Unrelenting Destiny [COMPLETED]

4. Stifling

Jasper Orion Deveraux

He had taken Orianna once more when they got back to their home - still rearing from his earlier adrenaline. A shower together was what he really needed to feel refreshed enough to drive all the way to the Southern California border to take the deserter home. His mate was collapsed on their bed, freshly dried hair fanned out about her face. That slight sweet tinge that had enticed him washed away with the shower, replaced with her usual scent of soft lavender and tea leaves.

Jasper remembered the first time he had laid eyes on her at The Claiming. He distinctly remembered thinking, "She's not bad." But he never told her such a thing. Orianna was a tall, fair-skinned woman with taut features, light brown hair, and light brown eyes. Behind her stubborn nature and sharp tongue, she was devoted and loyal. He had once mentioned how much he liked freckles and suddenly she had a faint smattering of the pigmentation thanks to some permanent henna - not that Jasper ever acknowledged or noticed it. It was apparent that Orianna had spent the last four years trying to please Jasper, though she would never admit it. She even suppressed her heat and took heavy doses of contraception to ensure they did not have pups that he insisted he did not want.

But such devotion flew past Jasper's awareness, enjoying Orianna for what she was able to provide for him. Burying himself in his role as Beta and his many scattered hobbies seemed to take priority over his mate. He felt her gaze on his bare back as he dressed, pulling a black t-shirt over his head and tugging on a pair of dark jeans. 

Orianna practically purred with approval at the sight of him, propping her head up on the palm of her hand. Tapping her fingers on the bedspread, she asked, "You'll be back tonight right?" 

He hesitated, "Seven-hour drive there, seven hours back... If Alpha Clark would be so kind to put me up for the night, I might take up that offer."

Orianna pouted, jealousy beginning to taint her tone, "So you're leaving me alone here? Aren't you worried someone will take advantage of poor, little me?"

"No," Jasper said without hesitation, clicking a text into his phone. His mate gave a huff and he looked to her, slightly confused, "It's barely a night. Do you plan on going out galavanting while I'm gone?"

Orianna gulped, shaking her head as she hid a blush. Her mate returned to his phone without another thought to her question, "Alright, I'm heading out. I'll let you know when I get there." She scrambled to get up to kiss him goodbye but he hadn't looked up from his phone and disappeared out the door before she could. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, walking over to their mini-fridge for a chilled bottle of wine. Hopefully, that would distract her enough from her unfounded jealousy. After all, Jasper had never given her reason to doubt his loyalty to her.

***

Ryzen was jumping around like a pup. He hadn't calmed since they had first seen Orianna earlier that morning. What's wrong with you? Jasper thought with annoyance.

It's her. 

Her who?

Before Ryze could respond, he lept high, charging as close to their consciousness as Jasper allowed. Perhaps if he hadn't been so distracted by his wolf's odd behavior, he would have noticed her sooner. But he saw her in the distance as he approached the truck, partially hidden behind Alpha Ivan. 

This woman was almost fairy-like. Her skin looked smooth and soft, the color of white peaches and seemingly lit from within. It looked like the sun stopped around her, allowing her to shine in its stead. Her hair, though a bit disheveled, fell about her slim waist like cornsilk. And those eyes - oh Goddess, those eyes - were the palest blue that they were practically silver. It reminded him the thin layer of fresh snow on stone. Those unwavering orbs stared into his soul, connecting with his wolf in a way that could only be described as supernatural. Jasper's heart stopped at the sight of her.

He stood frozen, tensed as he struggled to gain his bearings, flailing, and failing the moment he inhaled through his nose. She smelled smooth and sweet - the scent of ripe strawberries with the slightest tart twinge and blanketed with velvety vanilla silk. He could practically taste her melting on his tongue. 

Ryzen was frantic with victory, the single word he howled leaving Jasper's mouth in a barely audible murmur, "Mine."

Luciana Faith Moore

"Mine..." Luci breathed out the word, Eve practically soaring as she leapt about her mind. That tingling feeling in Luci's fingers seemed to fizz into her entire body. It felt like she had just drank a crisp, bubbly soda that raced her blood cells. 

