Chapter 56 Surviving
The truth of those words cut deeper than he could know. She did need him. Needed the bond that would form between them the moment they crossed this line. Needed the strength it would give her to face Alexander, to protect her children, to survive the trials ahead.
But she also wanted him. That part was real too. The desire that made her breath catch when he looked at her. The warmth that spread through her chest when he smiled. The way her body responded to his touch, bond or no bond.
Kane kissed her again, slower this time. Taking his time. His hands moved over her with careful attention, tracing the shape of her, already familiar the places that made her gasp. She arched into him, feeling the bond beginning to stir, to recognize what was about to happen.
Luna’s fingers found the buttons of his shirt, working them open with trembling hands. Each inch of skin she revealed made the bond sing louder, strength flooding back into her limbs. Kane's breathing was ragged as he watched her, his eyes dark with desire and something else, a protectiveness that the bond was amplifying without his knowledge.
"You're shaking," he said, catching her hands.
"Not from weakness," she assured him, and it was true. The trembling was from the surge of power building between them, from the bond demanding to be completed.
Kane studied her face, and she saw the moment his control snapped. He stood, lifting her into his arms in one fluid motion and heading towards the bedroom.
Luna wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing kisses to his jaw as he carried her. She could feel her body healing, energizing with each moment of contact. The bruise on her temple was already gone, her strength returning in waves.
He laid her on his bed with infinite care, his hands reverent as they traced her face. "You're glowing," he murmured, wonder in his voice.
She was. The bond was making her skin luminous, her wolf practically purring with satisfaction. "It's you," she said, only half-lying. "You make me feel alive."
Kane's eyes flashed silver, his wolf responding to hers though he didn't understand why the reaction was so strong. He leaned down, capturing her mouth again, and Luna let herself get lost in the sensation. Every kiss, every touch was medicine, was power, was life itself.
Her hands roamed his chest, feeling the planes of muscle, the way his skin heated under her touch. The partial bond pulsed between them, growing stronger, more insistent. She could feel it trying to complete itself, to forge the final connection that would bind them permanently.
Not yet, she thought desperately, even as her body arched toward his. Not until he knows. Not until he chooses.
But as Kane's mouth moved to her throat, finding the spot where a mate mark would go, Luna wondered if choice was ever really part of destiny's plan. The bond flared hot and bright, and she gasped at the surge of power that flooded through her.
"Your scent," Kane muttered against her skin, his voice rough with desire and confusion. "It's different. Sweeter. Like moonlight and honey."
The bond was changing her, making her irresistible to him, ensuring their connection would deepen. Luna pulled him back up, kissing him deeply to stop his questions. She couldn't explain that his wolf recognized what his human mind couldn't. That she was his, had always been his, even if he didn't know it yet.
As clothing fell away and their skin met skin, Luna felt herself becoming whole again. The weakness from her earlier collapse was a distant memory, replaced by a vitality that made her feel like she could take on the world. The bond sang between them, weaving them together in ways Kane couldn't see but definitely felt.
"God, Luna," he breathed, his forehead pressed to hers. "What are you doing to me?"
Surviving, she thought but said nothing.
The moment hung between them, more true than words could possibly tell. The partial bond flared, demanding more, demanding everything, but Luna held it back through sheer force of will. She would take what she needed to survive, to be strong enough to protect her children, but she wouldn't trap him.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever, if she could help it.
But as they moved together, the bond growing stronger with every shared breath, every whispered endearment, Luna wondered if she was only fooling herself. Some things were inevitable.
And Kane Pierce, Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack, protector, warrior,was hers.
Even if he didn't know it yet.
When they finally came together, Luna felt the shift immediately. The bond snapped into place, not complete but stronger than before. Physical. Tangible. Power flooded her system, washing away the exhaustion, the pain, the weakness that had plagued her for days.
Her wolf settled, finally at peace.
Kane held her close, his breathing ragged. He pressed his face against her neck, and she felt him inhale deeply, taking in her scent.
He kissed her again, softer this time. Tender. When he settled beside her, pulling her against his chest, Luna let herself relax into the warmth of him.
The bond pulsed between them, feeding her strength with every breath he took. She could feel her power returning, her wolf growing stronger. In the morning, she would be able to continue her training. To push herself further. To become what she needed to be.
Luna closed her eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She should feel guilty for keeping this from him. For taking what she needed without his knowledge or consent.
But survival rarely came with the luxury of full disclosure.
And she would do whatever was necessary to protect the people she loved.
Even if it meant lying to the one person who was saving her life.