Ch. 441..450
Chapter 441 In the Cabin (2)
Talia observed the strange mechanism of the shower and noticed that there was one more chain. "What about the one in the back?"
"That one will drain the reservoir. We will drain it before we leave so that it stays dry until the next rain."
Damon hugged Talia from behind. "Shower and wear something comfortable. I will be back in no time and then we will work on the dinner."
Talia wanted him to stay, or at least to take her with him, but his choice of words made it obvious that he wanted her to wait for him. Well, the day was long, and the humidity made her sweat. She would need to shower anyway.
"Be back soon.", she said softly. "Go, before I change my mind."
Damon chuckled and kissed the back of her head.
Talia closed her eyes when his arms loosened around her and she released a slow breath, missing him from the moment his warmth started disappearing.
Maya told her that after marking their connection will intensify, and the absence will hit them harder. Talia didn't want to think about anything harder than what she was experiencing right now.
…
Talia entered the bathroom with a towel around herself while clutching her change of clothes.
Damon's absence was unsettling, and she decided to shower quickly. He said that he will be back by the time she was done, so if he breaks his word, she will give him a hard time. But she really hoped that he will be back sooner, and maybe join her in the shower.
Talia observed the showerhead that was actually a wide pipe coming straight from the ceiling, and Talia guessed that the other side was attached to the water reservoir on the roof.
After keeping her things on the side, Talia stood under the showerhead, tugged on one chain, and… nothing. She tried the other one, gradually increasing the pull, and after a small screech that sounded like a groan, the water started dripping. It was warm. She gave the chain a stronger tug and the water flowed.
"Ahh…", a long sigh escaped Talia's lips when warm water hit her head and glided down her body, soaking in the tension she built up during the last few days, and washing it away until it disappeared in the pebbles that could be seen through the planks on the floor.
Talia reminded herself that there was a limited water supply, so she tugged the chain to stop the water in order to soap herself. After a strained creak, the water stopped, and Talia reached for the shampoo.
She was distracted.
What was Damon up to? Why did he leave like there was an important mission?
She was nervous.
Talia told him that he can mark her, and she knew that's why they came here, and that was already nerve-wracking, but then he left. She needed his proximity and assurance that things will be alright.
What if her wolf comes out and objects or… worse?
And how could Gideon say that her wolf was fine? How can it be fine if she is not responding when Talia calls for her? Or is her wolf ignoring her on purpose? Aren't wolves and humans supposed to work together?
"Crap!", Talia cursed under her breath when shampoo entered her eyes, fierce sting blinded her.
Now what!?
Talia frantically waved to reached for the chains. She tugged one, nothing happened. She reached for the other one and nothing.
How can both of those be nothing? She pulled with a lot of force this time.
Is the system broken?
She grabbed the other chain and put her weight behind it. The pipe above her head creaked and then…
'SPLAAAAAAASH!'
Talia lost footing under the force of water that hit her suddenly, and she fell on her butt, blinking rapidly as the water slammed into the floor planks and splattered everywhere.
Talia pushed her hair back to see that the pipe above her head was completely open, water pouring out, and she had no idea how to stop it. After a moment of hesitation, Talia she quickly stuck her head under the stream to wash away the remaining shampoo because she had a feeling that water will run out within seconds.
The water stopped and Talia dejectedly looked up, wondering if she broke it. But then she understood that she probably pulled the third chain, the one that drained the reservoir.
Will Damon be mad at her?
Well, at least the lake was close. They can go swimming and laugh about this shower incident. Maybe.
She heard about rain-summoning rituals. Should she try to perform it? If it rains heavily, Damon won't notice that she used the whole reservoir for one shower. Will he believe it was an accident?
Talia exhaled helplessly. What was done was done.
She walked out of the shower to grab a towel and she looked in the mirror dejectedly.
This three days-long vacation didn't start well. Actually, the last few days were kind of horrible, and it felt like a dam was about to break, yet they were patching it up with bandages.
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Talia exited the bathroom while rubbing her hair with a towel and she froze when she heard noise from the kitchen.
Slowly, very slowly, she turned toward the source of the noise and released the breath she was holding when she realized it was Damon.
Relief replaced her anxiety with every inhale that brought her his addictive scent.
He was rummaging through the kitchen and Talia paused at the sight of his muscular back as he stretched his arm to reach something from the top shelf. Damon was wearing only a pair of black shorts and his form was mesmerizing.
"Done with shower?", he asked before turning to meet her gaze. "I told you I won't take long."
Talia was about to respond, but she ended up frowning when she saw that his cheek was red.
She swiftly moved toward him and reached for his face. "You are hurt."
Damon shook his head. "I'm fine."
"That's blood."
"Not mine."
Talia followed his eyes that moved to the side and her brows furrowed at the sight of two dead rabbits that were in a metallic bowl on the kitchen counter.
She blinked while wondering if he bit them to death. Or did he shift in his wolf form? That would explain where his pants and shirt went.
Damon picked up a few spices and a knife, put them in the bowl next to the rabbits, and tilted his head toward the main door.
"Come with me."
Talia had no idea what to expect, but she followed him gingerly.
She paused at the sight of the campfire that was burning not far from the cabin. It was in a small clearing that was obviously made for such activities because there was no grass growing there, and three logs that formed a triangle were perfect for sitting around the campfire.
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Chapter 442 Offerings to a mate (1)
Talia sat on a log and observed Damon squatting a few steps away from the campfire as he expertly removed the fur and intestines from two critters.
There was something hypnotic in the way he focused on his task as he wielded the knife, always finding the right place to slide the blade.
His features were enhanced by the light of the campfire that danced over the exquisite landscape of his body, accentuating it with lights and shadows. With part of his body completely veiled in darkness, Damon looked mysterious, dangerous, definitely irresistible.
Talia had no idea how long it lasted, but she wished that it was longer because she wanted to be lost in the sight of Damon forever.
Once the two critters were cleaned, Damon sprinkled some spices on the meat and then speared them with long finger-thick sticks he prepared earlier.
When he stuck the end of sticks in the ground angled so that the rabbits end up over the campfire, Talia had to ask, "What are you doing?"
"Making dinner.", he responded like she asked something that was obvious.
And it was obvious, but she had a point.
"Why are you going through this trouble? I mean… Don't we have a full fridge and plenty of food in the pantry?"
Damon wiped his hands on his shorts and stalked toward Talia.
He squatted by her side and looked at her intently while resting his palms on her knees.
"Kitten…", he paused and licked his lips before continuing, "We met in unusual circumstances, and it all started wrongly. I found my mate, and instead of making it glorious, I screwed up. For the first time since taking my position as the Alpha of the Dark Howlers pack, I was confused, I feared that I will fail, and I lost my way."
Talia glanced at two critters that were roasting over the fire. "How is that related to you catching dinner when we have plenty of food ready?"
