Epilogue

Leora:

Beautiful, I think as I look at the bouquet of white roses I have in hand, freshly plucked, the petals still full of life, and I feel weird about this notion, why do we pluck living roses to place them on dead people’s graves? The dead certainly don’t care about that, I know better, but I guess it is for us, the ones who were left behind, to feel like we can still do something for the ones we lost, to show the world we still remember them, still love them.

“Thank you, my dear, it means so very much for our family..” Mrs Bells, a middle ages woman with short styled red hair and somber brown eyes thanks me for the tenth time since I met her at husband’s funeral three days ago, which was delayed for a week due to investigations, I smile politely while taking her hand in mine, noticing the remaining wetness hanging on her eyelashes, I barely know this woman, but the love I had for her husband is enough reason to be here for her, in the silvermoon territory, away from home, away from my mate.

“You don’t need to thank me, Mr Bells was more than a coworker to me.” He was my bony friend, the one who kept me company all those times in the isthmus, and the one who believed in my potential in real life, but I can’t tell her any of this, I can’t tell her I am one of the night creatures she hates with every cell in my body, the ones who took her husband from her.

“I know, he always spoke of you so highly, said you are one of the kindest souls he ever met, and he truly admired your hard work and ethics, you were like a daughter to him, I believe our children were jealous of you.” She says with a smile while wiping away a tear, her hand tightening around mine, needing support as she sails through her memories.

“He did the same about you, but not about your cat if I am being honest, he hated that, and I quote, “Fury spawn of devil”” she chuckles at my words, and I smile with pain as I look at her, a woman who lost her other half, a woman who is lost, and doesn’t know what to do next, and I think about my mate, fuck, I don’t even want to consider such a possibility.

“He truly loved you though, he used to tell me you are his soul mate, his better half, I just wish you to know this.” I say as I hug her, wishing her all the best.

After exchanging more pleasantries and good wishes, I excuse myself, finding both Mila and Ray waiting for me as none of them was allowed inside, I look at them, at the mountain of ice she is hiding behind while he tries to melt and I sigh, not knowing what to feel about this, Ray is a great guy, he helped me so much, I am happy he is okay, and I know the Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, but Mila had her share of pain and loss, and a part of me is afraid that he is not enough for her, is afraid he doesn’t deserve her and won’t be able to be what she needs, especially with the responsibility Axel dumbed on his shoulders.

“Let’s go home…” I tell them gently, not adding to the awkwardness of the situation, instead, I just place my head on the glass window as Ray drives us to the borders where Tynan and Ben are waiting no doubt, it was a miracle he let me come but I wasn’t taking no for an answer, not on this matter at least.

I sigh as I think about the last ten days, we didn’t speak much, now that I think about it, we barely did, which I am glad for, I needed the time, not away from him, never away from him, I just needed to rebuild me while being in the safety of his arms, and he was there, patiently and lovingly waiting for me, letting me take my time, I wish I didn’t need much, I wish it wasn’t this chaotic inside my mind, but it is, and he understands it, I just wish to go back to loving him freely with all of me, I want to reassure him that I am not going anywhere.

“Is it official yet?” I notice how Ray stiffens at my question, the gears in his head working around a response he could give me, I wait patiently while Mila steal small glances of his side profile, the two didn’t exchange a word since we got in the car, not that my little friend can.

“In a way, the Alpha had made it official, he left the pack and all of his responsibilities to me, he said he is not coming back but I hope he does, that witch is not worth chasing, and their relationship is not worth saving either.” Mila gulps and looks away, something about his words hitting a little too deep and I wonder if she is projecting, I wonder if she thinks there is no hope for her and her mate, I wonder, but it is not my place to step in, all I can do is trust my friend and support what ever decision she ends up making.

“She is not, but his baby is, and she left with it.” I state with no interest in my voice, feeling nothing about the whole situation, truly, I wanted to kill Ciana with my own hands, but that would only make things worse between the pack and we would never be able to get the peace I wished for, and without peace, our pack would suffer, I needed to think about everyone, not just my revenge.

