82. Calla

82. Calla
I was gently lulled awake by the soothing scent of rain and the woods. The calming warmth that surrounded me. I sighed, deeply and contentedly. I was feeling so rested. Peaceful. Relaxed. I stretched out languorously and opened my eyes, feeling the soft sheets beneath me. Those strong arms that wrapped around me.
The light of dawn greeted me. It filtered through the gauzy curtains that fluttered in the gentle breeze. Goosebumps peppered the bare skin on my legs, and I snuggled closer into that comforting embrace. I simply basked in the feeling, for a while. This perfect space, where I felt safe, away from the human world's dangerous weapons and horrible people. Away from my father's unprovoked hatred and lies. My sister's evilness.
I thought about the dream that I had. I dreamed about us all three. Athos, Leonidas, and I. They were in their beast forms. And I... I felt different too. I could remember having paws instead of hands and feet. And they were covered in snow-white fur. We were...running through the woods together—the three of us. And I felt so free. I could vividly picture those pure white paws digging into the grassy soil with every push of my body. My fast pants. The feel of their powerful presences at my sides. The three of us together, singing to the Holy Moon.
I closed my eyes slowly, prodding for that foreign entity inside of me. I wasn't even sure exactly what I was searching for. All I knew was that it was a she, and that she was supposed to be somewhere in there—according to what I had learned in the past about having a shifter spirit. I couldn't feel anything at first, it was like there wasn't anything different about me. But then Athos blew out a long sigh that caressed the top of my head, and that little something reacted almost instantly. I didn't mind it much at first, as I had felt like this before... But then I realized... that this was her, it was actually her! That tiny little something that I had been feeling, all those subtle reactions that felt foreign, it was her all along! Holy Goddess, I am so stupid!
I tentatively prodded again, barely able to contain my excitement and wonder, as I waited for her to react. Nothing happened. I grew a little confused, my brows drawing together. But then Athos shifted subtly from behind me, and she reacted once again. He pressed a caring kiss on the top of my head, and I could practically feel her rouse with vigor.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly from behind me, his voice a little rough with sleep. The little...wolf purred in return, and my eyes widened. Holy stars. She was...very attuned to him.
I turned around in his hold and he let me, his grasp on my body loosening. I put my head back on the pillow, meeting his golden eyes. She immediately reacted from inside of me, and I could basically feel her pushing at the forefront of my mind, right before my vision of him changed. It grew sharper. More detailed. It allowed me to see those iridescent flecks in his golden irises, and my lips parted with fascination. Goddess. His eyes were stunning! Did all lycans possess such a trait, or was it just him?
I let my gaze wander over the rest of his features, noticing the perfect smoothness of his skin, and those tiny dots of stubble that peppered the lower half of his face. The rosiness of his lips.
"Dima is alive," he uttered, his luscious lips curling up to form a pleased smile. My gaze raised, meeting his again.
"Leo managed to find him just in time—thank the Goddess, and he seems to be recovering just fine," I expressed a smile of my own, half-listening to what he was saying as I lost myself in the beauty of his eyes once again. They were...absolutely gorgeous.
"We could go visit him if you'd like," he said and I nodded simply, continuing to stare at him, utterly entranced. I couldn't take my eyes off him.
I blew out a long and dreamy sigh, and the calming scent of him entered my lungs after a breath, causing my mind to become a little hazy. Distracted. I let my eyes fall back on those soft pink lips, remembering how good they felt against mine, back in that forest. I could recall what his beast had told me that time. That I was his.
My cheeks warmed, growing a little embarrassed as I raised my gaze to meet his again.
"Athos..." I called out timidly. He let out a hum in response, looking at me.
I swallowed thickly, gathering my courage.
"Are you also...somehow...my mate? Is it possible for someone to have two mates?" I bit my lip, trying to smother that small bout of nervousness that suddenly tugged at me.
He let his gaze roam over my features, remaining calm. He raised a hand and then used his fingers to tuck a few rebel strands behind my ear.
"I...Not that I'm aware of," he answered quietly.
My brows drew together at the sound of that. "Then why do I..." I licked my lips, drawing his attention there.
"Why was I able to call you by your Goddess-given name?" I questioned, and he met my eyes again. They flashed, regarding me in a way that had my body warming. The little entity inside of me pressed harder at the forefront of my mind in response to that, as if begging to be closer to him.