"Not catching. Hunting.", he corrected her with all the seriousness in the world. "If I had more time, I would go for something bigger, but you told me to come back soon, so I went with this." He exhaled sharply and shook his head. Why was he getting distracted like this?
The truth was that Damon was a bundle of nerves, unsure if Talia will approve of what he was doing. Will she understand that this was his way of showing sincerity? He messed up so many times that he didn't trust himself anymore. He was blindsided and hesitated, and that created openings for lies and schemes, and it put her in danger, and he was determined that it won't happen again.
Talia reached to touch Damon's face, but he grabbed her wrists to kiss the inside of each palm before pulling her hands down.
"Please, give me a moment.", he said. "You've seen me as an Alpha. You saw the packhouse, the pack, and you have an idea about the resources I have available. And this…" He pointed with his chin toward the rabbits. "Those are my offerings to you from me, as your mate. I want you to know that I will take care of you, Talia. I might lose my position, my pack, and everything I have, but I will never give up on you. As long as there is breath in me, I will seek you and take care of you. I will hunt for you and provide you with shelter and safety. You won't go hungry or cold…" His voice trailed when he saw that her face fell. Why was she sad? "Did I say something wrong?"
"No…", she said in a shaky voice, realizing that he was doing this in order to reassure her before he marks her. She was not sad, but she was emotional.
"You said everything right, Damon. It's romantic." And it was.
It was her dream to be with Damon, just the two of them; a simple life, away from dangers and responsibilities that kept them apart, and even though it will be only for a few days, it was happening, and she couldn't be happier.
"I feel blessed to have you as my mate. It means a lot that you are showing your sincerity in taking care of me." Especially the food part because no matter how much she ate, Talia always had a lingering fear that she will go hungry again. And she wanted to take care of him in return.
Damon was about to say something, but then Talia kissed him, and he was quick to move closer, wrap his arms around her, and deepen the kiss.
He had more to say, but that can wait for after the food was ready.
Actually, Damon was never a guy who spoke much. He let his actions speak for him, and he wanted to show Talia that she was his number one priority, and he would do anything to make her happy. No more hiding, no more schemes, and lies. They will finish this business with Marcy and Alpha Edward per James' plan, and after that, the two of them will stand proudly and face together whatever was coming.
He was determined to return with Talia by his side as his Luna, and if people disapprove then… to hell with them. The only disapproval that would hit him hard would be from the members of the Dark Howlers pack. Damon was born to lead them, and his whole life was focused on the pack, but if those same pack members won't accept his fated mate as their Luna, they can leave. He won't stop them, but he won't allow anyone to stir trouble for Talia either.
Damon wanted to kiss her forever and to do much more than kissing, but rabbits were above open fire, and he needed to ensure that his offerings to Talia don't turn into charcoal.
As werewolves, they could eat them raw, but he wanted to do this properly in steps: catch food, prepare food, eat food, eat mate, and mark mate. Yup, it sounded about right.
Damon went back to rabbits and was checking the progress while rotating them so that the other side gets kissed by the flames, when Talia asked, "When will I meet your wolf?"
For a brief moment, his movements paused, and he was confused that his wolf didn't stir at this. Wasn't his wolf super-excited about meeting mate?
Damon shook the uneasiness away, and responded, "After food."
He didn't want to risk giving control to his wolf who might snap under the intensity of his instincts and pounce either on their dinner or on Talia. Probably on both.
Talia didn't think much of it.
On every few minutes, Damon would give his attention to their dinner so that it roasts evenly, and in-between those he would get close to Talia and shower her with kisses that were soft and playful. He didn't want to heat up the situation, not yet.
At some point, after carefully inspecting their dinner, Damon announced, "Dinner is ready, kitten."
She licked her lips because the roasted rabbits looked good, and they smelled even better.
She was eyeing the meat and she wondered why he delayed in bringing it to her.
Talia's eyes went wide when Damon removed his shorts, leaving his impressive body completely bare. Damon looked super-sexy with that dancing campfire between them, and Talia was suddenly hungry for more than just meat.
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Chapter 443 Offerings to a mate (2)
Talia was not sure what to think about this sudden treat for her eyes.
Damon's naked form made her throat go dry. She saw every part of him more than once, but this was in the open, just the two of them, privacy.
Weren't they going to have food now? But… why did he remove his shorts? Their dinner will go cold and it won't be so good.
Talia peeled her eyes from his mid-section where his precious parts were hanging, and her gaze traveled over his firm abs and pecs... she saw his Adam's apple bobbing when he swallowed, and instead of his cocky expression, she met his eyes that looked at her with depth that made her realize this was important.
Damon took two sticks with roasted meat on them and approached her slowly, circling the campfire, and dropping on his knees when he was one step away from her.
"Talia", he called in a solemn tone. "Will you accept my offering?"
Her heart thundered in her ears. "Why are you so official?"
"I want to know if you will accept me as your mate.", Damon responded. When he saw her frowning in confusion, he explained, "You see, the Moon Goddess decides who will be fated to each other, but we have an option to reject it."
Talia nodded at his words. Rejection comes at a cost, but it's still possible. She saw that happening between Marcy and George.
Damon licked his lips before saying, "I am offering you this food as a gesture that I will provide for you. And I am offering you myself because I am completely yours, and yours only. My mission in life will be to provide for you and make you happy. If you accept me, we will face challenges together and I will be your weapon and your shield. No other woman will ever have my heart or my body. Nothing and no one will be more important than you are. Tell me, Talia… Do you accept me as your mate willingly?"
Talia sucked in a breath when she realized that this was more than just a romantic gesture. He was kneeling in front of her, baring himself completely, and giving her a choice to step back. He spoke of challenges because being his mate won't be easy, and he said that he will always put her first. Wasn't he the sweetest man alive?
Talia didn't want him to be the only one who will show his sincerity.
Talia stood up and took a moment to shake off her nerves which made her insides tremble.
Damon's anxiety was building up. Why was she not answering? Was she remembering all the trouble he caused and fears it will happen again? Is that why she stood up and stepped away? Was she about to reject him?
Damon held his breath while waiting for Talia to say something, or at least to smile a little, but he could feel that she was nervous and that only made him more nervous in return.
And then he watched her as she started removing her clothes and he was not sure if the whole world slowed down, or just his brain.
Talia kicked her shorts on the side and felt the breeze caress her most intimate parts. She was never this exposed, but it was exactly what she wanted. She wanted to be vulnerable and exposed in front of him.
She got down on her knees to face him on the same level.
"Damon…", she called softly but with determination. "I don't have much to offer, except for my support. I am overjoyed that you want to be my mate and that you are giving me a choice… a choice I don't need because even before you claimed my body as yours, you had my mind and my heart. It's yours. All yours. I am yours, and I accept you. Willingly."
