The Wolf (Everdark Tales #2)

1.

King

A nd just like that, all my hopes and dreams are suddenly in my arms. Three hundred years of loneliness are finally over.

Julia’s warm cheek is pressed to my pec as she lies on top of me. I move her messy copper curls away from her sleeping face to admire her beauty. She couldn’t be more perfect, even if I dreamed her.

My woman.

All fucking mine.

She smells even sweeter than usual, and I know she’s about to ovulate. Since the full moon isn’t anytime soon, it means we’re not yet in sync when it comes to fertility. And I’m more than thrilled we aren’t, because I’m definitely planning to fuck her senseless while her scent is so mouth-wateringly irresistible. Before, when I still watched her from the shadows during this time of her cycle, I used to keep my distance to avoid doing anything I would later regret. Our first interaction was already dubious enough for my comfort. But now that we’re bonded, everything is much more intensified, and I wouldn’t be able to stop myself if I tried—which I’m not going to even attempt.

I bet she tastes just as delicious.

Still buried inside her, my cock grows rigid, swelling by the second. Carefully, I turn us over so I’m above her, leaning on my forearms to avoid crushing her tiny body with my weight.

Her breathing becomes irregular, but her eyes remain closed, and I know she’s now only half-asleep.

I extend my tongue and lick across her neck to her pretty little pink nipple, watching in awe as it stiffens at the caress. I cup her heaving breast, loving how the warm, rounded flesh fills my hand. Then, I shift my attention to her other nipple and tease it lovingly.

Her heartbeat quickens, and she lets out a soft part-moan part-sigh, starting to writhe underneath me. At the same time, her inner walls contract, tightening around my already fully hard cock so snuggly that it gets pushed out. I look down and see how my release, mixed with her juices, seeps out of her plump pussy.

The view is immaculate, driving me insane. I might’ve gotten too eager last night because I can’t even count how many loads I pumped inside her.

But I quickly realize she must be sore as there are a few bruises on her creamy thighs. Farah completely healed her body after the battle we were trapped in last night by Julia’s parents' house. So I’m sure all of these fresh ones are my doing. It isn’t unusual for Julia to have one or two—that’s simply unavoidable, even with me being as delicate as possible—but not that many. Having her safe behind the Veil in my kingdom makes it way more difficult to be gentle.

Still, I won’t ever be able to lose control entirely with her.

I can’t.

Well, maybe in my human form, I could let go, though I don’t expect to be able to fuck her without shifting in the near future.

“Good morning,” I whisper in a raspy voice.

Julia rubs the sleep from her eyes before focusing her vision on me. “Is it morning already?”

“Actually, more like noon, West Virginia local time.”

She yawns, exhausted, arching her back to stretch below me.

We haven’t slept all that much during the night. We never made it downstairs for dinner, either. Yet, I still want her the same.

Is it an obsession? Beyond a doubt.

Do I care? Negative.

Tracing my tongue along her throat, I stroke my cock against the slit of her tender, juicy cunt.

“No, don’t even think about it!” She giggles. “I’m pretty sure you ruined me.”

“Not my treasure.” I nuzzle into her skin affectionately. Okay, I certainly took it too far, but this doesn’t mean I can’t still pick at her just a little. “I don’t recall you complaining,” I say in a serious tone before I parody hers, “Oh, Alex, harder!”

“Stop it.” She smacks my arm.

“Oh, Alex, deeper,” I go on, and her face turns as vibrant red as her hair. “The whole castle could hear you.”

She looks at me with wide eyes. “No…”

“You do realize that almost everyone here has supernatural hearing, correct?”

She pulls the pillow over her head, whining, “I’m not leaving this bed for the rest of my life then!”

I chuckle. “It’s fine, I’m just messing with you. Nobody really cares. I’ve learned to tune it out, and they do the same. Let’s go get you some breakfast.”

“No, thank you. I’m staying right here.”

I yank the pillow out of her grasp and throw it across the other end of the room. “Baby, come on! Everyone’s dying to formally meet you at last.”

“Fine,” she agrees unwillingly, though I can tell she’s excited. “But I need to take a bath first. You don’t want me to go meet your entire family dripping with your cum, do you?”

“Just the way I like you.” Sinking my teeth in my mark on her neck, I hump between her legs once more.

“You’re impossible!” Amused, she pushes me out of the way—or tries to, at least—so I make some room for her to slip out of my embrace. Sitting up, she looks around the room and shakes her head.

“What is it?” I ask, rolling onto my back and trying to cool off.

“I can’t believe it wasn’t a dream. I mean, this whole week…” Her voice trails off as she gasps. “It's been only a week!”

“Well, a little longer for me.” I kid, though it might be a risky move. I’m still not sure whether she forgave me for stalking her.

She looks at me over her shoulder, her magnetic sapphire eyes glossed over with emotions. Reaching my hand, I gently cup the side of her face, stroking her rosy cheek with the pad of my thumb. I doubt she’ll ever fully grasp the magnitude of my feelings for her… or how losing her the other day, even for a brief moment, shattered me into pieces that I’m still trying to gather.

