Chapter: eleven

Aylin knocked on the pack house door with a sure hand, even as loud voices echoed from within. She glanced back at Quill, catching his eye roll.

She couldn’t help but chuckle, a nervous sound that slipped out as the voices continued. The door finally swung open to reveal Ophelia, her gaze narrowing at the sight of Aylin.

Quill immediately positioned himself protectively behind Aylin, his arms crossed.

“I need to speak with Alpha Morris,” Aylin stated, her voice steady and strong.

Ophelia rolled her eyes but stepped aside, allowing Aylin and Quill to enter.

The moment they stepped inside, the house fell silent. All eyes were on them, the room filled with tension as they watched the warrior following the petite woman.

Aylin, the luna of the Dark Moon Pack, approached the office door of her alpha.

“Ophelia, I’m not in the mood for your games right now.”

“Aylin’s here,” she called through the door.

Quill started to speak, but Aylin raised a hand to him, lightly touching his chest. “It’s okay,” she whispered.

A low growl of displeasure rumbled from Quill’s chest, his annoyance clear at the way Ophelia was treating his queen.

Aylin reached back to squeeze his hand, a silent reassurance as she tried to keep his anger in check.

The door swung open to reveal a scowling Daemon, his expression softening when he saw Aylin. His gaze flicked to Ophelia, who huffed and stormed off. Aylin couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips, watching the woman who had stolen her first mate leave in a huff.

“Alpha Morris.”

“Luna Malin.”

“May we talk?”

“Y-yes, of course,” he stuttered.

Quill moved to follow Aylin into the office, but she stopped him. “I can handle this.”

Quill leaned down to whisper, “Zeke didn’t want me to leave you alone. I can’t disobey him.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll cover for you. Five minutes, I promise,” she reassured him, patting his chest. “Wait here.”

Stepping into the office, Aylin felt a knot of tension in her chest. Maybe it was because she knew Quill was uncomfortable disobeying Zeke’s orders.

The air was thick with tension, both inside the office and out. She glanced at the clock, knowing she didn’t have much time to deliver Zeke’s message.

He’d made it clear he would destroy the pack house if she wasn’t back in thirty minutes.

Daemon settled into his brown leather chair, his brow furrowed. He seemed nervous in Aylin’s presence. “What can I do for you, Luna?”

“I’m here to tell you that the king will return tomorrow to continue discussions. That’s all.” Her words were short and to the point.

She didn’t want to spend any more time with him than necessary.

She turned to leave, her hand reaching for the door handle, when his voice stopped her. “Wait…” Daemon’s voice was strained. “We need to talk.”

A nervous laugh escaped her. Without turning around, she replied, “Sorry, I need to get back to my ~mate~.” She emphasized the last word, knowing it would sting.

“Damn it, Aylin!” He slammed his fist on the desk, and when she turned, Daemon was standing, his face twisted in anger. “I need to explain.”

The office door swung open, Quill ready to defend. “Luna—”

“Let’s go, Quill.”

She brushed past him, hearing a low growl from Daemon, followed by a louder one from Quill. Without hesitation, Quill followed Aylin out of the house and back to the car.

They didn’t speak.

Aylin stole a glance at Quill, noticing the tension in his muscles beneath his shirt. He was clearly regretting his decision to leave her alone in the office.

“Are you going to tell Zeke that you didn’t come into the office with me?” Aylin asked.

Quill gripped the steering wheel tighter, clearly wrestling with his thoughts. “No, I won’t. But we’re both taking this secret to the grave.”

As they pulled up to the house, Zeke was waiting outside, clearly impatient. He seemed to relax when Aylin stepped out of the SUV.

She walked up to her mate and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. “See, I made it back on time.” Her sweet tone made Zeke visibly shudder.

“What did he say?” Zeke asked.

Confused, she tilted her head. “What would he have said?”

“I don’t know. I half expected him to try to talk to you about—”

She placed a finger over his lips, silencing him.

“It doesn’t matter. I told him you’d be back tomorrow to talk. Nothing more, nothing less.”

As she stepped into the house, a low growl came from Zeke. “Quill, is she telling the truth?”

Aylin froze, her heart pounding. Would Quill keep their secret? She didn’t want to lie to Zeke.

She wanted to keep her interactions with Daemon brief, to let Zeke get the information he needed and leave.

“Of course she is. It took a bit longer because Alpha Morris and his luna were arguing.” Quill’s words flowed easily, easing Aylin’s worry.