Talia could feel his emotions swelling together with his arousal, an obvious approval of her words. She thought that he will reach out to her, and they will go at it right there on the dirt next to the bonfire, all thoughts about eating roasted rabbits were now forgotten. But Damon just smiled with a genuine smile that reached his eyes and then he extended his left hand toward her.
"Let's eat."
Talia gingerly took the stick with the roasted rabbit that he offered, and she scooted to sit on the log.
The rough surface of the tree was not noticeable over her shorts, but with her bare skin on it, she could feel the grooves and it took her some time to get used to it.
Damon sat next to Talia, close enough for their thighs to touch. He needed that contact as assurance that she was there, and this was happening.
He watched her as she eyed the meat in front of her, silently deciding from where to start eating.
Damon enjoyed the fact that both of them were completely naked and other than slight anxiousness, he didn't pick up anything negative from Talia.
Since he was a teen who could shift into his wolf form, and even before that, Damon spent time nude among other werewolves and it was not a big deal, it was normal for werewolves to move about naked. However, he knew that Talia grew up differently and she was now like this only because she trusted him. In a way, he liked it because her naked perfection was only for his eyes.
"Talia…", he called, and she turned to see him holding a piece of meat that he broke with his hand, silently urging her with his eyes to take it.
She let out a guilty breath. He was giving her his first bite, conveying that he will put her first, yet she almost sank her teeth into the meat she was holding.
Talia opened her mouth and he put the meat in there.
His breath hitched when her tongue grazed his finger, reminding him of all the ways that tongue can play with his body and mind. Seductress!
"Mmm…", Talia hummed in pleasure with her eyes closed as the tender flesh stimulated her taste buds.
"Do you like it?"
"It's delicious.", she said with glee, her lips glistening from the juices that the meat released. "It's soft and sweet and…" Talia paused and gave him a big smile. "Thank you, Damon."
His smile reflected in his eyes. "You are welcome."
Feeling that she should do the same, Talia took a bite-sized chunk of meat and offered it to Damon.
"Please…", she said when his brows came together in disapproval. "We share everything, food included."
Damon's expression relaxed and he opened his mouth.
His lips closed around her fingers that held meat for him to take. Of course, he remembered the tease Talia gave him. Damon's tongue twirled around her index finger, and he sucked on it slightly, enjoying hearing her heart rate picking up.
He loved how her body responded to him. He loved everything about Talia. He loved Talia.
Damon and Talia fed each other in silence, every bite silently conveying their thoughts and emotions about their future together.
Their hearts thrummed in the same beat, and this ritual seemed like the most intimate thing they did so far.
Both of them could feel the air around them changing, something between them strengthening, becoming more solid, almost tangible. It was surreal.
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Chapter 444 Meet the wolf (1)
Talia didn't notice at what point she and Damon finished the delicious meal he prepared for them, but she knew that small bones were scattered on the ground, and they were sitting completely naked on a log, facing each other, with a dimming campfire warming their sides as they exchanged light kisses that Damon controlled from turning hungry.
"Mmm… I could do this for the rest of my life.", he said in a husky voice between kisses.
Talia loved the idea of kissing him forever, but she wanted to feel him everywhere and not only on her lips.
Damon cupped her cheeks, and his fingertips ran over her arms creating delicious goosebumps as the sparks of their bond flared, but he didn't pull her closer, and when she tried inching to close the gaps between them, he asked her to be patient.
She glanced down at his erection and cocked an eyebrow at him. "Don't you want to do more than this?"
"Oh, I do.", he said earnestly. "I want to worship every inch of your body, kitten. But first, I want to freshen up. After chasing rabbits through bushes, I need a shower. Do you want to join me?"
Talia's smile matched his. Did she want to join him in the shower? Absolutely!
She showered already, but she could go again, with Damon.
Her smile fell when she remembered… "I forgot to tell you something. When I took a shower, soap got in my eyes, and it was stinging, and… I ended up pulling the wrong chain." Seeing that he was just looking at her blankly, Talia cleared her throat while embarrassment swelled within her. "I'm sorry, Damon. I think I accidentally drained the reservoir."
Damon's expression changed a few times and he wanted to ask her how could she accidentally pull a chain that was so much further than the others, but he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable because the lack of water in the cabin was no more than a slight inconvenience. The only thing that rubbed him the wrong way was that he was not there to see the scene of Talia soaped up and yanking the wrong chain.
"It's OK. The lake is right here."
"You are not angry?", Talia asked apprehensively.
"Angry?" His lips lifted into a wicked smile. "Would you like me to punish you?"
"No, but maybe to get me to fix it somehow."
A mental image of Talia bringing water from the lake in a bucket popped in his mind, but that would take forever. Surely, she was not thinking about it, right? He had to ask... "And how would you fix it?"
"I heard about rain summoning dance.", Talia responded seriously.
"Hmm…", Damon hummed while making a thoughtful expression. "I would love to dance with you in the rain, and before the rain, and after it. I want to do many things with you, kitten, and right now I want you to stop thinking about the reservoir because it's not important. I will go for a swim in the lake. Will you join me?"
Talia smiled dreamily while imagining them slowly dancing in the rain. "I will follow you everywhere…"
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After a hot summer day, the water in the lake was pleasantly warm.
Talia tried to cling to Damon, but he was careful that they don't get too close, keeping their contact points on hands and lips, because his control was close to snapping, and he didn't want to take her in the lake. Not now when she gave him permission to mark her, and not now when she accepted him as her mate… it needed to be perfect, something that will make her heart rate speed up whenever she remembers it, something that will make her blush and smile fifty years in the future.
After a short swim in the lake, Damon and Talia laid on the grass and stared at the dark sky that was speckled with numerous stars and framed by the rich tree canopies that appeared black.
They held hands with their fingers interlaced and didn't speak. Both of them were brimming with anticipation of what was coming.
Damon was remembering his every interaction with Talia, acknowledging that he was stupid at the beginning, but he was learning and improving, and... here they were... completely naked under the night sky with the forest surrounding them, holding hands, and enjoying each other's presence. It was peaceful and it was perfect.
Talia's chest was full of warm and fuzzy feelings, and there was also slight anxiety while wondering if anything will go wrong to prevent this marking from happening. She didn't want to jinx it and invite trouble, but nothing with Damon was easy, even though they made it eventually.
Talia turned to look at him, only to meet his deep blue eyes directed at her.
The darkness didn't prevent her from seeing every curve of his chiseled face and the way her stomach flipped at his smile left her in awe. Was it truly possible that she had something special with such an exquisite specimen? Damon was beyond handsome with hard muscles all over his tall body, and his face was absolutely beautiful. And Damon was much more than just an enchanting visual. He was strong and fast and smart and caring, and he looked at her like she was the only woman in the world. And he smelled of the forest and the dark chocolate. Talia's favorites.
