Chapter 147 Cuddles-- Esme POV

Chapter 147 Cuddles-- Esme POV
Esme POV

I pulled my shirt over my head as my mate and I ran through the forest to get to the heart of the pack.
“Get that tonic to Rowan and make sure he doesn’t taste it!” Zeron ordered.
Why would Rowan taste it? Well, I could never be sure.
“What if Reya’s done something?” I asked.
“Leave that to me. Rowan’s waiting behind the pack house to take off.”
Minutes later, I arrived behind the pack house, panting and sweating.
“What the hell’s happening?” Rowan asked.
He gripped Rina’s right wrist. Her hair was ruffled, and her clothes were wrinkled. She clearly tried to escape.
“I have no idea. Zeron’s taking care of it.”
“Fine.” Rowan shoved Rina into the passenger seat and locked the car.
“Now, how does this work?” Rowan asked.
“She doesn’t have to drink all of it. You can put it in her food. Are you going to watch her until the eclipse is over?”
Rowan nodded. “I have to. We’ll be back in less than forty-eight hours.”
“Zeron says not to drink it,” I added.
Rowan frowned. “Man… smells good.”
“Rowan!” I gasped.
“Yeah, yeah, I won’t drink it.”
Maybe we should be concerned about Rowan going on this mission alone. However, Rowan drove off, and I could hear Rina yelling at him as the car drove away.
“Good luck, Rowan,” I sighed.

I ran back to the pack house. A small crowd lingered outside and in the hall, but all was quiet. The kitchen was being rebuilt, so I ran outside to the courtyard, where a makeshift kitchen was and where I knew I’d find Ganice.
“Ganice, what was that screaming about?” I asked.
Ganice and Vivian shared a look of concern.
“Luna Dana got into an argument with Reya De Monte. Luna Dana was very arrogant and began making threats,” Ganice explained.
So… Reya didn’t start the altercation. I felt bad for thinking she did now.
“A lot was said,” Vivian said, blinking rapidly as if replying to everything that was uttered during the confrontation. “Luna Dana reacted to a comment Reya made about the old Alpha King, and then the Luna created an incredible orb of power. It was so bright it was blinding, and she threw it at Reya.”
My chest tightened.
“Reya moved out of the way in time, but the orb hit a member of Luna Dana’s delegation. The magic sucked her dry! There was no hope for her.”
I placed a hand on my chest. “Where’s Reya, then?’
“No idea. Alpha Zeron arrived, and chaos broke loose. Members from Luna Dana’s pack ran off, leaving her behind,” Ganice replied.
“What about Dana?” I asked.
“Alpha Zeron put her on a wagon and ordered his betas to take her far away from the pack. We don’t know what’s going to happen to the divorce trials! No one’s seen Luna Rina either!” Vivian said, her voice panicked.
So, no one knows Rina’s left the pack yet.
“We’re all left in limbo,” Ganice sighed.
“Omegas!” A beta barked. “Alpha Zeron has ordered an early dinner and a strict early curfew. Get to work.”
Vivian bowed. “Right away.”
The beta turned and disappeared into the house.
“I’m sure the curfew is for safety reasons,” I said to assure them.
Vivian nodded. “I’d rather be safe in my room than exposed to Dana’s magic. I’ve never seen anything that intense.”
Were Zeron’s betas safe with Dana out there? With the eclipse getting closer, were we safe here?

