Shattered and Saved (Ashen Wolves #2)

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A V R I L

When our priority was rescuing the fledgling, I purposefully set aside the consequences of wiping out Blood Rose Pack. I needed all of my focus on our mission to ensure it would be a complete success. Now that Ruac was safe with us, and the ones who could expose our secret were gone, it was time to deal with the aftermath of our actions.

“Theo. Elijah. Rhea.” I mindlinked all three of my friends at once. “I need you at my office.”

“Yes, Alpha,” they all replied in unison, and I started heading there myself.

The town square was unusually crowded this morning. I decided there would be no training today to allow the pack to rest. It seemed most of them decided to spend some time outside and enjoy the sun after breakfast. I even spotted Waylon, whom I hadn’t bumped into much for the past month, sitting at one of the tables with other top warriors.

And I couldn’t help but eavesdrop on their conversation.

“So, the big tough elite warrior had his ass saved by the outsider?” one of the men mocked, glancing at an unamused Waylon.

“Yep, I saw it all!” another warrior confirmed. If I remembered correctly, he was on Theo and Uncle Joe’s team.

“Really, Lon? Don’t tell me a regular alpha-blooded wolf could keep up with us better than you!” A third man playfully punched his shoulder.

“It shows why he’s the alpha’s favorite, not you,” the first one teased.

“Shut the fuck up!” Waylon barked, but his outburst only made them laugh harder. Just then, his eyes darted to me. I straightened my posture and kept walking, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing.

But I couldn’t hide the proud smile that painted my lips.

When I made it to the top floor of the packhouse, my friends were already waiting for me outside. I quickly opened the door and they followed me inside. After taking my seat, I told them my concerns.

“By now, the destruction of Blood Rose must have been reported,” I observed. “The Elder Council has probably just arrived at the scene of a bloodbath, with no peculiar wolf shifter to study. When they ask questions, I want to be able to answer all of them, leaving no room for questions and finding anything we don’t want them to find.”

“That’s why you’re planning on confessing that Azure Smoke is responsible for the massacre?” Rhea wondered.

I nodded. “They already know about our existence - they just don’t know exactly what we are. I want them to continue to believe we’re merely an emerging pack of regular wolf shifters with skilled warriors and a unique fighting strategy,” I explained. “We just need to come up with a reason to justify our attack on Blood Rose, and make sure there are no holes in our story.”

While the three of them exchanged thoughtful glances, a knock sounded at the door. His scent had reached me the moment he started walking down the hallway. Without hesitation, I called out for him to come in.

As Koen scoured the room, understanding what was happening, I playfully said, “Morning, Sleeping Beauty.”

Focusing his attention on me, he frowned. “You could have woken me,” he mumbled, squaring his shoulders and raising his head as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

After Koen joined us, we continued our discussion for the next hour or so. I hadn’t expected to craft a detailed, convincing lie in such a short time; this was just the initial step - brainstorming and raising key points to consider later. Thankfully, we likely had at least a couple of days before the Council launched their witch hunt, and I intended to use all the time we had.

When we were done, I dismissed my friends, asking Koen to stay. Anxiety settled over me as I questioned whether this was truly the right time. Kea’s voice echoed in my mind, urging me not to be a coward. In the end, I listened - I couldn’t wait any longer.

Allowing Koen to tag along on the mission had been a final test - the last confirmation I needed. It wasn’t that I doubted his capability, but I wanted my pack to see his potential too. I had waited for the chance to witness how he would work alongside the Ashen Wolves, and once again, he had exceeded every expectation.

With a sigh, I braced myself for something I’d been wanting to do for a long time.

“What’s so secretive that the alpha can’t even discuss it with her team?” Koen joked, but the quickening of his heartbeat, matching mine, betrayed his nerves.

Closing my eyes, I pushed away the rising tide of nervousness. When I opened them again, I met his gaze and said, “I want you as my chosen mate, Koen.”

Time seemed to freeze. Koen’s expression shifted, his shoulders sagging as his defenses crumbled. His mouth opened, but no words came out. He stared at me, a mix of confusion and disbelief etched across his face, as though he doubted the moment was real.

Drawing a deep breath, I stepped closer, my voice softer, more pleading than I intended. “Lead with me,” I whispered. “Be my King. My Alpha Consort.”

After a brief pause, I placed my hand on his chest, leaning in as my words brushed against his lips. “ My mate .”

His eyes fluttered shut as he pressed his forehead to mine. Our noses grazed, and he inhaled my scent like it was his lifeline, releasing a low, melodic groan. His hand slid up my chest to cradle the side of my neck, his thumb gently tracing my jawline. I waited for him to close the distance between us, but instead, he pushed me back - firmly, but only slightly.

When my eyes met his, they were wide with intensity. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice soft but insistent.

A chuckle slipped past my lips. “As sure as I’ve ever been.”

