Chapter 23

~Lincoln~

I walk to the sitting room and plop down on the couch. I lean forward with my elbows on my knees

and my head in my hands. I don't have the energy for this right now. I really just want to find my

mate and snuggle up to her. She has been through an ordeal, and I just want some time with her

where she isn't trying to fight for her life or heal from injuries.

The couch dips next to me, and I can feel Aida’s body heat next to me. I feel her hand on my thigh,

but I push it away. I sit up and lean my head back on the back of the couch. “You have five minutes,

Aida. I suggest you don't waste it.” I can feel Aida’s upper body closer to mine, and I figure she has

leaned back close to me.

“I... miss you, Lincoln. I know you miss me too. We had a good thing and I know you are just

appeasing Landon by accepting Portia.” I sigh internally. I knew this would be bad, but experiencing

it is something else. “You know I love you and I know you love me too. Don't fight it.....we are

meant to be.” This is ridiculous, I swear.

“Aida, you have to stop.” I sit up and scoot away from her so I can look at her. “Yes we have had

something since high school and at one point, I planned to make you my chosen. I know that I said

that I didn't want my fated, but that was never really true. I've always wanted my fated mate, I was

just scared.” Aida opens her mouth like she wants to speak, but I shake my head to stop her. I get a

mindlink before I can respond.

Linc, you had better finish up with Aida. Tia needs you right now. I need to wrap this up and get to

mate.

“I need you to hear me right now. I....I never fell in love with you, not like you were with me. I always

thought that Id fall for you one day. I....I'm sorry, but it's true.” The tears are building in her eyes.

“I've found my fated mate and....and I want her. I want her more than I want to be the Alpha of this

pack. I know that hurts you, especially since she is your sister, but that wasn't my doing. The

Goddess has paired your sister with my brother, and me and I'm thankful.” I stand up and take a few

steps away from the couch. “I'm truly sorry, Aida, but this is just how things are.” Aida starts to sob

behind me, but I find the strength not to look back. I continue out of the room and up the stairs.

It doesn't take me long to reach Landon’s room. When I open the door, I see Tia on the bed, asleep.

Landon is next to her, stroking her hand. They aren't cuddled up together, and I hope that isn't a

bad sign. Landon looks at me as I walk closer to the bed. He gives me a look of frustration which

makes my stomach turn.

You smell like Aida.

She was sitting next to me on the couch. What's wrong with Tia? You said she needed me. I start to

take my clothes off and grab some of Landon’s to change into. I don't want to smell too much like

Aida. Landon gets up from the bed and stops in front of me. He puts a hand on my shoulder and

walks out of the room. I'm not quite sure how I should feel; Landon is acting weirdly.

I sit on the bed next to Tia's head and just look at her face. I love watching her sleep. She looks so

peaceful and sweet. I reach out and stroke her cheek, the sparks erupting between us. Tia moves a

bit and moans. I swear I love every sound that she makes. She squirms some more and opens her

eyes, her light brown eyes staring into mine. I smile at her, but she doesn't return it. Oh s**t! What's

wrong?

"Hey, beautiful.”

“You were with my sister.” The way she says this is more of an accusation than just making a

statement. I hope she didn't read anything into me talking to Aida.

"Uh, yeah. She asked me for five minutes.” Tia closes her eyes and sighs while moving her face away

from my hand. This is really not looking good

“First you let her hang all over you in the kitchen and then you go off alone with her.” WTF?! I never

expected this attitude from Tia. I wonder where it's coming from. She has to know that she is the

only woman I care about.

"You saw me try to get Aida off of me. What is all of this about?” Tia sits up and glares at me. It's like

a light switch was flipped, going from quiet to angry instantly.

"You tried to get her off of you?” Tia gets up from the bed and starts to pace back and forth. “Ok,

you made a lame attempt to get her hands off of you, but did you actually make her leave? Did you

actually stop her or Adela from starting their mess. You are one of the future Alphas, yet you let

them do whatever they wanted to.” I can see the anger build in Tia; it is all over her face. I would

never have thought she'd be this upset. “Then, on top of everything, you go off alone with my sister.

