9. CHAPTER 9
It’s been a long time since I’ve set foot inside the walls of Grey Manor. While the building itself hasn’t changed, I did. I’m not the same person I used to be the last time I was here. I’m not even the same wolf that used to run down these hallways.
With my fated mate on my arm, I enter my childhood home, and my future forever residence, with my head held high. I finally see that doing so in the past was a pure dickhead move, coming from a spoiled rich asshole that I was. Now, when I do it, I do it because I have a lot to be proud of and because I’m a person who doesn’t need to hide behind the arrogance and insecurities. Those things washed away when Blaine helped me cleanse my body of drugs and alcohol.
“Garren!” my mother cries out as soon as she sets her eyes on me when Alyssa and I enter the throne room, escorted by the Pack of Shadows.
For the first time ever, I willingly open my arms and welcome my mother’s warmth when she embraces me. I’m a head taller than her, which makes her hug all the more perfect as she presses her cheek against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, unsure of how else to show her just how glad I am to see her.
My mother’s earthy scent fills my nostrils, calming me down. The smell reminds me of love and happiness. Those are the two things I’ve always associated with her as a kid, but as a grown-up, they were also the reasons why I pushed her away. Not anymore.
“I missed you,” I whisper into her hair, sensing the slight tensing of her muscles as she realizes the importance of my confession.
My mother pulls away, breaking the hug that I didn’t know I yearned for since I was a kid. She gently sets her soft hand on my cheek and smiles. “Welcome home, Son.”
It’s not much, but it’s everything to me. Those three words carry the weight of the world, their meanings mattering more than an outside observer could ever hope to guess.
Acting out of my character again, I reach for her hand on my cheek and bring it to my lips. With my eyes still locked on hers, I slightly bend my head at the neck, giving her a barely perceptible, but not any less respectful bow, especially one that comes from the future king.
My mother’s eyes widen, and her mouth falls open, but her surprise only lasts a second. As someone who’s played the role of a queen for most of her life, she’s well-versed in creating masks. The one she wears now is an expression of relief and pride. Her brown eyes shine with love and a small smile on her lips speaks of happiness.
Even though the reunion with my mother felt like it lasted for at least half an hour, in reality, it wasn’t longer than two minutes, which is when my father joined us.
“Garren,” he greets me and though his voice is formal, his eyes look me up and down with a hint of worry creasing his brows. “Are you well?”
“Yes, Father,” I reply, subconsciously straightening my spine and pulling myself to my full height. Even though I don’t have anything to prove to him, the little child in me still yearns for his approval.
I hold my breath as he continues to assess me, his stern and watchful eyes wakening all the insecurities that I’ve been so good at drowning in a sea of mostly illegal substances. The feeling of self-consciousness rises, making me painfully aware of the rags the witches have put me in.
You’ve survived an encounter with a coven. You’ve survived having your mind invaded, my wolf reminds me with an angry growl. You did what he sent you to the military camp to do. You did that and much more. Don’t you dare look away first. Let him see our pride, our power, and our strength.
My wolf’s words resonate deep within me, allowing me to release my breath and take a new one. He’s right. My father holds no power over me anymore. I’m a man now, a king in the making.
“Let’s go to the conference room,” my father says, already turning on his heel to walk away. “You’ll tell us what happened.”
“No,” I say to everyone’s surprise, including mine.
My father stops in his tracks, his body standing still as if frozen. Ever so slowly, he turns his head to look at me with an unreadable, but far from pleasant, expression on his face.
“With all due respect, Father,” I start with a firm but polite voice, not wanting him to get the wrong idea. “Alyssa and I have been through a lot and would like to rest for a bit. We can talk tomorrow.”
It’s then that my father looks at Alyssa for the first time. His nose scrunches up in disgust, no doubt seeing her as nothing else but a mere commoner.
“Very well,” he says at last, then waves his hand in the air, summoning a servant. “Show her to the guest room.”
“No need,” I say, gesturing with my head for the servant to get lost. “She’ll stay with me.”
My father’s nostrils flare, his eyes narrowing when he meets mine. “I’ve let you have the freedom to do more than I’ve ever allowed any of your brothers. I won’t have you insult me by bedding a whore in my own house.”
I take an abrupt step forward, the possessive wolf inside me reacting to his words. I’ve never dared to disrespect him by facing him so directly, but I won’t let anyone insult Alyssa. Not even my own father, my king.
“Careful,” I warn with a low voice. “You’re talking about my fated mate, my soulmate, and my future queen. You’ll do well to start treating her that way.”
