Chapter 40: Changing

Marcus

Looking at the scared faces around the room, Marcus squeezed his mate's hand before linking to Dax, who had been surprisingly quiet. “Do you know what's going on? Since when would you stay out of a conversation like this? Are you ok? You do not think the Moon Goddess would take you, do you?” The questions were tentative as he feared that Dax would not, or could not, respond. He could feel his wolf was alive and well, but something was off. Marcus had assumed that it was the fact that they had nearly died, but now he wondered if it was more.

There was a delay before Dax’s voice entered his head, sounding stronger and deeper than before. “Yes, human. When we began to die, I was called away to be blessed with a conversation with the Moon Goddess. She explained that the strength of a lycan soul comes from the fact that it cannot die; it lives on from human soul to human soul. When a wolf passes, we return to Selene and live in paradise. When a lycan passes, they return to Selene, who gives them another match. Only Selene and the chosen one can create a new lycan soul or banish an old one. Because our death was to occur because we tried to save our mate, Selene had to ask me a question. She wanted to know if I wished to return to her, live in paradise, and allow her to match a lycan soul to yours, or if I wished to be changed to a lycan. That way I could live on by your side until the day of your passing.”

Marcus could feel his face falling and going white at these words. Dax was his constant companion, and he could not do without him. Before the panic could set in, Dax continued. “When I told her that I could not leave our mate to just you, that you would find a way to screw it up, she granted me the gift of changing my soul into that of a lycan. When the time is right, you will again see me, but I must rest, and when we do meet, we will both be different.” After these words were spoken, it was clear that Dax was done talking, and he retreated into the subconscious to rest.

Looking around the room, Marcus spoke. “Selene has allowed Dax to become a lycan rather than give me a new soul. He said when the time was right, we would transform into our new form, but we are already lycan.” Even the words themselves felt foreign as he said them, he and Dax would no longer be werewolves, and now they would be lycans. Had anyone told him such things were in his future, he would have laughed at them.

Everyone in the room looked at each other, trying to decide what to do when Seth took control of the situation. “You may be an Alpha lycan, and you, King, and my beloved Luna,” he addressed the three leaders in the room, “but I am Gamma. As the caretaker of my pack, I say it is time for sleep. While I think we should delay the trials, I was overruled, so bed everyone. I will delay the kitchen staff and have breakfast served after the tracking portion of the competition. Now sleep, we must be at the tracking grounds in six hours, and it will be a long day.”

With nods of approval, each stood to return to their rooms. When they reached their rooms, Marcus dismissed the girls, who fought leaving until Marcia threatened to use her command on them.

Entering their room together, Marcia fell into his arms. “I thought I had lost you.” Her tears flowed like a river as she held onto him. She had held it together in front of the others, but her strength was gone in private.

“Shhh, my love, I waited years to find you, and there is no way I am going anywhere at this point. I love you, and we will make it through this. Besides, I knew that I could protect both of us when I was simply the strongest Alpha to ever live, but now I am a lycan, I pity the fool who comes after us now.” The laughter in his voice belied the arrogance of his words and made Marcia smack his arm as they both undressed for bed.

More than anything, she wanted Marcus, but as soon as they touched the mattress, the day seemed to hit them both, and they drifted to sleep in each other's arms.

Marcus

Marcus woke early, his arms wrapped around Marcia, holding her tight. The nightstand clock showed that it was not quite time to wake, but something had disturbed his slumber. As he listened, he heard the sounds of the pack starting to stir and realized this is what woke him. When he had taken over as Alpha, he had the entire pack house reinforced with soundproofing. It was going to take some time to get used to his new lycan senses.

Realizing that he would soon need to wake her, Marcus pulled her closer, nuzzling the mark on her neck before starting to lay small kisses on the side of her face. Feeling her shifting in her sleep, he smiled to himself before continuing in his ministrations. Slowly, he shifted himself free from the tangle of limbs, turning to look at her sleeping face straight on.

Leaning forward, he placed a small kiss on the tip of her nose. Without warning, Marcus was shocked by the growl that she released before her eyes popped open. Instantaneously, she lunged forward, claiming his mouth in a passionate kiss.

Never breaking the kiss, Marcus shifted, rolling over her, and using his hand to capture hers, pulling them over both of their heads. His left hand slowly lowered down her side, stroking lightly, until he reached the bare skin of her hip, where he gripped.  She understood the silent request and wrapped her legs around him, enjoying the feel of their skin rubbing against each other, and letting out a small moan of appreciation.

