22. Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Two
Nyx
It's no surprise that the inside of Cade's house is identical to Lex and Maverick's in most aspects.
As we enter, I head straight toward the kitchen, already knowing the way. He follows behind me, watching with amusement as I start opening cupboard drawers, correctly locating the coffee items.
"Look at you—an expert," he laughs.
I smile, grabbing two mugs as I start brewing the coffee. "If caffeine is involved, there's little that can stop me."
Cade steps next to me, taking over. "Here—let me do it. Sit down and relax."
"You don't have to do that," I argue, but he waves his hand dismissively.
"Sit," he growls playfully, pushing me gently toward the bar stools at the kitchen island. "You're my guest."
Rolling my eyes, I slide onto the nearest stool. "Technically, you're our guest here."
"My guest house, my rules," he fires back with a laugh.
I shake my head, resting my chin on the palm of my hand as I watch him move around the kitchen. Bringing the mug over, he slides it in front of me.
"You might be less inclined to throw the mug at me since it's Shadow Pack property."
"Don't get too comfortable," I warn. "I love to irritate Alpha Daxton as much as I do my mates."
Cade takes a seat next to me, stirring his coffee. "I don't find you irritating at all. You're incredibly intriguing."
My cheeks flush at his words. "When I thought you wanted to kill me, I made a plan to irritate you. I figured if I did, you'd kill me faster without the torture," I admit.
He laughs loudly, seemingly amused by my confession. "Is that why you threw things at my head every chance you got?"
"Well, that and payback for—"
"Don't say the rock."
I purse my lips together, glaring at him as I hold back laughter. "I wasn't going to say that."
"Bullshit," he grins, knowing he has caught me in a lie. "You hold a mean grudge, I'll give you that."
Taking a sip of coffee, I give a little hum of approval before I put the mug back down. "You make a mean coffee."
"Are you actually giving me a compliment? Are you feeling alright?"
"Don't push it," I say, repeating my words from earlier.
Cade stills, and I know he's thinking of the same moment. His eyes dart up to mine, a lop-sided smile on his face. "You never did finish what you started."
My eyebrows furrow with confusion. "What did I start?"
He slides off his chair, moving behind me. Spinning me around one-eighty until I'm facing him, he places his hands on either side of my body on the island, my breath catching in my throat as he leans forward.
Without speaking a word, he inches closer, pausing just long enough to give me a chance to run away. When I don't move, my eyes flickering down to his lips, he closes the distance. Our lips touch, slowly at first, like we're taking our time exploring new, uncertain territory. But then, it's like something breaks in both of us, an overpowering sensation snapping as we grab each other with lightning quick speed.
My arms fling around his neck, pulling him closer as his hands grab my waist. I slide forward off the stool, feeling his arms circle around my back as he brings me flush against his body.
The taste of him is intoxicating—the coffee only heightening my need for him. I bite his lower lip, and when he opens his mouth to let out a groan, I push my tongue inside. Immediately, he presses his into mine as his hand drifts lower down my back. As it trails over the curve of my ass, I roll my hips into his.
Cade swings me around, and somewhere along the way, my hand catches one of the coffee mugs, the sound of shattering ceramic echoing around us. But I don't pay attention to it, my hands running up his torso as I feel his hard muscles contract under my touch.
Grabbing the bottom of his shirt, I shove it up, and he takes hold with one hand, pulling the material over his head. Our bodies crash into each other's again, kissing heatedly until I feel his fingers toying with the hem of my shirt.
I pull back, allowing him to remove it, and his eyes lustfully gaze at my black bra. Hands fumble with the clasp on my back, snapping it open as the material falls down my arms and onto the floor.
His eyes sweep down my body, hands covering my breasts as he tenderly caresses them. I turn my attention to his jeans, unbuttoning them before ripping down the zipper. My hands firmly clutch the waistband, pushing them down with his assistance, before he kicks them off.
My gaze focuses on his cock as it springs up, pressing into my stomach when I crash into his body again. I feel his hands reach for my shorts, and seconds later, we're both fully naked, mouths locked together.
Cade drags me to the ground, laying me on the laminate flooring as he trails hot kisses down my collarbone to my breasts. He pulls one of my nipples into his mouth, sucking it, before quickly switching to the other as he pushes my legs apart to move closer into me.
I hook one of my legs around his back, running my hands through his hair as he moves further down my body, lips grazing over my stomach.
A tiny moan escapes from my mouth when he reaches my hips, tongue sliding down my slit before finding my clit. He draws circles around it, hand sliding up my inner thigh until I feel one of his fingers slide inside my pussy.
He groans as I clench around him, my own noise drowning his out as he slowly pumps his finger in and out.
"You taste like my tomorrow, and my next week," he mutters, flicking his tongue over my clit as he works in unison with his finger.
My hips jolt under his touch, the pleasure building as I tighten around him. When he senses I'm on the edge, he quickly slides up my body, slamming his lips to mine as his cock pushes into my pussy in one swift movement.
The two of us moan at the same time, the feeling of being joined consuming the moment. Slowly, he pulls out, before thrusting back in hard.
Our tongues flail against each other, and he moves faster, the building of my orgasm quickly returning. His hips push into mine, smacking my clit with each thrust, until I'm suddenly crying out, head falling back onto the floor as I tumble over the edge, tightening around him as I come.
