in bed with Alex.

He gives me a husky growl and presses his body against mine, causing me to moan.

As he slips his massive manhood inside me, I dig my claws into the bed sheets.

~Goddess have mercy!~

His thrusts become harder and faster, and the bed starts shaking.

He stares directly into my eyes as beads of sweat roll down his forehead, shooting me a smirk.

I grab his chest, scratching him.

He winces but doesn’t stop smiling.

“Give me all you got,” he says, panting as his thrusting intensifies. “I’ll do the same.”

I take hold of his shoulders and pull myself up, riding him as my claws run down his muscular back.

“Fuck yeah!” he shouts, gripping my writhing hips.

Alex is trying to bring out the warrior in me…

And it’s working.

***

As the sun starts to rise, my eyelids flutter open.

Alex is still fast asleep next to me.

~Time for my regular routine.~

I sit up and quietly slip out of bed, careful not to wake Alex up.

As I reach for the doorknob, Alex’s voice sounds behind me gruffly.

“Stay.”

I turn around to see him running his hand through his golden blond hair and smiling at me.

“At least for breakfast?” he asks hopefully.

I hesitate, but only for a moment.

“Okay,” I say, smiling back. “Breakfast sounds great.”

***

Breakfast with Alex and his parents turns out to be surprisingly pleasant.

Alex’s dad isn’t the most conversational, but Maria can sure talk up a storm.

She seems to genuinely regret how she treated me during the mating weekend and has been trying to make up for it ever since.

And it turns out I actually quite like Maria.

She’s sassy, opinionated, and smart.

But despite our mended relationship, I’m surprised when Maria pulls me aside as I’m about to leave.

“Can we speak in private for a moment?” she asks, eyeing Alex to make sure he doesn’t notice.

“Sure…” I respond warily.

Maria leads me all the way to her quarters in the east wing of the palace, which is surprisingly intimate for her.

When we enter, it’s just as lush as I expected.

Red velvet, satin, a crystal chandelier…

It’s just the right amount of classy without being too over the top.

“Wait here,” Maria says as she walks over to a drawer and pulls out a long, wrapped package.

She returns and places the package in my hands.

“I want to give this to you,” she says a little nervously. “It’s an apology of sorts. But also a token of my approval. I was harsh with you before, but now…I know you make my son happy. You’d make a fine mate for him.”

I’m in shock. Maria actually ~wants~ me and Alex to be together?

“Th—thank you,” I stammer as I unwrap the package.

I gasp when I see what I’m holding…

An absolutely ~gorgeous~ dagger made of moonstone that curves along the blade.

“Be careful,” Maria says. “The tip of the blade is cast in pure silver. It was my father’s. He was a warrior, and since you’re one too… I only thought it was fitting that you have it.”

“This is amazing,” I say, dumbfounded. “But why are you giving this to me now?”

Maria bites her lip anxiously as she gives me a worried look. “There is something else I need to ask you…”

“What is it?” I ask, her anxious energy suddenly finding its way to me.

“I…I hope that you and Alex will be mated in an official ceremony as soon as possible,” she says, choosing her words carefully. “And I want you to convince Alex that now is the right time.”

My jaw drops open.

She wants us to get mated ~now!?~