My father’s hands clench into fists by his sides. I tense my muscles in preparation to intercept the punch, but it never comes. The tension in the air is palpable, weighing heavily between us, so stretched that even the dullest knife could cut through it with ease.
While I haven’t been the best son, nor well-mannered in the slightest, I always knew my place when it came to respecting my king. It’s the first time that I’m standing up for myself, which he already dislikes, but the fact that I’m doing it in front of an audience must drive him absolutely crazy.
“Sleep well,” my father says at last, the two words releasing all the inflated tension like the popping of a balloon.
While he might not be happy about me taking Alyssa to my room under his own roof, he’s not a fool and knows better than to stand in the way when it comes to fated mates. He’ll have no choice but to accept her, and maybe not immediately, but with time, he’ll have to learn to show her the respect she deserves as my future queen.
I briefly meet my mother’s eyes over my father’s shoulder. They’re shining with silent joy as she’s watching me in an entirely new way. My chest warms up as I realize that I like these subtle changes.
I reach for Alyssa’s hand and give her a reassuring squeeze. There’ll be time tomorrow for introductions and an opportunity to come up with a suitable punishment for Tiana. All I want now is for us to be alone, process the sudden bond, and talk about what we’ve been through.
“Wait,” Alyssa says before I can pull her to the safety of my room. The weight of everyone’s eyes turns to her, but she keeps her chin high. “What about my pack? Are they okay? I need to see them.”
“They were located shortly before you two,” my father replies, a hint of approval in his voice. “As far as I know, they’re all alive.”
Except for Tom,my wolf whispers.
“Thank you,” Alyssa says and bends her head at the neck.
Her hand still in mine, I use the opportunity to gently pull her after me and guide us in the direction of my suite. As we navigate the labyrinth of hallways, I spy Grayden in the far corner. Without bothering to slow down, I give him a subtle nod in acknowledgment. He returns it with a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
I open the door to my room and then step aside to let Alyssa enter first. She hasn’t said a word to me since I called on the Sacred Darkness to heal her, but I know that she’s been carefully observing my interaction with my family, and that right now, she’s taking in the suite that belonged to the many generations of heirs apparent.
She lets go of my hand and approaches the regal white four-seat sofa, adorned with gold. The two sofa chairs on each side are a part of the same collection as well as the little table in front of it.
Her eyes take in the wall decorations that I never paid much attention to before, but now suddenly worry that she might not like them. I follow her gaze, trying to determine if there’s anything that might be deemed insulting. Fortunately, the pictures are all from respected painters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Klimt, and Picasso. Naturally, they’re all originals, as one would expect of a person of my stature.
The decorative furniture doesn’t interest her nor do the vases with fake plants or sculptures that even I have no idea about what they’re supposed to represent. The old me simply wanted to collect the most expensive shit, which would allow me to brag in front of my so-called friends.
Alyssa moves past the riches I’ve collected throughout the years and goes through the double doors that lead into the bedroom. Her eyes momentarily stop on my king-size bed before she continues her inspection until finding the open door of the bathroom.
“Do you mind if I wash up first?” she asks, her voice quiet and strange, which is unsurprising considering how close to death she came.
“Not at all,” I assure her, hoping that a hot shower will return some of her wild spirit. “I’ll ask for some food to be brought up.”
Alyssa gives me a barely perceptible nod before disappearing into the bathroom. It doesn’t take long before the sound of water reaches my ears, and I let out a quiet sigh.
Give her time, my wolf tells me. She’s been through one hell of an ordeal.
We both have been, I reply. I only hope that it won’t break her.
Even if it does, we’ll be there to put the pieces back together, my wolf says with contagious confidence. None of us will ever walk alone again.
I take the phone off the nightstand that’s connected directly to the servants’ quarters. It doesn’t have the chance to ring even twice before someone picks up.
“Your Highness,” the female voice answers. “What can we do for you?”
“I’d like to get some food brought up to my room,” I reply. “Bring a bit of everything.”
“Right away, Your Highness,” she confirms, then waits for me to hang up first.
I go to my walk-in closet to grab a fresh set of clothes for Alyssa to wear. Something primal awakens in me at the thought of her wearing my clothes and leaving her scent on them. I swallow hard, working hard to push it all down. Now’s not the time nor the place to be thinking about that.
The shower stops, the small change reaching my ears just in time to hear the glass door of the stall open. I return to the room and set the pajamas on the bed.
“I’ve left out some clothes for you,” I tell her when she exits the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her naked body. “Would you mind keeping an eye on the door for food while I take a shower?”
