Our Last Hope

Ceremony Night

I knew that tonight would be ceremony night. I zoned out the passenger window and watched the tree line whizz past us. I knew that my ovulation bleed was coming, but I wasn't sure if I should tell William. Knowing our kind and how highly we held this ritual, it wouldn't surprise me if William was tracking my cycle as well. The whole thing had an ick factor to it. Who says I'm ready for this? I what was coming ever since I was a little girl but now that I had to face it, I had some serious doubts. 

"Are you okay Winnie?" 

I still wasn't used to William calling me Winnie, only my mother has called me that, it was far too intimate of a name. Then again, after tonight, there wouldn't be anything that was too "intimate." I didn't want to look at him, I have a terrible poker face. Ever since I was a kid, I would smile whenever I lied. I felt safer lying about my state of mind to the passing trees. 

"Mhmm."

I heard him exhale, "That didn't sound very convincing Win. You forget that I know you better than you think I do." 

I rolled my eyes and huffed and reluctantly turned towards him. That was another thing that I would have to get used to. It was uneasy hearing a stranger say that they know you better than you know yourself. 

"You might as well tell me what you're thinking about, otherwise I'll just read your mind." 

I had a brief moment of exaggerated rebellion, why was I such a child? William just chuckled at my dramatics. 

"I know that this is scary for you Win, it's much more stressful for females than it is for males. Our job is much easier." He shot me a wink and I felt the floodgates again. God damnit!. I saw his expression again as he noticed the shift in atmosphere. 

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that!" I slapped my hands against my thighs and pulled my knees to my chest in the passenger seat. William laughed and reached across the console to rest his hand on my knee. he gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Please don't touch me, it's only going to make it worse." 

I peaked out of the corner of my elbow at him, he looked hurt by my rejection. I straightened suddenly and stared out the windshield. I was going stir crazy, I needed to run. My legs wouldn't stop shaking and I felt my mind going blurry. 

"Please stop the car." He stared at me like I was crazy, so I asked louder. "Please stop the car." 

Vampires had a certain bond with our mates, when asked to do something, our mate was more compelled to do what was asked of them. William checked his blind spot and gently veered off to the shoulder of the country road. I was out of the car before he had shifted into park. 

I took off into the trees and let my legs go free. I knew that I was fast, but he was much faster. It wasn't long until William caught up to me. 

"Winnie! What the f**k is the matter with you?! This is rouge territory, you are not yet mated, it's dangerous out here for you!" 

When I refused to stop, I felt his full weight on my back and we were rolling to the ground. He pinned me to the soft moss against my back. He was holding my wrists above my head and had my hips pinned under his. I just looked up at him, he looked annoyed at my insolence. He grabbed harder on my wrists out of frustration. 

"Winnie, talk to me damnit! I am here to protect you and keep you safe. But I can't do that if you shut me out!" I think that he was being louder than he wanted to. I felt like a scolded child, which caused me to tear up. Seeing my sudden outburst, William reluctantly let go of my wrists and I sat up. When I felt the freedom I started to cry harder. 

I couldn't explain my feelings, they were coming out in any form that I would allow. William wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I welcomed the contact. I buried my face into his t-shirt. I was leaving mascara marks all across the white cotton. I felt his arms envelope my body and that caused more tears to spill out. I am not a crier by any means, I would much rather throw s**t and scream. 

William and I sat in the grass for a few more minutes. He was trying to soothe me and stop the crying, but it wasn't working. Nothing was going to work. I had bottled all this s**t up for far too long. I guess there was some overflow from before this whole ordeal. It was a little bit everything that was coming to the surface. Self doubt, stress from school, even an old fight with mother bubbled up. I couldn't stop. I just wanted to crawl into bed and die, which of course is impossible unless there was a stake involved or if someone lopped off my head. 

William was patient with me, until he wasn't. There was a sudden smell that wafted through the trees, and we were sitting ducks. I could feel it, and I knew William felt it too. Suddenly, he was standing and I was cradled in his arms. 

"We have to go. Now." 

William took off running towards the road where he left the jeep. But we weren't alone, there were at least 5 rouges standing around the car. I felt William's muscles tense and I knew that I f****d up. William leaned down to my ear and whispered.

"You need to be strong, they are going to try and kill me and take you away. Do you understand?"

Suddenly, my crying seemed insignificant, we had much bigger problems. I felt my steel walls start to build back up and I nodded my head. William set me down and protectively stood in front of me, shielding me from our threat. William squared his shoulder, making him gain another couple inches in height. 

"Can I help you gentleman?" 

I wouldn't have been cordial like him, I wanted to break free from behind him and start ripping heads off. 