“I know. It feels like a whole lifetime has passed,” I tell her, much more considerate, as I straighten up to lick her favorite spot behind her ear, letting my breath linger against her skin.

She places a few sweet kisses along my muzzle, whispering, “Can you give me a human moment?”

“I’ll be waiting in the grand dining hall. After you leave the chamber, go two levels down the staircase and cross the corridor to the west wing. Call me if you get lost.”

I get up and head to the door, but her laugh stops me mid-way. “So, you guys just walk comfortably like this?”

“What?” I turn to face her. She’s only being funny because I know for a fact that the tuft of fur growing in my groin is enough to cover my sheath where my cock is safely concealed. “It’s not like I stroll around with my dick out.”

“You sure about that?” Cocking her head, she arches her brow at me.

“It’s just easier.” I shrug. “And again, nobody cares. Being naked—or copulation itself, for that matter—is natural to us. Humans tend to be conservative about it, but if you’ve been a furry creature for centuries like me, you become partially the animal.”

“Can I walk naked, too?” she asks, almost as if challenging me. “It would be so much easier—”

“Julia, put your fucking clothes on,” and with that, I leave the room to give her some space.

As Julia’s laughter fades, my delirious smile lingers, but the pull of reality is already gnawing at the edges of my mind. The instinct to stay here, to claim her again and again, clashes with what I know is waiting downstairs. Every fiber of my being craves nothing more than to be with her, but I can’t afford to ignore the responsibilities that come with being a leader. Not now, not after everything we've fought for.

With a deep breath, I make my way to join the others, following the familiar murmur of conversation that halts the moment I step inside.

“Wow.” Edwin’s cackle breaks the silence, his grin wide and obnoxious. “She really popped your wolf cherry, huh?”

My jaws tighten, muscles coiling. “Do you want me to slash your throat, little brother?” I bite back, my voice edged with a simmering threat.

My sex life—or lack thereof—has been a running gag amongst them for a while now. I knew this shit was coming. I could smell it miles away.

Clara rolls her eyes, amused but trying to stay neutral. Penny giggles from her seat, not even bothering to hide it, while Katia only offers a bored glance, as if she couldn’t care less about the recurring joke.

“Be nice to each other,” Farah interjects, her tone the usual mix of scolding and affection.

She’s been the glue holding us together since our parents died, stepping into a motherly role she never asked for but has somehow grown into—probably because it was as therapeutic for us as for her since she is unable to have children of her own. It just stayed this way ever since, even when her patience wears thin.

“Fine,” Edwin replies, waving it off with an exaggerated sigh like he’s doing everyone a favor. Then, his expression shifts, getting more serious. “But Alex, we need to have a sit-down. There are pressing matters that can’t be put off any longer.”

I stare at him, then around the table. “Can I just have one day to be with her? In peace?”

“We’ve been waiting long enough,” Katia cuts in, her voice sharp. Her arms are crossed as her blood-red eyes narrow slightly in my direction. “We’re all glad you finally found your mate, and trust me, hearing you two going at it all night long was just delightful—” her sarcasm drips like venom “—but you still have duties that require your immediate attention.”

Farah exhales heavily, rubbing her temples. “Come on, give them a break. One day won’t hurt.”

“We don’t have time for this,” Katia presses, relentless as ever.

I glare at her, the tension rising in my chest. “Why are you trying so hard to ruin this for me?”

“Uh, stop being a baby and taking it personally,” she shoots back, dismissive as always.

I lean forward, my voice low and menacing. “Katia, tread carefully. I won’t tolerate any further attitude.” I straighten up, as protective instinct flares up within me. “I’ll attend to the matters, but only after I’ve ensured my mate is settled and feels safe here. You’ll respect that.”

“Yes, my Lord!” she responds cynically, showing her fangs.

Penny pinches the bridge of her nose, clearly done with the conversation, probably wishing the peace and quiet of the last two months with me being gone would stretch just a little longer.

Clara, ever the optimist, chimes in, her smile soft and genuine. “For what it’s worth, I’m truly happy for you two.”

“Thank you,” I say, offering her a small smile in return. “Julia can’t wait to become best friends with you.”

Her smile grows wider and her eyes shine bright. She’s been waiting for decades to have a fellow human woman around as a sister, it must be so exciting for her.

Speaking of Julia, my ears perk up as I catch the faint sound of her little footsteps approaching.

“Can you guys please act normal and try not to overwhelm her? She’s been through enough.”

They all exchange looks with each other.

“What?” I hiss, annoyed at the whole conspiracy.

“You don’t have to be so protective of her all the time,” Penny says, leaning back casually in her chair. “It’s just us now.”

Regarding yesterday’s battle, I had so many feelings but being terrified was the best description of how I felt. I’m still on edge, shaken up. So much has happened in the past couple of days that it was a lot for me to wrap my head around, and I hardly had any time to process it.

I can only imagine how it must’ve affected Julia…