The Blood Moon

Mate part 2

Raine

I’m not sure how long I’ve been asleep. Sienna wakes me up again gently leading me back towards the surface, back to reality. I hear the heart monitors like I did before. But this time, I smell something wonderful enveloping me. It smells like the forest before it rains. It’s my favorite smell. Did I die? I wasn’t in the forest when I fell back asleep.

I peek my eyes open. I’m still in the hospital. The first thing I notice is that the guard is gone from my room. The door is closed. I feel someone’s hand in mine. I assume it’s Tali, but it feels different. My hand feels so warm, like pleasurable sparks are caressing my skin. I sigh. It feels nice.

I turn to look at Tali when I see it’s a man. A sleeping man. A sleeping man holding my hand against his cheek. But it’s not Alpha Pierce. I feel my breath catch in the back of my throat. Did he see this? Did he know some guy was here holding my hand?

My heart begins to race, the monitor starts going wild, and I yank my hand away from him. I start to panic, fearing what will happen to me if Alpha Pierce had seen what this man had done.

My hand feels cold now, the pleasurable sparks have gone but I don’t care. I’m staring at this man as he sits up suddenly, feeling my hand leave his.

“Raine,” he whispers. His green eyes are melting into mine. My heart slows, my breathing evens out, and the monitor slows down in unison. I’m captivated. My wolf is purring gently in my mind and I hear her sigh. Mate.

I freeze.

What did you say, sienna?

This is our mate. I told you it would be ok. Did you listen to me? Nooooo—

I shake my head abd shut her out. Damn wolf.

Panic is rising in my stomach, but he’s pushing it away. His hand is back in mine, the warmth has returned. His green eyes are searching my soul, begging me to say something. I look at him and I feel like I’m home. My ice cold heart is starting to thaw.

“Raine?” He repeats gently, stroking my hand with his thumb.

I can’t reply. I’m lost in the deep green seas of his eyes. His shaggy, unstyled brown hair is falling slightly in front of them as he tilts his head trying to get my attention. I subconsciously reach out to move his hair out the way so I can keep staring into his eyes. When my hand lands on his face, it explodes with warmth and pleasure. It isn’t like anything I had felt before. I quickly pull it away, looking at my hand in disbelief.

“Raine.” He repeats again in his deep, gentle voice.

My eyes are drawn away from his down to his lips, past the subtle curve of his nose. His lips are curved in a small smile as he watches me take him in. My eyes continue to his body. Only his arms are really visible. He’s wearing a red sweatshirt, but I can see the slight musculature through his sleeves.

Sleeves. I realized I wasn’t wearing sleeves. I move my hands to attempt and cover my arms, suddenly acutely aware that my arms are covered in new and healing bruises. Then I remember my neck is probably bruised too. My hands fly to my neck leaving my arms exposed.

I can’t cover everything. I feel hot tears burning at the sides of my eyes and they begin to fall. I can’t look at him anymore. I’m ashamed. At least I’m wearing a hospital gown. I’m certain my ribs are bruised from the beating I received before I left.

I left. I left the car. I ran to the cliff. I let myself fall. I fell off a cliff and I’m here. I lived. I can feel the tears falling freely as a sob escapes from my chest.

Ugh and now this beautiful man is seeing me cry. But I can’t hold it in. I failed. I lived. Alpha Pierce would never let me go. Even if I had found my true mate. He wouldn’t care.

Sienna whimpers at that thought. She was finally happy. And I was worried it would get taken away.

I feel strong arms wrap around my body as he pulls me into his warm chest. I want to fight him but I can’t. It feels so warm and wonderful here.

“You are safe here, Raine,” he whispers in my ear as his hand rubs my back tenderly. “I will not let him near you.”

I feel a sob escaping my chest again. He knows. He knows and I can’t decide if I’m relieved or horrified.

It doesn’t matter. I’m openly sobbing, my head buried in his chest.

I pull away and look at him.

“He’ll never stop,” I whisper. I break eye contact. I can’t look at this beautiful man anymore. It’s breaking my heart. I know I have to reject him.

“Yes he will Raine,” he says gently as he lifts my chin to make me look at him.

“Why do you say that?” I whisper.

He shrugs his shoulders lightly and smiles down at me.

“Because I’ll tell him to.”

******

Jasper

She’s looking up at me with the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re blue. Not normal blue, but literally the color of the sky.

Every time I look at her, my heart skips a beat. I can’t breathe.

She doesn’t look convinced by my idea. Hypothetically, it should work. I’m Pierce’s alpha. I’m the alpha of the alphas. If I give him a direct order, he should HAVE to obey me. Right?

I need to run this by Bryce.

She clears her throat to get my attention.

“Yes, Raine?” I ask her sweetly, nuzzling my nose into her hair and planting a kiss on the top of her head.

She sighs with satisfaction before shaking her head and pulling away from me. I frown in response.

“I’m, I’m really sorry sir but I’m afraid I’m going to have to reject you.” I can see tears gathering in her eyes and I feel my heart begin to break.

No. Not again. This can’t be happening to me. This beautiful creature wants to reject me?

“I-I don’t want you to get hurt. Alpha Pierce is…he’s evil sir. I’m afraid he would literally kill you. You have no idea what he does to me…” her voice cracks as she talks to me.

Wait. This sweet, beautiful woman is..worried? About me? It’s almost too cute. I hold back laughter as I look into her eyes. They are full of concern. That’s when it hits me. She doesn’t know who I am. I never introduced myself to her!

My wolf howls in laughter at me and I shut him out in return.

“Raine, sweetheart, do you know who I am?”

She shakes her head still staring at me. I can see her heart breaking.

“My name is Jasper,” I say as I move some of her hair behind her ear. I feel her stiffen and she sits up straighter, pushing away from me.

“Wait, Jasper? As in Alpha Regent Jasper Venon?” Her eyes are huge as she’s staring at me. “Oh s**t. Oh my goddess Alpha Regent I am so sorry I… I…” she bows her head to me.

“What are you sorry for Raine?”

“For disrespecting your title Alpha Regent. Alpha Pierce would be furious with me,” she whispers.

I’m frustrated. I admit it. My mate just frustrated me. For one, she is my mate, the future Luna Regent and Luna of my pack. She bows to no one.

I gently place my hand under her chin and lift her face to mine.

“Raine, you are my mate,” I start. She begins to shake her head but I interrupt her thoughts. “Yes you are. Do you feel the bond? Do you feel the way you fit with me? As if you were made for me, and I for you? My dear, sweet Raine, you bow to no one. Not even me.”

“Alpha Pierce is my mate,” she whispers so softly I barely hear her. I look at her face but she is facing straight ahead, her eyes closed, tears streaming down her face. What did this bastard do to her?

She is so broken.

She clears her throat again.

“Alpha Regnet Jasper Vernon, I re—“ she starts to say it. She begins the rejection. I feel the world collapsing around me. But my conversation with the moon goddess comes back to me.

“NO!” I yell, making her jump and press my lips against hers.

At first I think she will pull away from me, but then I feel her melt into the kiss, her hands finding their way to my chest. My heart melts. My hands snake their way into her hair as my lips continue to kiss her gently and passionately. Over and over again my lips meet hers. Each time the sparks send waves of pleasure through our bodies.

It’s incredible. I pull away from her gently and rest my forehead against hers. I run my nose along hers and gently kiss her one more time. I close my eyes to find my voice.

“Please don’t do this, Raine,” I whisper to her.

I feel her staring at me. I glance down and meet her eyes. I’m searching for an answer.

“Ok,” she whispers to me.

My heart soars, my wolf howls. Raine is mine.