Chapter 60 Feeding her
River
The inn is quiet, the soft crackle of the fireplace filling the silence as I sit on the edge of the bed, watching Aloria as she stares out the window. The moonlight bathes her in a silvery glow, illuminating the delicate features of her face, but I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands fidget with the hem of her shirt. She’s battling her inner demons, and I wish I could take them away from her, shield her from the darkness that threatens to consume her.
“Are you sure you want to stay here another night?” she asks, her voice hesitant, almost fragile. “Maybe we should go back to the pack. The longer I’m here, the more… complicated things get.”
“No,” I say firmly, feeling a surge of protectiveness wash over me. “We’re staying. You need time to recover, to figure this out without the pressure of the pack. I want you to feel safe, Aloria. You deserve that.”
She turns to me, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and fear. “But what if I can’t control it? What if I hurt you?”
A knot tightens in my chest at the thought. “You won’t. I trust you,” I insist, stepping closer. “You’re stronger than you realize. It’s okay to be scared, but don’t let that fear make the decisions for you. I would never leave you. You’re not alone in this fight.”
She nods slowly, but her expression betrays her uncertainty. “Maybe it’s not just about the vampires… Maybe it’s me. Maybe I shouldn’t be around you right now.”
My heart sinks. “What do you mean?”
“Sleeping together… What if I lose control? What if the hunger takes over?” Her voice trembles, and I can see the conflict raging within her.
I reach out, lifting her chin with my finger, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You’re not a monster, Aloria. You’re my mate. You’re still you, even with this… vampire essence. We can figure this out together. But pushing me away won’t help.”
She bites her lip, the flicker of doubt still lingering in her eyes. “I just don’t want to hurt you.”
I take a deep breath, fighting the urge to pull her into my arms. “You know what the healer said. You can manage this. You can channel your hunger. And besides…” I pause, an idea forming in my mind. “I have another thought.”
“What do you mean?” Aloria asks, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Maybe I should try the mixture the healer gave me? It should help ease the hunger, right?”
“I think it is better to safe that.” I say, knowing I need to do this. “I have something else in mind. Something that might help you even more.”
Before she can protest, I pull off my shirt, revealing the taut muscles of my chest. I can feel the heat radiating from her, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in her gaze. “River, what are you doing?” she asks, her voice barely a whisper.
With the sharp edge of my Alpha ring, I make a small cut on my chest, blood welling up in a crimson bead. “Drink,” I command, my voice low and filled with urgency.
Her eyes widen, a mixture of horror and intrigue flashing across her features. “I can’t. I can’t do that to you… it’s… weird”
“Oh, but you can,” I insist, stepping closer again, the hunger in her eyes unmistakable. “This will sate your hunger for a while. You need it, Aloria. I can feel the need radiating off you. You’re fighting a losing battle.”
I can see the internal struggle playing out on her face. The fear, the hesitation, and then a flicker of something primal ignites within her. She licks her lips, the hunger battling with her conscience.
“River…” she breathes, and I can see the conflict in her eyes begin to fade, replaced by an undeniable longing.
“Trust me,” I urge, my voice steady, filled with raw emotion. “You’re stronger than this. This isn’t about losing control; it’s about embracing who you are now. Trust your instincts. Loosing a bit of blood won’t hurt me.”
Finally, with a shuddering breath, she steps forward, her eyes locked onto the cut on my chest. The moment she does, I feel a jolt of electricity course through me, igniting something deep within as she leans closer.
Before I know it, she’s latched onto the cut, her lips wrapping around my skin, and I gasp at the sensation. The heat of her mouth sends waves of desire crashing over me, a fire igniting in my veins.
“Aloria…” I groan, my hands instinctively finding their way to her hair, tangling in the soft strands as she begins to suck, drawing the blood from my wound.
The world around us fades away, leaving only the two of us… lost in this moment, caught in a dance of shadows and light. Each pull of her mouth sends a thrill through me, a pleasure mingling with the pain, and I can feel her hunger consuming her, transforming into something fierce and beautiful.
With every heartbeat, I become more aware of the way her body presses against mine, the heat radiating from her skin, the soft sighs escaping her lips as she drinks. It’s intoxicating, a primal connection that binds us together, and I can feel the wolf inside me awakening, responding to the call of my mate.
“Don’t stop,” I whisper, my voice a low growl as I pull her closer, urging her to take what she needs. The room seems to pulse with energy, a wild rhythm that matches the frantic beating of my heart.
She pulls back slightly, her eyes glinting with a mix of satisfaction and hunger, and I can see the thrill of the moment igniting a fire within her. “I… I didn’t think…” she breathes, her voice husky with desire.
I cup her cheek, my thumb brushing against her lips, slick with blood. “You didn’t think you could embrace this part of you? It’s who you are now, Aloria. And I’m here, every step of the way.”
The tension hangs between us, charged and electric. I can feel the pull of her wolf and the vampire essence wrestling for dominance, but in this moment, I realize it’s more than just the hunger; it’s about trust and connection, about embracing the darkness together.
“Together,” I murmur, leaning closer, our breaths mingling. “We’ll navigate this darkness together. You and me.”
And as her gaze locks onto mine, I know that we’re on the brink of something powerful… a bond that transcends the shadows, a dance with darkness that will shape our destinies. The night is far from over, and I’m ready to jump head first into whatever lies ahead, as long as she’s by my side.