Why am I here, Lincoln? Why tell me that I need to come here for my safety, yet you let my sisters

and your mother do whatever the hell they want to around here? At what point will they try, and

succeed, in destroying me?” The tears that were gathering while she was talking have now started to

fall down her face.

She's right, you know.

What do you mean, Brutus?

You and Landon didn't do much to keep what happened today from happening. Those three feel

they can do whatever, and that's what they are doing. How can we keep Tia safe like that and make

her feel at home?

I didnt think of things like that. I, honestly, wasn't thinking about how we got to the point where it

seems to be okay to cause a scene like that in the kitchen. Tia has stopped pacing and is looking out

the sliding door window. She has her arms across her chest, and the tears have stopped falling.

Landon and I screwed up big time, and we need to make sure something like this is able to happen

again.

I get up and walk around the bed until I'm behind Tia. I place my hands on her hips and lean down

to let my lips softly touch her neck. I can feel the shudder that goes through Tia’s body at my touch

“You're right. We screwed up. We should have made sure that everyone understands that any type

of disrespect or foul word against you will not be tolerated for even a second.” I kiss Tia's neck a few

more times before turning her around in my arms to face each other. “I swear to you that I will do

better and that you are the only woman I want in my life.”

I slowly lean into Tia until our lips touch. The sparks that occur are enough to make me hard as a

rock. I continue to kiss Tia softly, our tongues playing with each other. Tia moans in my mouth,

making me growl. I swear I love every sound that she makes. I run my hands down her back and

grip her a*s tightly, pulling her into me. We both have too many clothes on. I pick her up by her a*s,

and she wraps her legs around my body. I take a few steps to the bed and softly drop her on it. I'm

hovering over Tia instantly, putting my lips back on her. This time the kiss is much more passionate;

I want to drink her up.

Tia starts to move her hands under my shirt, clawing and gripping my back and arms. I place myself

at her core and start to grind against her, the friction enough to make me combust. I want to taste

her again. I want her to taste me again, but above all of that, I need to be inside of her. I feel like if I

don't get to feel her soon, I will die a slow death.

Tia must have been reading my mind because she starts to pull my shirt up. I sit up from her and

quickly pull it over my head. I lean back down, placing my lips all over Tia’s neck, each point of

contact causing her to moan and squirm. I don’t think I have ever been this hard in my life, and a

part of me worries that I may burst a blood vessel or something

I extend a claw and run it along the seams of Tia's shirt and shorts. In the future, I want to be suaver

about things, but I just can't wait that long today. Her clothes fall away from her body. I sit up to

take a look at what's in front of me, and I swear my breath left my body. Tia is exquisite, and I'm so

thankful she is mine. Without me noticing, Tia has clawed away my pants, and we are both naked. “I

want to cherish every bit of you, but......." Tia places a finger on my lips and smiles sweetly.

“If aren't inside of me soon, I'm going to combust.” I chuckle, loving that she needs me every bit as

much as I need her. I help Tia scoot up a bit, and I position myself on top of her at her entrance. I

look into Tia's eyes, looking for anything that would tell me she may have changed her mind. I

didn't see anything that would tell me that, so I grab my length and put it right at her entrance. I let

my hand glide it in, and I swear I wanted to c*m immediately at the sensation. The warmth and

wetness are almost overwhelming, but I don’t want to be known as a one-minute brother.

I push myself all the way into Tia and watch her eyes start to roll back. Mine did the same at the

sensation of being inside of her. I never knew anything could feel like this. I slowly start to move in

and out of Tia, her clawing at my arms while I go. I pick up my pace some, gliding in and out of her.

I never realized this could feel so damn good. “Harder... faster,” Tia moans under me. I can't do

anything but oblige her. I start to hit into her harder and harder, making sure I pick up my pace as I

pound her. In and out....again and again......the sensation of being in my mate is everything

“Fuuuuuuu........" Tia screams out, and her walls tighten around my shaft. I feel like Tia's choking my

length, and I love it. I pump a few more times and cry out her name when I empty myself inside of

her.

We are both breathing heavily as I remove myself from inside Tia and lay down next to her. I just

lost my v*******y I just lost my v*******y to my mate. I feel like a brand new man, and I can't wait

until we can do that again.