"Damon?", she called breathily.
"Yes, kitten?" His voice was a rumble that started from his chest.
"Your wolf… when can I meet him?" That was the last thing on her list before he can mark her.
"I guess there is no better time than now."
He pushed himself into a seated position and turned to face her.
Talia sat as well, and he said, "Remember that my wolf is eager to meet you and mark you, but he won't harm you. And he won't do anything without your consent." Hopefully.
"Do you think he will do something... unexpected?"
Damon shrugged. "I really don't know what he will do. My wolf mostly just talks to me in my head. He comes in front when I'm in my wolf form, but he prefers to stay in the back of my mind. You are the first woman he wants to interact with."
Talia's eyes lit up. "Really? I mean... He didn't want to talk to anyone else?"
Damon reached to push a lock of hair behind Talia's ear. "There is no other, kitten. Just you. For me and for him."
"OK.", she said and bit her lower lip nervously. "I am ready."
"Don't be tense. I will still be here, but he will do the talking."
Talia relaxed at Damon's words, remembering that when her wolf took over to scold Damon, Talia was there listening.
She didn't know what to expect, but Damon's wolf was part of him, and he can talk, and she thought of him as Damon's roommate that can't be evicted. It wouldn't be proper if they seal the mate bond that will last a lifetime without her talking with the guy.
Damon's face changed as he called to his wolf, and it didn't take more than a few seconds for Talia to realize that something was wrong.
"Damon?", she called carefully.
"Uhm… he is not responding."
Chapter 445 Meet the wolf (2)
Talia was not sure what to think about Damon's wolf not coming out.
She wanted to ask Damon if he was joking, but she kept that to herself because this was not the time for jokes and Damon wouldn't do that. "Is he hurt?"
Damon shook his head. "He was fine when we were hunting dinner. I did that in my wolf form."
Well, if he was not hurt, then… "Did he change his mind about meeting me?"
Damon rejected that possibility immediately. "That shouldn't be the case. He was excited to meet you and now… nothing."
"Does this happen often?"
"It happens after I get hurt and he heals me, or if he wants to be left alone.", Damon said helplessly. "But I am not hurt and…" Damon was getting worried. Will this impact the mating?
Talia put her hand on Damon's and gave him a squeeze. "It's OK. Just relax." She could feel that he was tense. Was it a bad idea to ask to meet his wolf?
But then… Damon said that his wolf was eager to meet with her, and she believed him.
It was obvious that Damon was troubled by this, and Talia wanted to help him somehow.
Talia scrambled her brain for a solution. If Damon's wolf choose not to meet with her, it would be fine, but it seemed that was not the case.
Why would his wolf not respond?
Talia remembered what Gideon said, how wolves can be unreachable when they choose, when they deplete their energy and need to rest, and… he also mentioned that the strong ones can impact the weaker ones.
Damon told her that he can use his Alpha aura to make others submit and tell the truth without touching them, but she didn't think much about it, until now.
Talia's mind was working a million thoughts a second as fragments of conversations with Gideon and Damon and many others came together, and questions started sprouting.
What if…?
Was it possible…?
Talia could see only one explanation.
"I know you are listening.", Talia said, and Damon looked at her in confusion.
He whipped his head around, searching for an intruder, but his senses didn't pick up anything in the wide area other than forest critters.
Damon opened his mouth to ask what was going on, but she continued talking.
"Come on, I know you are there. Why are you not responding? Are you suppressing Damon's wolf? Why would you do that? Are you afraid that he will tell me something you don't want me to know?"
Talia gasped when intense fury bubbled in the pit of her stomach.
'WHO IS AFRAID!?', a voice boomed in her head.
Part of Talia was delighted to hear her wolf, and part of her was scared because she hit a nerve by provoking her (not on purpose). Talia was also confused, why would her wolf conceal her presence?
"It is you, isn't it?", Talia asked.
'You don't need to use words. I can hear your thoughts.', her wolf snorted.
"Kitten?", Damon called anxiously. He guessed that it was her wolf, and he was not sure if that was a good thing or a catastrophe emerging. Did her wolf come up with another crazy condition before he can mark Talia? Actually, even the first one (chasing away Marcy without revealing that Talia was his mate) was not completed successfully. Damn it!
He held Talia's hand and gave her a squeeze, but he didn't want to interrupt whatever conversation was going on in Talia's head, knowing that his kitten was getting answers and that she will fight for them no matter what her grumpy wolf comes up with.
Talia was not sure what to ask first.
'Since when are you sitting there and watching? Why would you hide your presence from me?'
Talia spent many lonely days in the Red Moon pack yearning to hear her wolf again. Since Talia got hope that her wolf might come back, she was eager for that to happen, eating, training, carefully listening, and she never imagined that her wolf would come back and pretend that it was not there. Was her wolf gone at all? How much did she see?
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The more Talia thought about this, the more she felt betrayed, spied on, and uneasiness swelled within her.
'Don't' go there', her wolf grumbled. 'Whenever you were getting close to that lecherous boy, I stopped watching. I'm not a pervert.'
'But you are awake for a while. Right?'
'It was on and off.', her wolf admitted.
'You saved us when the rogues attacked.'
Her wolf snorted. 'If not for me, both you and that boy wouldn't be breathing.'
Talia's mood improved. 'You healed Damon in the hospital.' If her wolf healed Damon, that means she didn't really dislike him.
'Oh, I didn't. That was you.'
A gentle squeeze on Talia's hand reminded her that Damon was right there, and she decided to focus on the pressing topic.
'Why are you suppressing his wolf?'
'What makes you think…?'
'Stop pretending.', Talia interrupted another question that wouldn't give her an answer. 'No games. Just tell me.'
'Why would I tell you anything? So that you can find a way around it? Does he deserve to have his wolf?'
Talia cursed silently. Why were her thoughts exposed while her wolf kept everything to herself?
'You need to learn to conceal your thoughts, Talia.', her wolf said patronizingly. 'If I'm not shutting down your mind-link forcibly, many people would get unobstructed access to your thoughts, and you wouldn't want that, right?'
Talia was shocked. She had a mind-link? Damon said that when her wolf awakens he can help her identify her mind-link if she had one, but now it seemed that her wolf prevented many things from happening.
And why would her wolf meddle with Damon's wolf? Unless…
'This is not about Damon. This is about his wolf.' When her wolf didn't answer, Talia continued pressing, 'Why don't you tell me what's the problem? I'm sure we can clarify it and you will see that it's a misunderstanding.'
Talia's wolf snorted. 'Misunderstanding?'
'Yes. Damon's wolf is supportive, and he saved me many times. You know he can talk, right? He wants to meet me. Why are you preventing that from happening? Don't you want to talk to him?'
'There is nothing to be said between us.'
A wave of emotions washed over Talia. Grief. Yearning. Anger.