“Sure, thanks,” Alyssa says and steps aside to let me pass.
I want nothing more but to pull her into me, to feel her body pressed against mine, and to match her heartbeat with my own. I’d love to do that, but I don’t. Instead, I try to do my best to show her the respect she deserves and give her space.
My wolf lets out a low whimper, making it clear that he’s also suffering. I’ve never felt this way, and I’ve never yearned for anyone the way I’m craving her. It must have something to do with the bond. It’s the only plausible explanation that I can think of right now.
I’m more than happy to discard the strange clothes that the witches put me in. Thanks to my wolf’s impressive healing skills, there’s not even a scratch on my smooth skin. Any imperfection that I have can easily be washed away in the shower as a speck of dirt.
I put the water in the hottest setting, not caring that it burns me. Maneuvering the healing abilities keeps my wolf distracted and quiet. I lean my forehead against the shower stall, letting the heat purify me and clear all the signs of me being touched by that damned witch.
I spend extra attention washing my hands, rubbing them raw. The image of them being covered with Alyssa’s blood keeps appearing in front of my eyes, which only makes me rub harder and stronger.
Only when the water’s temperature starts falling, do I realize that I’ve been in the shower for a lot longer than I intended. The time flew from me, and now my stomach is making grumbling sounds as it asks to be filled.
Getting out of the shower, I grab a new towel out of the cabinet under the sink and wrap it around my waist. I don’t bother drying my hair or wiping my torso, letting the air take care of the remaining drops of water.
Looking around the bathroom, I realize with a frown that I haven’t brought any clothes with me. I was too busy making sure that Alyssa had something to wear that I completely forgot about me. Having no other choice, I exit the bathroom with a wet towel wrapped around my waist.
Alyssa’s back is turned to me as she sits on the sofa, picking at the food that’s been brought in. My wolf senses take in the little details of the delicious smell like the warmth of the toasted bread or the fried egg, which causes my stomach to grumble even louder.
Even though I know she’s aware of my presence, I don’t want to startle her by walking up to the table with only a towel on. I make a quick stop in the walk-in closet, grabbing for myself a similar set of pajamas to what I gave to Alyssa.
The light cotton pants softly press against my skin, hanging onto my waist, low enough to leave my V-line exposed. While I gave long sleeves to Alyssa, I opted for a simple white T-shirt that sticks to my body in a way that further highlights my abs. I’m not a stranger to giving myself compliments, but my time in the military camp really did wonders for my muscle definitions.
When I’ve covered the parts that would be deemed indecent, I join Alyssa on the sofa. She glances my way and offers me a small smile. I give her one back, relieved that she seems to be doing a bit better.
“It’s really good,” she says, breaking the silence. I don’t even care that she’s talking about the food as long as she keeps speaking to me.
“Please tell me if there’s anything specific that you might like,” I tell her, wanting to give her the world, while at the same time struggling to take it slow for fear of scaring her away.
“I’m okay, thanks,” she replies, and though it’s short, it’s not curt.
The silence that follows is companionable and void of any tension. Right now, we’re just two hungry wolves, enjoying a nice meal together.
I take a bit of everything, forcing myself to slow down and actually taste the food at least a little bit. I had no idea that an encounter with the coven would leave me ravenous. It might’ve had something to do with overextending my own abilities or maybe having my brain prodded for information. Either way, I’m hungrier than I’ve ever been.
When we’re done eating, we both do our best to suppress yawns. Realizing what we’re both trying to do, we burst out laughing. The sound of our laughter makes the air that much lighter, connecting us in a different kind of way that I’m too tired to pinpoint.
“We should get some sleep,” Alyssa says and glances at the bed.
“If it makes you uncomfortable, I can sleep on the sofa,” I tell her, not wanting to push her boundaries while at the same time wanting to stay in the same room as her.
“It’s a big bed,” she replies with a nonchalant shrug. “I think we’ll be fine.”
A relieved smile appears on my lips as I nod my head. “After you.”
Alyssa gets up and I follow her to the bed. She goes toward the right side, but instead of lying down, she suddenly turns around and grabs at my T-shirt. After the shortest of moments, I find my bearings and react, pushing her against the wall as our mouths meet in a passionate and desperate kiss.
I imagined that our first normal kiss would be tender and loving. I wanted it to convey the depth of our growing feelings and the connection created by the bond. The reality turned out to be quite different.
My tongue plunges into her mouth and my body presses against hers, my hands roaming and exploring. I begin to ravage her, to taste and to touch.