I'm still reveling in the shattering pleasure when I feel his canines sink into my neck, his growl vibrating against my skin before he lets out a guttural groan, stilling as he reaches his climax.
Through the haze, I lift my head, finding his throat as I hold him steady with my hand. Then, I bite him, the ecstasy somehow soaring to new heights as I feel the mate bond complete.
We fall into a heap on the floor, panting as we try to catch our breaths. Cade slides out of me, moving to my side so he doesn't crush me under his weight. I roll to face him, kissing him as my toes curl in a puddle of coffee, his arm looping over my waist, pulling me closer.
The smell of coffee still lingers in the air, but it is all but forgotten as we lay on the ground, embracing while we catch our breaths.
When I open my eyes, I find him watching me, a look of contentment with a smile on his face. And I realize that I've finally made up my mind.
Three mates don't seem like a bad thing to have.
When Maverick enters his guest house a few hours later, he doesn't look surprised to see me—like I just casually break in every day.
But he does pause when he closes the door, doing a double take at my neck. I see the veins in his temple bulge, but I don't give him time to react, crossing the room until I'm right in front of him.
"Yes, we had sex," I say openly, not bothering to deny it. "We're all going to have to get used to it. But you're my mate too. I'm in this with you."
Maverick stares at me with a hardened face, but I refuse to back down. Finally, he relaxes—kind of—slumping slightly as he lets out a sigh.
"I don't know how I feel about all this, Nyx," he murmurs, running a hand over his face.
I cup his cheeks, forcing him to look at me. "I do. I love you, Maverick—even though sometimes I want to kill you as well. But I'm strong, like you. We can't let the past define our story."
There's a flash in his eyes, a pained expression breaking through. But if he's shocked that I know so much, he doesn't show it.
"I know you're strong," he answers, grabbing my hips. "But I can't promise I won't end up killing the others."
Smiling, I step into him, bringing our bodies together. When he smells apples—his shower soap—on my skin, he smiles softly.
I can see his eyes darting back to my neck, and I figure now's as good a time as any to tell him what I want.
"Complete the mate bond with me," I whisper. "I want to be yours fully—your mate, your Luna."
His eyebrows furrow as he glances down at me silently, but after a few seconds, he nods.
Stretching up on my toes, I bury my face into the crook of his neck, placing soft kisses along his skin. He tilts his head, giving me more space to move, and wrapping my arms around his waist, I hold him as I sink my teeth in. He doesn't make a sound except for a single shaky breath, and when I'm done, his hand brushes the hair away from my neck, canines elongating as he finally marks me.
Mira howls in my mind, a sense of peace and fulfilment in both of us.
Pulling back, we stare at each other, and finally, it feels like I'm home—everything falling into place.
Maverick leans down, pressing his lips to mine and I kiss him back. When we break apart, I'm nearly ready to drag him to the bedroom when Alpha Daxton's voice suddenly appears in my mind.
"Stevens, I need you to come to my office immediately."
I groan, letting out a frustrated growl. "Damnit. Alpha Daxton's timing is impeccable . I swear he cockblocked me on purpose."
Maverick gives me an amused look. "What made you think I was going to give it up?"
Slapping his chest, I grab his hand, dragging us both toward the door. "Well, because of that comment, you're coming with me now."
I don't know what I was expecting when I walked through the door into Alpha Daxton's office. Apparently, bringing Maverick was the correct move, because Cade and Lex are here as well—the two of them standing against the wall, staring at the person sitting in front of the desk.
She turns to look at me when I enter, her expression appearing hostile.
"There you are," she mutters dryly, throwing a look of disgust toward the men.
"Lydiana?" I mumble, blinking a few times to make sure I'm not hallucinating.
The witch is the last person I thought I'd see in Shadow Creek, let alone in Alpha Daxton's office.
"Apparently, she had another premonition—one that couldn't wait," Alpha Daxton tells me with a hardened glare.
I frown, stepping further into the room as Maverick closes the door behind us. He gives her a snarky look, which doesn't go unnoticed by Lydiana. She wiggles her fingers, and I can't help but think it's a silent warning.
"I want to speak to the girl alone," she shoots at Alpha Daxton. "Leave us."
"Absolutely not," Maverick interjects. "Anything you say to her can be said to us."
She looks at me, and I give a calm nod. "It's okay. They want to help. What's going on?" I ask quietly.
Lydiana stands, walking over to me. I resist the urge to step back when she nearly collides with my chest.
"It's starting," she snaps, and I can't figure out if she's angry at me, all of us, or just the fact that she feels compelled to be here.
"What's starting?" Cade asks casually, throwing his hands up when Lydiana glares at him. "Alright—continue on."
Turning back to me, her face darkens. "By the next new moon, blood will spill. Allies will be slaughtered. But that's not the death and destruction you need to be concerned about."
A chill runs down my spine, but I don't dare look away, my eyes widening. "What allies? What do you mean?"
Lydiana steps back but her eyes never leave mine. "They know what you are, and they are coming. But not before they take the land and end a bloodline."
"Are you talking about the Celestial Pack?" I ask urgently, trying to press for answers as my concern for Alpha Wyatt and Luna Eve grows.
She doesn't answer me, her hand lifting as she holds it over my heart.
"You're going to die, young wolf. And when that happens, there's no stopping the war."