48. Noah #2
I fell silent, my anger slowly dissipating. Lance was right. Ryan had been caught between a rock and a hard place, manipulated by a man who preyed on the vulnerable. I couldn’t fault him for that, not entirely.
My shoulders sagged. “You did the right thing, taking him to Warman. Hopefully, he can help with the investigation. But Lance, don’t take liberties like this again. I’m the alpha, and I need to be informed of these decisions.”
Lance nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re right, Alpha. I apologize. Consider my wrist well and truly smacked.”
I rolled my eyes at his attempt to lighten the mood, but I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped me. “Get out of here, Lance. I need to check on Ryan’s wife and kid, make sure they’re safe.”
I watched him leave, unable to shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
George’s web of deceit ran deeper than I had anticipated, and it would take all of my strength and cunning to unravel it.
But I was determined to see it through, to protect my pack and everyone I loved from his malice. No matter the cost.
With a heavy heart, I left my parents’ house.
The drive home was a blur, my thoughts consumed by the betrayal and the impending danger that hung over us.
It wasn’t until I parked my car in the garage that I realized I needed to check on Zoey.
I’d forgotten to call her and make sure she was all right.
I hurried inside, flicking on the hallway light as I went, my steps echoing on the hardwood floors. Our room was dark and empty. I made my way back downstairs, searching for Zoey.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, a sound stopped me dead in my tracks. There was water running in the laundry room. What the hell?
I crept toward the noise, my wolf senses on high alert. The closer I got, the more I realized it wasn’t the washer but the tub upstairs.
“Zoey?” I roared as I ran back upstairs.
“Noah?” she yelped, and I found her standing there, a damp towel wrapped around her curves, her hair dripping wet. “You startled me.”
“What happened?” My wolf bristled at the thought of her in distress.
“I-I just, uh... I spilled some wine,” she said, her cheeks flaming.
It wasn’t her words that set me off, it was her scent. Arousal coated the air, heavy and intoxicating. My wolf roared to the surface, demanding a claim on our mate.
“Drop the towel,” I growled in a feral rumble.
Zoey’s eyes widened, but she didn’t move.
“Now,” I said, my fists clenching at my sides.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the towel fell to the floor, revealing her lithe body, damp and glistening in the dim light. My wolf growled in approval, and I stalked toward her like a predator.
“Noah, wait,” she pleaded, her back against the wall. She had nowhere to run.
“Mine,” I snarled, my animalistic side taking over. “You’re mine.”
With a low growl, I pinned her to the wall, sealing my mouth over hers in a hungry kiss. Her soft moans fueled my desire, and there was no going back now. I was done playing games. Tonight, our mating would be sealed in the most primal way possible.
I was going to claim my mate.
She tasted like wine and innocence, and I craved more.
My tongue explored her mouth, marking her as my own.
Her hands traced along my chest, her nails digging into my shirt with an urgency that matched my own.
I could feel the pulse of desire between us, an unspoken agreement that we could no longer deny this connection.
I pulled back, my breathing ragged. “Tell me you want this, Zoey.” My voice was rough with need as I nipped at her neck, eliciting a gasp from her. She shuddered beneath me, and I felt her hands slide up my chest to wrap around my neck.
“I want you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the thundering of my heart. Her eyes locked onto mine, full of trust and fierce desire. “I want to be your mate.”
I couldn’t resist any longer. With a low grunt, I gave in to the instincts clawing at my insides and tore my clothes off.
I pushed her against the wall, deepening the kiss.
Her soft curves molded to mine, and I growled in approval.
I gripped her hips, pulling her against me as I picked her up.
She wrapped her legs around me, and I entered her in one smooth thrust. I growled in satisfaction as she cried out, immediately engulfed in pleasure.
The kiss broke, and we gasped for air, our chests heaving.
My eyes held hers as I began to move in her, claiming her with each thrust. She was mine.
My wolf roared his approval, and my primal instincts took over completely.
The scent of her arousal intoxicated me, driving me deeper into the mating frenzy.
Her nails dug into my shoulders as I pounded into her, marking her as mine.
Tears streaked down her cheeks as she felt the depths of our connection—the connection between a true alpha and his mate.
Her hips rolled against mine in response, urging me on.
Flesh slapped against flesh as we moved together like two halves becoming one.
My teeth ached to sink into her neck. Soon—when we reached our orgasm together—I would sink my teeth into her flesh.
Her cries of pleasure fueled my lust, and I plunged deeper, harder, determined to show her just how much she belonged to me.
Our skin slapped together in an erotic rhythm that only intensified the desire coursing through me.
She tasted like sweet wine on my tongue, driving me wild with the need to claim what was rightfully mine.
My body shook with the effort of holding back from taking more than she was ready for, but she pushed me further with every moan that escaped her lips.
Every gasp and whimper made my heart race faster as I plunged deeper into her welcoming heat, wanting nothing more than to consume her completely.
She clenched around me, signaling that she was close to release. “Claim me,” she whispered breathlessly before crying out again.
I released the final barrier holding back my beast. With a primal roar, my wolf took full control as I sank my teeth into her neck, claiming her as our scent entwined and our bodies shook with the force of our orgasms. Her pulse raced beneath my lips, and I could feel the heat of her blood rushing through her veins.
It was intoxicating, like a drug I couldn’t get enough of.
Her hips bucked against mine in sync with my thrusts as we both reached an explosive climax.
Moaning into her neck, I drowned in her taste, feeling her body clench and release around me. She was all I needed—mine now, forever bound to me. My seed spilled deep inside her, and nothing else mattered but this fusion of flesh and spirit. We were one.
I groaned against her skin, unable to pull away even if I wanted to—it was written in our DNA that we would mate like this. Our mate bond was strong, unbreakable. The scent of desire lingered in the air, rich and thick around us. My mark would show on her skin later, but for now, it was just us.
Slowly pulling out of her body, I caught myself before collapsing on top of her on the floor next to the tub. She was panting heavily beside me while my heart thundered in my chest.
There was no going back now—Zoey was mine. I’d claimed her.