Chapter Thirty-Six

KEYARA

“My father changed my mother,” Luca told her quietly, “long before I was born. She almost died giving birth, and the baby didn’t make it.”

He came and sat down beside her, continuing the story. “He was mad with grief at losing his child and the prospect of losing his mate as well, and he was desperate.

“He was banished for it. They lived as rogues for a while, before Ash’s father took them in, and they joined his pack back when he was alpha. I was born several years later.”

“I knew I couldn’t be the only one,” she said, half to herself.

“In truth, it is far more common than anyone knows,” Luca told her, a faint smile on his lips. “My father has done a lot of research on it over the years and has found many like himself and my mother.

“Once the transformation takes place, you will be indistinguishable from a natural born wolf. Those my father discovered had changed their names and joined new packs.

“It’s not that hard to do if you are a low-ranking member of a pack, and few knew the truth about any of them. And that, my luna,” he said, standing back up, “is how I know so much about it.”

He turned to face her, smiling warmly. “The good news is that the chances of making it through appear to be much greater when the human has already mated with a wolf, as opposed to a random human like the rogues usually attempt.

“It is still quite dangerous, mind you, but I want you to know there is a very good chance.”

“Thank you, Luca, for everything,” she told him with sincerity.

“I know you understand the implications of what I have shared with you,” he said with a warning tone. “My parents are still active members of the pack and held in high regard.”

“I know, Luca. I won’t tell anyone,” she assured him.

“But…maybe you should tell Ash. That is, if you want to. He has joined your side, after all,” she said wryly. “I know he will keep their secret, too, and what you told me may keep him from worrying so much.”

“You’re right, Luna,” he replied. “There’s no reason to keep it from him now. Tomorrow, I will tell him everything. For now, you need him by your side as soon as possible.”

As soon as Luca left the room, she curled into a ball on the bed, letting the tears flow freely. She couldn’t believe what a mess she had made of things, and the regret she felt at pushing Ash away consumed her mind.

The fact that she had confided in Luca was of little comfort, even though rationally she knew it should be. His insight had changed everything, after all.

But the tower of emotion built over the last few days had finally tumbled, and there was no stopping the flood of tears now.

She suddenly felt the connection to Ash once again and knew Luca must have spoken with him.~ “I’m so sorry,”~ she told him, sobbing even harder.

~“I’ll be there soon,” ~she heard him reply, his urgency evident in her mind.

ASH

By the time he entered the room, mere moments later, her sobs had increased in intensity.

He gathered her into his arms, and she clung to him desperately. “It’s all right, Keyara,” he told her, trying to pull her out of her desperation. “Everything is going to be fine.”

He let her cry herself out, as she apologized over and over between her sobs, knowing she needed to release her emotions.

Her tears finally stopped, and she drew in a deep, shuddering breath. He wiped away the last of her tears with his thumb, smiling at her.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated once again. “I didn’t mean to make everything harder.”

“We’re both just doing the best we can, love,” he assured her. “I thought it was a good idea as well, to make things easier for you. I am just as much to blame.”

He kissed her softly. “Now that we know better, we will do better,” he said encouragingly.

She pressed her lips back against his desperately. He returned her kiss hesitantly, not wanting to push her too far.

“Make love to me, Ash,” he heard her moan. “I need you.”

“Are you sure?” he asked her, even though her words had made him instantly hard.

KEYARA

“I’m sure,” she replied, straddling him and kissing his neck. She ignored the ache in her head, knowing this was what she needed.

She nipped lightly at his skin, tasting the saltiness of it, and he moaned in response, flipping her over and pressing his body against hers.

His thigh was pressed between her legs, and she ground against it as his mouth devoured hers.

He broke the kiss suddenly and pulled the shift over her head in one quick motion, running his hands over her newly exposed skin. His mouth followed, trailing down her body.

She suddenly felt his presence between her legs, and she arched her back as his mouth moved against her. She pressed herself closer to him, running her hands through his hair, freeing it from the knot it was bound in.

He pleasured her for a long while, teasing her with his tongue, until she shuddered against him in release, crying out softly.

He kissed his way back up her naked body, nuzzling the mark at her neck. His teeth scraped against it, sending waves of sparks through her. He stopped suddenly, rubbing his nose against her neck gently.

Her breath was ragged, her body still recovering from the intense orgasm he had given her.

Ash kissed her softly, pulling away, but she reached down, slipping her hand into his breeches and wrapping her fingers around his arousal, stroking the length of it.

He grasped her wrist lightly, stopping her movement. “It’s all right, Key,” he told her gently. “Your pleasure was enough for me.”

She growled at his denial, surprising herself with the sound that came from her.

She broke free from his grasp, pulling the leather over his hips and off of him, the length of him rising to greet her. She lowered her head and took him into her mouth, savoring the salty taste of him.

She could feel his pleasure through the mate bond, and it only increased her own. Her mouth moved faster, and his fingers entwined into her hair, pulling her closer.

Suddenly he broke free from her mouth and flipped her onto her back, thrusting himself inside of her.

She cried out in pleasure once more as soon as he filled her, her hips moving to meet his thrusts as her body shuddered with waves of pleasure.

He buried his face in her neck as he reached his release, and they lay connected together as they both caught their breath.