31. Tristan
TRISTAN
Vivianna was as stunning in her wolf form as she was human, her golden and cream coat shimmering in the sunlight.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be here, rising to the challenge of an alpha female to be her mate.
My wolf, who had hidden himself from me for years, came bursting forth when Viv crashed into me that night.
For so long, I’d hidden away behind a desk, trying to forget the horrors I’d lived through, watching as my pack was picked off one by one.
Now life was slapping me full in the face in the form of this amazing woman.
The primal need to mark her as ours after she staked her claim in front of that female and her other mates sent me in a tailspin.
My wolf forced himself into control, stalking our soon-to-be mate through the woods.
She impressed us with how smart she was, her instincts strong, keeping herself out of our trap until the last moment.
Viv never had a chance to win against me. I had never lost a prey that I had set my sights on.
Leaping into the clearing, I could see her torn on what to do next.
At my core, I wanted her to run, to push me until I had no choice but to tame her.
I didn’t want to dominate her; I wanted to win, to have her surrender to me of her own free will.
Nothing could be sweeter than the moment of pure trust. My tail swished as I sensed she’d made her choice, and I couldn’t help but grin when her body tensed. She was going to run.
Hightailing it out of the clearing, I didn’t expect her to shift mid-run, smirking at me with a teasing glint in her eyes.
Shifting back, I charged after her, my steps thundering as I gained on her.
Viv was quick and nimble, but I was the trained hunter, and the forest was my home.
Vaulting over a fallen tree, I cut off her path, causing her to skid to a halt and try and dodge away from me.
Lunging forward, I snatched her hand, jerking her towards me so she slammed into my chest.
Gripping the back of her head, I claimed my prize and plundered her mouth when she opened to me.
The lust and attraction she felt for me engulfed me as our bodies molded against each other.
Sliding one hand down to her round ass, I hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around me as I slammed her against a tree.
She let out a small groan, but it didn’t slow her down one bit.
Yanking my mouth away from her, I met her gaze. “Tell me you want me. Tell me you’ll keep me forever, and I am yours. I will surrender all I am to you, make my home and family with you. Never will I stray or even look at another woman if you will call me yours.”
Viv’s eyes turned wild, pupils blown at the words of my oath.
Dire wolves of old lived and died by these words for their mates.
We only ever took one as our own, keeping our bloodlines pure and tied to the old magic.
I could feel its resonance in Viv, drawing us together, assuring me that we were meant to be together.
“I will take all that you have offered and give the same in return. You will be mine, and I will be yours. Our lives, home, and family will be forever intertwined until we die. This vow I seal with a mark to show we are one,” Viv answered, making my blood sing with the energy and magic that flowed between us.
Tilting my neck to the side, I bared it for her to mark. Grasping my neck and shoulder, Viv’s sharp teeth punctured my skin, making me groan at the mix of pleasure and pain.
“My beloved has claimed me, and I am hers,” I whispered against her lips as I thrust into her.
Viv bucked under me, but the way her heels drove me deeper told me she was enjoying the moment.
Pulling back, I thrust in once more so that my balls smacked against her ass, then left my mark deeply on her shoulder.
Viv groaned, her nails digging into my back.
I roared in pleasure as my mate used my body the way she saw fit.
Speeding up my thrusts, I drove into her, letting her cries of pleasure fill the forest around us as I licked away the blood, adding to our bond.
Gasping, she put a hand in my hair and yanked my head back to look at her.
“I want to ride you, my wolf.”
Stepping back from the tree, I set her down so I could sit on the forest floor.
She straddled me, shoving my chest so I was lying flat, and settled herself over me.
Looking like a primal goddess with her hair wild and lips red and swollen from my attention, she rode me.
I reached up to touch her, but she smacked my hands away with a growl.
Instead, I gripped her knees, holding her steady as she bobbed above me.
Her hands on my chest, nails digging in until I bled, made me almost come before I knew she had.
I wouldn’t shame my mate in such a way, but it had been so long, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold off when she felt so good.
As if sensing my struggle, she bent over to maul my mouth, crushing her clit against my pelvic bone as she worked me.
I grabbed her perfect ass and forced her harder and deeper, making us both moan and pant in pure bliss.
Just when I thought I might black out with the effort to stave off my finish, she arched back, letting out a wild cry, her walls clamping around me, taking all control away from me.
She continued to ride me, milking every once she could from our mating.
Finally sated, she collapsed against me, panting and covered in sweat like I was. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her, whispering everything about her I liked and found beautiful. She nuzzled into my neck, licking the mark she had put there, causing me to grunt as it went straight to my cock.
“Brat,” I growled, sliding her to the other side.
She grinned up at me, looking thoroughly fucked and sated. The past few days, she’s had an odd energy around her, and I had been wondering if she was gearing up to fall into heat. Seeing her look, I knew it wasn’t far off, but we still had some time before the more noticeable symptoms started.
“I knew he would be one fucking epic lover.” a voice said in my head.
I frowned and looked down at Viv. It sounded like her, but nothing like her at the same time. “What did you just say?”
Viv’s eyes widened. “Did you just hear that?”
“That I was an epic lover, yes. There’s no need to be shy about it, you can tell me anything,” I said, kissing her forehead.
Viv giggled, hiding her face in my chest. “That was my wolf.”
Then it struck me. She had told me before that her wolf talked to her, but I just assumed it was like how my wolf talked to me, in emotions and sounds. Hers just fucking straight-up talked.
“Well, that must have been an adjustment,” I ventured, really having no idea what else to say on the matter. I had no idea that was even possible.
“Astrid says that everyone used to be able to talk to their wolf side. Is that not true for Dire wolves?”
A flash of pain hit me as I thought of the wolves I grew up with.
“That might be the case, but with so few of us left when I grew up, a lot of information like that had already died out. Being nomadic didn’t lend to us keeping a written history—we had to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice if we were discovered. ”
Viv curled into me, hugging me as tightly as she could. “I’m so sorry, Tristan. It must have been awful to grow up with such fear.”
“I’m the lucky one, beloved. Through you, I have been given a second chance, a do-over with a family and people to love and protect,” I whispered, capturing her lips with mine.