by Belle Kayce
“Is that—”
“Grace,” Meg says. “Wow, Julia, if you want to get your mate, you better get him fast because I know how Grace works.”
“Oh my gosh! You’re an Alpha?” We overhear Grace screech excitedly.
“I’m going to go for a run.”
Before we can say anything to her, Julia speeds off, shifting into her wolf and running out into the forest. Grayson’s attention strays from Grace as his head turns to the direction where his mate just headed off to.
“Mate drama,” Bo grumbles. “Why do we even have them? What’s the point if your mate is a total . . .” Bo stops when he sees my brother arriving in the training grounds, who is also shirtless. He swallows. “Oh.”
Wow, why can’t Lance be shirtless too?
Sargon doesn’t talk to anyone except to a random wolf. The random wolf nods, and they walk into an open area. They both get into a fighting position. Many people in the training grounds sense that a spar is coming. No one is immune to a good fight, so the wolves start to gather around the both of them.
“I’m out too,” Bo announces to us.
“Bo . . .” I start but Meg only shakes her head as Bo shifts and runs off. I turn to Meg. “I really thought he was doing better.”
“How do you feel though?” she asks me.
“Feel about what?”
Meg gestures towards Sargon. “Your brother totally ignoring you. You having a sister that was murdered.”
Leave it to Meg to just lay it all out there. I give out a deep sigh. “I don’t know how I feel Meg. I don’t know.”
***
At the bookstore, a customer comes in, who is probably in his late thirties. He sits down on one of the chairs and reads the newspaper, but I notice him side-eyeing me.
What a creep.
I try to ignore his creepiness by getting out of his line of vision.
The next day is the same.
“Who’s that guy that comes in and stays for hours?” I ask Beth after the creepy guy finally leaves.
“Oh, he told me he just moved into town recently,” Beth says. “Such a nice man.”
I don’t know about that especially given how he has been looking me up and down today. When I walk outside and say my goodbye to Beth, I see him standing across the street. We make eye contact, and he waves at me. He is smiling and staring.
I barely manage to smile at him, and my first thought is to call Lance. I know I can mind link him, and this is a bad habit I need to break out of. Plus, I’m still getting used to mind-linking and it’s not a hundred percent yet. Calling is the surest way to communicate with him. He picks up on the third ring.
“Hey, getting off of work?”
The sound of his voice instantly calms me, and I glance up again to see if Creepy Guy is still there. Wrong move because we make eye contact again, so I quickly look away. Maybe I’m just being paranoid? Totally paranoid, but why was this guy staring so much?
“Uh . . . yeah,” I say, freezing up.
“Everything okay? Julia just left to pick you up,” Lance continues but there’s an edge to his voice like he knows something’s wrong, like he always does.
Creepy Man is making his way over to me, and I turn around and walk to the opposite direction.
Just when I am about to tell Lance there’s a guy following me, a familiar black BMW pulls up so. “Julia just arrived. See you soon.” I hang up, hoping I didn’t worry Lance, but I probably did because nothing gets past the guy.
“Thank goodness,” I tell Julia, hurrying into the car. I look back in the rearview mirror, but creepy guy is already gone.
“You seem shook. You okay?” Julia eyes me weirdly.
“Honestly? No.” I explain to her the creepy-guy situation.
“You need to tell Lance.”
“What if the guy just has a staring problem and it’s nothing?”
Julia sighs. “If he makes you uncomfortable, tell Lance.”
“I’ll confront the guy tomorrow if he comes again.”
Julia narrows her eyes at me. “Don’t be stupid about it. I’ve read too many kidnapped-luna stories for you to be a cliché.”
I nervously laugh at this. I hope I won’t become one.
The next day at work, I’m thankful that I don’t see the creep inside the bookstore. However, when I get off and Beth isn’t around, Creepy Guy is outside. Like he’s waiting for me.
“Wait!” the man says, desperately. I look at this worn-down looking man, who looks like he hasn’t shaved in months. His gray eyes are wide as he comes closer to me. Before I mind-link Lance to tell him I may get kidnapped, I want to see what this guy has to say.
