Chapter 6 The first meeting
When I open the door of the library, the smell of pine and sandalwood fills my nose.
I have never smelt anything like it before, and Capella started going crazy in my mind.
‘Finally,’ she kept saying, but I had no idea what she was going on about.
Walking down the hall to the kitchen, I turn the corner and crash into someone.
I started falling backward and he spun around and wrapped me in his arms.
I open my eyes to see a man possessing a striking, almost ethereal beauty.
His eyes are a deep, intense shade of azure, blue, so vibrant they appear to be constantly swirling with light, like miniature galactic storms.
They have a hypnotic depth that is both mysterious and inviting, drawing me in completely.
He has a full head of jet-black hair that catches the light with a healthy sheen, resembling polished onyx.
It provides a dramatic contrast against his immaculate skin and bright eyes.
His face is a masterpiece of strong, chiseled lines: a defined jawline, high, prominent cheekbones, and a perfectly proportioned nose.
His skin is flawlessly smooth, with a hint of a natural, healthy glow.
Without even realizing it I whisper ‘Aylin’.
Everywhere our bodies touch it feels like sparks.
In that moment the room lit up with an abundant amount of blue and purple celestial lights swirling around us, as if to signify our bond coming together.
It left me breathless. The glow of the lights dimmed, and Aylin helped me to stand up.
He couldn’t stop staring into my eyes, “Hi,” I muttered, and with the back of his fingers rubbed my cheek and traced my bottom lip with his finger, ‘hi,’ he returned in a deep husky voice and that’s all it took.
I don’t know what came over me, but I jumped into his arms and buried my face into his neck and breathed him in deeply.
He had one hand under my butt, and the other was sliding into my hair.
I knew after doing all the reading the last few days that when bonded couples meet, they mark and mate each other.
I didn’t know how to feel about that since I was still a virgin, but after feeling Aylin’s embrace for the first time I didn’t think it would take much.
When I pulled my head out of his neck he looked so deeply into my eyes and in a deep growly voice said, “Mine,” and he was right, I was his in every way.
I couldn’t see life without him, the bond we shared as mates was already locked into place, and I would do anything for him.
“I thought you would be back tomorrow?” I asked breathlessly.
“I finished with my meetings and came back as fast as I could. I couldn’t stay away for another minute.”
I bit my bottom lip, and he growled low in his chest and it set my core on fire.
He leaned forward and sucked my lip out from my teeth.
His mouth was then on mine and my body melted into him.
I parted my lips to allow him entrance into my mouth, but he paused and pulled away putting me down.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “this is too fast for you, you have just met me, and I have been waiting so long, I just couldn’t help myself.”
I reached up into his hair and pulled his face back to mine, “I want you Aylin, I don’t know why or how any of this works, but I know you are mine!”
And I pulled my body closer to him and moaned as I pulled him back to my mouth and kissed him deeply.
His tongue slid against mine and he was tasting me, and I tasted him right back.
He tastes like fresh mint, and I get the feeling of home.
He turned our bodies and pushed me up against a wall, I was so small against him.
He grabbed my hands and pushed them above my head and deepened our kiss.
I could feel him hard on my abdomen and I moaned into his mouth.
His other hand moved from my ass and slid up under my shirt along my ribs to cup my breast.
My breasts felt heavy, and my nipples were hard and aching for his touch.
He slid his hand right under my bra and palmed my breast and my hips rocked against him in anticipation.
His lips moved from mine, “fuck Celest I want you,” his lips kissed down my chin and onto my neck.
Then he stopped right above my collar bone and ran his tongue against my marking spot.
My body became so hot, and pressure started to swell between my legs, just as a wave of pleasure starting at my toes swept across my entire body and I moaned his name and closed my eyes tight, I was seeing stars.
The explosive wave of pleasure left me completely breathless, my toes curling as the electric sensation vibrated through every single cell in my body.
I slid my hand free and my fingers tightly tangled in his thick, onyx hair, anchoring myself to him as my knees threatened to buckle.
The sheer power radiating from Aylin was overwhelming, yet in his strong embrace, I felt safer than I ever had in my entire life.
He groaned deeply against my skin, the vibration of his chest sending another delicious shudder straight down my spine.
He kept his hand firmly under my shirt, his thumb sweeping over my aching nipple while his other hand pinned my wrist gently above my head.
Every touch felt like pure, unadulterated fire.
Aylin pulled his lips back from my collarbone just an inch, his chest heaving as he fought for control.
The brilliant azure storms in his eyes were wild, dark with an ancient, possessive desire, but beneath the primal hunger was a profound, fierce tenderness.
He rested his forehead against mine, his hot breath fanning across my lips as he tried to give me space to breathe.
"Celest," he growled softly, his voice thick and strained from the effort of holding back.
"I want to mark you. I want to claim you completely. But I know you have only just met me, I will only mark you when you are ready for me."
