9. Stella
9
STELLA
T he den does not come into view until late the following evening.
Despite Ciaryn’s assurances that we would reach it shortly after midday, an unexpected tryst this morning caused a considerable delay. Not that I’m complaining. Despite the stiffness of my muscles due to our traveling and the delicious soreness between my thighs, I can’t help but feel blissfully content. A part of me had always felt a drift—an outsider even when I tried my best to settle. Now that the frayed parts of my soul are mended, I feel complete in a way I never had before.
However, I will admit that the closer we travel to the den, the more apprehension tickles the back of my neck. We are nestled deep within The Woods, a place I was taught to fear as a child—now it will become my new home.
The trees grow together densely, nearly blotting out the darkening sky above. The air is dank with the smell of grass and rotting foliage. Underneath the wet smell is Ciaryn’s familiar scent.
I lay my cheek against his back, allowing the scent of pine to wash over me. It is odd to think of my heart as no longer my own. Ciaryn has laid claim to every part of me. Our souls fused while he was tied to me last night. Baring the secrets of my past to him has lifted that phantom weight from my shoulders.
He met my confession with love and protection. Love is such a strong, fickle emotion. Many believe it takes time to form, but that is not the case. I do not need to spend weeks or months with Ciaryn to arrive at the conclusion I’ve already come to. I love him.
I will tell him soon enough—once this matter of his pack is settled.
The moon is in full bloom above us. Small animals scurry in the trees, and birds call overhead before perching on low-hanging branches.
A lone howl cuts through The Woods . Ciaryn’s steps slow as we approach the mouth of a great cave. What lurks behind its rocky opening is entirely obscured by unending darkness. A shadow darts across my peripheral vision, and Ciaryn pauses a few feet from the entrance.
Another deep howl echoes from before us. My hands tangle into his fur as my heart pounds in my chest. There is a beat of silence before a striking pair of eyes beams from inside the opening. At first, there is only one, then after another moment, two, then three, appear. It is not long until the cavern is filled with countless pairs of glowing eyes.
Sleek, furry bodies hustle out in formation, encircling us.
Sharp, white teeth are bared from between ruby lips. Each one is heavily muscled. Their posture is tight, as if ready to pounce on us at any moment. None of them are as large as Ciaryn, but their sheer number makes sweat slide down my neck.
One of them growls at us, and Ciaryn answers in kind, his ears flattening. Despite my death grip on his fur, he gently slides me from his body and tucks me firmly against his side. Dragging his gaze away from the wolfmen before us, he looks at me intently.
“Stay behind me. I’ll keep you safe.”
The words are low and end with a firm kiss to my brow. An uneasy whine echoes around us as Ciaryn turns to face the other wolfmen. It is clear that he rules over them. Even if they are displeased to see him, their bodies submit to the power he radiates. A few try to fight it, but the longer Ciaryn bares his fangs at them, the more they supplicate to his will.
One wolfman, however, shakes off Ciaryn’s dominance. He strides forward, raising himself from all fours to his full height. His fur is a deep brown. One of his ears is bitten, missing a chunk as if lost in a fight. The scars smattering across his snout add to his intimidating appearance. I shuffle further behind Ciaryn when the other wolf’s golden eyes land on me with a feral gleam. Ciaryn’s warning growl vibrates throughout The Woods .
“You’ve returned,” the other wolfman snarls.
“I have.”
Despite Ciaryn’s warning, his eyes dip to me again, and he licks over his sharp teeth.
“And with a human.”
The muscles of Ciaryn’s back tense.
“She is my mate.” A few wolfmen look at each other before flattening their ears. “And as the alpha’s mate, she will be permitted entrance into the den and live amongst us.”
“She bears no claiming mark.” Another wolfman with a white stripe down his back steps forward and nods toward me. “Will you dishonor us by not only abandoning your pack but now with lies?”
I look up at Ciaryn, waiting for him to explain, but he keeps his eyes locked on those circling us.
“My mate will bear my mark soon enough,” Ciaryn spits.
“Why should we follow you?” The brown wolfman asks.
Ciaryn bares his fangs, lowering to his haunches.
“If you wish to challenge me for alpha, Lukar, I will oblige you. You’ve been dying to fight me since we were pups.”
The brown wolfman—Lukar—bears his deadly fangs. Foamy saliva clings to the corners of his mouth and drops in frothy piles to the grass below.
My heart lurches in my chest. Ciaryn is strong—taller than the other male by a good foot—but he must be weary from our travels. Not to mention, he was injured by hunters only a few nights ago. I feel frozen to the spot, unable to make a sound. Whatever is passing between the two wolfmen must come to a head. The others in the pack seem to understand and take several steps back.
