Chapter 112

Alyson

"Please, leave me alone for the night," I plead.

Olivera leans on the doorway, obviously unwilling to do so. "Maybe I want to stand here and admire the Luna of this pack," he says, sarcasm ripping through his words. "I enjoy watching you, sweetheart. You have the cutest little look when you stare at me."

"It's called distain, and it's not a complement, Olivera."

"Call it what you will, just keep your eyes on me and I'll do the same to you," he says, laughing. I look away, my stomach turning while I try to connect to Ryan in the mind link but he is too busy instructing his warriors on some semantics, he doesn't hear me. "Where did you go in that mind of yours?" Olivera asks. "I saw you click away from me."

"I'm thinking of my mate," I say, half a lie.

"Think of me instead," he says, sitting across the table from me. I roll my eyes, frustrated. "Think of my absolute charm or even my dashing good looks—"

"How about your humbleness," I mutter under my breath.

He grins, pleased. "Whatever gets you going, sweetheart."

Rolling my eyes again, I push away from the table, uninterested int his talk any further. Olivera isn't keen on dropping this interaction just yet so I'm forced behind his heavy gaze, his broad body snapping upright into my path, keeping me bound to the deserted dining hall. I try to step around him, his hand brushing my hip ever so slightly.

My breath catches and I stumble backwards, heat rising through my body at all once while my wolf whines in my head. She doesn't like this, not a single bit, and I don't blame her. The last time a rogue touched us, we got hurt.

"Please," I say, practically begging, "move and let me go back upstairs to my mate."

"I don't want you to leave just yet, sweetheart," he growls, his voice rumbling as he steps up to me, towering over me in height and in confidence. "I want to ask you something."

"What is it?"

He cocks his head sideways, like a curious pup. "I want to know how you managed to convince lover boy to partake in the fight against he elders. Without having to hold your life over his head, it seems like you were capable of convincing him to go against the elders and free the other rogues that have locked up. I want to know how you got him to do this?"

I swallow hard, my heart pained. "Ryan is a good man and fair Alpha. He wouldn't ever pass a wolf in need and do nothing. He helped me and killed for me; I know if the elders had taken me, he would do everything in his power to save me. He knows what is right."

He nods, finally stepping aside and pointing toward the doorway. I briskly walk past him, forcing myself to run up the stairway and into the bedroom, a carpenter already working on the mess and trying to redo the door Olivera slammed through earlier today.

Ryan waves off his warriors, holding his arms out for me to sink into. I do so willingly, warmly, finding peace in my mate's grip. He kisses my temple once and sways with me in his hold, happily humming a tune in my ear. I am surprised he isn't more frustrated but I can tell his wolf is still irritated by Olivera and their talk that lasted a long time. I don't press for details.

"I love you," I breathe into his chest. "You don't have to do this for me, but knowing you will, it makes me happy, Ryan."

"I'd do it all over again for you, so it would be wrong of me not to do it for the rogues. Like you said, if it was you, I'd kill everyone in my way."

I squeeze my mate tighter, his arms snaking around my hips. I feel him kiss my temple, then trail down to my neck. It causes a spark of chills to trail down my spine, his fingers digging in slightly as they grab down my hips, then to my ass, cupping me upward to his chest. He snickers a noise into the hollow of my throat, his lips intently nibbling on my shoulders.

Part of me fears the flashbacks of Maddox, of the pain and humiliation that caused, but another part of me craves the touch and affection of my mate. My wolf is dying for more, craving it and releasing pheromones in order to entice him more, if that's possible.

His eyes widen, his irises darkening, and he cranes a grin that means only one thing.

He lifts me off the floor and carries me across the room, kissing my throat and his mating mark continuously until my back finds the bed. I squirm slightly, watching him carefully navigate my body with his lips, humming a pleased noise while doing so.

I grab for his hair, feeling him sink his teeth into my hip ever so slightly, sucking on the skin and causing my body to ripple with pleasure. I can't help but writhe in intensity of his lips as they crawl all around my body, finding their way finally to the inside of my thigh, unparted by clothes and welcoming his gentle tongue.

My back arches and I howl a noise, surprised but gladly welcoming his mouth as he begins to make out with my sex sensually. I hum in ecstasy, hoping he never stops, and he must be in my mind because he works harder, pressing his fingers deep into my pleasure point until I practically cry out, begging for more.

He grins when he looks up, his fingers circling my damp sex, watching me break at his mercy before returning to kiss my inner thighs and pulsing pleasure. I want to scream, his fingers digging into my ass and holding me merciless to his tongue.

Looking aside, I pant, spotting a pair of voyeur eyes in the hall, envious as ever.