In my mind, Capella was practically purring, her ancient instincts fully satisfied by his submission to my comfort.
She is completely ecstatic, triumphant, and fiercely protective.
Though I have only just met her, she has waited twenty-one years to find her other half, this moment is the ultimate realization of her entire existence.
I can feel through our bond that she is experiencing a massive rush of primal joy.
Her constant, repetitive chanting of "Finally" has transformed into absolute celebration because the missing piece of her soul is right in front of her.
As I look up into Aylin’s eyes the deep, underlying loneliness that Capella and I have carried for years has instantly vanished.
We feel entirely anchored, safe, and "home" every time I inhale Aylin's scent of pine and sandalwood.
I am utterly intoxicated by Aylin’s dominant, powerful aura.
Capella has zero hesitation about my virginity or how fast things are moving.
She is fully driven by ancient instincts, practically begging me to let Aylin claim us on the spot so the bond can be permanently locked into place.
The beautiful, cosmic glow of the celestial lights still faintly pulses around us.
I look away and I shake my head slightly, “I’m not ready yet Aylin, I want to get to know you.”
Aylin reaches over and tilts my chin up to offer himself unhindered access to my neck once more.
I whimper, my hips unconsciously tilting forward to press against the hard, demanding length of him.
A low, primal growl tore from his throat.
The restraint he was holding onto snapped entirely.
He released my wrists, his large hands immediately sliding down to grip my waist, lifting me effortlessly higher against the wall so our bodies aligned perfectly.
When his lips crashed back onto mine, the kiss was no longer cautious; it was deep, demanding, and filled with a fierce, ancient promise that we belonged to each other for eternity.
Someone at the end of the hall cleared their throat and we both froze.
Aylin slowly put me down and we both started laughing.
Zeta stood there shaking her head. “Welcome home Alpha Aylin, I know you two are mates and you are more than welcome to do as you please, but please, take it upstairs. There are children living here, remember.”
We all looked at each other and started laughing.
Aylin nodded “yes, ma’am. I think we’ll get something to eat first. I have been traveling for a large portion of the day.”
As we walked by Zeta, she pulled Aylin to the side for a moment and whispered something into his ear.
Aylin’s eyes were fixed on mine and slowly grew wider.
He turned and looked at Zeta, “thank you for letting me know,” and we walked hand in hand to the kitchen.
Aylin’s thumb rubbed against my knuckles, and I couldn’t help but smile.
After I ate another very large meal, Aylin excused himself, “I have a few things I need to take care of tonight. Can I come and get you in the morning so I can give you a tour of the Inn?”
This came as a surprise because all the books I have been reading said that mates would consume each other as soon as they met.
Truthfully, I am worried about mating. This is all so new to me, so I agreed.
I had been here for a few days and still hadn’t seen the house.
“Goodnight my Luna” he says, bows, and walks out of the room.
The heavy wooden door clicked shut behind Aylin, leaving the dining room suddenly cavernous and intensely quiet.
The lingering scent of crisp pine, and sandalwood hung in the air, a cruel contrast to the empty space where his massive, comforting presence had just been.
An overpowering wave of confusion washed over me as I stared at the door.
I looked down at the empty plates from my second massive meal of the day, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Every single ancient text and pack history book I had consumed over the last few days insisted on one absolute truth, Lycan mates do not wait.
The texts described the fated bond as a primal, blinding storm that completely overrides human logic, forcing the couple to mark and mate immediately upon contact.
Yet, the Alpha and future King of our people had just bowed, called me his Luna, and walked away into the hall.
He had felt the exact same blinding fire I did.
His dark growls and the hard heat of his body against my stomach were proof enough, but he chose to break the ancient mold for me, and my choice to wait.
The silence brought a sudden, welcome rush of relief that I was almost ashamed to admit.
Deep down, I was absolutely terrified. I was twenty-one, a virgin, and until a few days ago, I didn't even know Lycans existed.
The thought of being completely consumed by a legendary, ancient bond was entirely overwhelming.
Aylin knew it. He had sensed the slight friction of my anxiety beneath my passion.
By choosing to excuse himself, he wasn't rejecting me; he was protecting me.
He was giving me the one thing the books said a Lycan mate would never grant, time to breathe.
Inside my mind, Capella was not taking the rejection well.
She was pacing in tight, agitated circles, letting out low, rumbling whines that vibrated in my skull.
‘Aylin left us,’ she complained, her purple and blue celestial eyes flashing with annoyance in my mind’s eye.
‘I want him to come back.’ “He’s doing it for me, Capella,” I whispered back to her, leaning my head against the high back of the chair.
“He wants me to be ready.” The spirit paused her pacing, a soft, grudging purr rippling through our shared soul as she recognized the sheer devotion behind his restraint.
Clutching the small silver necklace Rigel had left for me, I stood up on shaky legs. Tomorrow, I will finally see the Inn. Tomorrow, I will step into his world, and my new role as Luna.