“You’re in Noctis Luna, right? The alpha’s mate?”
“Why do you ask?” I take a step backwards.
“You’re the only one who can help me,” the man says.
“Is that why you’ve been staring at me?” I ask him, crossing my arms.
“I had to know it if you are the Luna. I’m sorry—”
“Well, it was really creepy, and you shouldn’t do that to anyone ever.”
“Will you help me as a luna?” the man asks. “My family is in danger.”
Against my better judgement, I say, “How can I help you?”
“I need money for my family,” the man says, and lo and behold, he pulls out a gun. He now has crazy eyes, and I can see the desperation. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I need money. Living as a rogue is hard.”
“Look, I am actually really broke—”
“Tell your mate he needs to bring money or else.”
I don’t want to think about the “or else”. “Okay, but are you sure you want to do this? Have you tried other options—”
“I just got fired from my job of twenty years! My house is about to be sold off, and I know your mate has money. It’s nothing personal. You have to know how unfair life is.”
“So, if he doesn’t bring the money, you’re just going to shoot me?” I ask him, looking at the gun carefully.
“Yes.” He comes closer to me, still pointing the gun right where my head is. I can hear Julia’s voice telling me I’m a cliché. This guy looks desperate, like he’d do anything. Plus, he’s been following me, so I don’t want to take any chances, but I don’t want to involve Lance either. “Now, tell your mate to bring $100,000.”
How do I start off my conversation with Lance? Should it go like this: “Hey, Lance, so this creep has a gun pointed at my head and wants $100,000 in exchange for my life. Please come soon.”
The man points to a blue car that is parked on the side of the road near the bookstore. He orders me in a high-pitched, almost delirious voice. “Get in the car.”
I get in but can’t rack up my brain to mind-link Lance just yet. Why can’t I do it? Quick, I think. The man starts the car with one hand on the wheel and another with a gun pointed at me. He drives off quickly, and I take the biggest breath before I realize the door is unlocked. I don’t think twice before I quickly open the door and jump out of the car. I hear a gunshot.
I’m rolling on the ground, inside the forest area. Adrenaline pumping, I finally am able to mind-link with full concentration and full panic.
“Lance, I don’t know where I am, but this guy has a gun and is after me!
Getting up, I start to run as fast as I can in the forest, heading towards the opposite direction from the creep. I silently thank training for making me more fit than I would’ve ever been. I don’t even want to turn around to see if the guy is right behind me or not.
I’ve probably just ran for about five minutes when I hear a rumble. My entire being stops for a short second. It sounds like a wolf. Slowly turning to look at this wolf, I recognize who it is. The powerful presence is uncanny, and I feel him plain as day.
His height is staggering, about as tall as my 5’6 frame. He comes towards me in a careful manner. He looks as majestic as a tiger in every sense of the word with his sleek black coat of fur. The sheer size of alpha wolves are pur
ely intimidating. I now know why he is called the demon. You know what is the most haunting thing of all?
His crimson-red eyes.
In the light, they almost look like they’re glowing red as he focuses solely on me. These are the eyes that can turn other supernatural beings to stone. This is the cursed wolf that Lance used to be at odds with. This only means Lance lost control if Luxe is here now, out in the open. Because of me. Only, I’m pretty relieved he’s here. I feel safe.
Luxe walks in a full circle around me, probably to make sure I’m not hurt. I can’t help but reach out to touch him, feeling his soft fur. I finally am meeting this wolf that Lance has locked out for so long.
“You’re so beautiful,” I can’t help but say to him, knowing he understands me even though there’s no way he can communicate with me himself. Luxe gives out a pleasant growl that sounds more like a purr and then licks my face. I laugh at this, knowing it’s definitely an equivalent of a kiss.
Something makes a noise in the distance, and Luxe’s head rises, looking like he’s in high alert. He makes his way in front of me, getting into a protective stance. I hold on to Luxe’s fur because it seems like he’s going to jump at the threat, which is probably Creepy Guy.
