Safe

AVA

I wake up the next morning, my body aching, but the sun is peeking through the thin gray curtains. I’m cocooned in blankets, in a bed for the first time in my life.

I turn my head, keeping my body still under the blankets, and take in the room. After a few moments, I realize I’m in Abel’s bed. My clothes are neatly folded in a basket by the door.

I gingerly move the heavy, warm gray blankets. I’m in different clothes and my legs are clean. Abel must have bathed me and changed me…

He must have been repulsed by me.

“Ava, stop it! He saved you!” Lyra protests.

“Lyra, are you okay?” I ask, my mind still reeling from the realization that I’m in someone else’s clothes. His oversized black tank top hangs on me like a dress, and I’m wearing black socks that reach almost to my knees. Then it hits me.

“Lyra, he’s seen me naked! He dressed me. He must have seen all our scars.” I curl back into the blankets, fighting back tears.

“Ava, he was gentle. I could feel him taking care of you, trying not to wake you. He didn’t want to frighten you. We were badly hurt. He cleaned your wounds to prevent infection.”

A blush creeps over my cheeks. No one has ever cared for us like this. I lie back, my head on a small pillow, and turn to face the window. I need a moment to process everything.

After about twenty minutes, I rise and walk to the window, taking in the city view. People are jogging, others are heading to school in uniforms. Judging by the sun’s position, it must be around six in the morning.

I’m so captivated by the sight, I sit on the floor, tucking my knees under me. I rest my head on the table next to the window and drift back to sleep.

When I wake up a few hours later, a blanket is draped over my shoulders. Abel must have come in and covered me.

I rise and start my usual routine. I dust off the bed before making it. I grab a rag from the table next to the bed and clean the window and the area around it before settling back on the floor.

After about an hour, my stomach starts to churn and my throat feels like it’s closing up. Alpha Black has taken a lover. My wolf starts to whine loudly as I clutch my stomach.

I begin to moan and cry on the wooden floor. My claws start to form, and I’m about to cut myself when the door swings open.

“Ava, what’s happening!” His eyes, now golden, he rushes to my side and grabs my claws, pulling me into his lap.

I collapse onto him, crying, the pain so intense I can’t speak. My head throbs so much I start to feel dizzy. I’m drenched in sweat.

Abel strokes my hair, trying to soothe me so I don’t hurt myself further. I grab his shirt and bury my face in it, inhaling his scent. I manage to expose some of his neck and chest.

I look up at him, his worried gaze meeting mine. His eyes are still gold because I’m bleeding. He places his hand on my face, wiping away my tears.

I snuggle closer, tucking my face under his chin, my forehead resting against his neck while my lips brush his jaw.

I can hear his heartbeat quicken and his scent intensifies. He’s excited by my actions. My wolf starts to calm as I lay my body between his legs, my chest against his. We stay like this for a while. Abel remains silent, just comforting me.

I nuzzle my head against his neck in gratitude, and he lets out a heavy sigh, then stiffens under me.

My wolf starts to feel happy for the first time in years. ~“I like him. He cares for us. He loves our touch.”~

I smile and let out a small laugh before sitting up on Abel’s lap. I look at him, a happy chuckle escaping me as Lyra bounces around excitedly.

“What’s so funny?” he asks, his eyes returning to their usual red and his cheeks flushing a soft pink. A strand of dark blue hair falls onto his forehead.

He runs his hand through his hair, trying to push it back. I reach up and brush it away, my fingers lightly grazing his chiseled cheek.

His eyes are shaped like almonds, framed by lashes that are unusually long for a man. His lips are a soft pink, almost like a blush, and his nose is slightly crooked, likely from a past brawl. His face is clean-shaven, but his jawline is distinct and square.

His features are striking, and he’s undeniably handsome.

~“Ava, you need to break the mate bond!”~ Lyra’s voice rings in my head.

“You’ve won over my wolf. You make her happy,” I tell him, my fingers tangled in his hair, my other hand resting on his shoulder.

He looks at me, confusion etching his face. “What do you mean? How do I do that?”

“You don’t judge us,” I explain, toying with his hair. “She’s pleased that you’ve chosen to protect me, even if it’s temporary.”

I press myself closer to him. “This is the happiest she’s ever been. Even when I met my mate, she didn’t react this way.”

“I’m not here to judge you, Ava. I’m glad I could help.” Abel’s hand rests on the small of my back, and I take a deep breath, causing his jaw to tighten. I trace my finger along it.

“Thank you for everything,” I murmur, nuzzling my face into his neck. “But I can’t impose on you any longer. I’ll be leaving today.”

“You can’t leave yet. I don’t want to sound possessive, but you’re still healing and you don’t have anywhere else to go. You just woke up and nearly hurt yourself.

“What happened?” His voice is laced with concern, and I can hear his heart pounding.

“My mate has chosen another. It’s not uncommon. Even though I rejected him, I still feel everything. Our bond hasn’t been severed.

“That means one of two things—either he hasn’t accepted my rejection, or my wolf is clinging to the hope that he might want us.”