With a grunt, Zeke followed her into the house. Aylin looked around, her stomach growling loudly. It had been a long time since she’d felt real hunger.

Since she hadn’t been home in so long, the food in the fridge had long since spoiled.

Ezekiel chuckled lightly at his partner. “Feeling peckish?” he teased.

“Just a tad.”

He shifted his focus to Quill and Angus. “Head to the store and grab some grub. Everything here is likely rotten. Hopefully, it won’t be a long trip.

“Whatever you get, we can haul back with us.”

“We’ll leave the warriors outside, keeping watch, then. What about you two?” Quill inquired.

“Who better to protect me than my mate.” Ezekiel grinned at the woman. “Plus, I could use a shower.”

“Where’s the store?” Angus grumbled, clearly not thrilled with his assignment.

“Leave the driveway. Take a left. It’s about ten miles down the road. You can’t miss it.”

After bounding up the stairs, Aylin entered her old bedroom. Looking around, she realized how dull and simple it was compared to her room in the castle.

Shutting the door behind her, she ventured into the closet, searching for something to wear. Fortunately, there was plenty to choose from since she hadn’t packed much when she’d left.

With a shrug, Aylin decided to choose later. It wasn’t like the bathroom was a long trek from the closet.

Turning on the hot water, Aylin peeled off her clothes, stepping into the cascading water.

Memories of the last shower flooded her mind almost instantly: Ezekiel’s large hands gently exploring her skin, the way he touched her in ways no one else had.

Again, she felt the familiar spark of heat in her belly, slowly spreading lower.

A sudden desire to recreate that feeling washed over her.

***

Shortly after Quill and Angus departed for the store, Ezekiel tiptoed up the stairs to check on his mate. He knew he shouldn’t, but something was nagging at him.

When the two returned from the pack house, there was a certain vibe that suggested they weren’t being entirely truthful.

After knocking on the door, Ezekiel peeked into her bedroom.

Hearing the shower, he was about to close the door when he caught a whiff of something sweet. The same scent that had filled his nostrils that night in the motel room.

Quietly closing the door, he locked it.

As he sniffed the air, the intoxicating, sweet scent of arousal reached him. Moving toward the bathroom door, he slammed his hands on the door frame.

Desire surged within him as he listened to his mate on the other side, soft moans escaping her beautiful lips.

Her groans reached his ears, and he tightened his grip, splintering the wood under his powerful hands.

Suddenly, the water stopped, and he composed himself. The knob started turning, and he quickly stepped aside. As he hid behind the door, his gaze landed on his mate, wrapped in a towel.

Aylin didn’t notice him. When she dropped her towel, Ezekiel couldn’t hold back any longer. Placing his hand on the door, he closed it with a bang.

Aylin jumped, spotting her mate lurking. Immediately, she tried to cover herself with her hands. The action made Ezekiel growl. “Don’t,” he rumbled, his chest heaving.

“Zeke?” Aylin was nervous seeing the state of her man. Although they had shared intimate moments before, this felt different.

Seeing his eyes dark with desire sent a shiver down her spine, tingling all the way to her toes.

Approaching her like a predator, Ezekiel drank in every inch of his mate’s bare form. But he kept a three-foot distance from her, his eyes raking over her.

“I heard you,” he muttered. “Continuing where we left off without me?”

A deep blush spread over Aylin’s entire body, and she swallowed loudly. “Y-you heard me?”

Laughing darkly, Ezekiel closed the gap between them, resting his arms on either side of her head, trapping her. “Indeed, I did.”

He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent, and his eyes darkened further. As he lifted his head again, his eyes locked onto his mate’s.

“Oh, kitten, you have no idea what you do to me. I’m almost hurt you didn’t invite me.”

Words tried to escape Aylin’s mouth, but he silenced her with his index finger over her lips. “Make it up to me, beautiful.”

“H-how?” Her voice wavered with the closeness of her mate. His warm breath on her skin made her shiver.

Without a word, Ezekiel crashed his lips onto Aylin’s with almost violent passion. For a moment, she was stunned by her mate’s actions, but she quickly responded to his fervor.

His hands roamed down her body, gently caressing her. One of her hands moved to his waist while her other arm wrapped around his neck.

His tongue was struggling to move past the barrier of her lips; he growled into her, and instantly she granted him the access he so desperately sought.

Moving his kisses downward, he found the beloved mark left on her delicate neck.