Talia's mouth fell slack open. 'You know him!' And not just know him but know-know him. 'How do you know him?'
'It's none of your business!'
'But it is my business.', Talia argued back. 'You are my wolf. We share a body. Damon is my mate. If you have a problem with his wolf, I need to know about it. Or are you going to prevent me from completing mating with Damon because you have a grudge with his wolf?'
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Chapter 446 Liseli and Sapa [Bonus chapter]
Author's note:
Thank you, Peaches1, for the Magic Castle gifted on March 23, 2022!
Your generous gift prompted me to release this bonus chapter!
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Note: comments that matter, gifts, and votes are available only on the NovelFire platform , where this novel is published.
Thank you for reading my story from the original source and not supporting people who are publishing my work without permission!
Now back to the novel... :)
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'Stay out of this, Talia…', her wolf growled. 'This doesn't concern you.'
Talia couldn't believe this. 'How can you say that this doesn't concern me?'
Talia came here with Damon so they can relax, enjoy time together, and seal their bond with marking, yet her wolf came in the middle, suppressed Damon's wolf, and is threatening not only to kill the lovey-dovey mood but also to stand in the way of Damon marking her.
Talia had a feeling that something might go wrong. She feared that Damon might see Talia as unworthy and change his mind, or rogues might attack them, or another delusional Damon's ex pops out of a bush and jumps on Talia to scratch her face, a swarm of locusts or a forest fire, anything was possible! But Talia never imagined that this evening will be ruined by her own wolf. Shouldn't wolves support the mate bond?
'What did I do to deserve this?', Talia asked dejectedly. 'I don't care when you woke up and I don't care why you didn't help me when I needed you, but… didn't I suffer enough? You are my wolf so you should know that Damon is my mate. I love him with all my heart, and he loves me back. Maybe he didn't complete your stupid condition to chase away Marcy without announcing that I'm his mate, but I don't care because he proved that he was willing to learn and make me happy, and I believe him. Why are you doing this?'
'You don't understand…'
'THEN HELP ME UNDERSTAND!', Talia shouted in her head.
Talia didn't want to yell at her wolf, but she felt betrayed on so many levels. Everyone either bullied her or ignored her, and then there was Damon, a handsome Alpha who looked at her like she was the only woman in the world. Sure, Damon made mistakes, but Talia took a few wrong turns also and Damon always came after her and soothed her into staying with him until she recognized who he was, her other half.
Over the years, Talia really wished for her wolf to come back. She was weak and insecure among werewolves, believing that her wolf was the part she needed so that she can be complete, yet now Talia suspected that her wolf was one of the people who left her to fend for herself, and it's not that her wolf was not helping, but it was standing in the way of Talia being with the only man who treated her as important.
Talia was sick of fighting against people who believed she was not worthy, and women who wanted to put their hands on Damon, and now even her wolf was an obstacle.
After a painfully long pause, Talia's wolf spoke in her head. 'Can I come in front? I can talk to Sapa, and you… listen.'
Talia was not sure why her wolf asked her that. And who the heck was Sapa? Was that how her wolf addressed Damon or was that the name of Damon's wolf? But most importantly… 'Do you need my permission to come in front?'
'Not really, but…'
'It takes a lot of energy to fight me. Doesn't it?', Talia asked as she remembered when she was trying to yank her wolf back the last time. And Damon told her that he tires easily when he takes control in wolf form and that the same is for his wolf when in human form.
'We are spirits, and the most taxing is when we fight against our hosts who are strong.'
Talia snorted. 'Me? Strong?'
'Your spirit is strong, Talia, one of the strongest. There is a reason why you survived all those years in the Red Moon pack. Now, do you want to know what this is about or not?'
'Yes, but... If you reject him, I will never forgive you.'
'I won't reject your mate, Talia.', her wolf said, and Talia had a feeling there was a second part that her wolf kept to herself. 'I wouldn't be here if you didn't insist.'
'But you suppressed Damon's wolf.'
'And if you let me in front, you will find out why. I know you have many questions, and there will be plenty of time for us to talk, but for now, can you just listen?'
Damon looked at Talia and anxiety swelled inside him when Talia's eyes started glowing silvery and her expression turned solemn.
Damon wanted to greet Talia's wolf, but he felt his own wolf stirring and fighting to come in front.
'Let me talk to her!'
Damon had no idea what his wolf wanted, but considering his previous interaction with Talia's wolf, Damon was happy to let his wolf handle this but, 'Don't mess up this for me, old guy. Talia is important.'
His wolf snorted before he took over control of Damon's body.
"Liseli, is that you? Does this mean that Selena saw my sincerity, and we can…"
Talia's wolf jerked her hands out of Damon's grasp.
"You remember me?"
"How could I forget? You are the only one on my mind since… we parted."
"Lies!", Talia's wolf hissed.
"Why would you say that?"
"You didn't know it was me, yet you wanted to mate this girl."
Damon's head shook. "No. I had a feeling it was you, but I wouldn't mate her. Not without confirming…"
"LIES!"
"Liseli…", he called with a voice full of grief. "You have no idea what I went through…"
"Why don't you enlighten me?"
"I lived a thousand of lives in the hope to find you. Selena took you away, but she left me here, and just when I thought that my death will save me from loneliness, I realized that I was unable to die, but without a body, my soul ended up attracted to the strong ones. I ended up transmigrating every time my host would perish. Some lasted a few months, and some a few decades, but no matter who my host was, I didn't mate any other."
"Then, what's this?"
"I can't leave them mateless, Liseli. I help them find their mate, and then I step back. None of my hosts mated in their wolf form, and I'm sure Selena will confirm that if you ask her. Don't you see? This was my punishment… to see others mated and happy. Every time my host found his mate, a part of me died because I didn't know if I will ever see you again. I was lonely but I persevered. That's probably why she let you come here, in that body, as Damon's mate. Can I show you?"
Talia could sense that her wolf's attitude softened, and she gave a stiff nod.
Chapter 447 Images from the past (1)
Talia observed Damon, and she could see him clearly, but the whole view appeared like she was sitting in the back seat of a car and looking in front.
She could see things, smell Damon's addictive scent, hear the noise that was made by the critters in the bushes around them, and feel the light breeze caressing her skin. It was a strange feeling of knowing she was right there and that was her body, yet she didn't have control over it. The last time her wolf took over, it happened too quickly for her to process it, but now Talia realized she was the spectator and the whole experience left her unsettled.
'You get used to it', Talia's wolf spoke.
Talia was not sure she wanted to get used to this.
Damon's hands reached for Talia's and both of their wolves jolted at the contact that was charged with the sparks of their bond.
Talia's wolf was overwhelmed at the sensation of touching her mate after many centuries. But this touch was different than before, after all, when they saw each other last time, they were wolves, and these human forms were… different.