“If it is a challenge you want, it is a challenge you shall have.” Lukar’s lips pull into a sinister grin. “You are no alpha. You are weak, just as your father had been.”
Without so much as a growl, Ciaryn launches himself into the air and lands atop the other wolfman. From there, a fight ensues unlike any I’ve ever seen before. I’d witnessed a few drunken brawls at the Wolf’s Fang. Men come to blows over such small slights: a stolen sheep, spilling a cup of ale, or even perceived liberties they believe another has taken with their wife.
This clash is much different. The two males locked in a fury of shredding claws and snapping jaws are predators. Their moves are deadly—inflicting as much pain on the other as possible. Neither one shows any sign of yielding. This is a fight to the death.
Ciaryn’s claws snag Lukar in the side, drawing blood. The metallic scent coats the air. It wakes me from my daze and urges me to move. The other pack members venture closer to the action, taking in the grisly scene, but I want to be as far away as possible. It only now strikes me that Ciaryn could be killed. Coldness settles over my skin.
No, he will not perish here—he can’t. I only just found him, and now he is facing another brush with death. I want to rush into the carnage and urge Ciaryn to stop. We don’t need a pack—we would be happy, just the two of us.
My heart nearly stops as Lukar’s jaws lock around Ciaryn’s forearm. The pained howl of my mate causes my knees to buckle. Quickly, he manages to shake off his opponent, but blood flows down his arm. The other wolfman knocks him off his feet, and they grapple with each other. Dirt and grass fly around them in a frenzy.
I take a small step forward, arm extended. Before I can take another, I sense a presence at my side.
“They must do this,” a soft voice says.
Glancing beside me, I take in the large gray wolf with sparkling blue eyes a few feet away. The ends of his fur are nearly white, giving me the impression that he is much older than the other wolfman in the pack. He nods towards the two clashing wolves who are once more on their feet. Blood streams out of Lukar’s mouth, and Ciaryn limps as they circle each other.
“Lukar will never accept Ciaryn as his alpha without this duel. If he still refuses to submit to his authority, Ciaryn must kill him.” At my sharp inhale the older wolf’s eyes soften. “It is our way.”
“It seems so brutal,” I say.
The older wolfman nods.
“In time, you will understand how we live.”
A sharp whine causes me to whip my head back towards the fighting. Despite them both being covered in blood, Ciaryn has managed to pin Lukar beneath him. The brown wolfman’s arm is bent at a grotesque angle. Ciaryn snaps his jaws at the other wolfman, his black fur shining in the moonlight.
“Do you yield?” my mate snarls.
Lukar thrashes in his grip, but it is to no avail. Ciaryn has him beaten. They both know it. With a resounding growl, Ciaryn tightens his grip on his shattered arm.
“Do you yield?” he repeats.
With a broken yelp, Lukar ceases his movements.
“Yes,” he spits, blood trailing from his mouth.
Ciaryn snarls again.
“Alpha,” Lukar adds, infusing as much hate into the title as he can muster.
With one final snarl, Ciaryn releases the other wolfman man and rises to his feet. There is a soft murmuring amongst the crowd. His golden eyes scan his pack as if daring another to issue a challenge. When none do, he nods.
“Let Lukar lick his wounds.” The wolves around him bow their heads in supplication. “And let us have no further discussion on the matter. I am your alpha—now until I take my last breath. Those who wish to challenge that fact can look to Lukar as an example of what will happen if you do. Next time, I will not be so generous as to let you live.”
“Yes, alpha,” rings out from the gathered crowd.
They part for him as he turns, nodding in reverence in his presence. His eyes find mine, and his whole body loses its rigidity. Clearly relieved that I am unharmed, even though I was not the one locked in battle. Limping over to me, the gore coating his body makes my heart ache. I understand why he had to do this, but I still don’t like it.
He runs a hand over my cheek, and I melt at his touch.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
“I should be asking you that.” I look pointedly at his blood-soaked fur. “But I already know the answer.”
“Nothing time won’t heal.” He draws me towards him, and I go willingly. “But I would prefer my healing done by your masterful hand.”
“I’m sure you would.” I smile before leveling a stern look at him. “I understand why you had to do this, but I don’t want to see you hurt like this again. Understand?”
“Demanding little thing you are,” Ciaryn chuckles.
“You should know that well by now, mate.”