Winnie, let me handle this.

William knew what I was thinking, he was the dominant one in our relationship now, I had no choice but to listen. I huffed like a child throwing a temper tantrum. He shot me a warning glance and I knew to be quiet, I got us into this mess. 

"She smells delectable, is she a human?" 

I gritted my teeth, there was something about his tone that I didn't like. I knew that I smelled sweeter than usual due to my current situation. Stress mixed with vulnerability, not to mention the egg being released from my tubes. William's muscles tensed even more, I was afraid that they would break through his skin. 

"You know damn well that she is not a human. You are also aware that she is mine. I would die before you touch her." 

I heard a tsking sound coming from the other side of William.

"My dear William, do not make promises you cannot keep." I couldn't see his face, but I knew what he was thinking. "Look around William, you are outnumbered. You may have been able to get the best of me when we were kids, but I assure you. I am much stronger now."

I shook my head trying to process that last bit of information. William actually knew this guy? When William didn't say anything, I knew that he was seething. The rouge continued on. 

"And I believe tonight is ceremony night, is it not?" He paused briefly and smelled the air around him. "Has she told you that she is ripe? It's all I can smell, it's intoxicating." 

"She didn't need to tell me, I am her mate, I already knew."

"Then what are you waiting for? Moonlight? Candles, the right ambiance perhaps?" 

God I really want to knock this guy's head from his shoulders.

Hush baby, he's all bark and no bite. 

"Step off baby brother, she is mine. No one else's, especially not yours."

YOU. HAVE. GOT. TO. BE. f*****g. KIDDING.ME.

He's your brother!?

I didn't get an answer back so I needed to take matters into my own hands. I took a precautionary step to the side, which William mirrored. He shot me a death glare. But I didn't back down. Were we really going to stand her all afternoon? 

Do not make me bite you.

There was a warning to his tone, but I shook my head. Honestly, I didn't care if I die, I don't have a lot going for me right now. I am officially someone else's property now, and so far, I wasn't loving it. 

I tried another step and William's tree trunk of an arm almost smacked me in the chest. I was quick to duck under it and I finally made it in front of him. 

"Wow, you are even more beautiful than I could have imagined. Gregor Bright, Ms. Harrington." He did a condescending bow before his eyes flicked up and down my body. 

"It's nice to meet you Gregor, my name is-" 

"Oh I know exactly who you are Edwina Katherine Harrington. You are such a beauty, truly. Welcome to the family."

"You are not in the family anymore Gregor." William barked from behind me. I took a deep breath and looked between these two children. Was this really a threat or was it just sibling rivalry? Family was the most important things to our kind, so Gregor must have done something unspeakable to find himself alienated. 

I turned towards Gregor, "Listen, I know that you two have some s**t going on, I get it, I respect that. But I know that you are trying to get to him through me." 

Gregor took on a whole new stance, he looked like a kindergarten teacher amusing one of their students. I ignored his childish behavior and continued.

"I am far to emotionally unstable for this, and I have a long night ahead of me. One that includes being impregnated and then writhing in pain from my marking. I do not have the patience for this childish bullshit. So if you'll excuse us, we will be leaving now. I will see you at the next family reunion." 

The men around me looked at me in curiosity, I guess most females would have coward in fear, but not me, I don't have time for this idiocy. I think that they were all still in shock because they didn't fight me as I pushed past them and hopped into the Jeep. Once I was secured in the passenger seat they all slowly turned towards William. 

I couldn't read his expression as he trudged over to the driver's side. I honestly didn't know where we stood now. I had broken so many rules, I was probably about to die. Gregor and his minions scattered soon after I excluded myself from the equation. It makes me wonder how their upbringing was, clearly they weren't used to a woman sticking up for herself. 

William still didn't say anything as we pulled back out onto the road. Good, maybe some peace and quiet for a while. I know that I was being a brat, but honestly, I couldn't process anything the same way anymore, I didn't feel like myself anymore, which was even more frustrating. 

After another hour and a half of silence, William slowed the car as we rounded a curve and took a sharp turn down a well-hidden gravel road. The path bobbed and weaved around for another mile or so until we  pulled up to a large log cabin. The chimney was pumping out tuffs of smoke into the air. There were only a couple lights on in the window so it was eerily dark, and yet it was comforting. There was something cozy about my new surroundings. I tried to hide my giddy smile as we pulled further down the drive and parked off to the left side of the house. William hopped down and walked around to my side to open the door. 