It is Creepy Guy twenty feet away from us, and Luxe gives out a warning growl. The robber’s eyes flicker to the massive and menacing wolf next to me, and he gets really, really pale.
“You should leave,” I tell him, feeling sorry for him. Luxe is going to rip his body in two if he does something stupid. Given the way Luxe’s fur is bristling, he needs to leave. “Now.”
Luxe gives out a blood curdling growl to affirm this.
Creepy Guy wastes absolutely no time to high tail out of there. Luxe takes one step forward, but I tell him, “No don’t.”
Luxe looks back at me and gives out a sort of whimper.
“Let’s go home, Luxe.” I remember Lance telling me his wolf won’t deny his mate, and Luxe leading the way home confirms what Lance said. Except, I know one wrong move from anyone else’s part and then Luxe cannot be controlled. I can feel the massive wolf’s energy next to me. He is feral. Thankfully, he listening to me.
On the way home, if I ever strayed a little, Luxe would follow me pronto. I keep running my hand on his fur and rubbing his ears, which seems like something he really enjoys.
“I wish we could have more time together,” I say as I see the pack house getting closer. If there is one thing I know without Lance having to tell me, it’s that Luxe shouldn’t be near anyone.
Luxe nuzzled me, licking my face one more time before he goes back into the forest, probably to shift and put some clothes on.
I wait for him to get dressed up.
“Ava.”
His voice makes my insides curl. The way he says my name just . . . makes me sigh at how much I am lucky to have a mate like Lance. I turn around to see him dressed casually in a black long-sleeved t-shirt and some gray sweatpants. He gives me a once-over, walking towards me, and looking to see if I’m okay. He starts off by saying, “If anything were to happen to you—”
“I know but it didn’t,” I tell him calmly.
Lance takes a deep breath, shaking his head. He takes another step towards me, our knees grazing each other’s. For a flicker of a second, he looks deep in thought.
Then his lips crash into mine.
Fluttering my eyes shut, my mouth instantly surrenders to his, like out of pure instinct. There is an urgency to his kiss as he wastes no time parting my lips, tasting me assuredly as I do the same to him. He tastes something like sweet peppermint. His hands wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him as my own hands reach to the back of his head, pulling him a little, trying to get make us even closer even though I think there is no more room left for our pressed bodies to get closer.
We break apart, our breaths raggedy but our foreheads still touching. I smile after the kiss, thinking about how it’s our first one, and it’s amazing. With his hands grazing my sides, and his touch so electric and addicting, I don’t want to move.
”I love you,” Lance whispers to me.
My eyes flutter open, and I see him gazing down at me, his full of devotion. I pull back a little, and it comes out of my mouth before I can even think. I’ve thought of it many times before, but I’ve never said it out loud.
“I love you too,” I tell him confidently, and I am rewarded with his one-dimpled smile. He peppers me with more kisses on my jaw and to my neck until he hits a sweet spot, making me gasp shamefully. It’s as if my brain is on auto-pilot, and I’m just running on full emotion, but I know I am ready when I say, “Mark me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Right on my neck.
It’s there. My mark. I know in my bones that I want it because it is the right next step. Lance never pushes me. Ever. On anything. Sure, he was probably high on his feelings after almost losing me from Creepy Dude when he kissed me—which was amazing—but I know I want him to mark me. I know it means a lot to him. It means a lot to me too. This is a big deal.
I’ve probably been in the bathroom for maybe an hour now, and I just got out of Lance’s huge shower that has water streaming down directly. Wrapping the towel around my body, and wiping the foggy mirror so I can see myself better, I stare at myself. I stare at it long and hard.
I’m marked. Lance marked me. We’re now truly connected. That is so wild.
I touch it and it stings just a little, but I know he tried his best not to go too deep or leave a big hole. The bite marks are very much present, but I don’t know if I love or hate it.
That’s it. I don’t know if I love it. Everyone realized he had already marked me when we got back into the house. Julia, Bo, and Meg all looked at me like we needed to have a group discussion about it. Cole pretended to not notice. Grayson just gave me a huge smirk and told Lance, “You sly wolf.”
