Chapter: eight

Aylin woke up the next morning to find the other side of the bed cold. His scent was faint, indicating he’d been gone for a while.

Feeling a pang of disappointment, she propped herself against the headboard, pulling the blankets up to her knees. She rested her chin on her knees, staring out the window.

Looking down, she realized she was wearing nothing but a long T-shirt that smelled like him. “When did he change me?”

“Around one o’clock,” Kaia answered.

Aylin rolled her eyes, already feeling irritated with the wolf. “You always have an answer.” She paused, inhaling Ezekiel’s scent. “I wonder where Zeke is.”

“Mate will return,” Kaia reassured her. “We’re marked. He won’t leave now.”

“You don’t know that,” Aylin shot back.

Suddenly, the bedroom door swung open. Ezekiel stood there, clad only in basketball shorts, his body slick with sweat.

“Oh, you’re awake,” he greeted her cheerfully. “I didn’t want to disturb you earlier.”

“Where were you?” Aylin’s voice was tinged with desperation; she was still unsure if he would reject her.

He sat on the bed, his fingers lightly brushing her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing,” she lied.

“Sweetheart, you shouldn’t hesitate to talk to me. We’re mates. You should feel comfortable sharing your thoughts with me.”

Aylin felt as if Ezekiel could see right through her. She couldn’t hide anything from him. Her hesitation stemmed from her deep-seated fear of rejection.

After all, Ezekiel was a king. He could have any woman he wanted.

But the way he was looking at her made her heart flutter and her head spin. Without thinking, she jumped up and threw her arms around his neck.

He seemed surprised for a moment, but then he hugged her back, holding her close.

“You’ll get all sweaty,” he teased. Feeling small tears on his shoulder, he realized Aylin was scared. He could feel it through their bond.

He didn’t want to ignore it, but he also didn’t want to make it worse by bringing it up. “Let’s take a shower.”

“T-together?” She sniffled.

He paused, considering whether that was a good idea. He remembered how he felt just seeing her in a towel. The desire was overwhelming.

“Maybe you should go first,” he suggested.

“I don’t have any clothes here.”

“That’s fine. While you’re in the shower, I’ll get you something. You can pack your bag while I’m showering. We’re leaving after breakfast.”

Aylin nodded, accepting his suggestion, though she didn’t want to let go of him. When he stood up, she wrapped her legs around him, clinging to him tightly.

Without a word, Ezekiel carried her into the bathroom, turned on the light, and handed her a towel. “You need to let go, honey,” he coaxed.

She finally released him, standing on her own.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she saw a mess: disheveled hair, dark circles under her eyes, her thin frame visible under her clothes.

This wasn’t how she wanted to look if she ever went back to her old pack. But now, she had no choice.

The sound of running water snapped Aylin out of her thoughts. “It’s ready when you are.”

The thought of being away from Ezekiel, even just to shower, filled Aylin with anxiety.

Maybe it was the mark, or maybe she was truly falling for her mate. She couldn’t tell.

All she knew was that the thought of being apart from him, even for a moment, was unbearable.

Ezekiel was about to leave the bathroom when Aylin gently grabbed his hand. “Don’t go.”

He froze, his muscles tensing at her words. He knew their bond was growing stronger, and it was becoming harder to resist her.

“What is it?” he asked, pretending not to know what she was going to say.

“Stay.”

That single word made him shift uncomfortably. Through their bond, he could feel her shame.

He’d never felt such a strong emotion from a single word. Was she ashamed of her body? Or was she ashamed of needing him so much?

He turned around and immediately wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck.

She buried her face in his shoulder, and he could feel their love flowing between them.

After setting her back on the floor, he placed his hands on her waist. He slipped his fingers under her oversized T-shirt and lifted it, revealing her chest.

She covered herself, looking away in embarrassment.

“Look at me, Aylin.”

She slowly met his gaze, and a wave of intensity filled the room, stirring something within her.

It felt like a tremor, as if some primal force was urging her to do unspeakable things to the man before her.

She looked into his eyes. They were a deep green, almost black.

He gently moved her hands, wanting a better view of her.

Taking the hint, Aylin lowered her hands, looking into the mesmerizing green eyes of her man.

Ezekiel growled softly, bending his head to trail kisses along her shoulder.

Aylin’s hand slipped under the waistband of his basketball shorts, tracing the lines of his muscles.

He tensed under her touch as she explored his flawless skin.

Aylin was in awe of Ezekiel’s sculpted body. She ran her hand over his muscles, eliciting a low rumble from him.

Aylin’s hands traced patterns over his skin, her touch making him shiver.

“Keep this up, and I can’t promise we won’t end up doing it,” Ezekiel warned, his voice a low rumble.

Without a word, Aylin stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash over her. Strong hands, hotter than the water, touched her, making her shudder.

He kissed the tender mark on her neck, and she couldn’t help but moan.

“Zeke,” she groaned.

He turned her to face him, and the look of pure pleasure on her face nearly undid him. He’d never seen anything more beautiful.

His finger traced a path from her cheek, down to her breasts, and she arched against him. The chemistry between them was electric.

He kissed her earlobe, a chaste touch that made her grab his hair and pull slightly.

“We should probably clean up and hit the road. If we keep this up, we’ll never leave this room,” he teased.

They agreed, finishing their shower and preparing for the long drive back to the Dark Moon Pack.

***

After a hearty breakfast, Aylin climbed into a black Suburban SUV with the rest of the wolves. Quill was driving the second car, with Zeke and Aylin in the backseat.

Angus drove the first car, filled with warriors. Aylin wasn’t sure how long the drive would be, her first journey into the king’s territory had been a blur.

