CHAPTER 423 - EXPIATE

CHAPTER 423 - EXPIATE

VALEN’S POV

Despite her soreness, she planted her palms on the mattress and leaned sideways. “Well, it beats the alternative.”

I blinked in mild confusion as she raised and reached out both hands to me.

“Come here, you idiot,” she beckoned lovingly. Her expression was so heartwarmingly soft, and her eyes filled with quiet devotion.

I swear my heart jumped with hope. I released a shaky breath and shot up off my knees.

Bending at the waist, I pressed my hands onto the bed to brace my weight as I let my face rest in her soft, cuddling palms.

With the gentlest touches, her thumbs wiped my tears. The sparks... my body shivered beneath her fingertips.

With a sad smile, she whispered, “I’ll forgive you because I know it’s hard for you, and because love's not about getting everything perfect. I guess as long as we keep finding our way back to each other, without betrayal, we can move forward.”

With a sigh of relief, I bolted into the bed and hurriedly pulled her into another passionate kiss.

When our lips parted, I held her in a tender embrace and said in a hushed and strained voice. “Thank you, baby.”

I peppered kisses all over her face, not wanting to miss a spot.

She chuckled and tried to speak between kisses. "I saw what Jiya’s pheromones were doing. I saw you fighting it. I saw how terrified you were after you came back to your senses. That makes the difference."

Pulling back while my hands cradled her cheeks, I asked meekly, "You forgive me?"

Raina nodded through misty eyes. "I forgive you."

Relief crashed over me so powerfully it pumped up my heart with a chock-full of joy.

I kissed her forehead and wrapped my arms around her as though she were the most precious thing in existence, taking great care not to press against her bruises.

Finally, I rested my forehead on hers. "I love you more than my own life."

“I know.” Raina smiled weakly, and it gave her eyes a tiny sparkle. "I love you too."

We gazed into each other’s eyes for a long time with our breaths rhythmic and soothing.

Not long after, a soft knock interrupted our quiet moment.

“Urgh,” I groaned in exasperation, tilting my head back and then leveling my eyes at her. “I had forgotten about them. There are people here that won’t leave unless I let them see you,” I grumbled, since I preferred to be completely alone with her.

I let out a whistle to summon the gang.

The first head of techo-cut blonde hair popped in from the side threshold, while the rest of Jason’s body was concealed. He grinned widely. “Hey, girlie birdie. You're looking a little gloomy. Good thing I brought my handsome face to make your day chirpy.”

“Grrr.” An involuntary growl escaped me.

“Easy, Alpha.” Theo’s head popped in from the next side, grinning too. “With the amount of shit you’re in, you’re the last person who should be growling at anyone. Isn’t that right, Luna?”

“Yeah, he fucked up. Plain and simple.” Devin smiled crookedly, poking his head below Jason’s.

“No doubt about that,” Azara stated bluntly, with her head under Theo’s, her eyes twinkling with relief.

“We were trying to hold him downstairs, but, you know how he gets,” Penn added next with her head below Devin’s.

Raina offered them a gentle smile, leaning her body into me with the side of her face pressing on my chest.

“He was pacing like a chained animal that was ready to gnaw his own leg off,” Isaac chuckled. He and Thaines poked their heads in last.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, thinking there were too many of them, and though they stayed at the doorway, the room felt overcrowded.

“Is he really off the hook, Rai? We’ll throw his ass out if you say the word. You make the rules, and if he’s breaking any, we’ll whoop his ass and let you watch,” Devin teased with a sheepish smile, allowing his full form to take up the doorway.

“Make it hard for him, Rai,” Jason jested gleefully as the rest of them bundled up behind the Beta.

“Because we really want to whoop his ass since he promised not to fight back,” Theo goaded with that wicked grin.

I snorted. “I don’t recall that.”

The bothersome bunch laughed.

“Sweet revenge,” Devin threw in with a smug smirk. “Don’t rob us, Rai. Let us have him.”

“How can I give him to you when he makes that puppy-like face?” Raina pouted, lifting her eyes to me and then to the group.

“You’re lucky today, Alpha,” Jason said playfully.

“I’m lucky every day,” I corrected appreciatively, turning my gaze to my mate as I stroked her hair.

They went quiet with broad smiles on their teasing faces as they stared at Raina.

“We’re okay.” Raina’s smile widened; that gorgeous smile lit up her whole face. “I’m not going to beat him up with it.” She reached up to pinch my cheeks, tugging them around in circles. “He’s such a miserable pup right now. So I’m going to keep him for a few more minutes.”

I gazed down at Raina, whose attention had shifted toward our friends. Watching her laugh never got old. Her happiness was all I wanted to see.

A mischievous smile tugged at my lips.

“You heard that. She still loves me. You can go now, people.” I rolled her over on the bed, agitated that they were talking too much. I still wanted to mention a few things to her.

