Alpha's Abused Mate.

'Last Obstacles' & Confessions...

"Telling the truth and accepting the one you love the way he is is what makes the bond stronger and maybe... Closer to be undefeated and unbroken?!"

Cora's pov

After about two hours locked in my room with Ivan we had to get ready and leave in order to meet with my whole family at the garden. 

My aunt is going to meet with Owen for the first time as I discussed a long ago with my aunt and my father.

For my big surprise they told me that yesterday night they talked and today they seemed to be very well with each other. It was a shock but I am very happy and my aunt asked from us to help her meet with my brother for the first time. Before they leave me alone to wait for Ivan some hours ago we decided to take Owen and find her at one of the pavilions at the garden and now here we go...

I am in front of everyone with Ivan and Cora in his arms and behind us is my father with Chloe and Owen between them. Rosana with Mischa, Natalie and Jose are waiting for us with my aunt and I am excited.

"Owen stop shaking, you are getting on my nerves!" Chloe scolds him while we are getting out of the palace's entrance.

I roll my eyes and turn to look at him. He is not only shaking, he is sweating too much and he looks like a five years old terrified boy.

"Owen what an Alpha you are?!  She is not going to eat you!" I say annoyed.

He sighs and stops walking looking all of us with puppy eyes. My father raises his eyes on the sky with a desperate expression and Chloe narrows her eyes to Owen. Ivan smirks and Cora giggles.

"Daddy is scared..." she whispers wickedly to Ivan and he nods.

"Cora sweetheart I am not afraid... I am just... " Owen tries to lie but pauses awkwardly.

"He is just ready to pass out. Chicken..." Chloe ends his phrase and grabs his arm dragging him towards the small pavilion in the end of the garden.

"I can't!" Owen yells trembling and tries to stop her.

"Owen she can see you. Don't be so pitiful." Ivan says pointing the pavilion.

I turn and look at it for some seconds and...

Yes, it is not that far and I can already see my aunt standing in the middle of it with the others sitting around a table. She looks worried and in tension, Owen is not helping her with his behavior either. I turn and look at Owen again. 

I can't believe this i***t is my brother, what a man he says he is?!

"Owen Bowman act like a mature man and stop this now or else I swear I will kick your ass and you won't be able to sit for one whole week!" I say through my teeth and walk to him.

"She won't like me..." he whispers panicked.

"Oh, shut up brother. She is your aunt, of course she is going to like you, in fact she already likes you!" I say and pull him in my arms and he sighs still shaking.

"She hates me for what I did, I am sure. I am ashamed, I can't look at her in the eyes." he says in a low voice's tone.

I am sorry for him. I know how much he loves our mother and that he really needs our aunt and grandpa's acceptance. He may be right but I know that our aunt wants to meet him and she really loves him. He is allowing his fear control him and I can't feel him in so much pain.

"She really wants to meet you Owen. Give yourself a chance, she is already giving you one. Don't hurt her more, please!"

He tightens his hold around me and sighs. He buries his face in my neck then and murmurs something.  I tap his back and he pulls back slowly with his eyes on the ground.

"Okay. I will do it but don't leave my hand please." he whispers and gives me a begging look.

I smile and nod excited. They all smile and my father taps our shoulders softly.

"Finally. Now let's go. Your aunt is already waiting for us for too long time." he says pointing her and we nod.

Ivan is now in front of us with Cora and Chloe . I am next to Owen behind them with my father and Owen between us. He is blushing and I chuckle teasing him to enlighten the mood. My father smiles sympathetically to him and Cora is giggling in Ivan's arms.

We reach my aunt and the others some time later and Chloe with Ivan and Cora walk to our side and I pull Owen in front of our aunt. She is smiling ready to cry, her jaw is clenching and she is breathing harshly. Owen is shaking like the leaf next to me and they are all staring at him and my aunt in silence. I give my brother a small encouraging tap on the back and he tries to raise his eyes on my aunt. She smiles a bit more and some tears fall from her eyes.

"Owen?" my aunt says emotionally and I take one step back to leave them some space.

My father comes next to me and wraps his arm around me smiling.

"Your Roya..." Owen trembles.

"Brother!" I say through my teeth angry.

I want to punch him right now, how more childish can he become?

"I am sorry..." he whispers.

His voice cracks and he faints. I look at my aunt meaningfully to make a move or else Owen is going to pass out from fear and nervousness. She nods and takes one step reaching two inches away from him. She caps his face in her shaking hands and Owen stiffens a bit but finally manages to look at her in the eyes. She smiles and caresses his cheeks.

"It's okay my child. I am not mad Owen. I am happy you are here."

He begins crying and wraps his arms around her almost immediately. She laughs and hugs him back. We all sigh relieved and Chloe wipes some tears touched. I turn and look at my father who leans and kisses my forehead smiling.