Alpha Ivan turned, "Hm?"

Luci shook her head, "N-nothing, sir." 

Beta Jasper had paused as he stared at her. She could practically see the connection between them glowing like beams of sunlight that only strengthened as he finally started walking towards her. Eve was struggling to race towards him, to inhale his scent and meet his wolf's touch. Luci could not help but think about how amazing it would feel to be wrapped in all that warm, towering muscle. 

She remained silent as he spoke to Alpha Ivan, glancing to her with every other word. She couldn't hear him, blood rushed to her ears and the more she stared, the more the blood threatened to move downwards. Her young mind began to race and wander, eyes taking in every inch of his form like he was the most interesting piece of art on display at a museum. Big, strong hands that she wished was running on her bare skin. Rippling shoulders that she could imagine twitching at the minimum effort it would take to lift her and press her against a wall. And a jawline and slightly chapped lips that her tongue was begging to whet. Before she could gather herself, the scent of her arousal had begun to rise towards her nose. She watched with terror as he caught the slightest whiff, eyes slowly moving from her flushed face and inching down towards her thighs. 

She panicked, suddenly rushing to sit in the truck and closing the door with a loud slam. Alpha Ivan jumped a bit, watching with confusion as she fumbled with the seatbelt and stared at the center console with exaggerated interest. He said something else that she couldn't hear before nodding and leaving. Luci kept her gaze forward, unblinking as she waited for any sort of movement. But Jasper was standing still, peering at her through the window; now she felt like she was on display. 

After several long moments, he finally moved around the front of the truck and opened the door, pausing again as her scent assaulted him. She fidgeted in her seat, crossing her legs in the hopes that it would mask her arousal at least a little. Even as he seated himself, started the truck and stiffly pulled away from the neighborhood, she refused to meet his gaze. Eve was growing impatient, snapping at her to do something. More specifically, Eve wanted her to do some very inappropriate things that would lead to her marking. Luciana did not have the willpower to ignore Eve and her low, detailed implications were making her even more aroused.

Jasper Orion Deveraux 

She was killing him. The thick, sticky scent of her arousal was driving him insane. He could barely focus on the road in front of him in that small space they would be confined to for seven long hours. Jasper opened the windows in an attempt to clear his mind, but he was driving far too quickly along the empty highway and the wind rushing in was rabid.

Her small voice was barely audible over the roar of the wind, "E-excuse me, Beta Jasper, it's a little cold..."

The sound of his name coming from those pink lips was delectable. He wanted to hear her say it again. To whisper it in his ear and scream it in his bed. His hands gripped the steering wheel hard, begging the denim tent in his lap to come down. Gulping, he managed to say, "Sorry. You can close them." She rolled the automatic windows back up, crossing her arms over her chest. Glancing to the side, he realized another consequence of his poor decision - the cold had only helped in hardening her perky n*****s through the thin bra and shirt that Orianna had left for her.

FUCK. Orianna. Jasper hadn't even thought of his mate since laying eyes on this girl. This stranger, whose name he didn't even know, had taken up the entirety of his mind without the slightest consideration for the woman he had been with for the past four years. What did it mean to find your destined mate after mating with another? Was that even possible? He hadn't heard of this before and was at least 13.5 hours from consulting his pack's elders for help. Distracted by these thoughts, he managed to control his primal urges just enough. Or so he thought.

"Excuse me, sir..." she whispered, still fidgeting in her seat, "Are you okay? You're going...a little fast."

She inhaled sharply, as if afraid that he would lash out at her bit of criticism. But he was pushing 125 on the highway and he let up on the gas, finally exhaling. Another inhale filled his lungs with her sweet, sticky smell. She was still wet...for him. And before he could steady himself again, the truck rolled to a stop, his foot leaden on the break. Jasper's body was moving without reason, putting the truck into park and turning off the engine. They sat in silence as he stared straight ahead.

"S-sir?" Luci's small voice broke the silence.

"Say my name." the Beta growled.

"Sir?"

"Say. My name." 

Luciana's chest heaved, gripping the side of her seat, "J...Jasper."