Chapter Ten
It’s as if time stood still as I watched this massive wolf lunge towards me from my once secluded sanctuary. It’s drenched wet fur shifting with each movement, eyes full of intent. I wasn’t going to have time to run. I knew I had to fight my way out of this and, hopefully, Tarlo, who slept in the other room, could get here fast enough. I hated that I had to rely on others for protection. The thought put me into the correct mindset for this fight.
“Not tonight!” I screamed out as I felt my body twist and consort into my wolf, just as he leaped directly at me, crashing me down onto the cold, hard marble stone floor. I snapped at his legs as he fought against me, pinning me down.
The wooden door to the room shattered into pieces, as Tarlo took in the situation, shifting immediately, pulling the stranger off me before he had a chance to do any real harm. The guy could have pinned me and taken my life with ease but it wasn’t what he was trying to do, he was trying to lay his mark on me. I quickly got to my feet, watching as Tarlo and the intruder rolled out of the room into the garden. Rain beating down on them instantly made things tricky. The ground was soaked, puddles and mud littered the space as they slid and fought each other.
Tarlo was smaller than this wolf and it looked like he didn’t have the underhand. I wanted to flee, and run, to leave them fighting, but I couldn’t watch as the intruder took Tarlo by the throat and pinned him to the ground, about to finish him off. With all my might, I pushed my way out into the rain, crashing right into the intruder, knocking him away just enough for Tarlo to regain his footing. He let out the loudest howl imaginable, trying to carry through the rain. Faintly in the distance, howls returned his call.
The intruder growled in response and whipped around, focusing on me. He lunged once more, I bared my teeth and lounged at him in return, colliding in the air, knocking both of us to the ground. Tarlo quickly joined in as we both bit and pushed our way around the intruder. Always making sure that he never had the chance to mount or make me while we fought him off. I wasn’t sure if it could only be done in our human form or not, but I wasn’t about to find out.
More angry howls sounded around us, from above, and coming from my den. Soon the entire garden was filled with wolves, all growling and snaring at the intruder. Tarlo and Kai were both standing in front of me as the rest of the hunting pack flooded into the clearing. Ronan, walking forward, snarling, soaking wet. He kept his eyes on the intruder as he quickly lounged into the air, crashing down on him. Everyone watched as the two fought. I wanted to help but Tarlo and Kai both snarled at me the second I tried to move forward.
“It’s a challenge for Alpha.” Amelia’s voice rang in my mind as a beautiful red wolf came to stand beside me. “One will have to die or submit.” She explained, watching intently.
Guilt ran through me, as I watched the two biting and clawing, mud, blood and rain soaked into their fur as the right continued. Both evenly matched in size and strength. One wrong slip of the foot, or one distraction could be the end for either of them. That was my fault. If I hadn’t insisted on waiting, this wouldn’t have happened.
“That burning smell, that's the rogue?” I asked Amelia.
“Yes. He must have sensed you in the forest since that one night and came looking for you.” Her voice filled with concern for her brother. “Used the storm to mask his scent and chose to strike while the others were out.”
I looked on with concern. Ronan was strong he was going to make it. At least I hopped! Who knows what this other wolf was like, or what they wanted to do with the pack?
The rogue’s back leg slipped, Ronan took advantage of this moment, pinning him to the ground, taking the finishing blow. He held his neck in his mouth and waited for a moment to see if the wolf would surrender but he never did. Ronan had no choice but to finish him off with one quick movement.
The sound of rain was all that could be heard as the garden grew silent. Ronan, letting go of his prey, looked up to the sky and howled in victory. The rest of the pack followed his lead. I stood watching this, not sure what to make of it. I was thrilled that Ronan won, but I also dreaded the fallout that was to come from this.
I felt Ronan’s eyes linger on me before he made his way through the crowd, standing in front of me. Kai and Tarlo gave him more than enough room.
“Are you okay?” He asked, full concern in his voice as he nudged my shoulder with his muzzle.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I mind-linked in response as I nuzzled against him. He let out a soft playful growl as he started licking an open wound I had on my rib cage. I didn’t even feel any pain during the fight, but now after, I felt exhausted and noticed a few points where I was bleeding. I could only imagine how Ronan felt.
The rest of the pack all started heading out of the garden. The safest route, since it was raining, was to go directly through the den. Tarlo and Kai were tasked with taking care of the body, while Ronan fussed over a few wounds I had. Once the garden was mostly empty, he nudged me back to the den. I took the lead, bouncing in front of him, causing him to stop or he would have crashed into me, and I flicked him with the end of my tail playfully before running off to Amelia, who held out a blanket for me.
Ronan let out a soft growl as I shifted back, quickly wrapping myself in the blanket, still covered in dirt, mud and blood from head to toe. Ronan, shifted back right behind me, taking no time at all in picking me up, blanket and all while walking off. I let out a shocked squeal as I fumbled in his arms. This was not the Ronan I was used to.
“Have a nice night you two!” Amelia called out, waving as she watched him take me away.
