Chapter 12
TWELVE
CADE
Cade’s morning had been a relentless battle against himself. He’d woken before dawn with the taste of Mila still on his lips and the phantom sensation of her body pressed against his.
What kind of fool walked away from his mate? What kind of coward left her standing there, confused and hurt, without even a proper goodnight?
His wolf snarled in response. The kind who’s terrified of losing control.
He’d thrown himself into training with punishing intensity, determined to sweat out the memory of her soft curves and the way she’d melted into his kiss.
The private gym in the castle’s lower levels had become his sanctuary and his torture chamber, the familiar burn of exertion doing nothing to quiet the restless energy clawing beneath his skin.
I should have stayed. Should have explained. Should have claimed her.
That last thought sent a jolt of raw need through him that made his hands shake as he wrapped them around the punching bag. He unleashed a series of brutal strikes, each impact reverberating through his bones, but nothing could silence the wolf’s increasingly desperate demands.
Mate. Mine. Claim her now.
“Enough,” he growled aloud, stepping back from the battered bag with sweat dripping down his bare chest.
If discipline wouldn’t work, maybe his wolf form would provide the clarity he desperately needed.
He stripped out of his training gear with efficient movements, letting the familiar pull of transformation take over.
Within seconds, his bones elongated, his muscles expanded, and his consciousness merged with the primal instincts of his beast.
The massive dark brown wolf that emerged was anything but calm.
The golden crescent marking near his heart seemed to glow with inner fire as he paced the length of the gym, his powerful muscles rippling beneath his thick coat.
But being in wolf form only sharpened every sensation, every memory, and every aching need for his mate.
Her scent lingered in the castle air around him—lavender and determination and something uniquely Mila that made his wolf’s heart pound. Even in this form, he could remember the exact texture of her lips, and the small sound she’d made when he’d pulled her against him.
The gym doors opened with a soft whoosh, and every nerve in his wolf’s body went electric. Her scent hit his nostrils like a tornado, all-consuming and powerful. His massive head snapped toward the entrance and his green eyes blazed as they locked onto her.
She stood frozen in the doorway, her golden hair pulled back in a ponytail that exposed the elegant line of her neck.
Those blue eyes went wide as they took in his wolf form—nearly two hundred pounds, built for dominance and power.
But instead of fear, he scented fascination and something that made his blood sing.
Desire.
“Well, hello there,” Lyra’s voice cut through the charged atmosphere as she appeared beside Mila. “Looks like someone’s been working off some frustration.”
His sister’s knowing smirk was visible even through his wolf’s eyes. She could read the tension radiating from him like heat waves and could probably smell the mate bond crackling between him and Mila.
“You know what?” Lyra continued with theatrical brightness, “I just remembered I have somewhere very important to be. Anywhere but here, actually.” She shot Mila a meaningful look. “You two... can work things out.”
The doors closed behind her with a decisive click, leaving him alone with his mate. His wolf wanted to surge forward and press against her legs to mark her with his scent, then shift back and claim her mouth the way he should have last night. But some last thread of restraint held him still.
Mila took a step closer, her movements careful but unafraid. “You’re magnificent,” she whispered, and the awe in her voice nearly shattered his control.
The transformation back to human form happened without conscious thought. Power flowed through him as bones reshaped and muscles reformed, leaving him standing before her in all his naked glory. His arousal was evident and unapologetic, his body responding to her presence with primal honesty.
Her eyes darkened as she took him in—the broad expanse of his chest, the ridged muscles of his abdomen, and the proud evidence of exactly how much he wanted her.
Pink flooded her cheeks, but she didn’t look away.
If anything, her breathing quickened, and the scent of her arousal bloomed between them like wildfire.
She’s captivated, he realized with dark satisfaction. She wants me.
But the part of him that remembered duty and consequences—fought for dominance. He forced himself to remain still even as every instinct in his body told him to close the distance between them.