'My senses are dulled...', Talia's wolf said and Talia felt the opposite like everything got an upgrade.
"Relax, Liseli. Open your mind and let me show you.", Damon's wolf said.
Talia gasped when unknown images started flashing in front of her eyes, and she remembered Maya's explanation on how mates communicate, as their minds and souls were connected. At that time, Talia didn't get it, but now she understood.
Numerous faces, smiles, tears, hugs, and goodbyes.... wars and challenges from times that were far in the past. There were flashes of familiarity, but never belonging.
Those were mental images from Damon's wolf, memories of thousand lives he lived without his mate. But it was more than just images. It included scents and emotions, and Talia was overwhelmed by immense loneliness and despair that threatened to break her heart into pieces. And her wolf felt that also.
Damon observed all this from the back seat of his mind, and to say that he was shocked was an understatement. Before Damon's parents died, his wolf was a spirit that communicated through instincts, urges, and shared emotions. When the ancient creature spoke into his mind for the first time, Damon thought of him as an upgrade, and now he understood that he was wrong. His wolf told him that he used to be Alpha Jacob's wolf, and many others before that, but Damon never suspected that it would go this deep.
Damon was wrapping his head around the information the two wolves spoke about. Selena, the Moon Goddess? Selena took away Talia's wolf and left his wolf to roam the earth and move from one body to another while hoping to find his lover? They were punished? Did they break some ancient tradition?
'No, not tradition.', Damon's wolf spoke. And then the mental images changed, showing a lush meadow in the forest, and Damon's breath caught in his throat at the sight of a beautiful light gray wolf that shimmered in silver under the moonlight.
'This was the first time I saw Liseli. I knew right away that she was my mate. My only one. Beautiful, isn't she?'
'Yes.', Damon responded, feeling slightly drunk under the influence of his wolf's emotions. He really loved her. Damon wondered how his feelings for Talia compare to that.
'Don't overthink it. You will see the changes after you seal the bond.', Damon's wolf said.
The images changed, showing two wolves rubbing their heads on each other, running through the forest, sunsets, sunrises, a tall rock that showed magnificent views of valleys... Images changed, but what was constant was that Liseli and Sapa always moved. They never stayed in one place for too long, and even though they were happy, there was a sense of uneasiness, like someone was always watching.
Damon's wolf spoke to Damon, 'Liseli was Selena's favorite student. She was supposed to remain pure, yet we fell in love. Selena warned us to stay apart, deeming me not worthy, but how does one stay away from his mate? I would sneak in there whenever I could, and Liseli would join me gladly and we would run as far as we could, but Liseli knew that she had to return or face Selena's wrath. Eventually, we were caught. Selena punished us by taking her away and leaving me behind. For centuries, I didn't know what happened to her. The bond was still there, so I knew she was alive, but I feared that Selena punished her harshly or… that she forgot about me.'
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Damon could feel his wolf's emotions and he believed him. But what he couldn't believe was that this wolf was with him for a full decade, yet this was the first time Damon heard about it.
'Did you know from the start that Talia's wolf is your mate?', Damon asked.
'No, not from the start. But I knew that Talia was your mate and that if I didn't help you be with the one that's meant for you, it would be a mistake. I would do the same I did for your father, help you get to your mate, and then shut down whenever you were together, but the more Talia's spirit recuperated, the more I found her familiar. When Liseli came out on that day in the study, I wanted to talk to her and confirm it was really her, but I was suppressed. At that time, I was almost certain it was Liseli, but maybe it was one of her sisters who holds a grudge, so I didn't dare say anything until I confirmed.'
'She can suppress you?' Damon was not sure if he should be amused or terrified by this. No one ever suppressed his wolf before.
'Liseli is the only one who can.', his wolf responded dreamily.
Damon was uneasy about this. It's not that Damon didn't approve of Talia's strength, but her wolf was a different thing. The old creature was moody and threatening to deny him marking his mate. How can Damon be OK with that?
'Now what?', Damon asked.
'I don't know what Selena or her sisters told her, but she is here, and she saw how I lived without her. I'm sure Liseli will come around.'
Damon snorted. 'She better.' They were having a moment, and Talia's wolf spoiled it! Damn it!
'You probably shouldn't say that aloud', Damon's wolf warned him.
"Liseli?", Damon's wolf called carefully while observing silvery eyes that were full of tears.
"Is that real?"
"Why would you doubt me?"
'Answer him', Talia urged Liseli. She didn't understand why her wolf was reluctant to respond, but she could feel that Liseli was considering to shut down again, and Talia knew that staying quiet won't solve anything. 'I can feel your yearning for him. You want to believe him, but you need to have an open conversation.'
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Chapter 448 Images from the past (2)
Talia's wolf hesitated.
Images that Sapa showed her felt real, almost like they were her own memories, yet they were so different from what she believed in many centuries they were apart.
She looked in those endlessly blue eyes directed at her, and even though that was not the face she recognized, she knew that the pleading gaze came from Sapa. Maybe the images he showed her were not true, but his desire for her to believe him was.
Liseli needed to share her side of the story. She owed him that much. She owed that to herself.
"Can I show you?", Liseli asked.
"Please.", Sapa responded right away.
And then another set of images started flashing in their minds.
It showed Liseli covering her ears with her paws in order to ignore words how Sapa moved on, found another, many others… The next scene was a small pool that acted like a television of some sort, and there Liseli saw a big black wolf running and her heart cracked when one chocolate-brown she-wolf rubbed on him, and he didn't snap at her.
There was a scene after scene of Sapa close to other wolves, hunting, running, and showing affection, and Liseli spoke with her voice cracking, "I mourned your death, believing that the passage of time got you while I stayed in the realm where the time was frozen. But then I heard that Selena gave you immortality and some of my sisters advised me to stay strong because as long as I live, we can reunite. But then I saw these. Tell me, Sapa, what's the point of me living if you forgot about me? You are my other half, and only with you I can be happy, but how can I be happy when you moved on?"
"I didn't forget about you, Liseli. I didn't move on. You should know that what you showed me was not true."
"Are you saying that I'm making things up?"
"No. But I believe that Selena would test you. Test your resolve. Just how she tested mine."
"I want to believe you, Sapa, I really do…", her voice trailed. For centuries, she heard all kinds of stories and even saw images. Were all those really lies?
Yes, Selena separated her from Sapa, but she was a teacher, a mother, not someone who would lie. At least that's what Liseli thought. If Selena thought that Sapa was bad for Liseli, Selena might keep them apart but to break Liseli's heart with deception only to get her way was too cruel. Would a mother do that to her daughter?
Liseli flinched when Sapa touched her cheek with the tips of his fingers.