"Inside. Now." I rolled my eyes and took his hand. I heard the crunch of gravel under my boots and grabbed the keys that he held out for me. I walked and half skipped up to the front door, not looking back at the car. I needed to pee and could really use a glass of water. 

It was small and charming. It was a lot of privacy and it felt homey. There was a large, spiral staircase immediately off to the left of the front door, it looked like it led up to a loft of some kind. There was a magnificent, stone fireplace against the far wall with floor to ceiling windows in an A frame shape. Hand crafted beams lined the eaves in the ceiling and there was a large, antler chandelier hung in the center of the room. 

Off to the left was the rustic, white kitchen. It had a vast island in the center that was surrounded by color contrasted upper and lower cabinets. The pulls and handles were a brush bronze and there was an impressive farmhouse sink that faced towards the front pathway.  

I knew William wasn't far behind me with the bags. I hung the keys on a hook behind the door and headed into the kitchen for a glass of water. I searched the cabinets for a glass and finally found them on the far left side of the kitchen. I was watching out the window above the sink as I filled my glass and heard the car door slam closed. It was so dark that I couldn't tell where William was anymore, I got distracted by the the fireflies dart back and forth through the trees. I hadn't heard William's footsteps but I could sense that he was near.

I gasped when I felt a strong hand on the back of my neck and I was being pushed down onto the counter beside the sink. I tried to fight against him, but it was no use. 

"What the f**k are you doing?" I was screaming at him.

I heard an iciness to his voice that I knew not to fight. 

"I am claiming you before you put us in danger again."

I couldn't help but giggle, "You call that danger? We weren't in danger! That was barely an argument!" I was still trying to wiggle free.

William's response was to grip my neck tighter causing me to see spots. I tried to turn my head to look at him but I couldn't move.

"Is this really how you want our child to be conceived?" Which came out with more sarcasm than I intended. 

William's anger still didn't let up. "Believe me, I don't want to do it this way. But you left me no choice Edwina." William held me in place with one hand while the other ripped my shirt off. "Besides, if you are so against this, why do I smell your sweetness?"

fuck. My body is so selfish. I sighed, I knew that there was no getting out of this, but I refused to be taken with force.

 "Fine, if our first time f*****g is going to be in the kitchen, at least let me stand up. I feel degraded like this." I felt William's hand release me immediately. I guess all of my doubts were gone, why was my mind letting my body take over, I don't even know where the f**k my heart is at this point. 

The second I straightened. I felt William's lips on the crook of my neck, my marking spot. His hands were quick to travel down to my waistband and unhook the button of my jeans. I rolled my head back against his shoulder and let my body take the wheel. A small moan left my lips and there was no turning back. Soon it was all hands and kissing and panting as I prepared for the inevitable. 

William helped me shimmy out of my jeans and pulled my lace panties off with ease. I was throbbing and dripping down my leg. I was gasping for air as he lifted me up onto the counter with one arm. I unclasped my bra and tossed it further into the living room. I spread my legs further apart and William slipped four fingers passed my labia's'. 

"f**k!" It was a breathy exclamation as my lust increased. He shifted his hand and hooked up towards my pubic bone causing me to see stars. I heard the slurping and my moans became louder and more constant. I wrapped my legs around his hips and pulled him in. I bit gently on his bottom lip as I struggled with his belt. It was hard to focus as my orgasm was right around the corner. I needed my release, once I successfully unhooked his belt I blacked out and let the waves of pleasure take me under. I felt my thighs begin to quiver as I spiraled. I used my feet to pull down on his jeans as William continued to make me c*m. It was one after the other. 

Soon I would be begging for his c**k, I needed it. My orgasms were earth shattering but it still wasn't enough, I needed him inside of me. I collapsed onto his shoulder and bared my fangs.

"William please, I'm ready. Take me. I need you. Please." I was surprised that I was able to form an actual sentence, how was I not speaking gibberish? 

"Okay, but not here." 

William finally pulled his fingers out of me, making me splash onto the counter. He lifted me effortlessly and carried me up the stairs to the loft area. His lips never left mine as we walked up the winding staircase. 

He laid me down gently on my back and without skipping a beat, slammed into me making me cry out from the impact. It felt exquisite. I arched my back immediately and let him do his thing. I hooked my ankles behind his bare back and followed his rhythm.

He began leaving small bite marks all along my body as he continued to rail me into oblivion. The sensation was more than I could bare. There was no logic or sarcasm, my soul had left my body as I felt his tip hit my cervix. I felt another orgasm coming for me, this one was going to be violent. This was it. I knew it, my body knew it. I dug my fingers into William's back as he sunk down to my neck. My body was racking with pleasure as I felt his fangs dig into my soft skin. 