The glow in Ciaryn’s eyes says he knows precisely how needy I can be. His mouth descends on mine in a brush of lips. It is far too chaste, and I’m eagerly parting my lips for his tongue to sweep inside. I hold tightly to his chest, my hands turning sticky with his blood. We’ll both need to bathe tonight, but I need his taste above all else. It is a reminder that he is alive and we’ve overcome this first challenge against our future.
A soft throat clearing causes my cheeks to go up in flames. I had completely forgotten that we weren’t alone. Breaking off the kiss, I turn towards the other wolfman. His blue eyes dance with amusement.
“Brydon,” Ciaryn says roughly.
“Happy to see you, Ciaryn. I’m too old to be playing alpha. I hope that your arrival here is a permanent one.”
“It is,” Ciaryn says, tucking me into his side.
“Good.” He nods towards me. “Take care of her.”
“Always,” Ciaryn vows.
Without another word, the older wolf saunters towards the den’s opening and disappears into the darkness. Ciaryn’s hand snags mine. Pressing a kiss to the back of my palm, his golden eyes burn me alive.
“Let me take you home, Stella.”
Without warning, he lifts me into his arms. I squeal as I cling to him. The small satchel containing my belongings hangs limply at my side. I’ll have to learn where the nearest town is to find more healing supplies. As well as the contraceptive herbs—at least for a time. I wouldn’t mind a family, but I’d like it to be Ciaryn and me for a bit.
Darkness surrounds us as we pass through the cave's opening. Wolfmen can see better in the dark than humans because Ciaryn navigates us expertly through the den. After a bit, a faint glow greets us. It illuminates the smooth stone walls and steps carved into the cavern. All is quiet the deeper we go; most of the pack must be exhausted from the return of their alpha.
Inside the caves are different alcoves, each belonging to a different pack member, Ciaryn explains. Once a wolfman finds his mate, that is where he and his family will live until the child is old enough for a dwelling of his own. Torches are placed outside each opening, casting them in golden light. We travel further into the waiting depths until we reach another alcove.
Ciaryn ducks inside the darkness. Settling me on my feet, I hear him shuffle around until one of the torches inside blazes to life. Despite his limp, he quickly lights the sconces and candles, and our room is awash in glowing light.
It is a modest room in a much more secluded area of the den. Inside is a small table with a few wooden bowls, a cupboard filled with jars and a few leather-bound books, and a smattering of metal utensils on the table. This room was set up for a human to reside in, for Ciaryn has no use for a spoon.
A large pallet rests in the center of the room, with silk sheets and pillows decorating its top. My weary muscles ache to lie on it after our travels.
“I’m sorry it is so bare,” Ciaryn says beside me. “You, of course, can make any changes you’d like to. This is our home.”
I smile at him, setting my satchel on the table with a thud.
“It’s wonderful.” I nod towards one of the empty chairs. “Now, let me take a look at your wounds.”
Unwrapping some of my herbs, Ciaryn directs me to where to find fresh water. There is a soft trickling sound near the back of the alcove, and I’m delighted to see clear, flowing water. It is warm enough to bathe in. Quickly, I wash the blood from my hands and face before stripping out of my soiled gown. Scrubbing at the crimson stains, I leave them to dry along the edge of the small pool. Collecting a bowl of water, I return to Ciaryn.
His eyes dance as he takes in the bare skin of my arms. My shift is thin, and the air inside the dwelling is cool enough to have my nipples pebbling against the front. Kneeling before him, I wet a few clean cloths with water and cleaned the blood from his fur. Luckily, he has already begun healing. Most of the wounds have sealed closed and scabbed over. Still, I make him a quick concoction to ensure none of them fester.
Once satisfied, I allow Ciaryn to set about preparing our dinner. He apologizes that it’s so meager—a few bits of dried meat and berries. He informs me that there is a small trading town a half day's journey from here. Tomorrow, he’ll set out and gather everything we need. He leaves me briefly to bathe himself in the small stream at the back.
Ciaryn returns gloriously naked and dripping wet all over the stone floor. His scent deepens, causing me to turn slippery between my thighs. As well as the sight of his impressive cock stiffening between his legs. I shift in my seat at the table, desperate for relief. My mate’s eyes glow, and I know he can sense my desperate state.
Quickly, he makes a fire in the small, carved hearth along the nearest wall. Once it is blazing, the room turns deliciously warm. Ciaryn shakes himself dry before holding out a hand to me. I take it, allowing him to lay me down in the pile of silk and feathers. The fire licks over my skin.
Resting on his side, Ciaryn’s hand glides over my face, watching me intently. The silence stretches between us. Not uncomfortable, but heavy with unspoken admissions. Cupping my cheek, he turns my face towards him. His golden eyes are unreadable.
“Do you fear me now, Stella?”
