Chapter 11

Spencer

The cold shower helped me calm my racing heart and the throb between my legs. But the moment I stepped back into the room, it ached again. He was on his side, chest bare. With his broad shoulders, and his strong arms, I saw the muscles of his six-pack flex, it made my mouth water. He ran a hand through his wavy brown hair as he looked at me, a happy, lazy smile on his lips. Lycaon, that man was beautiful. Kai was howling inside my head.

I climbed into bed with him, turning on my side to face him. "Hi."

"Hey, gorgeous." He trailed a finger over my arm. "I've got something of yours." He fumbled in his pocket before he held out the necklace he once gave me.

"Ax." I whispered, tears clouding my sight. "You - you kept it."

"I had it in my pocket since the day you left. Even with the belladonna, I wanted something of yours close by." He placed it around my neck, his fingers shook. "Every time I felt restless, I twirled it between my fingers. You were always in my heart, Spence, even though they tried to erase you from my mind."

"I can't believe we lost so much time." I looked up from the opal to his blue eyes. "Where do we go from here?"

He traced a finger down my cheek, cupping my jaw lightly. "I know you have a life in London. It would be hard but if you want to do the long-distance thing... And I'll probably be a grumpy Alpha bastard but -" He grinned but it didn't reach his eyes.

"What if I wanted to move back?" I whispered.

His eyes lit up, that grin going wider. My heart fluttered from the sight. "Then I need to make space in my closet."

"You want me to stay here? In your room?"

"Where else would you stay?"

I looked down, biting my lip. "Marianne stayed in another room."

He tilted my head again. "You are not Marianne. You are the woman I love. I've loved you long before you were my Mate. Your place is right next to me. In bed, in my counsel, in life. You're the rightful Luna and my better half."

I couldn't stop the tears from falling. He wanted me. In all of it. "You're making it real hard not to jump your bones and mark you." I chuckled, resting my hand on his chest. He laughed, his laugh vibrating through his chest, shaking my hand.

"Now you know how I feel the moment you step into a room." He leaned down and kissed my tears away before kissing me softly. He wrapped me in his arms, intertwining our legs. I leaned my head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat thump against my cheek. His scent was intoxicating.

"I love you."

"I thought I would never hear you say that again." He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. I hugged him tightly. "I love you, baby. With everything in me."

After breakfast, we went to Axel's office. He was showing me everything that happened in the pack for the past five years as we waited for the text that Marianne and Eveline were back. He was like a giddy schoolboy showing off his work. He placed folder after folder in front of me. From the school they started, to the charities and to all the finances. He had pulled me into his lap, his arms securely around my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder as we looked over the folder on the next group of kids that would start college when his father came in, Idris right behind him.

Andrew smiled at the sight of us, Idris was bouncing on his heels, grinning like he knew a dirty little secret.

"I'm happy you have someone to share everything with beside us."

"She is our future Luna; she should know everything about the pack," Axel answered without faltering. He gave my waist an extra squeeze.

"Speaking off." Idris's grin disappeared. "They are here. They should arrive at the house within five minutes."

We both tensed, I intertwined my fingers with his. He, in turn, placed a kiss on my neck. "I want you here." He said. "All three of you and Benjamin."

"I called for him. He's in the library, he'll be down in a minute." Andrew said.

I stood up, ready to move to one of the free chairs of the round table when Axel's hand stopped me. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Uhm, sitting over there." I pointed to the other side.

He tugged my hand until I sat down on the chair next to him. "I told you, I want you right next to me."

"But I'm not – not yet," I said softly.

"This place is reserved for you since yesterday. I don't want to do anything without you, Spence. My love, my Mate, my Luna." He lifted our intertwined hands and kissed it softly before placing it on his lap.

Idris sat down on Axel's right side and Andrew on my left just as Benjamin walked in. The youngest Henning shot me a smile before sitting down next to his father. We all tensed when we heard the females coming inside the house, laughing at something. Then they appeared in the doorway, their smiling faces fell, and they dropped their bags on the floor. Their eyes shifted over us until they settled on me. They turned their death glares to me.

"Sit down." Axel ordered. I tried to pull my hand back, but he just gripped it harder, his thumb making reassuring circles on the back of my hand.

"What is the meaning of this?" Marianne demanded.

"I said, sit your fucking ass down!"

"You don't talk to your Luna like that!" Eveline snapped.

Astrix and Axel growled in anger, making the ground vibrate. Both women sat down with trembling legs. Axel gave Idris a short nod and his Beta slid a folder across the table to them.

"You are from this moment on no longer the Luna of this pack. I, Axel Henning, reject you."

"You can't do that. I'm your wife!"

"Open the folder." He nodded his head to the folder. "I annulled our marriage."

"Annulled? That means she gets nothing!" Eveline fumed.

"Why should she get anything? Or you for that matter? If you would open the folder, you will see both of the marriages annulled."

"Axel, baby." Marianne pleaded.

"Don't try. We know what you did. The potion is out of my system, everything in this house of roses and cinnamon has been destroyed. You have poisoned me for years, keeping me away from the love of my life. My Mate." He lifted our hands and placed them on the table. They both froze, their eyes going from our hands to the necklace resting on my chest.

"And our future Luna." Idris said with pride.

"From this moment on, you two are banished and to never set foot in this pack again. We contacted the other packs and let them know what you did. You won't be welcome in any of them. From now on, you are without a pack. An Omega."