“If him being with someone else can make you hurt yourself… Can’t you force him to break the bond?”

His voice rises, causing me to stiffen, but he quickly realizes he’s frightening me and pulls me back into his embrace, soothingly stroking my hair.

“The only way he can break it,” I whisper, “is if he rejects me or chooses a different mate. It can take years for wolves to find a second-chance mate. Some are lucky and find them right away.”

“Has your wolf completely cut him off?” His voice is tinged with sadness, as if he’s worried I might still want my mate.

“She said she was severing our bond when he was with his lover, so I think she was holding on. But when she sensed you, she completed the rejection. She likes you, as I mentioned.” I meet his gaze again.

“Is that normal? A wolf liking a vampire? I’ve never heard of such a thing. I’ve seen them having hate sex, but never a loving relationship…

“Not that I don’t care about you. I just worry that one day you might attack like other wolves do.” He looks down, as if he’s afraid of me.

“I’m not like other wolves. I’ve spent my whole life despising my own kind, so I learned early on that it doesn’t matter what species someone is—they all have their own monsters. Some more than others, but you can’t judge without knowing.”

“What do you mean, you’re different?” His eyes are filled with confusion.

“You’ll understand when I shift. I’m a runt. Most of us don’t survive birth, but I did. My wolf isn’t like my human form—she’s small and quiet. I never sought attention or touch like most wolves.

“I never wanted a mate. And I knew I should never have children—they’d be killed because of me. That’s why I rejected Alpha Black when I met him.

“His attitude didn’t exactly help his case, though,” I add with a hint of sarcasm. “My life has been a constant fight for survival, but I refuse to die because my mate can’t keep it in his pants!

“All my wolf and I want is someone who can love us and accept us as we are,” I say, tears welling up in my eyes.

“So…your wolf likes me? As in, she thinks I’m cool enough to let me do this?” He grins at me as he places his hand behind my head and gently pulls me closer to him.

His kiss is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. His lips are tender against mine, as though he’s afraid I might shatter. I lean into him, deepening the kiss, and he slides his hands down my back, gripping my rear.

I tangle my fingers in his hair, while my other hand traces a path down his chest. My legs are spread across his lap, my body fully straddling his.

A soft moan escapes him, and I begin to gently grind against his shorts, feeling his arousal grow beneath me. Without breaking our kiss, he lifts me up and carries me to the bed.

He positions himself over me, supporting his weight on his arms, and gazes at me with eyes filled with desire as I continue to press my body against his arousal. I flash him a playful smile, grab him, and flip him onto his back.

Back in control, I pepper kisses along his jawline while I stroke his arousal through his shorts. I trail kisses down his body, eliciting groans of pleasure from him.

I pause my kisses just above his waistband and glance up to ensure this is what he wants. His eyes are filled with longing.

“Are you sure about this?” he asks, cradling my face and guiding it back up to his. “We don’t have to if you’re not ready. I’m okay with stopping here.”

“I’m sure. I want this. We don’t have to go all the way—just let me pleasure you, Abel. I won’t go ~too~ far…today,” I reply, my voice dripping with seduction.

Abel throws his head back and moans as I resume my ministrations. I plant kisses on his neck, and his hands begin to explore my body, stopping at my breasts.

He lifts my shirt over my head and teases my nipples with his teeth. A loud moan escapes me as his fangs lightly scrape my skin. I’ve never craved someone as much as I crave him.

He sits up, my breast still in his mouth, and I seize this opportunity to free his hard, throbbing arousal from his shorts and press my wet center against it through my borrowed underwear.

Abel’s head falls back as my center grows wetter. I start to moan as I grind against him. His hands encircle my waist, pressing my body against his. I quicken my pace and lean forward to kiss his shoulder, my canines fully extended.

A wave of pure ecstasy washes over me as my center spasms, and I climax on his lap.

His breathing becomes ragged. “Fuck, Ava, I’m going to cum,” he warns, his voice husky with desire.

I increase my pace again, and move the boxers aside so there’s nothing between us. My soaked center rubs against his arousal, never allowing him inside me, just between my folds.

His moans grow louder as I grind faster and harder. He grips my rear, holding me in place as he climaxes on my center.

I capture his lips in a passionate kiss, coming down from my climax.

“Ava… God, that was incredible,” Abel whispers in my ear. My cheeks heat up at the memory of what just transpired.

I gaze at Abel and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m not done with you yet,” I declare, my voice thick with desire.

“I want more too, but you need to heal. This isn’t helping.”

I pin him beneath me and kiss him again. Ignoring his protest that I need to rest, I remove the borrowed boxer shorts.

“I told you I want to pleasure you, and I know that wasn’t enough. I’ll be fine. I won’t break from playing with you,” I assure him, a smirk playing on my lips.

“Ava, I want you too, but we can take it slow. I don’t want to push you too far.” He watches me as I plant kisses on his stomach.

“I can rest later, but right now I want you. But if you say no, I’ll back off,” I promise, my legs still straddling him.

“Fuck.” He runs his hand through his hair, then lifts me up and lays me on the bed.