The question is asked so softly I nearly miss it.
“What?” Startled, I grip his hand in mine. “No. No , of course not.”
“I couldn’t stand it if you looked at me differently after what transpired between me and Lukar.”
I nod.
“Truthfully, I detest the violence, but as I said before, I understand why you had to do it.” I slide closer toward him on the pallet, our chest nearly brushing. “Just like with Timson, sometimes violence is the only answer.”
“But that violence will never be directed at you,” he states. “Never, Stella. I can’t even imagine raising my voice at you.”
I giggle at his serious face.
“Because I am perfect?”
“In every way,” he agrees. “And you are mine.”
Quirking an eyebrow, I purse my lips.
“Are you unsure of my devotion?” he asks.
He rolls me on top of him. Ciaryn’s large hands find the backs of my leg and the hem of my shift. Slowly, he lifts it from my body, baring me completely to his hungry gaze. Tossing it aside, his tongue licks over my pert nipple, and I moan.
“If I have left you questioning the depth of my desire, let me rectify that now.”
Alternating between both of my nipples, his large cock rises to attention and presses against my backside. My arousal seeps from me as I grind against his front. Claws sink into the fleshy swell of my ass, encouraging my hips to work faster. My breaths come out in little pants, desperate for release at my mate’s hand.
“I don’t doubt your devotion.” I open my heavy-lidded eyes. “But I wonder why I don’t bear this claiming mark the other wolves mentioned?”
Ciaryn releases my breast with a pop. His eyes are liquid fire as he stares at me. Gently, he rolls me onto my back. The soft silk is cool against my hot skin. Ciaryn looms above me. My thighs widen to accommodate his size, burning slightly from the stretch. His mouth descends on mine.
The kiss is claiming—a mixture of tongues and teeth locked in battle. Once he is satisfied in his plundering of my mouth, his lips leave mine to taste the skin of my neck. I suck down air, and my hands fall to his strong back. My fingers thread between his soft fur, locking him to me.
“The claiming mark,” he purrs against me. “It is the final thing I have yet to bestow on you. It is a warning to all who see you that you are spoken for. That your mate shares your bed and safeguards your heart.”
“Ciaryn,” I sigh as his tongue licks the hollow of my throat.
“I’ll bite you here, Stella.” His teeth prick into my shoulder, not hard enough to break the skin. “And you’ll beg me to do it.”
“Yes,” I say. “Bite me, my mate. My alpha.”
Worry clouds his eyes.
“I still do not feel worthy of that title. I feel even less worthy of you, Stella. How could I be given someone so wonderful?”
“Because you are a good male, Ciaryn. The only male I’ve ever needed—or wanted.”
I stare into his eyes and let him see all my love for him in my gaze.
“It won’t be easy—the others are still wary of me, but I’ll step up. I’ll keep us safe. I promise you, mate.”
“Of course you will,” I agree. “Now, my great alpha, I have an ache that needs your attention.”
Surprised by my boldness, I feel a blush dance on my cheeks. Ciaryn gives me a wicked grin, kissing me soundly. His mouth leaves mine in a slow descent down my body. He stops at my breasts, licking over each pink nipple in turn before traveling lower. His tongue dips into my navel before hefting my legs over his shoulders.
“It’s been my greatest dream to have my mate share this room. I want your scent to cover everything.” He inhales deeply, his ears flattening to his head. “As for your ache, let me attend to that first.”
His mouth descends on my most intimate flesh. The fur of his cheeks tickles the inside of my thighs. His claws fall to my hips and keep me steady as his tongue licks up my slit. The lick is soft at first, and he moans at my taste. My hands fist the silk sheets as his tongue travels up me from top to bottom once more.
“Such a sweet little pussy,” Ciaryn praises.
My mate’s tongue spears into my entrance, and my back comes off the pallet. He thrusts that slick muscle in and out of me as his snout nuzzles my clit. Curling it expertly inside me, my breathing becomes ragged as my peak looms close.
The soreness of my muscles loosens the longer his mouth is on me. My hips move of their own accord, grinding against his face. Ciaryn chuckles, the vibration making my teeth clench. Wetness seeps from me and soaks the fur on his face. He alternates between nuzzling me and long licks of my wet flesh.
“Ciaryn,” I sigh. “I’m close?—”
My words end in a squeak as I feel his claw prod my back entrance. Gently dipping a finger into the tight ring of muscle, my breaths become ragged.
“Tight here too, mate. Will you let me lay claim to this hole as well?”
Words escape me, and all I can do is nod. Ciaryn chuckles.
“Let me make you come first before I get too greedy.”