That, and the dark fact that I did not wish her to rest, I didn’t want her to die, I wanted her to die, all alone and hated by everyone, I wanted her to suffer, I don’t know what that makes me, but there is no empathy in my heart for that woman, not even a shred, the baby didn’t do anything wrong though…

And Axel went after her, I still remember that day in the temple, when my mate was carrying me out of that hell hole, how he told her she was no longer the woman he loves, how she wailed in pain before running away, only to learn shortly that she was carrying his baby, leaving behind the pack he had failed, and I know a part of why he left is because he couldn’t look anyone in the eyes after what happened, I wouldn’t be able to either.

And this is how we ended up where we are, being the Beta, Ray stepped up to shoulder all the responsibilities, a draft of a peace treaty has been made, and I was allowed to come here and bid Mr. Bells the last farewell, which I am grateful for, alas, I don’t think I will willingly step foot into these lands ever again.

“You will do great, Ray, I am sure of that.”

“It is not that I am not willing to step forward for my pack especially in such times after he left the whole place in chaos and ran like a coward with his tail between his legs after that bitch who destroyed us all, it is that I don’t want to…” I catch him looking at Mila who holds his gaze for a second before looking away, oh the poor thing, both of them, “It’s the fact that I am not an Alpha, I never was and I will never be, and I had a life, dreams of my own…”

Dreams, more like, a dream, one that is sitting right besides him, one that he will have to drop in a few minutes.

No one says anything after that, we make it to the border, and sure enough, my mate is waiting there with Ben, I hold his eyes as I get off the car, my chest expanding with relief now that I got this out of my mind, just like everything else, I go straight to him, not once looking away, and he receives me in his arms, home, I think as I settle against his chest, his heart beats in my ear, alive and near, and I breathe him in, his distinctive smell, mine, my home, my man, my mate.

We start walking, his arm around my shoulder, mine around his back, oblivious of the conversation behind us, Ben can take care of it, I hope, for now, I want my mate all for myself, I want to talk to him, listen to him, kiss and taste him, make love to him, I want to show him that I am back, all of me, that I am his, entirely, every single cell and every single thought.

“I have missed you…” he whispers in my ear, breathing in my scent and sighing in absolute bliss, I tighten my hold on him, taking in his words and letting them fill me with warmth and giddiness, Goddess, I missed the feel of his lips against my skin, I missed the weight of his body over mine, I missed his heat, his roughness which he alternates with his gentleness, and I miss the feel of him inside me, instead of answering I halt and turn his face to me, standing on my tiptoes and kissing him with all the love and need I feel for him, his hands settle on my ass as he pushes me backwards before lifting me up, the hem of my black sun dress hikes up as I cross my legs on his back, mine resting against a tree, I moan when he pushes his tongue inside my mouth, not caring that I am loud, this is my man and I will let the whole world watch as he claims me.

“Take me to the residence…” I beg him when he finally releases my swollen lips, he looks at me with unmistakable hunger, aside from the small kisses and warm hugs and cuddles, we didn’t do much, mostly because he wanted to respect my need for time, not just for my mind but for my body, the last time he wasn’t so gentle and he is still regretting it, not knowing that I secretly crave more of that unhinged part of him, I crave his roughness, how he claims me with all of his might, how he fucks me senseless and marks my body as his.