"Take as much time as you need, Liseli. I waited for so long, and some more won't make a difference. Now that I know you are here, my heart sings with joy." He glanced up to see the moon emerging from behind tree canopies. "While you are sorting out your thoughts, keep in mind that Selena always cherished you and she wouldn't allow you to meet me like this if she didn't think I'm worthy. I hope you know my feelings for you didn't diminish and… I missed you."
Those words were loaded with heavy emotions that made Talia's stomach sink. She really wanted to comfort him, yet she knew that only Liseli could do that.
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Talia felt her consciousness shift, and she was back in the driver's seat, blinking at Damon who smiled at her.
"Hi, kitten", he murmured. After the bomb how his wolf and Talia's have history, Damon was shaken. But he was also relieved to see that her eyes stopped glowing. His kitten was back.
"Hi", she responded absentmindedly, still processing what happened in the last few minutes. Or was it the last few hours? She was not sure.
"Are you alright?", Damon asked with concern obvious in his voice.
She wanted to say that she was fine, but she couldn't lie. Even without the overload of information, there was a whole new set of emotions running through her. It made her feel like her senses got an upgrade to the next level, and she was more aware of everything. Was that the effect of her wolf being present?
"I'm not sure. How are you doing?", she asked in return.
"It's a lot to take in." For all of them. "How is Liseli?"
"She is confused, relieved, angry, hopeful. I think she will be alright.", Talia responded. "How about Sapa?"
"This is the first time my wolf gave me anything other than patronizing or angry. He is happy."
Talia pressed her lips into a line. Happy? Of course, he would be happy. Damon's wolf lived forever without his mate, without knowing how she was doing or if they will ever meet again, and now that wait was over.
She tried to imagine how she would react if that were her and Damon; if someone separated them right now and kept them apart; if she heard stories about how he moved on and found someone else. Talia was confident that her love for Damon wouldn't waver, but what about her trust in him? She was not sure, and it was eating her alive.
Talia wanted to believe Damon's words that she was his only one, she wanted to believe that nothing would ever change that because she was confident that Damon was the only man for her, and ever will be. However, she already doubted him more than once, and if she needs to withstand the trial of time…
"Hey, hey…", Damon said while scooping Talia into his arms and lifting her to sit on his lap.
"What are you thinking about?", he asked while tightening his hold on her. Her body was not cold, yet she was shivering and pressing herself into him, seeking his warmth and protection.
Talia gripped his back while taking deep breaths of his addictive scent, enjoying the safety of his firm embrace, and hoping that they will never be apart. She didn't want to tell him that her insecurities were resurfacing. "I'm just sad. The story of Liseli and Sapa is so…"
"I know.", Damon murmured against her temple and then he kissed her there. "But they are together now, and that's what counts."
Talia nodded and buried her face into his neck, seeking comfort because her nerves were still strung tightly.
She let out a shaky breath. "Damon?"
"Hmm?"
"What would you do if we can't be together?"
"I would flip the heaven and earth to find you, and I wouldn't stop until I do."
Talia knew he meant it. She was confident that she was the luckiest girl in the world as their mate bond allowed her to feel how much he adored her. She blinked her tears away. This was not the time for crying, even though those would be tears of joy.
Chapter 449 Lovers from the beginning of time (1)
After Sapa and Liseli retracted at the back of their minds, it was just Damon and Talia on that clearing next to the lake with their thoughts.
Talia was sitting on Damon's lap and leaning into his embrace. Both were completely naked, and both distracted enough to not pay attention to it.
The information that their wolves have a history together was shocking, and the effect of experiencing centuries of memories squeezed into a few minutes left them with a myriad of emotions that could fill an eternity.
Everything was so vivid, and Damon and Talia knew that it came from their wolves, yet it still felt like they were right there… loving, yearning, aching for each other… for centuries.
The feeling of being separated was like a fresh wound that can be mended only if they cling onto each other, and they did.
Damon was first to snap into reality. His eyes moved over the calm surface of the lake that shimmered under the moonlight, and then he scanned the trees and bushes that surrounded the small clearing where he and Talia were. It was quiet and peaceful, and he reminded himself that this was real and that images which shook his heart were in the past, and not even his. Or were they? It was difficult to discern as Damon and his wolf reached another level of connection like their consciousness was merging into one.
Damon's attention moved to the little woman whose bare form rested on him like it was a totally normal thing and he loved it.
Damon pushed a lock of hair behind Talia's ear, and she blinked while lifting her gaze to meet his.
"I feel like I loved you from the beginning of time.", Talia said, catching Damon by surprise.
"I feel the same.", he said while staring into her honeyed eyes that glistened with unshed tears under the moonlight. She was beautiful, strong and fragile at the same time. His.
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The mate bond allowed Damon to feel Talia's love and devotion, and he knew that was real. She wanted to be with him, and she would never leave his side willingly, but the fear of losing him was also real, just how Sapa lost Liseli.
Damon wanted to comfort her, to give her assurance that nothing and no one will stand between them. And he needed that assurance as well.
"Is your wolf OK with…", Damon's voice trailed, and his fingers brushed the base of Talia's neck, hoping that she will understand.
"Marking? She is fine." Well, Liseli didn't say that explicitly, but she didn't object to it either, which Talia took as an agreement.
A huge burden fell off Damon's chest, but in the next moment, he got nervous. It's happening! Well, almost.
She observed his expression changing, and then it hit her. They came to the cabin to have three days just for themselves so that they can relax and… Damon to mark her. She was distracted by the revelation of their wolves, but now she was back into the present.
Talia's heart rate picked up and she swallowed hard.
They were in the open, completely naked. The intimacy of the moment stretched beyond the flesh. The night, the lake, the forest, Damon, it was all perfect and she loved it.
Talia could feel his anxiousness, and her chest swelled with warm and fuzzy emotions. Alpha Damon… the outrageously handsome, powerful, dangerous, cheeky, caring, and sometimes overbearing Alpha was holding her in his arms like she was the most important thing in the world, and he was nervous. Because of her.
"Damon?", Talia called to get his full attention. "I want you to know that there is no other man I would do this with."
Damon blinked. How was it possible that she ended up comforting him? He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the inside of her palm. "I know." He kissed the inside of her wrist. "And there is no other woman I would want as mine. It's only you, kitten."
He arranged kisses on her arm all the way to her shoulder, going down to collarbones as his nose grazed her neck, and Talia's insides melted at the sensation of Damon's lips traveling over her skin, delivering a delicious dose of addictive sparks every time.
Her breathing picked up as she became aware that he is going to mark her. Tonight.
Talia gripped his shoulders and pressed into him, trying to maximize the surface of their bodies touching.
"How about we go inside the cabin?" Damon's hot breath slipped into her ear, making her hairs stand on the ends.
"What's wrong with here?"
His head snapped so that he can see her and then his eyes moved to scan their surroundings. Was she really OK with them going at it here in the open? But he remembered that Talia spent many years hiding in the attic and that she loved the forest. There was soft grass below them and the night sky above, and he realized that this place was actually perfect.