Wrapping his arms across my hips, he lifts my lower body off the sheets and holds me tight to his mouth. His tongue dives into me before he sucks my clit into his mouth. My muscles tense, and warmth spreads throughout my stomach. The ends of my vision begin to blur. The way he holds me gives me no reprieve; all I am left to do is weather the impending storm.
Ciaryn’s teeth graze my clit, and my whole body erupts. I scream his name as he holds me through my climax. He licks me through it all, claiming every drop of my pleasure. When I am nothing more than a quivering mess, he lowers me back to the sheets. His mouth meets mine, sharing my musky flavor.
His hard cock pokes between my thighs as if seeking entrance into its newfound home. I wrap my hand around his length, pumping him a few times in my tight grip. I notice his knot is not as rigid as before. Looking up at him, I raise a brow. Ciaryn smirks before leaning down and resting his lips on my ear.
“Trust, mate, I will knot you again tonight. But first, I must make good on my previous promise and fuck you.” His teeth skim over my throat. “Isn’t that what you want, Stella? To be pounded by my cock?”
“Yes,” I whimper. His wanton words cause more arousal to leak out of me. “Please, Ciaryn—mate—fuck me.”
He chuckles, taking his cock from my hand and lining it up with my entrance.
“Be careful what you wish for, Stella. I fear it will be a rare occurrence when my cock is not deep inside your pretty cunt. It’s already been too long since last I was inside you, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, yes!”
The head of his cock presses into my opening. Slowly, he slides in, meeting no resistance. The familiar stretch burns, but there is no pain. There is only the obscene decadence of his massive cock skimming along my inner walls. Already my climax looms as his cock butts up against my womb. His dark, velvety flesh disappears completely inside me. His knot remains just outside, still not fully engorged.
Ciaryn retreats his hips before thrusting into my waiting depths. I cry out at the intensity, my nails raking down his back. Ciaryn growls and thrusts again. His pace is slow, but each pounding of his cock steals my breath. His pine scent wraps around me, as does the unmistakable smell of our coupling. It is heady and spurs me to lower my hands to his ass and encourage him to take me faster.
Understanding what I want without speaking, Ciaryn’s hands fall to the sides of my head as he powers into me. His thrusts speed up, turning sloppy but still reaching deep. The head of his cock brushes a spot deep inside of me that causes my hips to raise and meet his thrusts full-on.
“Look at how well you take me, Stella. Your body was made for me.”
“It’s yours,” I pant. “Always.”
“I’ll be the envy of every male, for they will never know such pleasure.”
He continues to fuck me without reprieve. My walls begin to tighten around him as warmth trickles through my veins. His knot has hardened with each thrust, becoming hard to ignore. Lifting my head, I capture his mouth, threading my fingers around his skull. His pace never falters. His tongue thrusts into my mouth in time with his hips.
“Ciaryn,” I whisper. “Bite me.”
His eyes flash as I lower his head to my shoulder.
“Stella—”
“Bite me!” I scream.
Without another word, he pounds me ruthlessly. My ass smacks off the cradle of his hips. The sound of our bodies slapping together echoes around the room. His finger finds my clit and gently massages it. That’s the last bit of encouragement my body needs as it erupts. The pleasure of my cascading orgasm lessens as his teeth sink into my shoulder.
His sharp fangs pierce my skin just as his hard knot pushes inside me. My scream of pleasure turns into a yelp of pain. Ciaryn’s teeth hold firm, and so does his knot. He rotates his hips, and a fresh wave of pleasure washes over me and eradicates any discomfort. Rocking inside of me, another climax is set off almost immediately.
As if satisfied his mark will hold, he releases my shoulder. Licking at the wound, I watch my blood decorate his tongue. I moan at the sight and open my mouth for his kiss. The metallic taste causes another orgasm to roll through me.
Can a woman die from too much pleasure? If anyone were to know, it would be me.
“Stella, Stella, Stella .” Ciaryn whispers my name like a prayer.
“Ciaryn,” I respond, my muscles loose. I feel like I’m floating on a cloud. “Come inside me, my mate. Seal me to you.”
With a mighty roar, Ciaryn does just that. His warm seed floods me, filling me while his knot holds it deep inside of me. Once he is spent, his head falls to my shoulder. Gently, he kisses his claiming bite before looking at me.
“I am well,” I say before he can ask me.
Ciaryn smiles and holds me tight as he rolls us onto his back. Tucking me under his chin, our rapid breathing is the only sound in the small room. He drags a sheet over our quivering bodies as I rest my head on his chest. I feel our hearts beating in time, solidifying our bond even further.