“You ate a good breakfast,” Ezekiel noted.

She smiled at him, pleased that he was happy with her appetite.

In truth, Aylin felt like throwing up. She hadn’t eaten that much in a long time.

But she remembered their agreement: she would eat more and regain her strength. With Ezekiel by her side, it seemed possible.

~“Mate loves us!”~ Kaia yelped in Aylin’s mind.

~“Oh, please be quiet. You’re giving me a headache!”~

~“She’s right, you know,”~ a deep voice echoed in her mind.

She looked at Ezekiel, who was smiling out the window.

“Was that you, Zeke?” It was the first time she’d heard his voice through the link. She’d thought it wasn’t possible until he marked her.

Ezekiel squeezed her thigh gently.

~“Now I can hear you through the link. I can also feel your emotions, like the one you’re feeling now,”~ he said, his voice a seductive purr.

She blushed deeply. ~“Soon, my love.”~

“When will I be able to hear you too?”

~“Once we’ve fully mated. Then you’ll be able to hear me and feel my emotions. You’ll also be able to hear everyone in the pack.”~

“What about blocking? I was never very good at it.”

“Please, block me out,” Quill joked. “I feel like throwing up.”

Aylin’s eyes widened as she looked in the rearview mirror. Quill was smirking and winked at her. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I won’t throw up while driving.”

A growl filled the car, making the windows shake. “Don’t call my mate sweetie, Quill.”

Aylin moved closer to Ezekiel, resting her head on his arm to soothe him. “It’s not a big deal, Zeke.”

His chest rumbled with a growl so deep it made her shake.

“Relax, honey.”

At her words, Ezekiel pulled her into his lap, nuzzling her neck. “You smell so good,” he murmured.

His arm tightened around her legs, and Aylin felt a rush of desire. She could feel him harden beneath her.

“Can you two not have sex in the backseat? I’m still here, you know,” Quill interrupted, his voice filled with disgust.

“Shut up,” Ezekiel grumbled.

Aylin shifted slightly, resting her head against Ezekiel’s chest.

“Take a nap, baby. We’ll stop in a few hours and rest.”

She nodded, closing her eyes and listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

***

Ezekiel watched Aylin sleep as they finally stopped. They still had a day’s drive ahead of them. He picked up their bags and his sleeping mate.

He kissed her forehead gently, and she stirred. He paused, hoping she wouldn’t wake.

“Give me my room key,” he whispered to Quill.

“Here,” Quill handed him the key. “She sleeps like a log,” he commented.

“Her body is still recovering,” Ezekiel replied. He looked down at her peaceful face and couldn’t help but smile. “See you in the morning.”

“Bright and early.”

Their room was simple: a king-sized bed, a small fridge, a cheap desk, lamps by the nightstands, and a standing lamp near the bathroom.

It wasn’t much, but they were only staying for the night.

After laying Aylin on the bed, Ezekiel put their bags on the floor next to the desk.

He looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair spread over the pillow, her lips slightly parted. He felt incredibly lucky.

As he took off his shirt, he heard a soft voice. “Zeke.”

He turned to see Aylin sitting up, rubbing her eyes. She looked adorable.

“I’m here, baby.”

Aylin switched on the bedside lamp, her gaze landing on her mate’s enticing form. Her eyes widened and she quickly averted her gaze. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were undressing.”

His laughter echoed in the room. “You can look, sweetheart. I’m all yours.”

Those words sent her heart into a wild rhythm against her ribcage. It felt odd to see him half-naked, even though they’d already shared a shower.

Her fear was that he’d see her naked again and be disgusted.

A surge of bravery washed over her, and she allowed her gaze to settle on her mate. He was clad only in his snug teal boxers.

She moved across the bed towards him, standing so that they were eye to eye. She raised her hands, tracing the contours of his muscles from his broad shoulders down to his chiseled abs.

Ezekiel’s breath hitched as her touch ignited sparks that coursed through him, reaching deep into his bones. His resistance crumbled under her touch.

Her fingers explored him, eventually finding his clenched fists. Ezekiel relaxed his hand, allowing Aylin to intertwine their fingers.

As she nuzzled his collarbone, Ezekiel tilted his head back, her breath on his skin sending shivers down his spine. “Don’t tease,” he murmured.

“Can I mark you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. It wasn’t unheard of for a female to mark her mate, but it was rare for a wolf of Ezekiel’s stature to be marked.

“Do it,” he responded softly.

~“I want to do it,”~ Kaia whimpered.

~“Let him decide.”~

“I want you to mark me. Not Kaia,” Ezekiel preempted her question. She’d forgotten to shield him from their conversation.

She pressed her forehead to his, their lips meeting in a tender kiss. Their movements were perfectly synchronized.

Ezekiel growled into her, his hand gently cradling the back of her head, his tongue seeking entrance. When she granted it, their tongues danced in a playful battle for dominance.

She moved her lips down the side of his neck, finding his sensitive spot. His grip on her tightened as she smirked into his skin.

Her canines extended, she gently licked the spot before sinking her teeth into his flesh.

A deep groan rumbled in his throat. He’d never experienced such pleasure. “Aylin,” he moaned.

After cleaning the blood from his neck, she lifted her head. “Are you okay?”

Without a word, he captured her lips in a fervent kiss, as if it might be their last. Passion surged between them.

Aylin struggled to catch her breath. She ran her fingers through his soft hair.

Their kiss ended, and they simply stared into each other’s eyes. Aylin was struck by the vibrant green of his eyes; this wasn’t just desire. It was something more profound.

“I love you, Aylin.”