36
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A V R I L
Over the course of the following week, we resumed our regular schedule at Azure Smoke, with just one minor change: Koen now attended training sessions with all of our warriors instead of working separately. He was adapting to his new power much faster than I’d expected, especially since Waylon had supposedly helped him with his skills.
I never asked Koen exactly what went down at the training grounds that day, but it was clear something had changed between them. Whenever they crossed paths around the pack lands, the tension that had once hung between them was gone. It wasn’t as if they were merely pretending to maintain peace in my presence anymore. It seemed they had developed mutual respect for one another. And while I couldn’t fully understand how it happened, I was glad they had put their stupid feud behind them.
While we awaited a response from the Elders, I tried to enjoy the brief period of calm we had, fearing it could be stolen from us soon. Between the stress of dealing with the aftermath of the attack on Blood Rose and the consequences of Koen’s transformation, I’d barely had any time to relish the fact that we were finally mates again, and I felt we both deserved some time to ourselves.
Thankfully, the momentary peace allowed us to spend more relaxing time together. I made sure to make the most of every second of it. Thus, even while Theo was out at Whispering Hills to check if our letter had been answered, I insisted on pretending the rest of the world didn't exist until he returned.
“Sunset walk?” Koen’s smile was brighter than the golden light bathing the treetops. I felt the warmth it radiated as he stayed close at my side. A chuckle escaped him as he turned toward the trail ahead, giving away his intent to tease me before he said with mock surprise, “Seems you’ve got a romantic streak in you after all.”
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t stop the corners of my lips from curling. “Hate to contradict your expectations, but this isn’t meant to be romantic.” The playfulness in my tone waned as a heavy sigh escaped me, and I admitted, “This might be our last quiet sunset before everything falls apart. I just want to savor it.”
He fell silent for a moment, and I worried I might have ruined it. But I underestimated just how effortlessly he could make everything feel lighter.
“Now, that’s more like you,” he whispered as he leaned in, bumping my shoulder to catch my attention. As I looked into his eyes, he added, “Ever the pessimist.”
A scoff escaped me as I corrected, “You mean, the realist.” I bumped him back to emphasize my point. “Theo should be back by nightfall, and I doubt that letter will be enough to keep the Council off our backs for long.” I paused before finishing with a half-joke. “Means we’ll likely have a lot to deal with by the time the sun rises again.”
“Okay.” It was his turn to sigh. “You said you didn’t want to talk problems.”
As soon as the words left his lips, he took my hand in his, interlacing our fingers as if they were meant to stay bound. As simple as the gesture was, it sent sparks of electricity through my skin, spreading heat over my body. Damn, this mate bond thing really was intense.
“So,” he mused, “what do you want to talk about?”
I beamed at his question. “There’s something I’m really excited to discuss with you.”
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “My interest is piqued, Alpha. Shoot.”
My grin morphed into a smirk as I revealed, “The details of officially making you my Alpha King.”
As we finally reached the waterfall - our favorite spot in Azure Smoke - I carefully made my way over the rocks. With our hands still interlocked, Koen had no choice but to follow.
A confused frown crossed his face as we rock-hopped by the water, and he asked, “Do I get a coronation?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Just a regular ceremony.”
“Is it like a Luna Ceremony?” he wanted to know, interested.
Once I found a comfortable, dry spot, I lowered myself and invited him to sit with me. “Kinda, if you skip the prestigious guests from other packs and all.” I grimaced. “But we don’t really have lunas. Among our kind, both members of the leading couple receive the title of Alpha.” After a brief pause, I continued, “Well, the lycans used to rule over the Ashen Wolves, but that’s how it worked after the royal families disappeared.”
Koen nodded quietly, digesting the information I just offered him. A moment later, he asked, “How does it work?”
I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing. “Like I said, it’s not as fancy as the ceremonies we usually see in traditional wolf packs. It’s more like a celebration, really. Similar to when a new Ashen Wolf is rescued and brought into our haven.”
As I spoke, his fingers gently combed through my hair, making me feel even more relaxed. Leaning into his caress, I continued, “Except this time, there’s an actual party before we set off to lead the pack together in a run.”