I sat up instead, rather keen to know the answer and he copied my posture, pressing his knees into the mattress. I followed his movement with my gaze, and the vixen little entity dragged my attention to his naked and muscular torso, echoing those wanton mewls that erupted from within me last night as I pleasured myself with the sight of him completely bare before my eyes. The image of him stroking that long and thick member flashed behind my half-hooded lids, and I grew hotter. Lustful.
"Why do I feel like this?" I asked softly, and my body moved closer to his before I could even process it. He remained silent as he looked at me for a long moment, up and down. His gaze turned predatory, his eyes flashing again.
He licked his lips. "Like what?"
I bit mine in return, feeling that shiver that trailed up my spine as my desire only grew, hotter and stronger.
"Like...I want you...a lot," I admitted meekly. He stared at me for another moment, and I could notice the way that his hands balled into fists at his sides. The visible outline of his hardened shaft straining against his shorts.
My pussy tingled, growing slick with wetness. He sniffed at the air, his eyes flashing again. The little wolf whined inside of me, and I shifted closer yet, settling myself in his lap. I straddled his hips and his hands immediately landed on mine, holding me gently.
"Like...I am connected to you...Like I am yours and you...are mine..." I added quietly, breathlessly, placing a hand on his jawline. I yearned to kiss him. Goddess, I yearned to kiss him so much. He was so beautiful, and he smelled so good. It was driving me crazy. It was driving us crazy, both me and the newly-discovered being that resided within me. I could feel her want. Her desire for him. And it increased my own tenfold.
He smiled lightly, and his hand went up to cup my cheek, caressing it with his thumb.
"We were given a second chance from the Moon Goddess herself," he whispered tenderly.
"Both you and me," he added, and I peered between his eyes, leaning further into his touch. I liked it. I liked it so much.
"It's true. We are bonded, Calla. Although not in a traditional, soulmate kind of way. My blood awoke your wolf, and the Goddess created a link between us because of that,"
"She created a tether, and now we are bound. Forever," he murmured against my lips, his tone bordering on pain. I could feel that he was trying so hard to restrain himself; I could hear it in his voice, his shaky breaths. But I did not want him to. I wanted him to give in. I wanted him to try and kiss me again.
"Calla..." he whispered, his tone pleading. Despondent. The little wolf inside of me whimpered, desperate for his touch. His affection.
I stared into his eyes, trembling with desire. With unbridled want. A shuddering breath. A tiny little mewl. That was all that it took for him to cave. To slip out of control.
He put that hand at the nape of my neck. And then he closed what was left of that distance between our mouths, slanting his lips against mine. Hot. Fervent. Hungry. I shuddered with delight, putting my hands on his shoulders. He felt so good. And I wanted more. He kissed me deeper, fiercer, and that hand that was still resting on my hip wrapped around the small of my back, pulling me closer against him. I moaned against his mouth, feeling his erection press against my wet slit, and he took that moment to slip his tongue inside my mouth. Goddess. I couldn't get enough of it. He licked and caressed my tongue with his, only pulling out just to lave and bite my lower lip gently. I buried a hand in those short locks at the back of his head, and he growled softly, pulling me closer to him. I felt that hard rod poke at my bare entrance again—as I hadn't bothered to wear anything other than one of his shirts last night— my pussy trickling with wet heat again. I felt so hot. I wanted to have him inside of me. I craved it. So I pushed myself harder against him, grinding my hips back and forth slowly. We moaned in unison, and I grew hotter, wetter, as his hard length slithered between my folds, rubbing that special spot. More. We wanted more.
I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck, and he held me tighter as he continued to kiss me. Harder. Hungrier. He devoured my mouth, breathing shakily as I rotated my hips, over and over again. I couldn't stop. And I did not want to. I was lost. Consumed by that burning desire that grew brighter, hotter.
He finally broke the kiss, resting his forehead against my own. I panted fast and hard, my body trembling with unfulfilled need. We wanted him inside. We needed him there. So I let my body fall against the soft mattress, my hands working to pop those buttons open, one by one, as I stared up at him beneath my lashes. Until that last button was undone, and I let his shirt fall at my sides, revealing myself to him completely.
"Take me, Maximus. Make me yours."