“Mila,” he said softly. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Why?” She lifted her chin with the courage that had first drawn him to her. “Because you might lose control?”
Because I might devour you. “Because I don’t know if I can be the gentleman you deserve right now.”
Something in her expression caught him by surprise—a flicker of fire that made his pulse spike. “What if I don’t want a gentleman right now?”
His hands clenched as he fought the urge to stride across the space separating them and show her exactly what kind of man—what kind of wolf—he really was.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking.” His voice was rougher now, edged with the growl of his wolf. “If you stay here, if you keep looking at me like that...” He took a step forward despite himself, drawn by an invisible thread he couldn’t resist. “I can’t promise control.”
Her response was immediate, fearless, and devastating: “Then don’t.”
The last of his restraint crumbled like ancient stone.
His wolf roared in triumph as Cade moved toward her with predatory grace, every line of his naked body radiating dangerous intent.
The human prince who worried about propriety and consequences was gone, replaced by the Alpha wolf who was finally going to claim his mate.
The air between them seemed to crackle with energy, the mate bond humming like a live wire beneath his skin. Her blue eyes widened as his hands came up to frame her face.
He didn’t ask permission. He didn’t need to.
The moment his lips met hers, the world exploded into a kaleidoscope of sensation.
Her taste—sweet and addictive—flooded his senses, and his wolf growled in satisfaction as she melted against him.
His hands slid down to grip her hips, pulling her closer until she could feel every inch of his arousal pressed against her.
“Is this okay?” he breathed against her lips, his voice rough with need.
She nodded, her fingers tangling in his hair. “Yes.”
He didn’t hesitate. His hands moved with deliberate precision, stripping her of her t-shirt and leggings, then the delicate lace of her bra and panties.
Within seconds, she stood before him, gloriously bare, and he felt his breath catch in his chest. She was breathtaking—her curves soft and inviting, and her skin flushed with desire.
He traced the line of her collarbone with his fingertips, marveling at the way she trembled beneath his touch.
“You’re perfect,” he growled softly , his voice thick with emotion. “And you’re all mine.”
Her response was a gasp as he cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples until she arched into his touch.
“Cade,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
He groaned low in his throat, his wolf urging him to claim and to devour. But Cade forced himself to slow down and to savor every moment of this. This wasn’t just about desire—this was about connection and trust.
He laid her down gently on the workout bench and took a moment to drink in the sight of her beautiful body before him.
But his wolf’s desire wouldn’t let him pause for long.
He leaned down and began kissing her neck, trailing his lips along the delicate curve of her throat, and feeling the rapid pulse of her heartbeat.
Her hands gripped his shoulders as he moved lower, his lips closing around one taut nipple.
She gasped, arching into him, and he felt a surge of primal satisfaction.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his breath hot against her skin. “And every sound you make is driving me wild.”
Her response was a moan as he moved lower, his hands sliding down to grip her thighs. He spread her legs, his gaze locking with hers as he leaned in, his breath brushing against her inner thigh. She was already slick with arousal, her scent intoxicating, and he couldn’t hold back any longer.
He dipped his head, his tongue flicking over her clit in a slow, deliberate stroke. She cried out, her hips jerking off the bench, and he grinned against her skin.
“Relax,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. “Let me take care of you.”
He worked her clit with his tongue, alternating between slow, teasing strokes and relentless, rapid flicks. Her hands tangled in his hair, her thighs trembling as he inserted a finger inside her, curling it just right to hit that spot that made her scream.
After several minutes of his tongue and finger moving in perfect synchronization to draw out her pleasure, her orgasm ripped through her with powerful force. Her body convulsed and arched off the bench as she cried out her ecstasy.
But he didn’t stop, coaxing her through every wave of pleasure until she was boneless and breathless beneath him.
He soon lifted his head, his eyes glowing with satisfaction as he gazed up at her. “You’re incredible, Mila,” he growled softly.
Her response was a soft smile as she reached for him, her hands trembling as she pulled him up to kiss her. There was no hesitation in her now—only trust and desire.
