4. Marie
4
MARIE
“ W elcome home,” Jonathan says, catching me around the waist and pulling me tight to his side. “Do you like it?”
Taking a deep breath, I let the crisp mountain air travel deep into my lungs and hold it there, enjoying the feeling of rightness that washes over me. This is where I belong. I can feel this forest, these hills, in my bones. With a big smile, I reach up and pull Jonathan’s smiling face down so I can kiss him.
“I love it here already.”
The rest of the pack appears to have made themselves scarce, giving us some time and space to explore the large lodge by ourselves.
Jonathan leads me through the cozy property, showing me the open plan communal spaces where the pack eats and hangs out, which make up almost the entire ground floor. The first floor is accommodation for the unmated wolves within the pack who prefer to live together under one roof, as wolves generally do, until they find a mate and start a family of their own.
From the hall window, he points out the cabins dotted through the forest and the foothills of the mountains that rise up behind the building, where mated packmates move once they’re ready. Close by, it’s still within the safety of the pack territory, and with the social bonds that our animals need to thrive, but with some peace and privacy. It’s idyllic, and as he walks me through the hotel and spa business that his pack runs and some fledgling construction operations he started up with his father’s permission, it’s clear to see how much he loves his pack and how hard he works for them.
“I took over last year, but my parents are still heavily involved in the pack. But they recently built their own place down by the lake, so we have the alpha suite here on the top floor. Is that okay?”
His nerves are adorable.
Wrapping my arms around his waist and smiling up at him, I grin. “That sounds perfect.”
Jonathan gestures for me to take the stairs to the second floor of the log and stone building, and when he pulls a key from his pocket and hands it to me, suddenly, I’m the one whose heart is racing.
“It’s all yours. I haven’t done much with it, so you have free rein to decorate how you please.”
As I slide the key into the lock, Jonathan crowds behind me, his body pressing into mine, making me all flustered. I fumble as he teases that sensitive spot behind my ear and growls seductively.
“Hurry up, little mate. Unless you want to give the pack a show.”
This man is going to wear me out. The bond is making us both insatiable, and without his mark on my neck, his wolf is determined to claim me over and over again so his scent is never off my skin.
Finally, my fingers work well enough to turn the key, and I shove the door open, allowing myself to be swept into the room by the horny alpha at my back. I hear the door shut behind us, but I’m too mesmerised by the stunning views of the glittering lake to turn around.
Large windows frame the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen, and I rest my hand on my chest to calm my swirling emotions.
“I hope those are happy tears,” Jonathan says quietly, once again, knowing exactly what to do as he wraps me up from behind and rests his chin on the top of my head. “We’re going to be so happy, Marie. I’m going to make sure there isn’t a day that you don’t feel how proud I am to have you.”
He doesn’t need to tell me that. I know it. I’ve felt it in every interaction since we laid eyes on each other. This is a good man. And while that makes me feel like the luckiest woman alive, it reminds me that I have one loose end to tidy up before I can truly relax and launch myself into being luna.
Graham Reynolds.
My sister sent word to the hotel that he was looking for me. I have no doubt that word has already reached him that I’ve found my fated mate. A fight between neighbouring alphas at the one event where everyone comes together peacefully was the last thing anyone needed, so I hurried Jonathan out of there, first thing this morning.
But Graham is coming, and he’s going to cause trouble if he comes face to face with my mate, if his dad’s words were anything to go by. Which is why I need to speak to him by myself.
Graham is… intense. But he’s never been anything but adoring and attentive to me. Yet, something stopped me from getting too close, too soon. The way his driver jumped when he spoke, and how his wolf rose to the surface when a human server paid a little too much attention to me at dinner.
Now I’m wondering if those were the start of a whole host of red flags I should never have ignored just because of his good looks. Regardless, there will be no more dates. I found my fated mate, and no wolf, no matter how disappointed, can argue with destiny.
“My sister has packed up most of my belongings,” I murmur, trying to keep a clear head as Jonathan’s lips caress my neck, tormenting the spot where I should wear his mark already. “She said she’d help you gather up the rest when you come to get them.”