"Now we are all good!" Cynthia says with joy.

"Now we are all a big family." I reply and she howls.

Owen gradually stops crying and pulls a bit back to look at my aunt. She smiles and kisses his forehead sighing.

"Thank you very much. I... I am... " Owen pauses again and I giggle making Cora join me.

"No formalities Owen. We are good, aren't we?" my aunt asks him and he nods quickly.

"Yes aunt. I am so happy." he whispers and she taps his shoulder and turns her gaze to me.

I point Chloe and Cora and she nods. I clear my throat and Ivan walks next to me with Cora. He also pulls Chloe with him and Owen who realizes what is going to happen next takes Chloe from her hand to join his side.  Chloe smiles a bit nervous and stands next to him in front of my aunt. Ivan is by my side and gives Cora to me.

"This is my mate and Luna, Chloe." Owen says with pride and gives a squeeze in Chloe's hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you sweetheart! I have heard so many things about you. You are adorable!"My aunt says and pulls her in her arms when she finishes her sentence with Chloe hugging her back while smiling excited. 

We are all smiling and Cora claps her hands in enthusiasm. I laugh and my aunt breaks her hug with Chloe and turns to look at Cora amused. She is ready to cry again and I take one step to her with my little niece in my arms.

"Auntie this is Cora. Your younger niece." I say and they both smile.

"What a little princess we have! Would you like to come to me honey?" my aunt asks in agony.

Before she manages to finish her words Cora has already raised her hands on her and my aunt pulls her in his arms speechless.

"She is so sweet and pretty! Congratulations my children. I don't know what to say!" my aunt continues and starts crying.

"Are you happy?" Cora asks her innocently and we all bust into laughters.

"She surely is honey!" Ivan replies.

"Now, that's a big, happy family. I wish Nikolai was here with us." Mischa says a bit disappointed. 

"Yeah, he would have been very happy." Ivan says and wraps his hands around my waist.

"Who is he?" Cora asks curious.

"My father baby. Your older grandfather. He is back in Russia. You will meet with him soon." my aunt explains and Cora's face shines from excitement.

"Will he come?" I ask her with hope.

"We do not know for sure my little rose. I will talk with him about it, okay?"

I nod and we all sit around the table on our sits. We introduce everyone and we begin talking and laughing. They all seem to like each other. Cora is going from chair to chair spending time with everyone and ends up with Ivan and me. 

She really adores him and I understand why... 

He is so sweet and cute when he is smiling and he is caring with her (and me). Also, she got excited about Natalie's pregnancy and she is looking forward to see her first 'cousin'.

"Am I going to have a cousin from you too aunt Cora?" she asks me when she sits comfortably on Ivan's lap next to me.

They all stop talking and turn to look at me and Ivan in silence. I stiffen and look Ivan waiting to see his reaction. He gives me a big bright smile, raises his hand and caresses my cheek. I blush and kiss his hand making everyone giggle.

"I do not know sweetheart... You have to ask your uncle if he wants to." I reply and she turns to Ivan.

He opens his eyes widely and laughs and I think I really like it!

"I want children Cora. When your aunt is ready we will..."

"Yeah... Sure...  With your rhythm it won't take you long..." Owen says smirking wickedly and they all start laughing.

I hide my face in my hands blushing and Chloe laughs louder than anyone else making me laugh as well. I can't believe he said that, he is shameless. 

This devilish brother of mine...

"I agree..."Rosa says smirking looking at me.

"Hey!" I yell annoyed.

"That's for telling me that I will torture Jose last night." she whispers and Natalie almost falls from her chair from laughter.

"What?" Jose asks confused.

"I feel sorry for you my friend. Buy vitamins." I whisper and he smirks in understanding.

"Cora!" Mischa yells annoyed.

"What? I am saying the truth..." I reply defensively raising my hands.

"You are the one that is too quick..." Rosa says again and points Ivan.

Ivan laughs and opens our link.

"Baby how about telling them?  Sooner or later they will have to know."

I give him a smile and nod. He is right, we won't be here tonight and we will have to tell them anyway.

"You tell them." I say and he stiffens.

"What is wrong with you two?" my aunt asks bringing us back to reality.

"Honey..." I say with meaning.

"Um... We..." Ivan begins and pauses awkward.

"Is anything wrong?" my father asks worried.

"No Sebastian. We are fine. In fact...  Um..." he pauses again and takes one deep breath.

"I have to announce you that Cora and I are going to mark each other tonight." he states and smiles nervously.

They all gasp and turn to look at me waiting for my confirmation. My father and Owen are by far the most surprised and my aunt is ready to cry again. I smile and feel my cheeks getting red.

"It's true. We are planning to stay in a hotel tonight and we will be back tomorrow morning for the next fights of the competition."

"Congratulations guys! This is amazing!" Chloe yells clapping her hands.