Aylin tensed when his lips fervently kissed the spot. Loud moans escaped her; her nails dug into his skin.

“You’re mine,” he whispered huskily into her soft skin.

He continued his journey downward, leaving no part of her petite body untouched.

Running her hands through his soft hair, she tugged slightly when he got closer to her apex. “Zeke!” she gasped.

Looking up at her, he sent her a sly smirk. “Please, Aylin,” he said. His voice was almost desperate, begging her to let him please her.

When she gave him a slight nod, the smile on his face grew wider.

As he ventured further downward, Aylin pressed herself harder into the wall behind her, legs spread.

A soft tongue began to explore her already wet folds; his hand traveled up her body, between the valley of her breasts.

The fire in her belly was intensifying, and she could barely contain the groans and moans escaping her. She clung onto Ezekiel’s shoulders for dear life and suddenly felt weightless.

Slipping his hands under her legs, he hooked underneath, lifting her from the floor, his tongue still buried deep inside.

Gasping, Aylin held on tightly, closing her eyes. For a brief moment, she could feel how much deeper the soft sensation traveled inside her, and occasionally she felt his teeth grazing her.

“Oh, God!” she groaned.

A gentle touch woke her, and as Aylin opened her eyes, she found Ezekiel hovering above her, his gaze filled with desire.

He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, his smile warm. “You’re so beautiful, my queen.”

“Zeke, I need you.” Aylin’s senses were overwhelmed with a wild longing. All she wanted was to be one with Ezekiel, to share in the most intimate of moments.

His response was a deep, passionate kiss that left her lips tingling and swollen.

Her fingers found his waist, tracing the edge of his jeans before moving up to explore the electrified skin beneath his shirt. The sparks between them were palpable.

Aylin rose from the bed, her eyes drinking in the sight of Ezekiel’s muscular form. She pulled his shirt over his head, her hands eager to explore every inch of him.

As her fingers traced the contours of his toned body, he let out a low growl. She pressed her nose to his skin, inhaling his scent—a mix of musk and pine that only served to heighten her arousal.

Her gaze never left his as she unbuttoned his jeans, letting them fall to the floor. She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of his boxers, sliding them down to join the discarded jeans.

Ezekiel pressed his forehead to hers, sensing her hesitation. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll be gentle.” He scooped her up in his arms, moving them further onto the bed.

As he leaned on his forearm, Aylin could feel his hardened length pressing against her. He shifted his hips, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist.

“Stop teasing… oh, Zeke,” she moaned into his ear, her teeth gently tugging at his earlobe.

Ezekiel placed his hand behind her knee, pushing it back. He lined himself up with her entrance, pausing to look at her one last time. “Are you sure about this?”

Aylin cupped his cheek, meeting his gaze with certainty. “I’m sure, Zeke.”

With her affirmation, he pushed himself inside her, a deep grunt escaping his lips. He paused, watching her face for any signs of discomfort.

“Are you okay?” He remained still, waiting for her response. A single tear slipped from her eye. “Talk to me, baby.”

Aylin blinked away the tear, focusing on the concern etched on Ezekiel’s face. “I’m okay, really. I want to keep going.”

As she tightened her arms around his shoulders, he began to move, his thrusts slow and measured. She squirmed beneath him, adjusting to his size.

He released her leg, and she wrapped it around his waist, her nails raking up and down his back. The sensation drew a loud groan from him.

“You feel so good,” he panted into her ear.

Aylin’s fingers traced up his spine and into his hair. “Faster, Zeke!” she pleaded.

He complied, quickening his pace while still being mindful not to hurt her. He wrapped his arms under her, lifting her sweat-slicked body as he sat up.

Aylin clung to him, her eyes locked with his. His green gaze was filled with love, reaching into the depths of her soul.

Their shared moans filled the room, and for a moment, they were the only two people in the world.

The heat building within her was a testament to the fact that Ezekiel was the only man, the only wolf, the only mate she would ever need.

Her head fell back as her body tightened, the pressure building until it was released in a wave of pleasure. “Zeke!” she cried out, holding him as tightly as she could.

“Me too, baby.”

As the intensity of their shared climax faded, Aylin drifted off to sleep next to her mate.

Ezekiel watched her sleep, a smile playing on his lips as he thought of the woman who would soon take her rightful place by his side.

A flicker of worry crossed his mind as he thought of the secrets he would have to reveal about his pack. But he shook it off, wrapping his arm around Aylin and closing his eyes.