42

42
Raymond
“I’m just his beta. Please don’t reject me,” I begged. “Trust me, I’m not like him. I’m different.”
She laughed, but it wasn’t mean. “I never said I was rejecting you, did I?”
Hope filled my chest. “I was scared. I thought you would reject me because of what my Alpha did to your friend.”
“No, I’m not rejecting you. I won’t judge you because of what your Alpha did to my friend. I will never deny the mate bond between us,” she whispered, stepping closer. “I’m already attracted to you.”
I was so relieved that I pulled her against me. She fit perfectly in my arms like she was made for me. The mate bond hummed between us, warm and electric.
“Thank you,” I whispered in her ear, breathing in her perfect smell. “You are absolutely beautiful, love. Can you tell me your name now?”
“Ella. My name is Ella Hills.”
Even her name was perfect.
“I, Raymond Rain, accept you, Ella Hills, as my mate and female Beta.”
“I, Ella Hills, accept you, Raymond Rain, as my mate and Beta.”
The bond clicked into place fully, and I felt complete for the first time ever. Ella was blushing so hard her face was red, but she was beautiful.
“Can I kiss you?” I asked, looking at her.
“Yes, you can. I’m your mate,” she replied softly. “I’m all yours.”
Red was howling with joy, begging me to let him out to claim her. But I wanted to enjoy this moment, our first kiss.
When our lips met, it felt like coming home. She tasted like strawberries and champagne. She opened her mouth for me, and I felt like I was flying. Her small hands grabbed my shirt, pulling me closer.
“Mmm?” she moaned softly.
I wanted more than just a kiss. I wanted all of her. I wanted to explore this divine goddess’s body. She wrapped her arms around my neck as she deeply kissed me. My chest vibrated. A pleasurable moan escaped me. I could never get enough of her.
Every instinct told me to claim her completely, to mark her as mine. But I could feel she was nervous and new at this, so I forced myself to go slow.
“Let’s claim her,” Red howled. “Let’s claim our mate now!”
“I don’t want to scare her. I’ll take things slow.”
“I can’t breathe,” she said against my mouth.
I immediately pulled back, scared. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It’s okay. It was my first time kissing. I guess I didn’t do well,” she whispered, looking down.
My heart melted. Her first kiss. I had been her first kiss. “You did great, darling. Your lips are soft and sweet. I loved it.”
“Yours too. I love the way you kiss me,” she blushed. “Can we continue?”
I was reaching for her when I heard an angry growl behind us. Jane stood there, her eyes blazing with fury and that same dangerous power from before.
“Let go of her,” she snarled, showing her fangs.
“No, please don’t hurt him. He’s my mate,” Ella said quickly, stepping in front of me.
Jane smirked before replying, “Your mate? Are you sure this thing here is your mate? Are you not mistaken about him?”
“Yes, I’m sure. He’s my mate,” Ella said firmly.
Jane looked me up and down. “Listen carefully, Beta. If you hurt her, if you make her cry even one tear, I will hunt you down and tear you apart. Do you understand me?”
The threat was real. Whatever had happened to Jane, whatever gave her this power, it was terrifying. “I would never hurt her. I’d die before I hurt my mate.”
She studied me for a long moment, then nodded and disappeared back into the crowd.
Ella was shaking, so I pulled her close. We were getting back to our kiss when a loud crash came from across the club.
We rushed in and witnessed Jane defeating an Alpha—a feat that surprised me. She displayed incredible strength, overpowering a wolf stronger than me. I remembered when she was rejected for being clumsy and lacking a wolf. Her newfound power was astonishing.
“How is this possible?” I said, watching Jane’s eyes glow with a strange light.
I could feel my mate trembling beside me. She was scared. She was shaken by what she saw. I tried to calm her, then another girl appeared - tall, elegant, with the way of someone born to lead. She moved to Jane’s side like they were old friends.
“Who is she?” I asked Ella.
“That’s our Alpha’s only daughter, Amira. She’s also our friend,” she replied.
Great. Another powerful person who might not like me.
I prayed to the Moon Goddess that Amira would accept me.