Jonathan pauses but then returns to leaving a path of blazing kisses along my sensitive skin as he gently peels my top and bra strap off my shoulder, exposing more of my neck to taste and tease.
“What do you mean when I go to collect them? Not we ?”
I tilt my head away, allowing him to turn me into a puddle of need as I stare out through the glass, hypnotised by the view, while my mate turns me on with nothing more than some delicate kisses and his tickling breath against my overheating body.
“I’m going to Reynold’s pack. I want to get this chat with Graham over with, so we can put all that behind us.” I say it as confidently as I can, hoping to get away without a debate, but I should have known better.
Jonathan’s growl is possessive and predatory. Reaching behind me as Jonathan slips his hands under my top and cups my breasts, I moan, letting my back rest against his chest as I arch into his touch.
“Down, boy. I know you’re obligated to hate anyone I’ve ever spoken to, but I promise, it’s not worth getting so angry about. It’s merely a courtesy face to face chat. He’ll have already heard.”
I can feel Jonathan’s smugness. He’s not the least bit concerned about Graham being upset.
“I don’t like this. I should be with you.”
He’s not putting his foot down so I press my advantage, wrapping my hands around his neck and pulling his head down.
“I know, my love. But if we’re to be neighbours, blood shed on my first day as luna isn’t going to pave the way for a long and prosperous relationship between the packs. If you go and pick up my things, it’ll be done by the time you get back.” Pressing my backside against his crotch, I try to distract him as best I can. “Please. I don’t want to start as luna, or spend my first night in your home, with that hanging over us.”
Jonathan remains quiet, concentrating intently on making me so horny I can’t think about going anywhere, before finally nodding.
“You can bite me as soon as it’s done,” I tease, hoping that sweetener will seal the deal.
His teeth clamp down gently on my neck as he lowers one hand down along my abdomen and gathers up my dress. Walking me forward until my hands meet the cold glass of the picture windows, I gasp when his fingers slide into the gusset of my underwear, and he rips them with one slice of his claw.
“I can’t believe you’re trying to bribe me with that,” he growls with a shake of his head, not annoyed, just exasperated. “You take my car. And even if you don’t get to talk to him, you come straight back. And I’ll be marking you tonight regardless.”
That’s an order, one I know there’s no room for arguing with. He presses one finger into my already dripping core and thrusts it deep inside me. Adding a second, he uses his knee to nudge my legs further apart.
“You do not cross that border. He stays on his side, and you stay in Grey Ridge territory.”
I nod, but Jonathan isn’t satisfied by that.
“Promise me, Marie,” he orders, withdrawing his fingers with one firm stroke of my clit and opening his belt frustratingly slowly.
My dress falls to cover my modesty, but anyone looking up would see what was going on.
“I promise,” I whisper.
Jonathan lifts the back of my dress and growls, gripping my hips to pull me back so I’m bent a little more at the hips.
“We can’t…” This can’t be my first introduction to them as their alpha’s mate. Pressed up against the glass and getting fucked hard sounds incredible, but that’s not the lasting impression I want to make.
“They’re on the other side of the territory, Luna. It’s just you and me.” Jonathan’s growl is dark as he leans forward and rests one hand beside mine, positioning himself behind me. “This is all yours, Luna. Take it all in as I enjoy the best view I’ve ever fucking seen.”
He thrusts into me with one hard snap of his hips, and I cry out at the sudden fullness and how he rocks me forward against the glass.
“This is your home now. Here with me. Remember all of this, our home, how it feels to be part of my pack now, how much I love you, the way you’re already ready to come just from having me inside you, when you explain to Graham Reynolds that you belong to me now. And if you’re a good girl, when you get back, I’ll fuck you in our new bed and place my mark on your neck. And you’ll own me forever.”
Dizzy, I can’t answer as Jonathan drives into me, making sure that when I go and speak to my ex, there will be nothing on my mind except getting back here and letting him sink his teeth into my neck as soon as I can.
When he comes with a roar, his fingers stroking my swollen clit, I follow him over the edge, loving the sensation of his thick cock pulsing inside me with each jet of cum that marks me as his from the inside out.
“And you’ll go to meet him with my seed between your legs.”