"I can't believe it! You two are unbelievable..." Rosa says amused and Jose with Natalie and Mischa shake their heads in agreement smiling.

"I was right, you two are something else. No doubt that you will leave my sister pregnant too soon..." Owen whispers a bit anxious and turns to my father.

I turn to him and wait for his reaction. Ivan smiles confidently and takes my hand in his. Cora jumps out of his lap and runs to my father. He takes her on his lap and turns his gaze to us again and then to my aunt.  She gives him a nod and he sighs.

"It may be too soon and sudden but I am pleased if you are alright with it. Ivan I want my daughter safe and happy. I don't want to see her crying again. It's an honor to call you my son."

Ivan gives a squeeze to my hand and I move my chair closer to his. I place my hand on his knee and he kisses the top of my head. He turns to my father again and smiles.

"I assure you that I will never leave her side and no one will ever harm her, not even me. My Queen is going to be happy and safe forever."

My aunt clears her throat when Ivan stops talking and we both turn to look at her. She has tears on her eyes and sniffles with her jaw and hands shaking. She stands up and signs for us to go to her.

"Come here you two."

We get up to walk to her together. She opens her arms for us and we both hug her tightly. I am ready to cry, this feels so good and I still can't understand how all these happened.

"You are making me the happiest woman there is. I want grandchildren soon." she whispers and taps our backs.

"Thank you Alena." Ivan whispers softly.

We break the hug slowly and smile to everyone. 

I turn to Ivan and see he is a bit nervous next to me with his expression being weird. I can read him after all these years and I know that something is wrong. I place my hand on his back to caress it gently. He turns and gives me a weak smile.

"What is wrong babe?" I ask him through the link.

"Can we talk for a while in private please?" he askes in agony.

I nod quickly and turn to the others who are now talking without showing lots of interest to us.

"We will leave you for a while. We will see you later." I say and they all nod with some of them smirking and other smiling.

Something feels weird...

~Some time later~

Ivan's pov

"We are here." I say as we reach the tree we were sitting last day.

Cora sits down quickly and signs for me to join her side. I sit next to her and sigh frustrated.

I have to tell her now. 

She asked me to mark her and I want it very much. We really want it but I can't do it without telling her about my past. She did it, she trusted me and I have to be honest with her because I love her and I don't want to hurt her. She needs to know before we make our common beginning. It is difficult, she is probably going to hate me but...

"She won't. It wasn't our fault. Trust her Ivan. She won't betray us like Freya..." Vital whispers with bitterness and hurt in his voice in the end.

"My love what is it?"

I lift my head and eyes up to Cora. I give her a small worried smile and sigh nervously. She looks so hurt...

"You told me about your past and you trusted me... Now... It is my turn." I say and she nods a bit confused.

"You can tell me anything. I am here for you, you know that, right?"

I close my eyes and nod. She caps my face in her hands and when I open my eyes she places a soft, gentle kiss on my lips.

"I am ready if you are." She whispers and I nod.

It is now or never... I take a deep breath and begin.

"You know that my parents died when I was twenty years old and I was already being trained in order to become King. I lost both of them in an accident and I stayed almost alone...  I had also... A mate..." I pause and see the surprise on her face.

"I had no idea..." she whispers disappointed yet shocked and pale.

I take her hands in mine and give them a gentle squeeze. She stiffens and I sigh again frustrated.

"I met her two months before my parents' death. Freya was a lycanthrope but not wealthy or with a title but I didn't care. I loved her because she was my 'soulmate' but..."

I stop, take a deep breath and continue without letting her wait in wary.

"Freya was cheating on me. We hadn't marked or mated with each other. She was in love with my 'best' friend and she just wanted power and money. I had no idea, I was too blind until I received an envelope some months after my parents' death..."

I stop and close my eyes trying not to cry. After so many years it still hurts and I was thinking that I was over with it but obviously I was wrong. 

"Are you alright baby?"

I open my eyes listening to her and shake my head confused. She gives me a weak worried smile and I gain my strength to continue.

"In this envelope there were photos of Freya with my friend. They were kissing and more than this... I was shocked but what...  What killed me the most was that my parents had found out everything and... Freya killed them both..."

I pause and start crying. I bury my face in my hands and I feel Cora wrapping her hands around me. She kisses the top of my head and we stay like this for some time. 

My past was killing me all these years and I just want to get finally free. I know my parents won't come back to me again but I need to confess everything, I need it.

I lift my head up and pull my hands down. Cora kisses my cheek and caresses my hair. I nod for her that I am fine and she sighs.

"She found out that they knew and they were going to tell me. They had proofs and she was determinate to become Queen and then kill me to live her life with him... Those photos and some other papers were from a secret detective that was hired from my parents. He also sent me one letter from them and proofs that he had found about Freya's guilt..."

"Ivan... I  don't know what to say..." she whispers and I see some tears building up and blurring her vision.