At last, he brought his lips to mine - urgent yet tender, love and lust perfectly balanced. Grasping my thighs, he lifted me effortlessly, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. As our tongues intertwined, I didn’t care where he was taking me, though I vaguely recognized the blurry surroundings of the alpha chambers as he gently set me down.

Eager to feel his warmth against my skin, I broke our kiss briefly to tug his shirt over his head, my hands instantly gravitating to his muscular chest the moment he was bare. In response, he slipped off my tank top, skillfully unfastening my bra to let my breasts fall free. He immediately cupped both of them, ripping a moan from me.

Without thinking, I reached to unzip my pants, but he stopped me, catching me off guard. “I’ll take care of it,” he murmured, his voice a soothing promise. He trailed kisses down my chin and neck until his lips closed around one of my nipples.

“Fuck, Koen,” I breathed out, letting my head fall back as I let pleasure take over, my fingers wrapping around his hair.

As his tongue flicked over my hardened nipple, his thumb and index finger captured the other, teasing with perfect precision. He sucked, pinched, nipped, circled, licked, and massaged - pushing all the right buttons, proving he knew my body better than I did.

Suddenly, he replaced his mouth with his other hand as he dropped to his knees, leaving me curious but never disappointed. While his fingers continued their magic, I glanced down to see him unzipping my pants. In one swift motion, he pulled them down along with my underwear. After planting a single, lingering kiss just below my belly button, he surprised me again by pressing his nose between my folds. A gasp escaped me as my thighs instinctively clenched around his face.

He lifted his face slowly, a long, delicious groan reverberating against my core before his half-lidded eyes met mine. “Do you like seeing me like this, Alpha? On the floor, submitting to you?”

Fuck, yes, I agreed in my mind as I bit my lip. Looking down at this powerful man surrendering his dominance stirred the animal inside me. Kea was going wild in my head, fire burning in our eyes as we both craved what he would do next.

“You’re the only one I’ll ever kneel for,” he said, staring directly into my eyes. “My Queen,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to my clit, sending shivers through me. “My Alpha.” He repeated the gesture, breathing in deeply before finishing with, “ My mate .”

Shit, he was going to make me come with just his words.

“Stop teasing,” I half-commanded, half-begged, my eyes darkening as I added, “Be done with it and eat me like I’m your last damn meal.”

A grin spread across his lips. “You didn’t have to ask.”

Gripping my hips firmly to keep me in place, he dove in again. I gasped as his tongue slid over my most sensitive spot, the sensation sending jolts of pleasure through my body. His movements were slow at first, making me crave more, but then he pressed deeper, his tongue flicking and swirling in all the right ways, coaxing every inch of me to burn with desire.

I tried to keep control, but it was slipping from me with every breath, every touch. My body reacted on its own, rolling against him, desperate for more, for him . His hands tightened on my hips, keeping me still, his mouth never leaving me as he devoured me with unrelenting focus. The pressure was building, my breath quickening, and I was so close to the edge.

Then, he suddenly pulled away.

A grunt of complaint escaped me, the sudden loss of contact making my body ache for him. Without warning, he shot up, lifting me up in his arms again, only to toss me onto the bed as if I weighed nothing. I barely had time to react before he was on top of me, his body over mine, his weight pressing me down against the mattress.

He leaned down, his breath heavy against my ear. “I know you like being in control,” he said in a low, husky voice. “But as your mate, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me take care of you every once in a while.”

Intertwining his fingers with mine, he led my arms over my head. At first, I instinctively resisted, but I gradually relaxed as his hands glided down the sides of my arms while he gently sucked my neck. I closed my eyes, focusing solely on how he made me feel.

My walls pulsed when I felt him push against my entrance, and he thrusted in on one go. I couldn’t hold back a moan as he stretched me, plunging in slowly until I could feel the head of his cock against my womb. Then, he retreated, moving with perfect precision.

My body was still hot and aching from the first time he left me hanging. It was only a matter of time before I felt like I was about to explode. I moaned louder as rationality fled me, giving way to instinct alone.

As my wolf surfaced, her claws came out, and I dragged them down Koen’s back, feeling his flesh tear open under my fingertips. He winced, but didn’t stop, nor did he go faster. He maintained the steady rhythm that was driving me crazy, and soon enough, I was there.

An instant before I saw stars, Kea took over my human body, letting her fangs come out to sink them onto the spot connecting Koen’s shoulder and neck. I bit down hard as my intense orgasm blackened my vision, the taste of his blood further enticing me.

The moment I marked Koen, he reached his peak as well. I heard him groan in pure pleasure, feeling wave after wave of his release filling me, stretching me completely. For a brief moment, we were suspended in paradise together. But that ecstasy was suddenly shattered by an ear-piercing scream that echoed through the room.

I immediately pulled away from Koen, my eyes flying open to find him twisting in agony above me.