NINETEEN

...

I woke up hours later into the night. The first thing my gaze landed on was the alarm, and it read nine P. M. Derek's after-crowning party was to be held an hour from now, and all pack members were to attend.

I sat up on the bed, feeling lightheaded as I searched around the room for any sign of Ace's return. I pressed a dial and waited for a response, wondering why Ace had yet to return.

Ace didn't mark me yet, so I wasn't officially his and still a member of the Crimson Pack, but I had no intention of attending Derek's party; all I could think of was all the things that could go wrong. If Ace was present too, I would feel more at ease.

There was a knock on the door, and I ushered whoever it was in; Henry stepped inside.

"You pressed a dial."

"Is Alpha Ace back?" I asked, a pang of worry suddenly enveloping me.

"He sent words that he'll delay a little longer. Other important matters came up after the event," Henry answered. "Is something wrong? Do you want to speak to him?"

"No, nothing is wrong. I'm just... I just felt worried."

"I understand. The Alpha will be back soon." Henry said, "If there's anything I can help you with, please ask."

"No, there's nothing. You can leave now."

He nodded and walked out, closing the door behind him.

"What if he rejects us?" Amy's voice suddenly rang in my head but I couldn't give her a response. Even I was skeptical. I tried my best to get Derek's words off my head; I didn't want to have any negative thoughts concerning Ace and me.

I wanted to accept that he was my savior.

"He won't," I tried to sound assuring in my response but I already knew I failed.

Amy was worried. Very worried. Even more, than I was. She was more scared of a second rejection than I was. While I tried not to expect anything from people, Amy was always expectant, and when things didn't seem to go her way, she became scared.

We were in one body but different.

Voices suddenly crowded my head, many voices congratulating Derek on his Alpha-ship. The more I shook them off, the louder they got.

For a moment, it discomforted me and I grabbed my head, feeling like there would be an explosion because of the voices.

My face contorted into a deep frown as I struggled to get the disturbing noises off but I was only an Omega. I couldn't obstruct the voices of other members of the Crimson Pack. My strength was too small to block out the link, only Ace's marking would be able to tear me off permanently from the Crimson Pack.

We already had a link, his mark was all that was needed to bring that link to life. I pinched my ear inside, still fighting off the voice, when it suddenly disappeared, but a thin, long blaring noise took its place. It went on for a minute before it stopped and then I heard his voice.

"I've searched all over for you, why are you not in the hall?" Derek asked through the mind link. We were not mates, but he was my Alpha, as I was still a member of his Pack.

"Leave me alone!" I thundered, shaking out his voice.

"I'm waiting here for you, Ellen. I will wait for you.."

"I'm not yours anymore."

He scoffed, "You never stopped being mine. Every single part of you belongs to me.."

Even though I knew it would be fruitless, I still tried to block the link with Derek.

As I jerked from the bed and ran towards the door, screaming at Derek to leave me alone, it flew open to reveal Ace, who immediately caught me in his arms. I paused in shock then relaxed all at once.

"Who are you talking to?" Ace questioned, with a grimace.

"Derek," I replied, gulping. He looked pissed and I could already tell he heard my conversation with Derek. "H-he's all in my head."

"It's the mind link," he said and I nodded, "break it. He has no business with you anymore."

"I can't. My powers are not strong enough," I told him.

"Then I'll help you," he said. Before I could respond, his lips fastened on mine and he was kissing me. His arms wrapped around my waist as he pressed me against him, deepening the kiss.

The kiss lasted for a while before his arms slowly unwrapped from my body and his hand went to the back of my dress, undoing the zip.

He walked backward until we arrived at the bed and he laid me on it, covering me immediately. His lips went back to mine and his hand strolled down my face to my neck and gently to my cleavages. I tried to keep up with his pace while enjoying the waves of pleasure that roamed my system at the same time.

I could no longer hear Derek's voice and I knew instantly that the connection was off. Now, I anticipated Ace's marking.

He went in between me, kissing me while his hands roamed my body. When his hand went to my panties band, he didn't take it off, but instead, he massaged my core from the fabric, stimulating my clit with both middle fingers but making no move to take the material off.

Like a pro, the kiss didn't break off, even when I started to moan and move on the bed in pleasure.

His other hand went behind me and unhooked my bra; my breasts jiggled into his view. He broke the kiss only for a moment to stare at them, and his tongue lashed at a nipple, his other hand kneading the second while he continuously worked on my core.

Amy started growling in excitement, anticipating Ace's mark but he wasn't doing that. His tongue lashed at me, and he licked off the wetness, moving to the other breast while kneading the first.

I waited. I waited and waited. But he didn't mark me. I started to wonder if he would but he only kept the lovemaking at foreplay.

I was moaning sporadically in pleasure but his mark was what I wanted most.

When his mouth captured mine again, I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him back.

Derek's words came rushing into my head again and I tried to wave them off. I didn't want to conclude he was right just yet.

At least Ace wasn't rejecting me.. but he wasn't marking me either...