"f**k!" I could feel a small rush in my vein as William took my blood. He continued to flex his hips into me as he painted my inner walls white. There was a ninety-nine percent chance that I would be pregnant within the next seventy-two hours.

 There was no time for me to re-enter reality before the pain set in. It felt like my blood was boiling and my head started to pound. William pulled out of me, causing another rush of juice's to spill onto the bed. I was seeing stars, but not the good kind. I felt lightheaded and was about to pass out. 

William must have felt the same way, he collapsed next to me, grabbing at his head. 

"That was the best s*x I've ever had and I can't remember it, because of this!" He dramatically grasped at his forehead.

Thank God that there was still some humor to his voice, I'm pretty sure that I have been forgiven.

The burning in my veins and head ache only lasted for few more minutes. We both laid there silent until it ebbed. When I turned over to face him. I was fixated on his now, ruby red eyes. I knew that mine would reflect the same. But honestly, I didn't have the desire to check. I just blinked at him and a playful smile spread across my lips as I formulated a plan.

"Are you alright?" He c****d an eyebrow at me and mirrored my playful smile. I tried to play it off and let my sarcasm back in. 

"Yeah, I'm fantastic. I was just thinking that we can't let this hard c**k go to waste." 

He closed his eyes and let his nostrils flare as he tried to hide his laughter. I didn't give him the opportunity to shoot me down.  

I rolled over and threw my leg onto the other side of his torso. I was still sopping wet so it was easy to slip down onto him. If you can't beat them join 'em. The damn was already done, maybe the gravity would work in my favor.

 I tried to go slow so I could savor every inch, but I was sliding down for a while. I finally stopped when I felt the tip hit my cervix. 

Fuck boy! I'm not even all the way down!  William flicked his eyebrows up and smirked up at me. 

Are you complaining? Now shut up and ride me like your life depends on it.

Yes master.

*****

I lost count on how many times I came last night. I was covered in bite marks and I'm pretty sure that my legs were broken at some point. I tried to block out that little voice in the back of my head, you know the one that constantly calls you a moron for letting a boy effect your psyche? Of course I didn't have time for doubt or nerves last night. I remember wanting to fight against the tradition and stand up for my freedom. Well that has gone out the window, it is now an after thought. I have been claimed and seeded... and there was nothing that I could do to change it. 

"I'm going to take a hot bath, I feel dirty!" 

William had settled in on the couch down below. He looked up at me with mischief in his eyes. 

"Oh I know that you're dirty. I didn't know that some of those positions existed!"  

His smile was too satisfying to me, he was the only reason I would ever smile again. I swiped a pillow from the bed and chucked it down, hoping to hit him. But he caught it before it could nail him in the face. Then I looked at his large, muscular hands and I felt the quiver. What the f**k! 

"I can read your thoughts Winnie, you will never be alone again."

Why was this so easy? I forgot who I was, I left everything behind and have settled into a life with a man that I've known for 4 days. There is some truth to this life and our traditions. 

Girl shut up, he is robbing us of our freedom, don't you dare conform!

Well, my conscious was pissed at me. I couldn't deal with that right now. I shut her out and decided to take this next part of life, day by day.

I sighed to myself and headed to the bathroom and shut the door behind me. Our bathroom was gorgeously simple. It was light and bright with shiplap on the walls. It had a navy blue 46" vanity with gold pulls. The marble counter top was pristine and I couldn't help but notice it was the perfect height for...

Fuck. I hope he didn't hear me. 

I heard that! I'm coming to get you!

God damnit!

Luckily I had already stripped down so it was easy for me to slip into the vintage, claw-foot bathtub.

Moments later the bathroom door slowly crept open. William was standing on the other side in a Superman pose. He looked even taller now that I was sitting down in the tub. I couldn't help but zero in on his stiff c**k, which oddly enough was in the exact same stance. Jesus... I am never going to be clothed again. 

I couldn't help but giggle at his confidence as he strolled into the room with his fists still on his hips. 

"William, I need to get cleaned up. Please don't tempt me right now."

He tried to play stupid with me. So I quickly glanced down at his c**k, which was inches from my face at this point. 

"Oh this? Who said this is going down there." He gestured to my lower half that was covered in bubbles. 

I giggled again at his stupidity. "William, I haven't even brushed my teeth yet."

He raised his eyebrows a couple times.  "Perfect timing, just use this." He flexed his hips making his member bounce. I tried to hide my laughter the best I could as I pointed to the door. 

"Get out. Now." 

"No, I don't think I will. Not until you suck my cock." 

Then I felt it, that pull. That compulsion... to do what I was told.