Without warning, I kissed her. Her breath caught, and her gasp tumbled into a moan.

Slowly and tenderly, I moved my lips against hers, teasing and tasting until she was melting into the kiss, pulse spiking. She threw her arms around my neck and smiled against my lips. Completely stealing her attention back to me.

“Rai, let us know if you change your mind,” Theo voiced, but at this time I had her buried into a lingering, sweet kiss.

Her hands twisted in my hair, tugging teasingly. My wolf snarled, claws unsheathed in my mind, demanding I take her, but I held back, because I remembered that we couldn’t until she’s recovered.

Still hearing the snickers and low banter, I raised my hand to shoo them.

Getting the hint, the bedroom door quietly clicked shut, and I heard their footsteps shuffling away. Alone at last.

After a while, the kiss broke in the silence. Our breaths mingled and ragged, hearts pounding. I rested my forehead against hers while enjoying the soft, pleasant feel of her body pressing into mine.

"Much better," I mumbled huskily.

“You’re impossible.” Raina laughed breathlessly and placed a finger across my lips. “They did save your ass too, so don’t forget that.” She tapped my shoulders. “Now stop being so sexy when I’m too sore to handle you.”

“And you?” I murmur naughtily, easing up some of my weight from her body while stroking her hairline. “You're just deliciously torturous.”

“Oh yeah?” she teased with a chuckle, wagging her brows at me.

I let out a laugh. She’s so cute when she does that.

“Yeah. You undo me. My wolf...my mind...everything gets restless...without you, but hot and hard around you," I said, low and rough, caught between need and hesitation. “I’m all in.”

I kissed her dark brow before I gazed back at her.

Then her smile faded, and I almost panicked again. But when her eyes closed and her head lulled to the side, I realized she needed her rest now. So I quickly disclosed the good news.

“Speaking of asses to save, Marlena came up with a way she thinks can help calm Vaheed’s evil-lust impulsions,” I shared, reaching down to cup her cheek. “She wanted to start early, and I am going to supervise her this morning.”

“Okay, you should go,” she muttered, blinking those bright blues at me. “Why are you still here? Hurry.”

I frowned in disappointment at how quickly she was ready to usher me out. Part of me didn’t want to leave her, although there were matters on schedule.

Reluctantly, I sat up in the bed before getting out, and gave her a one-over. For open communication, I mentioned, “Jiya will be there.”

As expected, she bolted up, and I knew shit was about to hit the fan.

Her brows furrowed. “Why?”

“They’re going to use her blood and dust particles from the sacred Coyolxauhqui stone to create a subduing thread to mat with the one in Vaheed’s heart.” With every word I spoke, she flinched in her skin. “Marlena said it should work like a nullifying ward. That way, my brother won't have to take the evil road, and then I can release him,” I told her, standing up to leave. “He’ll be out soon.”

Usually, she’d be thrilled, but she wasn’t, and I knew it was because Jiya and I would be around each other.

“I want to be there,” she stated, eyeing me keenly.

“You are tired and…” I began out of care.

“Then stay.” She cut me off. “Postpone it until tomorrow.” She peeled the covers back from the bed, indicating for me to join her.

I froze.

I thought she wouldn’t object since this was a cause for Vaheed, but apparently my actions had fed her fears. I hadn’t realized how deeply she'd come to believe I could choose Jiya over her.

Fuck it, it's been hours, and I've missed her so much.

I kicked off my black jeans and pulled my red T-shirt over my head, carefully sliding in beside her. I was nervous to push my luck too much, so I left a little space.

She closed the gap, shimmying up against me as she flung the covers back over us. I wrapped an arm around her and nuzzled her neck, taking in her intoxicating scent.

"Sleep well, baby," I whispered, and she let out a small contented sigh. “Well, let's worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”

Nothing could beat this. Absolutely nothing.

Zeus and Hera were snuggling together and purring in my head in contentment.

And with the comfort of the humming bond, I was out like a light.

\-

RAINA’S POV

Right after breakfast the next morning, Valen teleported with me to the Spessiale Dungeon. He was hugging me like a plush toy when we landed straight in the observation room.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” Valen advised. His lips pecked my forehead before connecting his emeralds to my blues, and he slipped his hands from my waist to leave. “I’m going to get the rest of the bunch.”

My eyes widened in surprise. I gripped the sleeve of his chest-striped dark green polo to stall him and asked curiously, “Who are the others? I thought it would be just us.”

“The Elders have to be here, and they want Ousley, Wentz, and Poel to witness Jiya’s abilities,” he related huskily while running his hand through the length of my loose hair.

I shook my head, noting sadly, “They’re still seeking a win for her.”

Those Elders liked to spark worry and contention.

“Remember, we don’t even know if this will work,” Valen uttered lowly as he cupped my cheek with a tender brush of his thumb. He furrowed his brows and averted his eyes for a second before he locked his gaze with mine again. “And I can’t pray that it won’t either.”