The Unwanted Wolf

ADIRA

My body flung forward, a cold sweat covering my face. “Mark,” I gasped.

Mark was instantly alert and sat up next to me. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

I looked at him with wide eyes. “Cain is gone.”

Mark furrowed his eyebrows, confused by my statement. He didn’t understand how I knew that, but he trusted what I was saying, and I saw his eyes go glassy as he started linking the patrol to have them confirm this information.

I looked down at my hand and felt the glass bottle sitting in my hand still. I rolled it in my fingers, and closed my eyes, feeling the content. I could feel the power burning inside of this small bottle, and I knew everything Cain had told me was true. I was holding Cain’s magic in my hand.

Mark got out of the bed after receiving a response, and he started pacing the room. His fingers tangled in his hair as he paced, and I knew they were trying to find Cain. It was pointless though, but I knew Mark wouldn’t rest until he at least knew the area was secure.

I stayed in bed, with the sheets pulled up. I kept staring at the little bottle, unsure of what to think. Before I decided what to do, I definitely needed to talk to Ginger about this, just to double check it wasn’t some trick, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around what happened. After everything that Cain had done, I would have never expected him to give me something so grand in nature. Maybe he really did care as much as he claimed.

Mark sat on the bed next to me, and his body was tense. “Cain is gone. We can’t even find any signs of him.”

“Freya is gone, too,” I said casually.

Mark gave a slight nod, showing he already knew that information. “How did you know this? You were asleep, and the warriors on patrol didn’t even know they were gone.”

“He visited me in my dreams. He told me they were leaving together and not to bother trying to find them, because it would be a waste of our resources, and we have bigger things to worry about.”

Mark’s jaw clenched. “That coward is just running away, leaving you to deal with the problem he caused.”

My freehand moved to Mark’s. I understand why he was angry. I think part of me was angry, but I was also too confused to feel the full extent of anger at this moment. “He wasn’t much help anyway. And he didn’t leave me completely defenseless, at least I don’t think so.”

Mark tilted his head to the side, so I opened my hand and continued to explain. “He gave me this. He said it’s his magic, and I can have it, so I stand a better chance against the council.”

Mark looked at the bottle and back up at me. He had the same look of confusion and concern that I felt. “Why would he just give you that? He seems too power hungry to just give it all up, just like that.”

I closed my hand around the bottle. “I don’t know. My guess is he found something more important than power.” I kissed Mark on the cheeks. “I would give up my powers if it meant being with you forever. He and Freya want the second chance they never got. I think Cain knows that magic can be tracked, so if he still had it, they would never feel safe, not with the council.”

I wanted to be angry with them and happy for them to finally get a chance to be with their mate, but I didn’t feel either of those things. I felt numb and hopeful. They waited over twenty years to get their happy ending, and they were still trying. Surely Mark and I would be able to get there one day.

Mark tucked a piece of hair behind my ears, and his fingers lingered on my cheek. “How are you handling all of this?”

“I’m okay, I think. Do you have to go help the warriors with all of this?”

Mark shook his head. “Reyland is taking care of it. Besides, I’m not about to leave your side, not when Cain is free. I don’t care if he said he was running away or whatever. I still don’t trust him, and I’m not going to risk leaving you by yourself again.” Mark gave me a quick peck. “Now, why don’t we try to get some sleep? We have a big day tomorrow.”

Mark and I settled back into bed, but I couldn’t relax enough to fall asleep. My mind was racing with all of the possibilities that this night would produce.

–

The light was much too bright when the sun started peeking through our windows. I had no idea how much sleep I had actually gotten through the night after the news of Cain leaving. All I knew was my body was saying it wasn’t enough. I shifted in bed, still feeling Mark’s presence in the bed.

When I saw his face, he was looking down at me with a bright smile on his face. Based on the dark circles under his eyes, he hadn’t slept much either, but he was still buzzing with energy.

“How are you this awake after last night?” I croaked, my voice still full of sleep.

He leaned forward and cupped my cheek, gently moving his lips with mine. My body woke up from his touch, and my skin itched for even more. I pressed into his body, deepening the k**s. My fingers ran down his neck, eager for any skin to skin contact. He dipped his tongue into my mouth, and I eagerly opened my mouth, welcoming his taste even more. Every touch was caring and full of love. It wasn’t some eager primal desire, not that I minded that side of Mark, but I was lapping up this energy from him.

Mark tucked his knee between my legs and started moving it. The friction instantly had me mewing from the pleasure. I gripped onto the back of Mark’s neck as my mind went completely blank. Mark moved his mouth down my neck, adding to the pleasure, and my entire body was sparking.

