Chapter 25
Morgan
Tomorrow is the Hunter’s Moon and the second day of the month.
October will finally be upon us and I feel the days slipping through my fingers.
I want to slow time. But even the best witches in the world can’t tamper with nature’s clock.
It’s a consistent march forward, and so the only choice I have is to hold onto every moment with him.
The last heat nearly broke me. We both said we wanted the mating marks, but then we quickly pulled back from that the next day. I was just in my heat. He was just in his rut. It’s just the contract. They’re easy lies to believe.
But something has changed.
Since the night I learned more about Sylvan’s past, a part of me opened up to the possibility of what we could be after the contract is over.
This month will be different from the others.
We have two full moons in October, two heats to survive together.
The Hunter’s Moon on the second, and then the Blue Moon on Samhain.
Admittedly, I’m already feeling the anticipation for the second full moon.
There are so many times every month where I wish Sylvan would break down my door and have his way with me.
So many sleepless nights where I imagine his cock inside me.
I’m already counting on the fact that my heat will be feral on Samhain—especially with so much magic in the air between the double moons and that night.
Verena has started saying I should hunt for houses in Boston again. That it’s time for me to start hunting for my future home. She’s not wrong. That’s exactly what I should be doing. But I can’t envision it like I used to. Every time I think about the future, there he is.
I want to leave the Ridge, of course. I want to be away from these cursed mountains. But also, knowing what I do now about the creatures and missing omegas? How can I possibly leave? If it’s all tied to Sylvan and I, then we can’t run, even if the contract is up.
We’ve both been tirelessly doing research, but it’s all been a dead end.
We’ve torn up the entire library. I’ve looked through every single book for answers, including all the old bodice rippers.
I’ve gone through Maeve’s desk. I’ve looked everything up on the internet, poring over articles, history books, everything.
There’s not a single mention of omegas being kidnapped anywhere online, nor is there any mention of this darkness.
But we know it’s real and it’s dangerous.
“It’s midnight.”
Sylvan’s voice startles me. I look up from the library floor and see him leaning against the doorway. He’s not wearing a shirt, and his abs remind me of a washboard. My throat tightens as I swallow down my lust. I’m trying to be a good witch, but he makes it really difficult.
“You’ve been reading for hours,” he says. “Find anything?”
I shake my head silently and close the book in my lap. “Nothing. Have you heard from Zach at all?”
Sylvan shakes his head. “No. But that’s normal for him. He’s never been good at texting back, just at being the one to text you a thousand times until he gets what he wants.”
I frown. I really thought Zach and I were going to be friends. He felt like the kind of person I could text every day, but I haven’t heard from him once. What if he was taken?
Sylvan crosses his arms, his expression softening. “I’ll check on him. Okay?”
I nod. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Now, come to bed. To my bed.”
I raise a brow at him. “You want me sleeping in your bed tonight? But tomorrow is the full moon. Not to mention, it’s the Hunter’s Moon. I have to take care of a couple rituals before . . . before my heat.”
“Yeah. It’s technically tomorrow now. Technically already the full moon, if you really think about it.”
Both my brows shoot up. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Technically speaking, you’re probably already going into heat.”
I fight with a smile. “I guess this means we can finally try the wrist restraints I know you bought.”
His cheeks turn red, and it’s really fucking cute. In the rare moments I make my werewolf blush, seeing his red cheeks always gives me butterflies. My stomach flutters with excitement.
“You weren’t supposed to see what I got,” he chides.
“You’ve ordered exactly one package since we’ve been together, and the reason I saw it was because it was sitting next to my package, and the box wasn’t very subtle. You probably gave the mailman a heart attack.”
“It’s fine. They talk about us anyway.”
“What do you think? Do you think they wonder if I’ve got you under my control? That I’ve leashed you like some sort of wicked witch?”
Sylvan rolls his eyes. “No, certainly not.”
“Maybe they think I’m your mistress.”
“Mistress? What are we, in the eighteenth century? I think they all know it’s more than that.”
I give a teasing smirk. “Maybe they think you’re my submissive and I’m your fem dom.”
Sylvan growls, his gaze narrowing further. “Morgan.”
When he scolds me just by saying my name, it always makes me snort.
I stand up, eyeing him as I stretch with a yawn.
It feels good after getting lost in the stacks of books on the floor.
I came in here after dinner and haven’t left since, so it’s been a little over five hours.
My eyes are tired, but I’m certainly not.
In fact, giving him a hard time is reenergizing me.
“Fine, fine. I’ll sleep in your bed. And you have my permission to touch me while I sleep. ”
“Morgan.”
I smirk as I waltz over to him. It’s past midnight and I’m being a tease, but I like pushing his buttons, especially when doing so makes him horny. I can’t help but wonder how much it takes for him to decide he’s had enough, throw me over his shoulder, and carry me away to ravage me.
I trace a fingertip across his collarbone.
There are beads of sweat on his forehead.
Did he just work out? Is that why he’s wearing nothing but gray sweatpants?
He leans his back against the doorframe and looks down at me with a crooked smile.
It’s crooked like his nose, and just makes him even more handsome.
“Do you know what kink that is?” I whisper. “Did you come across it in all your research about BDSM?”
“Yes. I did.”
I wet my lips. “Hmm. And what do you think?”
“Is it what you like?”