The thought of it all made my heart race. “The whole pack will gather around the Banyan. We’ll stand beneath it, and you’ll speak a few vows.” A thrill of anticipation ran through me as I finished, “The Moon Goddess will bless both our union and your rise as my consort.”
“Sounds delightful,” he replied, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “When is it happening?”
“Are you excited now?” I giggled, straightening up to meet his gaze. “To be honest, I don’t want to rush it - the past few days have been hectic enough. I was thinking we could pick a date after we hear back from the Elders.”
Koen nodded in agreement, though I noticed something shift in his eyes. Before I could dwell on it, he confessed, “I’m okay with that, but…” He paused dramatically, leaning impossibly close. “There’s one thing I can’t wait any longer for.”
I couldn’t look away as I replied, genuinely curious, “What?”
Without warning, he lifted his hand to the base of my neck. Simply hovering his fingers over my marking spot made my skin come alive with goosebumps.
As his lips almost touched mine, he whispered, “I want to mark you back.”
I stilled. Amidst the chaos, it barely crossed my mind that we hadn’t completed the marking process. While I had laid my claim on Koen, he never had the chance to do the same for me. But it seemed like a fair request.
It wasn’t until now, with his intent so clear, that I truly understood the depth of what this meant. Before, the idea of being marked had been clouded by lust and instinct, an overwhelming urge to seal our bond. But now, the weight of the gesture hit me.
I’d be baring my neck to another male - a vulnerability I never thought I’d willingly allow. I had never expected to find myself in this position. Yet, with Koen, it felt undeniably right. He wasn’t just any male; he was mine, as much as I was his.
My heart pounded with anticipation as I asked, “How would you like to do it?”
Koen shifted slightly, taking both of my hands to gently guide me onto his lap. I followed, straddling him on the smooth surface of the rock. The roar of the waterfall faded into the background as I focused solely on the sound of our mingling breaths.
His hands slid to my waist, steadying me, while his lips sought mine. At first, he kissed me tenderly. There was no urgency; no rush. But softness slowly gave way to a shimmer of roughness as he occasionally nipped at my lower lip, sending waves of heat that spread from my core to every corner of my being.
When his mouth left mine, I let my head fall back to give him better access. His touch seemed to set my skin alive as he carefully moved my hair out of the way, trailing long, wet kisses down my chin, each one leaving me breathless. I gave in to him completely, and before I knew it, he was right where he wanted to be.
His lips grazed the delicate skin where my neck met my shoulder, lingering there. A shiver ran through me as his breath warmed the spot, anticipation tightening every nerve in my body. Without hesitation, his teeth sank into me, sharp and purposeful. The pain was fleeting but startling, like a spark igniting a fire. And then came the rush - a flood of warmth and pleasure that left me gasping, the sensations overwhelming and consuming.
I clung to him as our bond solidified, as if an invisible thread had woven us tighter together, and I felt even more complete than I had after claiming him. In that perfect moment, nothing else mattered.
When he pulled back, his gaze locked onto mine, his eyes reflecting a fierce possessiveness without losing their usual tenderness. “You’re mine now,” he stated, both proud and fulfilled.
“I’ve been yours, and only yours, for a while now,” I replied as soon as I found my voice back, though I could understand what he meant. As my fingers touched the newly-placed mark to feel its texture, I wondered, “How does it look?”
Koen showed me a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you see it for yourself?” He gestured with his head toward the water.
After Koen helped me off his lap, I wandered to the edge of the rock, leaning over to catch my reflection in the clear surface of the water. Ripples blurred it at first, but as the pool stilled, the image sharpened. Every mark was unique, and Koen’s was no exception - seeing its uniqueness made my heart flutter. The puncture marks on my skin were etched with delicate precision, reflecting his natural kindness while hinting at his restrained strength.
Any doubts about how the transformation would affect Koen’s personality now seemed laughable; it was clear he would remain entirely himself, steady and true, come what may.
I wanted to stay here, admiring my mate’s mark forever. To lead him into the water and feel just how much our connection had amplified while he was inside me. But, as I’d feared, our carefree time together ended sooner than I’d hoped.
“Alpha,” Theo’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind, catching me off guard. His tone was serious, stained with a hint of concern as he informed me, “I’m back with updates. You’ll want to meet me in your office as soon as you can.”