"There is nothing wrong with this, kitten."
Damon pecked and nibbled Talia's neck gently with just a bit of teeth, and his damp hair tickled her cheek as he moved. With every passing moment they were holding each other tighter, pulling closer, their movements turning impatient.
Damon sucked in a breath when she stood up from his lap. Did she change her mind? But he loosened his hold on her. He didn't want to force her if she was not willing.
He smiled when she spread her legs to straddle him. Oh, yeah. They will go at it. Right there.
Damon took advantage of this position to kiss her thoroughly, and he groaned when her soft flesh pressed against his erection. Why did it feel like he didn't delve into her depths for months?
He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her head backward. The way her body arched pushed her breasts up for him to feast on. And he did.
Talia gasped when he sucked on her nipple, his tongue doing magic circles that turned her body into clay for him to mold.
"Damon, Damon…", she chanted his name like a prayer while getting lost in arousal that was building at an alarming rate and she had no intention to resist it.
She gripped his shoulders and rocked against him. The movement of her hips spoke of urgency, and her breathing was getting ragged, but Damon didn't want to rush. Not now. This was important.
His palms were flat on her back as he got up on his knees, and he put her to lay on the soft grass.
Talia blinked while looking at Damon who was looming above her, close enough for her to feel the heat of his body yet denying her that skin-to-skin contact.
The moon behind Damon veiled his handsome features in deep shadows while outlining his silhouette with an otherworldly glow.
Chapter 450 Lovers from the beginning of time (2)
Damon lifted himself on his arms to increase the gap between him and Talia and the moonlight hit her naked body, making her skin appear milky-white, nearly glowing.
His breath hitched. She looked like a Goddess with her hair spread on the grass like a crown, and her gaze full of lust and love directed at him.
"You are beautiful, Talia…", he spoke in a husky voice. "I can't believe you are mine."
Talia smiled dreamily. Silly man. He was the beautiful one.
She reached to touch his cheek, and her hand slid over his ear to caress his hair.
"I am yours. You are lucky.", she said cheekily, and he chuckled.
"That's one way to put it." He leaned lower and touched her nose with his before murmuring, "Do you really think that the two of us together was luck or a coincidence? After revealing the history of our wolves, I believe that we were always meant to find each other. Maybe not in the attic, and maybe not in the Red Moon pack, but I would definitely find you, kitten."
"Not if I found you first."
Damon hummed in agreement with her words, and he enjoyed the way her eyelids became heavy when his hands started exploring her body.
His fingers traced the edge of her breast and slid down to her waist, squeezing and applying pressure just enough to get her stirring. And then he went back up to tease her without touching any sensitive spots, leaving a fiery trail and making her ache for him.
Damon enjoyed the way her body coiled under his ministrations. She responded to him perfectly. Everything about Talia was perfect. For him.
Talia gripped the back of Damon's neck and tried to pull him down. She really wanted to feel his weight on her and to devour his lips.
It took her a few seconds to confirm he was not budging. She groaned. "Damon, please…"
"What's the rush?"
He wanted to take this slow. Sure, he could pick up her arousal, but he wanted her to writhe in need, and when she reached the point of nearly losing her mind, he would take her. Well, that was the plan, but then he saw that her eyes were glistening with unshed tears, and he panicked. Did he do something wrong?
"Hey, hey", he asked quickly. "What's going on? Are you having second thoughts? If you are, we don't need to go through marking now. We can just relax and enjoy and…"
"No. No!", she said with panic in her voice. What did he mean by, they don't need to do it now?
"Then, what is it?"
Talia released a long breath. "I just want to be done with this."
Damon was not sure if he heard her right. "What?"
"I'm tired of people and wolves interrupting or trying to stop us from being together. Mark me, Damon. Only like that, we will tell the world that we are one and no one will be able to stand between us. I don't want to be apart from you, ever. The possibility of someone separating us was scary, but now that I felt the anguish of our wolves, I really don't want to risk it. Mark me. Please." She inhaled a shaky breath and added in a small voice, "Like that, even if we are not together, part of you will always be with me."
Damon released a slow breath, relieved to hear that she didn't get cold feet.
"I feel the same, kitten. You know that I'm always eager to plunder your sweet pussy and make you scream my name in ecstasy."
He paused to enjoy her shocked expression. He adored the way her cheeks blush when she was flustered, and he hoped that part of her will never change.
"However, this is not the time to rush, kitten. Don't allow others to impact you to the point of spoiling the good moments. And this is a good moment." He lowered himself until his firm chest pressed on her soft breasts, and he gave her a long kiss that took her breath away.
"I waited for you to recognize me as your mate.", he spoke against her lips. "I wanted to hear your confirmation that you accept me. Me marking you depended on you, kitten. Only you. Now that I know you are willing, nothing and no one will prevent me from claiming you as mine."
His emotions washed over Talia, and she knew he meant it. But what really struck her was that her acceptance was important to him. This willful Alpha who would boss around people and take what he wanted without apologizing, needed her acceptance. It was surreal.
"I love you, Damon…", Talia breathed.
His lips lifted into a wicked grin. "I know."
She slapped his shoulder playfully. "It was a romantic moment, and you ruined it."
"Ruined? Let me fix that quickly.", he chuckled and then he kissed the base of her neck once, twice, and his lips latched on the spot where his mark will come, and Talia gripped his shoulders to steady herself because the whole world was spinning.
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In less than ten heartbeats, Talia was breathing heavily, clawing at his back in an attempt to pull him closer.
"I love you, kitten…", Damon spoke close to her ear. "Don't ever doubt that."
Her lips lifted into a smile that lasted only a second before her jaw fell slack as she moaned when he twisted her nipple with his index finger and thumb, sending electric shocks straight to her core. Before she could recover, Damon started grinding himself at the cradle of her thighs, every rock of his hips making her gasp and tremble.
Damon said that they shouldn't rush it, but the truth was that he was also impatient. He wanted to feel her, and he was eager to mark her. At the same time, he wanted it to be good for her, something she will remember gladly, and not just a procedure they need to go through because of external pressure.
He rocked against her, her slick juices coated his cock that was hard and ready, her hips moved to meet his, and she arched toward him while pulling him lower.
"Ahh…", a shaky breath escaped her lips when she felt the pressure at her entrance and her body came alive, her hips twisted to take him deeper and faster because his movements were torturously slow.
"This might hurt…", Damon said while kissing the spot on her neck where his mark will come. "My wolf said that it will be fine as long as we allow our instincts to guide us."
Talia nodded choppily.
His slow thrusts created friction that made their minds hazy in need of more.
"Harder, Damon.", she breathed. "Give me all you've got."
"Fuck!", he cursed under his breath. He was trying to take this slow so that it lasts longer, but she was not making it easier.