The things this man did to my body still continued to surprise me. I went from still being half asleep, to being hyper aware of every little touch he gave me, and I didn’t want it to stop. I could tell Mark was eager for more, too, as his mouth continued down my body. He pulled the straps of my night shirt down, revealing my chest. He kissed my newly exposed skin, as he continued the friction between my legs.

He lingered on my breast for longer than everywhere else, and my back arched into his mouth. He moved his leg from between mine and replaced it with his hand. He pushed my thin panties to the side and dipped two fingers into my already dripping wet heat. He slid his fingers up and down, circling around my little bundle of nerves. My body shuddered at the sensation, and I could tell I was already getting close.

He slipped two fingers inside of me and started pumping, quickly picking up the pace. He curled his fingers in just the right way, and my body started convulsing with pleasure, no longer able to contain myself.

When I had finished, Mark chuckled into my neck. “That didn’t take long.” He licked the fingers he removed from me, and I already wanted more from him. He kissed my lips lightly. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time to continue this without risking Rie and Scythe interrupting us.”

I whimpered, not caring about the scolding that Rie would give if I was late for getting ready for the luna ceremony. “They can wait.”

Mark kissed me again, this one lasting a little longer. He pulled away, a soft growl emulating from his lips. “I know, baby. But just think of this as a preview for what’s to come tonight. You’ll officially be my luna then.”

I beamed at the thought. Once I was sworn in as the luna, I would be able to link with the entire pack, which would make communication a million times easier for me. For the first time, when I thought about being the luna, only excitement filled my body. I wasn’t nervous or worried I would do a good job. Everyone around me trusted me to be the luna, and it was time for me to start trusting myself.

A knock on the door interrupted this moment with Mark.

He huffed a laugh. “Told you. Rie is here to whisk you away from me.”

I pouted. “Does that mean I won’t see you until the ceremony?”

Mark kissed my forehead. “Probably. But we can still link all day, and if you really need me, just say the word, and I’ll be by your side.” He kissed my lips and lingered there a moment, making sure to take it all in, since it would be hours before he could k**s me again.

The knocking on the door got louder. “Don’t make me go in there! I don’t want to see anything inappropriate.”

Mark sighed, exaggerating it. “Looks like our time is up.”

He crawled out of bed and then grabbed my hand to help me out of bed. I stumbled a little, my legs still shaky from our excursion. Mark easily caught me with a chuckle and a smirk plastered on his face.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I smacked his chest lightly. “Don’t look so cocky.”

Mark’s laugh only deepened. “Oh, but I’ve earned it. Just imagine how shaky your legs would have been if I had had time to finish what I intended.”

My throat went dry at the thought, and luckily Rie pounded on the door again, leaving no room for me to answer him. Mark moved over and grabbed the door, opening it up. Rie was standing in front of the door with her hands on her h**s.

“Took you long enough.”

“I wanted to take my sweet time, before you tear my mate away from me for the rest of the day,” Mark quipped back.

“Nope, you’re the one leaving. We are getting ready in here. Scythe is waiting for you.”

“Do we really have to get ready so early?” I asked. “The ceremony isn’t until this evening, right?”

“I’m not going to leave just so you two can get back to doing whatever it was you were doing. I know we have most of the day, but there’s more to do than just getting dressed. Plus you need to look perfect.” Rie turned to Mark and started waving her hands at him. “Now you shoo. I don’t want to see you for the rest of the day.”

Mark narrowed his eyes. “You do realize I’m the alpha, which means I’m in charge, right?”

“Uh-huh. Now go.” Rie pointed at the door, not standing down.

While Mark was right, and he knew he could just order Rie to back off, he wasn’t that type of alpha. With a clearly exaggerated sigh, Mark left the room, and Rie shut the door behind him.

She flipped around with a huge grin on her face, and instantly I knew something had happened. She leaned against the door, and she seemed like she was floating.

“Okay, spill,” I said, putting my hands on her h**s.

Rie blushed. “Is it that obvious?”

“Yep, now what happened?”

Rie bit her l*p. “Mason wants to join our pack. He says when Pack Lyna goes home, he doesn’t want to go with him, since that would mean spending too much time away from me. Obviously, we have to talk to Mark and Alpha Lyna about it, but I’m beyond happy.”

I grabbed her hands, thrilled for her. “I doubt either of them will have an issue with it. I’m so excited for you!”

“Me too. I was a little worried I would have a situation like Scythe and Percy had, and it terrified me. I didn’t want to bring up the future with him, because I was afraid of hearing the wrong answer. But he brought it up this morning.” Rie looked like she was about to float to the ceiling because she was completely filled with joy.

“That’s so great. You really do deserve this.”

“That’s so great. You really do deserve this.” I was thrilled at the idea of Mason joining our pack. When things calmed down, it would give me a chance to catch up with him, and I wanted nothing more than for Rie to be happy.

“Okay, enough about me! Today is supposed to be your day.”