“Can you smell my arousal?”
His nostrils flare. “I can.”
“Then there is your answer. All I’m saying is that if I woke up with your cock inside me, I’d like it.”
“While you sleep.”
I nod. This was a kink of mine I’d never explored, but I knew I could with him. And fuck it. Why not? If we were just going to be strangers after the contract ends, then I don’t see why the two of us shouldn’t try every fantasy we can think of.
I lean up on my tip toes. “You could knot me. Fill me. All while I dream about you. I could wake up with an orgasm, with you pumping me full of your seed.”
His breaths shorten, his pupils blowing out as he listens to me speak.
“I’m just saying. It would be hot. And you have my consent.”
“Noted,” he says.
He’s trying to remain so serious, but when my eyes flicker down, I see just how much my words have affected him. His cock is so hard, it’s created a tent with his sweatpants.
“Look at you,” I tease. “Are you turned on? Hmm? Already going into your little rut?”
“Little rut?” he grits out.
I pat his shoulder, and I know I’m pushing it by the way the vein in his forehead throbs. “Yeah. Little. Rut.”
I enunciate the words and then wink, rushing away from him. I don’t run, although I’m tempted to despite the fact that Sylvan worries about my safety when I run.
He’s right behind me, isn’t he? I glance back right as I make it to the staircase and squeak. Sylvan is right there, stalking after me like I’m prey. Fuck, I am his prey. He’s looking at me like a starved wolf.
Fuck it. I run. His curse follows me as I take off, and a laugh squeezes out as I sprint down the hall straight to his bedroom. I slam the door in his face, and the shocked expression I catch a glimpse of makes me giggle.
“Morgan,” he says through the door. “Strip off your fucking clothes and present yourself to me on my bed.”
“What if I say no?”
“Do it.”
It’s not a full-on alpha command, but I still shiver as I feel it in my bones. With a satisfied smirk, because I won, I strip off my leggings, sweater, and bra—but I leave the panties on for him to do with what he wants. I hope he tears them off with his sharp teeth.
I wasn’t lying about the rituals I should do in the morning.
The Hunter’s Moon is one of the most important ones of the year, and while I’m not in a coven, I still have a couple of small rituals I wish to carry out.
But none of that matters until the morning.
And none of that matters when I’m naked and bent over Sylvan’s mattress, waiting for him to bust down the door and fuck me.
Touch yourself.
His voice invades my mind. It’s deep and needy, but he hasn’t opened the door yet. He’s still on the other side.
“Sylvan,” I whimper. “Come touch me yourself.”
No. Touch yourself for me. Now.
Fuck. My hand is already moving and I close my eyes, focusing on him. For a moment, I’m in his head. Fully. He doesn’t push me out, and I don’t try to get away. He’s standing on the other side of the door and he’s closing his hand around his cock, stroking himself.
I can feel his pleasure echo through our connection.
It would be like this if we had our mated marks. Our orgasms could be felt by each other. It would make them even sweeter.
Fuck. I fall back on his bed and slide my hand down into my panties. My eyes slam shut again as sensations roll through me. My body is feverish, but it’s not me.
It’s Sylvan.
Oh.
His rut has come early.
I can’t fuck you as a werewolf unless you’re in heat. I’m scared I’ll hurt you. So touch yourself for me, and I’ll wake you up with my cock inside you. I promise.
I go still for a moment, considering his words.
But he’s right. I hate that he’s right, but he is. Without the heat magic, I’m certain I can’t take all of his cock when he’s in his werewolf form.
I can at least suck you, I counter. I can touch you. I can make you come without you being inside me. Not all sex needs to be penetrative.
I know, but I want to be inside you. Come back inside my head, Morgan. Look.
It’s an invitation. I hesitate for a moment, but then focus on him. I focus on opening myself to his thoughts and feelings. I’m dizzy as I see his body again, but his sweats are on the floor. He’s shifted into a wolf.
His headspace is much more primal. My nipples harden as his thoughts flash through my mind, and my mouth drops.
I know that werewolves are primal. I know that when they're in their wolfish forms, their thoughts are different from when they’re not. More feral. Closer to a natural state of being, not bound by society's rules or demands.
But I've never experienced anything like this.
Every single thought that goes through his mind is about me.
If he's worried, it's because of me. If he's turned on, it's because of me. If he's sad, it's because of me. If he's happy, it's because of me. Tears fill my eyes as I realize I'm not the only one that has been affected by this bond.
I didn't know. I didn't know how much he wanted me until this exact moment.
Now you know. His voice is gentle in my mind, and my heart aches for him again.
To hurt me, hurts him. There’s nothing more in this world that Sylvan wants than to keep me safe. And that's why he's asking me to wait until morning.
“Okay,” I breathe out.
“I promise.”
I smile. “I know.”
I'm still wet and I need to come, but I can wait to have him inside me until the morning.
I whimper as I slide my fingers over my clit, staring at the door as I circle myself.
Pleasure trembles through me, and I work myself fast and hard.
I need to come, and I need to come fast. The faster I orgasm, the quicker I can fall asleep, and the sooner I can wake up with his cock inside me.
His low growl rumbles on the other side of the door. My breath hitches as my pleasure climbs higher and higher until finally—I’m tumbling over. I moan as I come for him, never taking my eyes off the door.
Never taking my thoughts off my mate.