I get a grip on myself long enough to remove her clothes. A low ripping sound tells me that I wasn’t careful enough, but I can’t bring myself to care. I’d tear them to pieces if it meant getting her naked sooner.
In the little time I had left to my imagination since the witch told me that I was in love with Alyssa and that she was my fated mate, I came to imagine our lovemaking to be gentle, adoring, and romantic. I’d hold her lovely face in my hands and kiss those sweet lips. Reality had changed everything.
I finally have her naked, lovingly tracing my eyes up and down her body as I take in her nudity. I’m so busy trailing over her breasts and dropping my gaze even lower over her clean-shaved pussy that I didn’t even notice her tearing my own clothes just as fast as I did hers.
She wants and needs me just as much as I do her. I’m not sure whether it’s the soulmate bond that brought out the animals inside us, or if it was the after-effect of a near-death experience. Frankly, neither one of us cared.
I hurry her to the bed and lay her down. She reaches toward me with welcoming arms, and if before I dreamed about holding her and whispering sweet nothings into her ears, now I can’t bring myself to slow down long enough to explore her body from top to bottom. While I wanted this to be an experience neither one of us would ever forget, a part of me knew that it would be just that, no matter what and how we did it.
Unable to hold back or wait any longer, I climb on top of her and guide my cock directly to her pussy, entering her with ease. It’s as if we were made for each other, our intimate parts like pieces of a puzzle, with only one correct fated answer.
I tip my head back and roar, unable to contain myself or the emotions building inside of me. Being here with her is driving me crazy, in the best possible way. I’m out of my mind. I’m fucking this beautiful woman, making love to my fated mate, and further solidifying our unique bond.
I’m plunging in and out of her with brutal and primal needs. Harder and harder I pump, faster and faster I thrust.
Alyssa’s lying there, taking it all in. Taking me in.
Her brown eyes are shining with lust and desire. She bites her lower lip to keep herself from screaming. I’m aware that I’m overwhelming her. Probably both of us. But I can’t slow down. I can’t take it easy. I want to, but I can’t. Instead, I hammer into her over and over again as my most primal instincts take over me.
It’s like I’ve never had sex before and only now discovered the joy and satisfaction of it. A part of me knew that it was the bond that was driving me, the possessive need to dominate her in bed and show her who the real Alpha is. I’m possessing her with my cock, marking her with my seed. My soul is shouting to hers that she’s mine. My whole being is telling her that she belongs to me and nobody else.
I’m thrusting my cock into her helpless pussy, claiming every part of her. She doesn’t protest, doesn’t argue, but only opens her legs wider to give me more space to mark my territory. Sinking her nails deep into my back, she leaves a mark of her own, mixing our blood and sweat in the most intimate of promises.
Alyssa moans every time I slam my cock into her. She lifts her head and bites my shoulder, muffling the guttural scream that I coaxed out of her. I keep on thrusting my hips, fucking her tight warm pussy. Alyssa makes some small noises, little gurgling sounds that come from deep within her throat.
I have no idea how long this lasted. My cock’s like a piece of steel, strong and hard. I keep on fucking her, then I fuck her some more, and when my balls start to tighten, I pick up the pace to fuck her even harder and faster.
All of a sudden, a bolt shoots through me like an electric shock. My cock throbs and pulsates until it swells within her pussy, giving her the subtlest of warnings before releasing my entire load of juices into her.
Still not having enough of her, I keep pumping and thrusting, hammering and slamming. Our grunts, groans, and moans join in to make the most beautiful music, accompanied by the clapping sound made by the contact of skin against skin. The scent of raw sex fills the air, further playing on the stirrings of lust.
I can’t tell when exactly we finished because when I come to my senses, I’m lying on top of Alyssa, whose eyes are open and staring at the ceiling, appearing to still be caught in a trance.
I suddenly realize that I fucked up. I had the opportunity of a lifetime handed to me, a chance to strengthen our fated bond, but I blew it. I let my raw lust get the better of me. I allowed my primal needs to overcome my common sense.
“I’m so sorry, Alyssa,” I say, trying to explain it to her. “I didn’t mean to do that to you. I wanted to make love to you. I wanted to be tender and loving. I’m so sorry. Fuck, I hope I didn’t hurt you. Are you okay?”
Alyssa locks her eyes on mine and gives me the best answer possible. She puts her hands on the back of my neck, lifts her head, and closes the distance between us by crashing her mouth against mine, igniting every fiber of my being all over again.