Before I know it, we are in the residence, he looks at me with a question in his eyes, and I nod, telling him that I want him to take me back there, this time, without the anger and the sense of betrayal, but with the same ferocity, the same lust, the same dominance, he takes my lips once again, all tongues and teeth, nibbling on my already bruised lips, I moan and shiver as he carries me down stares to the secret dungeon, and I grind against his hardness, my pussy wet and throbbing, my breaths labored, my hands worshiping him, touching him, pulling him, tugging on his hair, biting his lips callously, wanting to feast on him the same way I want him to feast on me, he puts me down just for his hands to come to the back of my dress, and wish a sharp noise he rips it off, I moan at the trail of heat it leaves behind while he takes the fabric off me and twirl it in his hands, making a rope out of it, I take a step back but he quickly closes the distance to tie my wrists behind my back, I stand in front of his in nothing but my white bra and panties, a set I have picked just for him, he admires me from head to toe, his large hands gliding on my flesh, from my face, to my neck, to my aching breasts, to my stomach, to my ass, and finally, his hand slips between my legs, rubbing me through the fabric of my panties, I through my head back and open my legs to give him more access, not a single shred of shyness in my actions, he moves the fabric to the side and I wait for him to slip his fingers inside me, but instead of that, he lifts me up in one go, placing my legs over his shoulders, his hands holding my waist like clams, I gasp when he assaults my pussy with his mouth, not a second wasted, I hold on to his hair as he sucks on my clit before grazing it with his teeth, I shake and wiggle as the intensity inside me builds up to a scorching level, my hole labored with his licking and biting, he doesn’t stop, doesn’t slow down, even when I tug on his hair to, just for a second to let me breathe, he moves towards the bed and places me on it, hands still tied and pussy still occupied, his tongue slips inside and I arch my back and tighten my legs around his neck, he might suffocate but I will care about that when it happens, for now, all I can focus on is his tongue inside me, licking me hole as his finger twirls my clit before sliding down to my tight hole and I freeze, he blows on my clit before looking up, “Don’t be scared, just relax and feel it…” I throw my head back, trying to adjust to the weird sensation as he once again penetrates me with his tongue while his finger slightly slid inside my forbidden hole, and I lose all sense of reality as tension inside me explodes, I shriek as waves of pleasure assault my brain, he drinks from my pussy as if it was the fountain of youth, dragging the orgasm on until my body is lax, I expect him to give me time, but instead, he flips me up and pulls my ass to him until I am on my knees before ripping my panties off, I try to protest, not because I don’t like it, nor because I don’t want him to do what he is about to do to me, but because I want to show that I have some semblance of control, but of course, the beast is not here to play, with a finger plunged deep inside my pussy, he smacks my but with his free hand, making me jump up, he is not being nice, not being careful with me, and I love it, I love how he stripped off the gentleman facade to be the wild beast with me, to be him self and take me how he desires, how he likes to prey.

“Do you want me to stop, little Ora?” he asks, his tone implying that he has no intention to do so, I quickly tell him no, pushing my bare cheeks against him, wanting him inside me right this second, but instead of doing just that, he smacks my butt once again, this time harder than before.

“Do you want me to be gentle, slow, and careful?” his fingers trace the spot where he smacked me, soothing the aching skin, once again, I answer no, the word labored with need and impatience.

“Don’t you want to take control, make the score even for last time?” oh hell no, I think as I place my face on the mattress, looking at him through my shoulder, “No, I want you to take me just like last time, like a beast, make me yours all over again.”

“Beg me to, then!” he says with challenge, his large hands kneading my cheeks, I spread my knees for him, feeling the air against my wet folds…

“You better put that cock inside me and fuck me like I am like your slave or I will find me a man that will!” no I won’t, I think to myself as I challenge him back, my voice low and raspy, but the trick worked, not a second later, he pushes all his length inside me, his pelvis collide with my butt, his heavy balls hitting my clit, and his shaft stretching me to the point of pain and madness, my body is pushed forward with the intensity of his thrust, and if it wasn’t for his hands holding me, I would have fell flat on my stomach, he gives me a second to adjust, because he is still my beloved Tynan, before picking up his crazy pace, each thrust stronger than the one before it, I moan and call for him, asking for more before asking him to slow down, unable to breathe properly, his finger once again finds my tight hole, and I lose breath when he slips it inside, the sensation of both my holes being filled so pleasurably unbearable.

“You are mine, I would lock you here, chain you to this bed, feed you with my hands and kill every man out there before I let you be anyone else’s, do you understand?” he leans on me to bite my shoulder before taking a handful of my hair in his fist, pulling my head up, I cry as my scalp catches fire, tears running down my face, “Do YOU?”

“Yours, only yours!” I tell him right before he takes my lip between his, and we both cum at the same time, his seed filling me and my fluids bathing him, he collapses on top of me, catching his breath as I do the same with mine, Goddess, that was wild, I think as I lick my lips, still tasting him on me, still feeling his cock inside me.

“Mine…” he rolls to the side before taking me in his arms, a serene look on his face, no longer filled with fear and tension, I caress his face, loving him with my hands, looking into his eyes, Goddess, I have missed him, so fucking much that I don’t want to leave his arms ever again.

“Yours, forever yours and only yours.”

We stay silent for a bit, none of us needing to say anything as our eyes say it all, and me? I feel home, I feel safe, I feel loved, to think this is the same monster I met in the woods all those months ago, but he is my monster, my beast, wild and scary and dangerous and mine, and I choose to love him, I choose to be with him, I choose to forgive him and work on our issues, I choose to spend the rest of my days with him…

I choose him…