And he knew, as he kissed her passionately again, that he would do anything to keep that trust, to keep her safe, and to keep her his.
Cade’s breath hitched as he pulled back from the kiss, his eyes blazing with primal intensity.
His hands trembled as they gripped her hips, the weight of his wolf’s demands pressing against his chest like a thunderstorm.
He leaned his forehead against hers, his voice low and rough, carrying the growl of his wolf.
“Can I claim you, Mila?” he asked, the words heavy with urgency and need. “I don’t want to hold back anymore.”
Her blue eyes met his, unwavering and filled with trust. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice soft but firm. “You can claim me, Cade.”
The moment she said it, his wolf howled with triumph, the mate bond between them singing. He kissed her again, fierce and consuming, as he positioned himself between her thighs. His hand shook slightly as he guided himself to her entrance, his cock throbbing with the need to be inside her.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” he murmured against her lips, his voice strained with the effort of holding back. “I’ll stop if it is.”
“No,” she replied, her fingers digging into his shoulders. “Please don’t stop.”
He pressed into her slowly, inch by inch, his body shuddering at the tight, wet warmth enveloping him.
Her breath hitched, and she let out a loud, keening moan that sent a thrill through him.
He paused when he was fully seated inside her, giving her a moment to adjust to his large size.
Her body clenched around him, and he groaned, his head falling forward as he fought for control.
“You feel amazing,” he growled, his hips grinding against hers. “So perfect.”
Her hands slid down his back, her nails digging into his skin. “Move, Cade,” she pleaded, her voice breathless and urgent. “Please.”
He obeyed, rocking into her with slow, deliberate thrusts.
The bench creaked beneath them, but he didn’t care.
All he cared about was the way she gasped and arched into him, her body responding to his every movement.
Her scent—lavender and arousal—filled his senses, and her warmth seeped into him, grounding him and claiming him just as much as he was claiming her.
“Faster,” she begged, her nails leaving trails of heat down his back. “I need more.”
Her plea shattered the last shreds of his restraint.
He plunged into her with deeper, harder thrusts, the workout bench groaning in protest. Her moans turned into cries of pleasure, each one driving him closer to the edge.
Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him even deeper, and he growled in satisfaction, his wolf reveling in the primal connection.
“You’re mine,” he snarled, his hips snapping against hers with relentless force. “All mine.”
The bench gave a final, pitiful creak before collapsing beneath them, sending them tumbling to the ground in a heap of limbs. He froze, worried he’d hurt her, but she just laughed—a light, breathless sound that made his chest ache.
“Don’t stop,” she said, her laughter fading into a moan as she arched her hips against him. “Please.”
He growled, shifting to cradle her hips as he resumed his relentless pace. Her laughter turned into gasps and cries of pleasure, her body writhing beneath him. He felt her tightening around him, her climax building, and he drove into her harder, determined to wring every ounce of pleasure from her.
“Come for me, Mila,” he commanded gently. “Let go.”
She did, her body convulsing with the force of her release. Her scream of his name was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. Her pleasure tipped him over the edge, and he thrust into her one final time before spilling inside her, his roar of release echoing through the gym.
For a moment, he just held her, their bodies still connected, and their breaths ragged. Her warmth seeped into him, calming the restless beast inside him. The mate bond burned brighter, even without the formal mate mark.
“I’ve never felt like this before,” she whispered, her fingers tracing patterns on his sweat-slicked skin. “So seen and so cherished.”
He tightened his arms around her, his heart pounding with a mixture of awe and fear.
Now that I’ve claimed her, I can never let her go.
The thought terrified and exhilarated him in equal measure.
“You’re mine now,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. “And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you by my side.”
When they finally stood up and got dressed, his mind raced with worry. The stakes were higher than ever now. The pack politics and the rival threats—they loomed larger with her at his side.
But he knew one thing with absolute certainty: he would burn everything down to keep her.