Luna Athalia

5. Like Fireworks and Fire

Remy Samuel Bell

As Athalia walked away from the window, leaving just a smirking Vincent Reyes in view, Remy found himself launching towards the pack house. Against all logic, he rounded to the back of the property, letting himself in through an Omega back door. He knew the house like his very own, after all, he spent years roaming and familiarizing himself.

No one questioned the head Fighter of the pack, especially those who were a part of the Union regarded him like royalty as he walked around. But he ignored these wolves now, making a beeline for the Luna's office. He burst in with vigor, large hands trembling with anger as the door slammed against the adjoining wall.

Athalia and Vince looked up in surprise, their bodies close together as they read over a document on her desk.

"Remy!" Vincent growled, his fungus-colored eyes immediately shading black, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Get the hell away from my mate, you sorry excuse of a wolf." Remy retorted, feeling Wren shoot to the forefront of his mind, ready to rake claws in the opposing male.

"Did you not hear properly yesterday?" Vince glared, moving from around the desk to stand in front of the Luna, "She is not your mate. You lost. Get the hell out of here before I have you rogue branded and run out of Roaming Ember."

Vince's Beta voice was strong, assertive. But it was only confirmation for Remy that they had not consummated their fake mating the night before. It brought him some peace. But only some.

He lifted his chin defiantly, "Your voice does not affect me, Vincent. Because I know the truth of this charade you've somehow manipulated Athalia into."

"Excuse me!" Athalia pushed from behind Vince, the contact of their skin driving Remy insane. But she glared back at him with fierce opposition, "I am not some bone to be thrown between you two meatheads. Stop talking about me like I'm not here."

She maintained her glare to Remy as Vincent began to protest, "Vincent, get out."

"Wait, what?" Vincent turned to look at her.

"You heard her." Remy grinned triumphantly.

Vincent turned, covering Athalia protectively as he murmured to her. She only shook her head, pushing him aside with the back of her hand as he moved away. His glare remained as he slowly walked to the door, lingering in the doorway before finally muttering, "I'll be right outside."

Athalia Marie Sylas

Vincent left, she could feel his presence just outside the reinforced door. The entirety of the pack house had been fortified after the rogue attack, nothing short of an atomic bomb would be able to touch the place. But perhaps they hadn't thought about the possibility of the place imploding.

Athalia positively seethed as she looked at Remy. Cecilia was frantic, begging to be let go, to give in to their natural impulse and fall into her mate. But the magic bracelets on her wrist allowed Athalia to quell her basis emotions, allowing her anger for the intrusion to take priority over the absolute need to devour the male in front of her.

But by the Goddess he was near irresistible. Not once in her life had she perceived such perfection than that moment right there. Remy's scarred, slightly stubbly visage set on impossibly distinct cheekbones and the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen nearly sent her reeling. Had he always been like this? No. It was their fated mating talking for sure. 

She bit down on her full bottom lip, attempting to steady herself as she let his scent enter her nostrils. No amount of magic could suppress just how intoxicating it was. He smelled a bit like a campfire, burnt and rugged. It was natural, it was powerful - just like their mating.

They stood in silence as they took each other in, staring openly, both too stubborn to make the first move.

Or perhaps both too unsure.

"I, Athalia Marie Sylas, rejec-" 

"Don't you dare." Remy growled lowly, moving towards her until they were within a breath's distance.

She stood rigid, frozen in fate's hold. No amount of magic could steady her, not with him so close. 

"I," she kept her eyes down on the floor, each word having to be dragged out, "Athalia. Marie. Sylas."

"Athalia." His voice drew the deepest shiver from her spine.

He leaned down closer to her, intimidating in a possessive, almost comforting manner. Her arm shot up to push him away. But he grabbed her wrist, just underneath her bracelets. She allowed their gazes to meet, almost immediately lost in the seas of his eyes.

"I..." her voice was but a whisper, hot breath warming the space between them, "Athalia... Mar-"

His hand moved upwards, the bracelets slowly rising on her wrist as they approached the end of her wrist..

All logic was lost, watching helplessly as the diamonds glinted. But she made no move to stop him. She wanted it, wanted him, just as badly. 