Dinner was tense. I joined everyone else outside by the bonfire instead of eating alone inside.
The things on the pack members’ lips were Dana’s attack and now Luna Rina’s disappearance and their fear of their crops. Without Luna Rina to heal the crop again, they were worried.
I finished up dinner. Curfew came about, and I retreated to my room. The pack house was eerily quiet tonight. I peeked out my window and saw betas patrolling the grounds. My mate must be out there too, making sure the pack was safe.
That’s what Alpha did, and my mate wasn’t any different.
I accepted that Zeron wouldn’t be joining me tonight. I changed into an oversized shirt that swallowed me up, but barely covered my thighs.
I climbed into bed, mentally prepared to cling to the covers instead of my mate tonight. However, the door opened without warning and slammed shut. My mate marched inside, hair wet, muscles tight, and jaw locked. It had been a long day for him, and he still carried Rina’s evil toxins in his system.
“Mate,” I whispered. “I didn’t think you’d come tonight.”
He eyed me from head to toe before stopping at my thighs, the parts my shirt didn’t cover. I squeezed my legs shut and bit my bottom lip.
A soft smile spread on his face. “I told you we’d be together tonight. Dana’s long gone.”
“Are you—”
“Yes, I’m sure. Your mother and her pack are settled, and the pack is secure.”
“You seem so sure.”
He closed the distance between us with three swift strides. “Of course, I’m sure. Ready to sleep already?”
“Yeah, I thought I’d be spending tonight alone,” I replied.
He sat down, and the mattress sank under his weight. “I’ve been hoping to get you alone.” He stroked my bottom lip. “You did great with the tonic.”
“It was nothing,” I whispered.
“Don’t say that, Princess.”
I parted my lips under the pressure of his thumb. Zeron slipped inside and placed his thumb on my tongue.
“Suck,” he ordered softly.
I closed my lips around his thumb and pulled.
“Damn, you’re gorgeous,” Zeron whispered, watching me as if I were creating something from scratch.
He pulled back. “Good.” Merely a second later, he replaced his thumb with his lips.
I fisted his shirt and dragged him to the mattress with me. He growled and deepened our kiss. “I love this.”
He parted my teeth and sought out my tongue. I moaned, melting. As Zeron hovered over me, kissing and claiming me, I felt every knot of stress in my shoulders and back. It had been a stressful couple of weeks. I needed this.
My hands slipped under his shirt and found his nipples. I squeezed unexpectedly. He chuckled, and I jolted.
“I had no idea you liked it that way,” he said against my lips.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
“Don’t.”
One of his knees parted my thighs and pressed against my crotch.
I gasped against his lips.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Zeron said reassuringly. “Let’s take this off.”
He pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it across the road. Cool air kissed my nipples, turning them harder than they already were. Zeron’s gaze lingered there for a moment.
“Nice… very nice.”
“Zeron…” I rasped.
He grinned. “I know…”
He stroked one nipple gently and then moved to the other one. My underwear was soaked and threatened to soak his jeans too since he hadn’t removed his knee from my crotch.
Then his mouth covered my breasts, sucking for dear life while his hand gave my other nipple attention. I couldn’t keep my voice down anymore, nor could I keep my body still anymore. I moved myself on his knee and moaned.
“You can’t take this anymore, can you?” Zeron teased.
“I can’t!”
“Let me take care of you, Princess.”
Zeron pulled back. I watched as he undressed himself down to his boxers. He turned off all the lights except for the lamps on the side of the bed. Within a second, he was on me again. His hands travelled everywhere, bringing shivers and pleasure with each touch. I leaned into him, but I needed more.
“Last thing,” Zeron said and snapped my underwear off my body.
He positioned himself between my legs, but he didn’t do anything just yet. He’s such a tease! He enjoyed torturing me.
“Please…” I pleaded.
He grinned and reached between my legs and found my sensitive clit. “Please what, Princess?”
I spread my legs and arched my back into his touch. “P-Please take me! I need you inside me. Right now, Zeron.”
“Whatever you want, Princess, and it’s yours.”
He adjusted and positioned his member at my entrance. I gripped his meaty arms as he pushed his tip inside me.
“Fuck! So tight.” He pushed in slowly, but eventually he filled me up.
I fell back on the pillow. I didn’t know I’d been holding myself up.
“That’s it, babe.”
He tangled his fingers in my hair while his other hand gripped my hip to guide him inside me. His strokes increased in speed. I struggled to keep up but eventually matched his movements. I was breathing heavily, sweat drenched my skin, and my body cried out in exhaustion, but the pleasure was worth it.
Zeron raised my legs so he could drive harder into me.
I needed him to dominate me more often.
“I’m close,” I confessed.
He held my gaze. “I want to see you come undone, babe. I’m right behind you.”
He drove into me hard and completely. My walls clenched around him, and my fists gripped the sheets. I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer as the orgasm temporarily malfunctioned my brain. Zeron followed with a primal snarl and deep growl as he unleashed his load. He gripped my hip as he emptied himself. That would leave a mark tomorrow morning.
He collapsed on top of me, wrapped his arms around me and planted kisses on my face and chest. “Perfect. I almost don’t have words.”
“How about round two?”
He stared at me with mischievous eyes. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
I laughed softly. “Will our forever feel like this?”
He leaned in close and bumped his nose against mine. “Yes, mate. You’re my destiny, remember?”
I nodded, a knot forming in my throat. “Yeah. I can’t wait until it’s over and we can just be together.”
He slid to my right and pulled me to his rock-hard chest. “Rest. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
I exhaled. Exhaustion didn’t allow me to overthink. My body melted beside Zeron. I knew I was safe. I was right where I belonged. The world’s problems could wait.