“Hey! P-put me down!” I stumbled over my words as my face grew red with embarrassment. Ronan just chuckled, while quickly opening the door to the pool room.
I quickly looked around, hoping it wasn’t flooded but everything was still the same as before. I looked up questioningly to him as he laughed. “It would take a lot more water than just a heavy rain fall to flood this room.” He walked down the few steps and went straight to the pool. I didn’t argue, I felt disgusting, and a soak was definitely in order.
He put me down gently and slid into the pool without a drop of hesitation. I couldn’t help but look away as he was fully naked, every shape and curve of his muscles exposed.
He extended an arm out to me, “Come.” He said, enticing me to join him. I gulped and held my blanket even closer to my body. What if he didn’t like what he saw? What if I wasn’t his type? His smile turned into a smirk, I knew he was planning something. “Don’t make me come out and get you.” His deep voice rattled throughout my body, causing me to shudder.
I didn’t know if I liked that thought either. Slowly approaching, I still clutched the blanket around my body, I took his hand, to steady myself, as I sat at the edge of the pool. Taking a deep breath, I let the blanket fall away, and quickly moved into the water before he could see too much. My efforts were in vain, as his smirk grew. He sunk into the water, matching where I was. He quickly pulled me into his arms. I couldn’t look away from his blue eyes as he looked at me, lustfully.
I impulsively brought my hand up to his cheek, sliding my thumb across a gash he had just below his eye. He took this opportunity to crash his lips into mine. The kiss wasn’t kind, it was full of lust and intent, hard and to the point. His hands pulled me in even closer till our bodies left no gaps. He then advanced by running his hands down my back, across my behind and to my thighs. Swiftly wrapping them around him, he went back to holding me, making sure I didn't slip down his perfectly wet body.
I felt his hardness against me as he deepened the kiss. I took both my hands up. One held onto his back while the other tangled in his hair. When we finally parted, we both gasped for breath before he crashed down onto my lips once more.
He pinned me against the pool wall, his hands started to explore more of my body, I arched into his every movement, wanting more. He cupped my breast aggressively as I let out a moan, tugging and playing with my n****e. He pulled away from our kiss and smirked. He then slowly moved his hand from my breast to my most sensitive area, where his hardness threatened to explore.
I collapsed into him as he found the spot he was looking for. Another moan escaped as he felt me. He held me close, kissing that tender sport where his mark will one day be. My body shuttered as the build up of pleasure was becoming too much. I tried to hold back my moans, but it only made him more determined. An explosion erupted inside of me like I’ve never felt before. My body shuttered at his every touch.
“That’s it.” His ragged deep breath whispered against my neck, sending shivers throughout my body. I clung to him as he shifted, bringing his hardness back against my sensitive spot. Our lips soon found each other just as aggressive as before. Wrapping my hands around his neck, I deepened our kiss, causing our bodies to move closer, forcing his hardness to slightly enter. He smirked into the kiss as he slowly allowed himself to go deeper.
Gasping in pain, I pushed him back slightly. He froze, still inside me. Holding me up. “What's wrong?” he asked, moving my hair away from my neck, kissing it.
“Uh…. It hurt.” I said, not sure how to tell him it was my first time, he seemed to clue in right away. His hot breath filled my ear as he spoke, “Sorry, do you want me to stop?” he asked. I could tell he didn’t want to, by the way he continued to kiss the spot he would soon declare his own to mark. I thought about it for a moment, this was all so sudden, but I enjoyed it so. I moved in such a way that I pushed him in a little further.
“No, I want this.” I whispered to him as I moved closer to him once more.
He chuckled, “I’ll go slow.” He said as he straightened up, moving further in. His movements were slow, and it did hurt at first, but it quickly subsided, leaving me with a build up inside me much like the one before. As I moaned into his mark spot, his trusts became faster and harder until we were both battling for breath. The feeling was like nothing I had ever felt before. Ronan let out a moan as he kissed me one more time.
“Mine.” He whispered into my ear as he bit down onto the spot between my shoulder and neck. His thrusts intensified as I screamed out in pleasure. A sudden urge to bite him took over and I gave in. Finding his marked spot instantly, I bit down. He held onto me tighter as his thrusts subsided and a shudder like no other over took the both of us, causing him to lose balance and fall into me. I let go of the mark spot as he did and felt a sense of fulfillment.
Ronan’s lips met mine, much more softly and gentle then before. He took me into his arms to the shallower end of the small round pool where we could sit. I didn’t mind, as I didn’t think I could stand, let alone walk.
He sat and cuddled me in the water. I felt a whole new sensation unfold as the mark on my neck burned. It wasn’t a painful feeling but it felt good, the feeling spread throughout my body as I felt the closeness of my mate. My body craved his. I wanted more. He smiled down at me as he saw the lust in my eyes once more. He took no time at all placing me in such a way that I was his once more.
We couldn’t untangle no matter what we did, our bodies burned for each other, our souls fully connected. It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that either of us were able to make it out of the pool room, both collapsing on the fur rug in the living room, our final attempt at sleeping.