Breaking the kiss, Marcus pulled back to look into her eyes, which were now open and full of lust. “Are you up to this? Last night was not an easy one.” Inside, he prayed that her answer was yes because he did not know if he would be able to stop now. The scent of her arousal was driving him mad, and he was a moment away from taking her hard and fast.

Rather than acknowledging his question, she lifted her hips to meet his, pushing against the throbbing length of his need and making him whimper. Taking this as her approval, he allowed his hand to slide lower, tickling her just enough to make her squirm under him before feeling the center of her, finding that she was just as ready as him.

Stroking her folds, he watched her face contort in pleasure as she struggled in his grasp, greedily seeking more pressure. He smiled, ignoring the unspoken request of her body, keeping his touch light and teasing. With his head, he leaned down to claim one of the tight buds of her nipples in his mouth. Instantly, her head flung back and her breathing grew ragged. When she could not hold back her moan any longer, Marcus increased the pressure he was using, sinking first one, then a second of his thick fingers into her.

The moist heat enveloped his fingers, drawing him deeper and making her demand more. Using his fingers, he stretched her more and more to make sure she felt nothing but pleasure at his touch. Feeling that she was ready for him, he pulled his fingers and head back, causing her to gasp, a complaint at the loss of connection. He slowly licked her juices off his fingers before kissing her passionately. Using all his strength, he thrust his hips forward, entering her to his hilt in one swift motion. They both groaned as she tightened on him in response to the sudden invasion.

Before he could react, she suddenly tightened her legs around him before flipping both of them over on the bed, taking control. Leaning back, she sat up straight, loving the feel of having every inch of his length, and started to slowly rock her hips, just slightly. Slowly, she increased her pace, lifting further and further until she was nearly coming off him and slamming back home at a blurring pace.

She screamed in satisfaction, never slowing as she rode wave after wave of pleasure. In the midst of her orgasm, Marcus took back control. With the spasms dying down, he suddenly lifted her off him, flipping her to her knees on the bed before him. Not allowing a moment to pass, he moved into her from behind, using every bit of force he could muster. The sounds of his skin slapping against her echoed with the sounds of their pleasure as his grip tightened on her hips. Running his hands up the length of her back, he anchored her in place with a fistful of her hair, loving the sounds that she was making beneath him.

He was being rougher than he ever had before, but he could tell that she was close to losing control again. Releasing her hair, she slid his hand lower to stroke her wet folds with each thrust, causing her moans to begin again.

Knowing that he would not last much longer, he increased his speed even more and felt her begin to tense. This time, when she went over the edge, she took him with her. Shouting out in pleasure, he emptied himself deep inside before falling onto the bed. He shifted them both on the way down, rotating so that she was spooned in his arms, still connected, and held her close.

“Good morning, Luna.” The laughing words were tinged with satisfaction as he placed light kisses on her jawline, holding her tight to his chest.

“That is Alpha, but we are going to need to get up; we are to be at the training field shortly.” With these words, she turned her head, hearing the sound of footsteps approaching from the hall outside their room. “Here they come, I am surprised that no one has come to wake us before now.” The words had barely left her mouth before Marcus heard shuffling beyond the door. Marcus managed to flip the blankets over them both just moments before the door flew open to show Jackson and Seth walking in, fully dressed and carrying coffee.

As they entered, Jackson and Seth sniffed the air and realized what they had walked into. Both men had knowing grins on their faces as they approached the bed. “When I told you both to go to bed and rest, this is not what I meant! We brought you coffee to help you wake after a stressful night, but it looks like you two found different methods to get your blood flowing.” The ridiculous high tone of Jackson's voice, teamed with the fake shock on his face, caused everyone in the room to break into giggles before Seth took control of the situation.

Placing the coffee on the table, he went into the walk-in closet to rummage around. Returning with the clothes picked out for each of them, he placed hers on the couch before looking Marcus dead in the eye. “You do not have time to delay, so you will shower in the room next door, let's go.” He stared at Marcus, daring the powerful man to argue.

With a resigned sigh, Marcus kissed Marcia one last time before sliding from her warmth, making sure she stayed covered at all times. None of the men in the room seemed to care about his nakedness, but Marcia let out a growl. “Robe now.” She hated the idea of anyone seeing the mate that she and her lycan had claimed as theirs. He was hers alone, and she wanted it to stay that way.

Smirking at her possessiveness, which seemed to rival his own now, Marcus turned, grabbing his robe, and putting it on before he scooped up the pile of clothes left by the Gamma. “Ten minutes, Princess, then I will come for you.” His arrogant words were delivered with a smile before he sauntered out of the room, clearly proud of himself.