Chapter 75
SEVENTY-FIVE
LAUREL
Jade and Casey’s shift was just starting now, which meant I could sneak in and see Ocean without anyone ratting me out. Getting in on official business was off the table now that the Lucas pack was actually managing him.
I sent a text to Kaos, letting him know I was ready.
He sent me a skull emoji a few seconds later, which I hoped meant he’d fritzed the cameras, but I didn’t have time to clarify. I moved the panel from the wall and carefully dropped onto a stack of chairs. It was a storage room right next to the securement wing.
I hurried down the corridor and around corners and knocked on the door.
Jade let me in, and Casey already had the outer security door open.
She’d been quiet after I told her why Jule had been taken, a uncharacteristic frown on her face.
I had let her have some space; she was struggling to reconcile what she’d believed for years with this new information.
We made it through the two security doors, and I sighed with relief when we were all safely on the other side.
“Thanks,” I told Casey, and he smiled.
“Of course, Miss Laurel.”
Jade beamed at me from behind his back, giving me a double thumbs up.
“How is he?” I asked, wrapping my arms around myself. Ocean had been in feral territory when I’d come back to him after his fight, and I was hoping that he’d retained what little awareness I’d given back to him.
“He’s not great,” Jade admitted.
I squeezed my arms around myself. I’d been hoping we had more time.
“He was calm for a bit when he woke up, but he gets so worked up every time the Lucas pack comes to see him,” Jade finished.
It didn’t sound promising as we walked over to Ocean’s cell.
I stopped when he came into view, part of my heart breaking.
He was throwing himself against the bars of the cage, his aura hanging heavy in the air.
The vycron steel, designed to withstand alpha auras, held firm, but that didn’t stop him from trying.
“Ocean,” I said, moving closer, and his gaze snapped up to meet mine.
For a second, he just stared, and I took another step closer. He snarled and lurched toward me, pressing his face up against the bars, his arms stuck through and reaching for me.
I swallowed, looking at the hands that were clawing toward me. Would he rip me apart if I stepped forward?
It didn’t matter.
I had to try.
I could feel his pain from here, and I already spent so much time around alphas who I couldn’t help.
This was one I could.
I untethered my fear and stepped toward him, letting myself go.
For my sweet Ocean.
His hand grabbed me, and I squeezed my eyes shut as his nails dug into my skin. He pulled me hard against the cage, making my teeth rattle and my head pound, but it was just pain.
That was all my life had been.
I braced for more, for him to take everything from me, like he should. But instead of a storm, I felt a gentle breath against my ear.
He whined, and I opened my eyes to find his face moving, his mouth open as he tried to bite me. He didn’t look angry anymore, though, just lost.
I reached through the bars, and my hand cupped his cheek. His skin was rough with stubble against my fingertips. “Come back,” I whispered, pressing my forehead to the bars. “We need you. I need you.”
His hand gripped my head, and his mouth pressed to mine in a furious kiss.
I froze, but only for a second, before I groaned and leaned into him. Into the desperation he was pouring into me, and I poured it all back, everything I had. Our lips clashed, warm and hungry, even as the cold of the bars pressed into my cheeks.
I felt tears welling in my eyes as I touched him, winding my hands through the bars to get as close as I could. He was doing the same, one hand on my hip, one on my arm. Though his hands didn’t stay still for long, they never once went near my aching shoulder.
I looked into his blue eyes and shuddered at the pure hunger in them. No pretence or agenda, just my alpha holding me and pulling me close, as if he could consume me.
After the starvation of being around alphas who rejected me, his desire lit an inferno inside me.
It was an aching need, a hot hunger that was rippling through my body with his every touch. I could feel him through the bond. Pure, blinding arousal that mixed with our scents in the air until the alphas around us started growing restless, pacing and growling in their cages.
Ocean pulled away, his face lit up in triumph and pride, and I felt myself grow wet as I saw the obvious erection tenting his threadbare pants.
I definitely shouldn’t be looking at it out here in the open.
Shouldn’t be leaning in and drawing a moan from him as I cupped my hand around his hard cock.
But he’d looked so lost when I’d got here, and he needed me.
I couldn’t offer him assurances with my words, but I could in other ways.
I knelt before him, breathing in the thick scent of his arousal, deep and rich, and his hips canted against the bars as his fingers tangled in my hair. My face was burning, my heart beating fast because the other alphas were watching us, and we could be discovered any minute.
They’d find me, reassuring my alpha.
I looked up at his face, meeting his blazing eyes. I focused on that as he snarled and tried to free his cock from his trousers. My hands met his, gently guiding them down and releasing his long, hard cock.
Was I really doing this? But I was, because the way he was looking at me was mesmerizing. Like he was staking his claim right here, proudly showing off his mate.
He leaned against the bars, lifting one hand over his head and pushing forward.
His head tilted to the side, his eyes watching my every move as he stroked.
I watched his fingers slide up and down his shaft, and heat pooled in my core, soaking my panties.
He was so beautiful, and all mine. Ocean gave a half growl, half purr of approval and angled his cock down, a clear invitation.
I held his firm, approving gaze as I leaned forward and sucked the tip into my mouth.
My heart was thumping in my chest as I saw his approval, felt it light up in the bond. He was settled, and everything felt right. He let out that growl-purr of satisfaction as I swirled my tongue around him, taking another inch.
He was mine. I was his. I wouldn’t kneel for anyone else besides my alphas ever again. I didn’t care if anyone could see this—let them look. Let me prove how much I wanted him.
I sucked him deeper, all the way to the back of my throat, and he rewarded me with a moan of pleasure and his hips bucking, pressing against the bars, desperate for more.
So I gave him everything that I had, swallowing around his head, sucking the tip, then licking all the way up.
His eyes were blazing infernos, holding mine with a fierce lust that made my clit throb.
I squeezed my legs together and sucked him down again.
His knot was swelling, pushing between the bars, and I relaxed my throat, pressing in until my lips were at it.
His legs were trembling, his arousal pouring through the bond and into me as I brought him closer to climax.
I swallowed around him, and he thrust, throwing his head back in a groan as he poured himself down my throat.
I slipped my hand down, needing to brush my hand over the fabric of my clothes before I joined him.
Closing my eyes as the orgasm pulsed through me, I pulled off him.
I was panting, but happy, and tugged his pants back up as I stood.
He nuzzled into my cheek as I straightened. “Laurel.” He breathed my name as if it was a prayer, and a laugh escaped me, despite my tears. “Laurel, Laurel.”
“I’m here,” I said, stroking his neck. “I’m here.”
He didn’t let go, clutching me as if I was a lifeline. We stayed like that for a long time, until my arms were going numb and my feet were aching.
I never wanted to let him go again.