CHAPTER 14
Every time he thought he’d never felt this way was preceded by a similar moment.
It was time to accept that Mark was his soul, not a part of it.
Fated mates were a concept he’d heard of, denied, and now, as he lay devoid of all energy in his Anima Alterum’s arms, Caster couldn’t be more on board with the idea.
There was no other explanation for the contentment seeping through their connection.
Mark’s sighs were quiet, like he was gone again. His mind was even quieter, and Caster couldn’t help the pride infiltrating his own contentment. The vigor the explosive orgasm had denied his muscles returned, and he started to pull out of Mark, needing to comfort his submissive.
But Mark moaned and pulled him closer in a tight embrace that was surprising given his total surrender.
“You don’t want me to move?”
An acquiescing moan was the only answer he would get, but Mark’s intention in the way his body tightened around Caster’s cock was clear communication.
“I promise to stay with you. Just let me get you more comfortable.”
This time, the moan was a sigh as Caster pulled out of him with the utmost care. His fingers traced Mark’s forehead, then flowed through his damp hair as he encouraged him to lie on his side. His sigh turned into a moan when Caster settled at his back, his cock resuming its place inside him.
He couldn’t help his own moan when Mark’s body tightened around him, his arousal at its peak only a few minutes earlier, now rising higher and faster than before. But this was not about his pleasure.
He wrapped his arms around a contented Mark, his sighs so slight, it was easy to think he was asleep. But Caster had seen it many times before. Subspace. The high every submissive sought. Except that in Mark, like everything else about him, it was exquisite to behold, total and spectacular.
Caster’s hand traced the welts on his back, and Mark sighed again.
Baby, let your wolf heal you.
The pain had served its purpose, and he hated seeing Mark’s skin marred even by his own hand.
Again, the wolf his human form contained obeyed Caster, and the healing came much faster.
This time, when Caster’s fingers traced his skin, Mark shivered with the effect, his body tightening further, and Caster pushed deeper inside him.
This wasn’t about pleasure. There was no urgent drive toward an orgasm.
It was about being close, and he’d kill anyone who tried to take this away from either of them.
You, OK? He had to know, but forming the words seemed like an intrusion.
Yes. I love you, Caster.
His heart stopped for a brief moment, a reaction to those three words he was getting used to. He pulled Mark even closer and kissed his temple. I love you too, baby. Tell me.
I feel so good. I want this every day.
Caster smiled. Mark’s voice in his head sounded so far away, trapped by his immeasurable pleasure. Every day would be impractical, wouldn’t it?
This time, the moan was a denial. Please…
I can promise to love you every day.
His request to be in that space every day would be torture for both of them. The inevitable crash was on its way, and that rhythm would make it impossible for him to function.
Mark moaned his response, the effect of the overwhelming space he occupied still unwilling to relinquish its hold on him.
Tell me. Caster dreaded what he was asking, but he was the rational one here, and they needed to discuss it if he would keep his promise to love him every day.
Mark’s body tensed in his hold, but even their topic of discussion would not intrude on his pleasure. Caster’s smile this time carried a hint of pride, a bit of security that he wouldn’t lose him
His hand in Mark’s hair brought back some of Mark’s relaxation, but it seemed he was afraid of the very thing he’d begged Caster to promise they would discuss.
I know. And I don’t want you to think too hard. Just tell me what happened.
Mark sighed. I was not asleep those three days. He’d taken my wolf.
Every muscle in his body started to tense in anticipation of the threat, but he caught that reaction before Mark could, breathing through his rage.
It would not do for Mark to lose this ultimate peace because he couldn’t control himself.
He closed his eyes, gathered his strength, and kept his touch on Mark light.
I don’t understand, my love. Your wolf is here, isn’t he? Can you feel him?
Mark’s nod was small, his breathing stronger. He can control him.
Caster couldn’t hide his body’s reaction this time. Mark’s tone and the images his mind couldn’t suppress spoke of overwhelming fear. Their contentment forgotten for the moment, he urged Mark to turn, needing to see his face. What?
Mark’s eyes were open, but still in the haze of subspace, still unfocused.
But his need for Caster’s protection, his desire to hide from this, was unmistakable.
The uptick of his heart and a once silent mind filling with thought after thought of what Zeke’s control over his wolf would mean were concerning.
Caster pulled him into his arms. Fuck! This is all wrong. I need you to feel good.
I’m scared, Caster.
He tightened the embrace, his mind awash with all the ways he would kill that Alpha. I won’t let him hurt you.
Mark moaned, half of him still lost in that world of ultimate pleasure, but signals from his mind and body indicated he was pulling away from it. Edie said I won’t resist him again. His voice cracked. I can’t let him… He sniffed, fighting back tears, and Caster had had enough.
“Look at me!”
That Alpha would pay for every one of the tears Mark battled.
“Tell me everything. You OK to do that? We can wait…”
Mark shook his head. “No. Dean said to tell you everything. I just wanted to…”
“I know, my love. I promise to make everything better.”
He didn’t know how he could do that when he didn’t have all the information, but there was little question that he would.
His fingers brushed Mark’s lips, and the need to comfort him, offer his support, overwhelmed an anger he was losing control of.
Mark’s total acceptance of him was evident in the way he moaned through the gentle kiss.
When he pulled away, Mark’s eyes had regained their focus. He rested his forehead on Mark’s. “I am so sorry, my love.”
Mark shook his head again. “He… Zeke…” He took a breath, closing his eyes. “He could control my wolf, like Dean does. Only so much… worse.”
Caster tried to keep up, but he was sure he’d missed something. “I don’t understand.”
Mark opened his eyes, his familiar strength returning with every breath. “The Prime Alpha can control all wolves with a single thought.” His exhale was no longer a pleasured sigh. “When he does, it is impossible to resist.”
Caster had heard of it, but his grandfather had said it was an almost impossible feat, only exercised by the most formidable Prime Alphas. “Dean can do this?”
Mark nodded.
That explained the werewolves’ perfect coordination during the war. It was the primary reason they had been so fierce. His admiration for the Prime Alpha increased tenfold, and he understood why the wolves would need to keep that ability a secret. “You’re telling me Zeke can do the same?”
Mark’s nod was so small, he would have missed it if they hadn’t been so close.
Caster’s heart broke.
The fear Mark’s body indicated, the loss of control he feared, seeped through his once quiet mind to infect the love they’d professed to each other minutes earlier. But he wasn’t about to let this slip away from him, not for anything. “I need you to tell me exactly what happened.”