An Alpha's Love And Fire

Chapter 2: Mate

-Lucian-

I woke up feeling something rather rough running over the skin on my face. I turned my head, hoping it would make it stop. But then I heard something loudly purr in my ear, and fur was being rubbed all over me. I opened my eyes only to stare into a pair of yellow ones.

“Great…” I mumbled.

The cat had practically been attached to me these last few months. I wasn’t sure why, but she had set her eyes on me. I was her latest victim, it seemed. She always switched between all of us males in the house, giving us all of her unwanted love, and now she had decided I was going to receive a little too.

It was fine. I didn’t mind that much, but I was rather hungover and woke up late today, so I was a little annoyed. I sat up and then turned my head to see the two guests I had brought with me. That male knew how to use his mouth like no other, and the female was a wild one, I had to admit. I had the scratch marks to prove it.

I turned to the cat again and then ran my hand down her head before I looked at the closed door a little further away.

“How did you get inside?” I muttered.

I was sure the door had been closed and locked after I got home, but of course, I had been rather drunk and maybe a little high on something too, and I had been distracted by my guests. But I seemed to remember closing and locking the door. Suddenly, there was a knock on it, and even the small sounds of the knocking hurt my ears.

“Hey Lucian, are you joining dinner or what?” Garrett’s voice echoed through the hallway.

He wasn’t waiting for an answer, as I heard him leave right after, but it just made me realize how late I was waking up. I turned to look at the clock on the nightstand.

“Wonderful…”

Yeah, I had been sleeping away pretty much the entire day. I didn’t join a lot of our dinners, but I had to admit I was rather hungry after the night I had had. I clapped my hands together, waking my guests.

“Okay, time to leave,” I said as I walked towards the shower, knowing it would take some time for them to wake up anyway, and I was not their parent. I wasn’t going to shake them awake.

I quickly got washed and cleaned before I wrapped a towel around myself, and when I came out, my guests had already slipped out. I walked to the walk-in closet and got dressed, while the little cat waited over by the door, looking at me the whole time.

“A little privacy?” I asked her as I buttoned the shirt.

I was already pretty much dressed, but I found it strange how it was almost like she was waiting for me. She didn’t move until I walked over to her, and then she followed me eagerly out of the door.

“You must be hungry too,” I said. “Did your owner not feed you?”

She, of course, didn’t answer me but just ran ahead, and when she got a little too far away, she would stop and look behind herself, making sure I was still following her.

When I got closer to the dining room, I thought she might run in there, but she continued ahead. I stopped in front of the doors leading inside the dining room, looking confused at the cat, who continued down the hallway and then stopped, looking back at me.

“What the...?"

“Meow!”

The cat disappeared around a corner, and I didn’t really plan to follow. But instead of opening one of the doors, I turned away and walked down the hallway.

I thought I was being ridiculous for following the cat, but it just seemed strange that she passed on the opportunity to get some food. I mean, she was not a skinny model, so she was definitely enjoying herself here, but she had just run right by the dining room.

“This is stupid,” I thought as I turned the corner, but then I seemed to catch a faint scent that made my wolf go crazy inside me.

I groaned as he howled loudly in my head. The scent was so faint that I couldn’t quite discern what it was yet, but I followed it down the hallway and over to a door that stood partially open.

I pushed it further ajar, and the scent engulfed me like an unexpected force, nearly knocking me off balance. It was the sweetest aroma of violets, and I swiftly searched for its source, scanning the small library.

I soon spotted her, a slender figure with her back turned to me, her light brown hair cascading just below her shoulders. She was perusing the books before her, trailing her finger along their covers, occasionally pulling one out as if intrigued, then sliding it back into place.

Mate! my wolf declared.

Finally! I thought. I couldn’t believe it. I had no idea who she was or how she had gained entry. I hadn’t brought her here, but I knew without a doubt that she was my mate.

A broad smile crept onto my face, and for a moment, I entertained the idea of striding over and claiming her. Yet, I cautioned myself not to rush. I needed to ascertain her identity and how she had arrived here. No one simply entered the king’s territory without invitation, unless they were part of his pack.

Go claim her! Take her! Don’t even bother shutting the door. Her cries of pleasure will echo loudly enough for all to hear, telling the others we need some privacy.

I chuckled at my wolf’s filthy suggestion. It wasn’t a terrible idea, and I could envision us pressing against the bookshelves, causing them to tremble as books undoubtedly tumbled down. But we wouldn’t mind.

We would only have eyes for each other, and after bringing her to climax multiple times, I would mark her as mine, ensuring everyone knew she belonged to me.

I felt my canines elongate, and my c*ck began to stiffen. Despite a long night of f*cking, one would think I was completely spent, but not when it came to my mate. I would always be ready to mate with her. Whenever she desired me, I would be there, relishing every tiny aspect of her.

Mmm, I wonder what she tastes like…

We would soon find out. I entered the room as quietly as possible, leaving the door slightly ajar. Moving closer to her, I ensured she hadn’t noticed my presence.

Standing directly behind her, I watched her engrossed in the books before her. Unsure if she was searching for something specific or simply browsing, it mattered little. Witnessing her engage in such a mundane activity quickened my heartbeat. How could something so ordinary bring me such joy?

This was what I had longed for. I had witnessed the power of the mate bond firsthand, observing my cousins find happiness with their partners and build families, or attempt to.

I craved that for myself. I yearned for a mate to cherish, one who would love me despite my imperfections, and I dreamt of creating a family with her.

“Did you find what you were searching for?” I inquired.

Startled, she spun around, pressing herself against the bookshelf behind her, her wide eyes fixed on me. It seemed I had startled her. Yet she appeared adorable.

Her eyes were large, a shade darker than mine, speckled with small golden flecks visible only up close. She possessed the sweetest little nose and full lips that beckoned to be kissed.

“Well?”

-Cecilia-

I had no idea how he had snuck up on me so easily, but suddenly, he was right there, standing almost as close to me as he could. There wasn’t even room for me to lift my arm and perhaps push him away a little.

How had he done that?! I stared up into his green eyes, a bit lighter shade than mine, and they seemed... hungry and full of need... need for me.

Wait... That scent...

I was breathing fast, inhaling the strong, musky scent of male mixed with his cologne, making me weak in the knees as my whole body hummed with pleasure.

Oh, shit... I thought.

Mate! my wolf claimed.

It had taken some time for my wolf to regain her strength after what happened to us, but after removing the mark and finally feeling a little free, she started to come back to me. I thought perhaps she had learned her lesson after what happened, but no, here she was claiming another.

I don’t want this! she insisted.

Are you sure? I mocked.

Just... let us go! We shouldn’t have come...

She was right about that, but the male in front of me was like a wall, and I couldn’t even get around him. He reached out and placed a hand on the bookshelf, smiling down at me. He was so damn tall and broad. He could easily overpower me, and the power he emanated screamed alpha.

Not again... I thought. Not another alpha! I was done with those.

“Aren’t you going to answer me?” he questioned.

“No, but I would like it if you moved out of the way, Lucian,” I said.

He seemed shocked that I knew his name. I had never met Lucian before, but it wasn’t hard to guess it was him. He was the only unmated male left in this house, and I had seen Kate once. She looked a lot like her cousin. It was, of course, a guess, and I could have been wrong, but it was clear I wasn’t.

“You know who I am?” he asked.

“Yes, now move before I scream.”