There is no way for the mark to go away. It’s permanent and, for some reason, I am absolutely terrified. It’s such a stupid thought, but what if Lance hurts me? What if I’m too dependent on him? Can I do commitment?
The door knocks. Lance’s bathroom doesn’t even have a lock, but it’s sweet that he knocks anyways. “Ava?” Lance’s sounds a little worried.
I mean, I have been in his bathroom for like almost two hours.
“Everything okay?”
Oh yeah. He can also tap into my emotions that are a mess right now.
“Y-yeah! Everything’s fine.” I keep staring at the mark. We just took the biggest step together. It was both of us. We both did this. He wanted it too.
When I realize I have no clean clothes, I fling open the door to steal Lance’s clothes. Lance blinks at me, still standing at the doorway with his one hand leaning on the wall, making him block the entrance.
Heat curls up from my toes to my chest at the way his steely gaze is fixed on me, at my very bare body. This towel does an okay job, but it’s just a towel and can only cover so much.
“Hi,” I say, not recognizing my voice.
Lance gives me one of his stunning smiles with the one dimple on full display. “Hi. Are you sure you’re okay?” He glances at my mark. It’s new to him too.
“Totes,” I say, coming to the conclusion that I am okay. He’ll be there for me. Everything is always right when Lance is here. “I just need some clothes. So, if you’d move . . .”
He doesn’t move but stops leaning against the doorway. He wraps his arms around my waist and nuzzles his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent thoroughly. I swallow hard, placing my hands around his waist.
“I want us to live in the same room together,” he tells me, pressing his lips on my mark.
I try to not shudder at the delicious sensation. My gosh! That sweet spot is my freakin’ kryptonite. Lance could’ve told me to jump off a bridge right here and now, and I would’ve done it.
“Well, you have the bigger bathroom, so your room,” I say to him. I’d like to share a room, except I don�
��t really know what’s expected—
“I just want to hold you tonight.” He leans back, his aqua blue gaze colliding with mine. “When you mind-linked me about . . .” His eyes wander to the ground like the memory is too horrible for him. “I couldn’t control not shifting to Luxe. I didn’t want to because you were in trouble. He was out for blood. We both were. The thought of him even raising that gun at you makes me want to tear him apart.”
“It’s okay now, and I actually got to meet Luxe.”
“Yeah.” Lance’s lips twitch up a little. “He wants to be with you again soon.”
“I’d love that,” I say. “Luxe is wonderful.”
This time, Lance gives my waist a small squeeze. I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes. Lance’s body is very warm, reminding me how much skin isn’t covered. It’s also super comfortable. I hope I don’t just fall asleep like this.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
How very naked I am standing in front of you.
“You can totally get into my thoughts,” I accuse him.
“I can but I haven’t. I’d never forgive myself for invading your privacy. And now that I can feel your emotions, I . . . Ava, are you scared? Of me?”
“Wha-no!” I break out from his embrace.
He steps back, looking at me with a small dosage of hurt in his eyes. He shakes his head. “Do you think it a mistake?”
I know what he’s talking about. I know where my emotions have been since the time he marked me.
“No,” I firmly answer him, understanding why he’d think this. “I know you’d never do anything to hurt me. Ever. Everything always feels right when you’re here. You’re such a great alpha all around, personality wise and in all other aspects. I’m honored to have you as a mate, Lance. Getting marked by you is one of the few things I will never regret in my life.” I take his hands and kiss them. He makes a noise, sort of a purr, which makes me hot all over.
Taking my hands in his, he cups my face tenderly. “You are the light in this world of mine. The light that makes me see all things differently. Whether it be the pack, food, books—everything is better. I’ve never found solace until I met you. You are the leader of this pack. You are my luna, and nothing will ever change that. I love you, Ava. I know it’s scary, feeling all this, but I will take it as slow as you’ll go. You just set the pace.” He kisses me on my forehead and the ruins the entire mood. He closes his eyes and takes a deep, shaky breath. “And please get dressed because I cannot think straight with you looking like that.”
