Chapter 68

"Ah, Arsen," I moan into his mouth, as he continues to thrust into me, hard and deep.

I can feel him inside, pushing my walls, inserting force from inside, filling me whole. Our parts rubbing together as wetness pours out of me. This is way better than I could've ever even imagined.

*

He collapses on top of me. A final shiver shakes my body. This has been our goodbye. We had mated, I had marked him. This was as strong as a mate bond could be and as Arsen spun me around to lay on top of him, and I saw that small mark on his neck, I knew I could make it being away from him. I could make it because I knew that I still had him with me. As my mate, he was part of me and I was part of him and I would look for that extra effort when I was fighting and training that I knew came from him. I would look out for that voic of wisdom when I was freaking out that I knew came from him. Not only that, but I would be able to talk to everyone who's life has been changed thanks to their Alpha, who were thankful for his protection and his organization of a huge pack like the North. I would be able to feel safe next to the Faljkestijn because he had fought alongside other members like Ulises to ensure this place was safe.

"I love you," he spoke into my hair, taking in my scent one last time for what it felt like it could be eternity.

My scent was a mixture of his smell- those pines covered in snow with a fruity, sweet smell that I brought.

"I love you, Arsen," I replied, putting my arms around his neck and pulling myself a bit upwards, putting my head in the crook of his neck as I layed flat on top of his strong body.

"I'm gonna miss you, Aelin," he admitted. His arms wrapped around my naked body, his hands pressing me against his body, almost as though he didn't want to let me go.

"What are you going to miss about me?" I wondered, peeking my head out with a cheeky smile.

He pushed my head down back into the crook of his neck with a smile, "your peace."

"What peace?" I wondered.

"You bring me peace, Aelin. Peace and distraction." He explained.

"What do you mean by distraction?" I laughed.

"You distract me from the world. All the problems that come along with life those that happen before you and during you; with you, they seem to disappear and I can just be in the moment. Looking at that beautiful smile of yours and waiting for your next smartass remark," he explained.

"How lucky you are, eh?"

"Smartass remark," he rolls his eyes.

I press myself into his body, straining all the possible space that could be found between our two bodies. As though I was trying to merge us into one body. "I'm gonna miss you," I whispered. My voice filled with a love that right now seems forbidden.

"We'll see each other soon," he reminded me.

"Not soon enough," I answered. "But, I know you have to go. It's the only way."

"I wouldn't do this if it wasn't for the best."

"I know. I want you to know that I will be okay here, okay?" I told him, looking into his eyes.

He looked at me with a hint of confusion under those eyes, but I knew how Arsen was. He cared tremendously for me. He worried about me as though his existence depended on it, and to an extent I knew that part of the worry, I had forced into him, from our bitter sweet love story. I brought so much weakness with me into this mate bond, while he brought all the strength and wisdom that one could fathom.

"I want you to know that I will be here okay on my own. That you don't have to worry about me while I'm here. That I'm getting on well with everyone, that I will try to learn *Akim* while I'm here. That my wolf will heal. And that, the only thing you have to worry about while I'm away is Ascian." I explained, "that you catch that blood-sucking son of a bitch, that you kill him slowly and painfully."

Arsen looked at me with an intense look in his eyes, as if he had felt that I understood him more than he ever thought. That I was capable of feeling that hunger for blood to protect my own. He, for a moment, stopped thinking of himself as the villain, the Beast in this story. He wasn't a merciless killer, like I knew he felt like sometimes, but rather that he was my- and the pack's- protector.

"I will always love you, remember that while you're away. Don't let anyone bring Ascian's and I's story to bring you down, question my true emotions. I never felt anything for Ascian. He was the only person that I felt cared for me when even my parents felt to do so. I wanted validation and I would've been just as happy to get it from him as from a rock. No one can replace you Arsen. I know there's a lot you don't tell me. There's a lot about you that I don't know. But, I know you. I know how you act. I know about your compassion and your ought to protect those you care about, your devotion and your love. I love you, Arsen. And if you ever doubt it, look at the mark on your chest. You are mine, and only mine. Just like I'm yours and only yours. Nothing you've done or will ever do can push me away from you. So, make sure I can come back home safely. Our home. Our pack."

He remained silent. Stalking me. I placed my hand on his cheek and caressed it.

"*Mine*" I mindlinked.

"*Yours*"