"Cora... I got drunk that night and... I went my parents' house. She came there with him to find me... They saw me like that and I showed them everything. They tried to kill me and..."

I stop, close my eyes and take a deep breath. I am shaking and my heart is beating like it is going to explode soon.

"You fought and you killed them, didn't you?" she whispers.

I open my eyes speechless yet breathless. I start crying again and nod. I bury my face in my hands and after some seconds I am sobbing. I can't breathe, my heart is hurting so much and my head is killing me.

"It's alright baby. It is over now, I know..." she says softly and continues holding me tightly in her arms.

"You can leave me if you want. I understand if you hate me. I killed my true mate, I..."

"Ivan..." she says cutting me off.

I pull my hands out of my face and look at her terrified. She will leave me, she...

"I love you silly man. It was not your fault. You were defending yourself baby. You did nothing wrong." She says, gives me a warm smile and kisses me on the lips while I stay staring at her frozen.

"I killed her Cora. You should hate me..." I whisper desperate.

"No baby. She killed you. You didn't do anything on purpose. She did and I am happy that you are here with me and she didn't manage to harm you. You suffered enough all these years, that has to stop."

"You mean it?" I ask shocked.

She nods and wipes the tears from my eyes and cheeks. She is crying slightly too but smiles relieved. I sigh and she kisses me again. I purr and Vital howls excited.

"Is that all?" she asks me and I nod.

"I will never leave you. I love you and I am proud of you baby. We have more things than I had thought in common. I understand you and I could never blame you. I am glad you are here and with me." she says and I bury my face in her neck.

"I love you. Thank you for being with me. I will never hurt you, I promise." I whisper.

"I know my love! And... What about the kids we were talking about?" she asks.

I pull back and cap her face in my hands smiling. She blushes and pecks my lips.

"If you are not ready I respect it. I know you love Miles and it is difficult for you. I could never pressure you. I am fine with whatever you want." I say throuthfully.

She presses her forehead on mine and wraps her hands around my neck touched.

"I miss Miles, it is true and it still hurts but I want kids with you and I am ready. I missed the feeling. Every kid means happiness."

I smile and pull her on my lap. She rests her head on my chest and I bend my head and smell her hair with deep long breaths. I move my hands and carress her belly making her giggle.

"Can I tell you something? But don't get mad, please. I didn't want to tell you but I can't hide it. Promise me." she says and turns to look at me in the eyes.

I nod nervously and take a deep breath, I know this tone, I will hate it but I can't say or do otherwise, can I?

"After you left today I fell asleep and... I woke up with Noah in the room. He was about to kiss me and..."

"s**t! This son of a b***h!" I scream and start shaking instantly.

"What did he do? What did he try to do to you?" I ask ready to lose my control.

Vital is howling and growling outraged and I try to calm down and not get up and run trying to find and kill him immediately.

"He kissed me by force but I stopped him in time. He had locked the door, he was out of control... Rosana with Jose came first in time and later came my aunt and father."

"Cora this man is sick!" I yell shaking and I feel my whole body being on fire from anger.

"I know baby. You forget that I was living with him. Don't do a thing, please. Just ignore him." she begs me and tightens her hold around me with a full of pain and wary expression

"How? He has no same at all. He is insane Cora!"I yell, close my eyes and pull her on me. 

I bury my face in her neck and take her scent. She purrs and sighs when I kiss her neck in a long, wet, rough kiss. I press her on me and she moans moving her hands inside my shirt. She is hot and aroused, I move my hands instinctually and rub her butt roughly.

"Shit." she cries out and moves on me impatiently.

"I won't touch you until tonight." I whisper near her ear and she groans with complaint.

"Why?" she asks with nozzle and rubs my chest making me groan.

"Because I want you ready for tonight... I won't let you sleep at all."

"Will you make me scream?" she whispers wickedly.

She pulls back and stares at me in the eyes with a devilish smirk. I slap her butt and she bites her lower lip moaning.

"Are you challenging me?" I ask in a deep harsh voice and lean closer to her face.

"Maybe..." she answers back and pecks my lips.

"Tonight you will lose your breath from screaming... I will release my anger on you... I won't stop..." I whisper and close my eye with meaning.

She smirks and places her hand on my manhood. I groan and she rubs him slowly.

"You will be inside me all night... Promise!"

"Sure thing...  Mate..."

*********************

Hello guys! 

Yes, I am back with the 12th chapter and I hope you are excited because I am.

A lot of confessions are taking place and I am looking forward to see what comes next! How about you?

So, tell me your opinion and thoughts, what do you thing, what is going to happen next, how are things between Cora and Ivan going to be, which is Noah's next move?

Thank you all very much for your comments and support, I hope you like the continuing!

Until next time have fun, be safe and smile!

Love you all,

                               Marie!