Breath hitched in her throat as the jewelry moved past her fingertips, falling to the floor with a clang. She willed herself to keep holding her breath, knowing that the moment she let it go, she would lose herself completely.

Their gazes remained connected as he waited patiently, expectantly.

Feeling her lungs would burst, she finally inhaled, his scent and their bond overpowering her until she was almost collapsed at the knees.

His campfire scent was laced with hints of fruit and incense, as intense as an orange grove on fire. It overwhelmed so suddenly that she felt a bit faint. Her eyelids fluttered, lips parting slightly though not a sound was able to escape.

It was like a barrier crumbled between them, their souls finding each other for the first time as electricity shot in the places where their skin touched. It was like fireworks and fire, like a typhoon washing her ashore a brand new world. 

The fairy tales were completely right yet completely wrong. Colors seemed brighter, she felt more complete simply having Remy in front of her. But it brought along a new sense of fear and anxiety, knowing that her entire world was emptied and filled in mere moments by this stranger that she knew everything about. The man who stood in front of her was still the same man who had caused her immense amounts of stress and heartache through her young years, yet someone completely different.

She could practically feel his emotions and his thoughts, knew that somewhere buried in his tumble of a mind there was a sole desire to simply be together. And she understood that raw need so well.

These thoughts coursed through her in the longest moments of her life. It was a dreadfully long school lecture that was saved by the bell. And this bell was in the form of the first kiss of her life.

At least, the first kiss that certainly mattered.

Remy's lips met hers almost like in slow motion. Their mouths melted together, their bodies losing all sense of reason. It wasn't friendly or docile or shy. It was like they knew exactly what the other needed to feel and their own actions were perfectly tailored to give it. 

Her lips parted willingly, the slippery appendage of his tongue filling the inside of her mouth with eagerness. She intertwined hers with his, a dance of positive dominance, wanting so desperately to meld together into one. 

She felt the space between her legs moisten with arousal, her body responding in a way she had never known possible. He surely knew it - smelled it - as he let loose a bit of a growl that vibrated in his throat and into her mouth. It only drove her to further heights of arousal.

Against all carnal desire, the moment his hand released her wrist to find the skin of her body, Athalia drew back. She was breathless and dizzy, her face colored red with equal embarrassment and desire. She could feel Cecilia whining, begging to meet her mate once more.

Remy stopped, hurt showing in his eyes as she placed a hand against his chest and pushing him away from her. But he did not protest, that feeling of abiding to his mate's mental needs trumping that of the physical. 

Athalia bent down to pick up her bracelets, slipping them back on and feeling a wash of security and peace. Her jaw trembled as she looked down, ashamed, "Y-you should leave, Remy."

"Athalia," he protested softly, his hand caressing her cheek. She did not push him away but did not meet his gaze, "why do you fight this? Doesn't this feel right? Doesn't think feel exactly how it should?"

She did not reply immediately, attempting to gather her thoughts. His touch to her cheek was more soothing than any magical bracelet could be. But she only responded, "I don't know how to feel. This isn't...this isn't supposed to happen."

"It's the only thing in the world that's supposed to happen." He urged, practically whining, "Can't you see that this is exactly what we were meant to be? You and I leading Roaming Ember?"

"Is that all I am to you?" She finally raised her head, tears brimming her big brown eyes at the mere thought, "Just a way to be Alpha?"

"No! Not at all." He quickly protested, "Athalia, it was never about being Alpha. It was always about being your mate. I know how important the pack is to you, how seriously you take your position as Luna. It's precisely why I have always strived to be good enough to fill the Alpha seat. I would do anything for you."

His words touched her heart, it made the ice between their relationship melt just a bit. But her logical mind reminded her all the times he had opposed her, how many times he screamed to have the rogue families killed, and that smug smirk when his mother declared his Alpha status in her office not even a week prior.

She shook her head, "Remy, I don't know how to process all this... Can you at least give me some time?"

He looked hurt, feeling her pull away from him. But he only nodded, "Of course." What else was he supposed to do? Remy never had the intention of forcing her to be his mate. That part of it all was the only thing he let destiny decide for itself. He lingered for a moment, hoping she would say or do something more. But she only stood frozen, her gaze back to the floor as he turned heel and walked away from her.