"Andrew, honey." Eveline turned to the former Alpha. "You can't cast us out."

"Axel is the Alpha. It is his choice, and I completely support his decision. The moment you turned on my family," Andrew clutched my hand. "You sealed your fate."

"We're done here." Axel stood up, taking me up with him. And the next moment some of his warriors charged in. They grabbed the two women by the arms, pinning them behind their backs. "I, Alpha Axel Henning, banish you Eveline Geton and Marianne Geton from this pack. You are never to return again, or you will face death."

Marianne's eyes shot to me. The men around me stepped closer protectively. "You will regret this, bitch!"

Axel charged forward; I quickly took a step in front of him. He didn't stop glaring at Marianne. I cupped his cheek. "Ax, love," I said softly, his eyes lowered to me, and his gaze softened. "Stay with me." He was still shaking in anger, so I stood on my toes and brushed my lips against his. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer and deepened the kiss.

I was vaguely aware of Idris ushering the others out, and the screaming of Eveline and Marianne, but feeling Axel's body pressed against mine, his warmth and lips, it made me forget it all. The door closed with a soft click, and I knew we were alone.

"Axel." I breathed as his lips travelled down my neck.

"I want you. Now!"

Axel

The moment she kissed me, all of my anger had disappeared and all I wanted was her. I was barely able to send out a command to Idris to get everyone out before her scent consumed me. I bit and licked her neck, when she whispered my name, my already hard cock twitched.

"I want you. Now!" I growled. I couldn't control myself any longer. I needed her.

"Yes." Her breathless answer was enough for me, I tore the clothes off her in seconds, reclaiming her lips. I moaned at her taste. I couldn't get enough of her. I picked her up and laid her down on the table, my lips started to slowly make their way down South. Licking and nipping on her divine skin, savouring every part of her. She was moaning, grabbing onto my shoulders with her nails. I spread her legs a little further and leaned down, I glanced up at her. Her eyes were already on mine.

"By the Lycaon's, you're beautiful," I said before I lowered my mouth to her sex.

She was trembling underneath me for the third time as she came down from her high. She looked absolutely breath-taking, looking all flustered. I hovered over her, lining us up perfectly.

"Do you accept me as your Mate, in this life and the next, Spencer James? To stay by my side and let me love you forever."

"I accept you in every lifetime, Ax. Do you, Axel Henning, accept me as your Mate, to protect and love you for the rest of my days?"

"I accept you, my love. From now till eternity." I kissed her slowly and deeply. I pulled back a little, to look her straight in the eyes. "Together."

Her eyes widened a little, but she nodded, a beaming smile on her face. It was unusual for werewolves to Mark each other at the same time. At most times, the male or the superior in the relationship would Mark his Mate first. But I wanted her to know we were equals in every way. And I wanted her by my side, not just as my Mate but as a true companion, as my true Luna. I kissed her neck, waiting for hers to touch mine.

I shivered as her hands trailed over my back before she placed her lips against my neck. We breathed against each other's neck before we simultaneously Marked each other. As our teeth sunk into each's flesh, I finally, after five years, slid inside of her. We groaned and trembled from the bond snapping in place. We stayed like that for a moment, not moving.

"I love you so much." I whispered against her neck.

She pulled back, cupping my cheek. A tear rolled down her cheek, not in pain but joy. I wiped it away before kissing her. "I love you with my whole heart, Ax."

Before I could start moving, she had flipped us over and she was straddling me. She grinned down at me, licking her lips before she started moving.

"Fuck!" I groaned in pleasure. I cupped her breasts, playing with her nipples. She arched her back, a moan slipping from her lips. I haven't felt this way in a long time, it was earth-shattering. I couldn't believe she was mine. My Mate, my gorgeous, kind, smart Mate. My world.

After we Mated and Marked each other, we lay on the table for a long time catching our breaths before doing it again. That went on for hours. It was night by the time Astrix demanded to Mate with Kai. We walked to the garden naked, not bothering to get dressed. We knew everyone had left the house already. We didn't want to let Astrix and Kai out inside the house, knowing they would pound on each other instantly. And I preferred my house whole. Before we shifted, I pulled her body flush against mine. Another wave of arousal shot through me. By the Lycaon, she was addictive.

I cupped her cheek. "I've never been this happy."

"Me neither." She kissed me slowly. "Are you ready to complete the Bond?"

I smiled broadly down at her. "I've been ready since I was fifteen."

Her breath hitched before a beaming smile spread across her face. "Try and catch me." She winked before she turned into Kai, her beautiful white wolf. Astrix was clawing to the surface, but I held him back for now. I just wanted to take her in for just a moment. I kneeled in front of her, my hand running through her soft white fur, down the black marks on her chest.

"Breath-taking," I whispered.

I want her. I want Kai now! Astrix growled inside my head, still trying to claw his way out. I've waited too long.

I know. I said before I let him free. In a few seconds, I was turned into Astrix, my black wolf. By the time I had turned, Kai was already leaping through the forest, howling in challenge as she went.

Astrix howled, bounding after her. I like a challenge.

I huffed a laugh as we ran to the trees after our Mate. Kai was insanely fast, Astrix would never be able to catch her if she didn't want him to. But I guess Kai didn't want to wait too long herself, letting us catch her in fifteen minutes. I retreated to the back of our minds as Astrix Marked and Claimed her, over and over again for the rest of the night.