The Golden One

The Arrival

"Meila?" 

My leg bounces up and down, my mind wandering to what this weekend would hold for us. 

"M, we're here."

I sigh. Here we f*****g go.

We pulled into the fancy estate, driving up what seem like a never ending driveway. Passing half-dressed wolves in their evening training sessions. I glance around, taking in my surroundings.

"They look weak." I scoff.

Michael turns to face me in the back seats of the sleek black SUV; we travel in style, of course.

"Grumpy already, darling?" He chuckles as I roll my eyes in response.

He places a reassuring hand on my thigh, knowing me well enough to pick up that my attitude was coming from my discomfort. I hated being out of my routine, having to meet new people and explaining who I was. It was an exhausting thought. There haven't been many people we have explained our situation to, but each time it has been met with confusion and a million questions. Neither of which I can be bothered with after our three hour journey.

Taking deep breaths, I try to calm the nerves bubbling away in the pit of my stomach. These things would be much easier if it was on my territory; where I feel safe.

The car starts to slow then pulls to a halt outside the large manor house. Two pack members guard the house at each side of the grand entrance, standing strong and stoic. Their eyes follow the car, faces never twitching. Once the vehicle had stopped, the smaller of the two walks down and starts to unload our bags.

Michael quickly hops out of the car and makes his way around to my door. He opens it and extends his strong hand to help me out while smiling down at me with pure love and admiration. He always is such a gentleman.

I swing my legs out of the door and place my small hand in his. He squeezes softly and rests his thumb on the top of my hand, rubbing small circles gently into my skin. I look up at him through my lashes and flash him a coy smile as he continues to gaze down at me, now with a smug look knowing his actions are calming me. Finally, he helps me out of the car and we make our way to the house entrance.

As we start to climb the stairs to the door, a large, hairy man approaches us. He stands tall and proud, his shirt barely containing his bulging muscles and his curly and light brown hair tickles at his broad shoulders.

"Alpha Michael, it's so nice to see you again. I was so sorry to hear of your father's passing." 

The hairy man continues to approach us, hand out stretched to shake. I feel Michael tense next to me, a little rumbling forming in his chest. I forget these meetings and explanations must be just as frustrating for him as they are for me.

"This must be your Luna."  

He finally stands before us in all his glory, hand still reaching for Michael.

Michael's eyes are dark and his fists clench by his side. The hairy man looks at him with confusion, unsure of what he has done to offend him.

If things hadn't been so f****d up, this would be a perfectly normal introduction and we would make small talk and move on.

But we're not normal. I clear my throat, ready to settle the confusion.

"Hello Alpha Carl, it's a pleasure to meet you finally." I put on my strongest voice, his confused eyes move to meet mine and his brow wrinkles almost begging me to let him in on what he's done to piss off Michael.

"My name is Meila, Alpha of the Night Shade pack."

Alpha Carl's mouth drops open slightly, shock and confusion etched across his face. He looks at Michael then again at me. His mouth closes then opens again slightly as if he was going to speak. No noise comes out, his eyes continuing to flick between the two of us.

"I-I'm so sorry, I just assumed..." His words stumble out and trail off when Michael lets out a low growl.

Behind the anger I knew what he was feeling: embarrassment and shame. After all, he was supposed to be the Alpha now.

"An understandable mistake, Alpha Carl. We clearly have a story to tell. However, we have travelled far and would like to rest before the meeting tomorrow." I continued to speak in my calm tone, although it was far from how I was feeling.

"O-of course." He stammers. "I can have another room made up as I expected an Alpha and Luna. I'm so sorry."

"No need." I say in a matter of fact tone. More confusion fills his face. Yes, I stole his pack and yes, I'm f*****g him. My eyes roll internally. My frustration is ready to bubble to the surface any second if we didn't make a quick exit.

Sensing I was done with talking, he motions to the guard who had lifted our bags from the car.

"Emmett will take you to your room."

I nod, taking Michael's hand in my own. His face turns to me and instead of anger, his eyes are filled with sadness. Stupid, stupid, Meila; always thinking about myself. Of course this was going to be s**t for him. I squeezed his hand and gave him a soft smile. The corner of his mouth curls up slightly in response, trying to reassure me that he was fine, but I know better.

We move quickly through the house behind Emmett and make it to the peace and quiet of our room.

And breathe.

The room is beautiful. Truly fit for an Alpha. It is the perfect mix of old and new. It is open and airy, with light golden walls and little golden details throughout. Oh the irony. The four poster bed sits in between two floor to ceiling windows with golden drapes hanging across each side.

I look at the bed longingly. 

So. Tired.

But I know Michael and I have to talk first.

I watch him angrily rummage through his bags searching for what he needs. He roughly unbuttons his shirt and throws it on the chair next to the bed. He continues to furiously strip down before putting his grey sweats on and stomping over to the bed. He sits on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees and chin resting in his hands.

"Fuck." He growls out angrily.

I slowly walk over and sit next to him, resting my hand on his warm, muscular back. The skin to skin contact causes him let out a small sigh but his head remains firmly in his hands. Drawing little circles on his back with my fingertips elicits more soft sighs from him, his tense muscles twitch and struggle under my touch until they relax and he slowly lifts his head.

"I'm sorry, M." His voice is soft, almost a whisper.

"Sorry?" I question in a soothing tone.

He really has nothing to be sorry about. The anger was never directed at me, only the situation. It is our first time out together since his father passed away; since I became the Alpha. It was never going to be easy to explain. Hell I took away Michael's birth right to be Alpha, I should be sorry.

"I'm supposed to hold it together for you. For us." 

His emphasis on “us” makes my heart skip. We have been together as a couple for three years now. There is no denying we are completely in love with each other. Having grown up together, we know everything about each other. Our relationship is calm and loving and we know each other’s needs before the other sometimes. 

"I think you did just fine given the circumstances." I say reassuringly. And it’s no lie. Michael should have ascended to Alpha after his father’s death. It is assumed by everyone who knows of our pack that Francis’s son is now the Alpha. Having to explain that not only is he the Beta of the pack he should have inherited, but that the Alpha is a woman, is not easy for anyone. It’s rare that a female is the Alpha, and I know that at times it can feel emasculating to Michael. It’s not his fault, it’s our culture.

"I swear I didn't even think it would bother me. But when he placed all his assumptions on me..." He trails off and sighs, his shoulders sinking lower. 

"He thinks I'm weak." His eyes fall to the floor and he shuffles his feet awkwardly.

Michael isn't weak. He is the strongest person I have ever met. If anything, stepping aside for me to become Alpha was the bravest and strongest thing a wolf could do. And he did it without a second thought, he was selfless and strong. For anyone to see him differently was stupid and wrong.

My hand runs up his back and rests at his neck, my fingers dancing with his curls and massaging his hairline. He leans into the touch, his eyes closing briefly as he enjoys the contact.

"We both know who would win in a fight between you two." I say, nudging him at his shoulder. He glances up at me with a small smile and I can’t help but smile back. His smile is contagious, and so captivatingly cute.

"He'll understand when he gets the full story tomorrow. What you did for me, for your pack... It was far from weak."

He sighs and looks back at the floor, his hands run over one another and he picks at his callouses in silence.

"He knows we're not mates." He speaks in a cool tone, the energy in the room shifting to match the weighty subject he has moved us onto. This was an issue we had gone over many times but it was not one I wanted to get into now.

I sigh removing my hands from him and place them on my lap. He sits straighter and looks deep into my eyes.

"If you would just let me mark you—" I cut him off as I flop my body back to lay on the bed in exasperation.

"You really want to get into this again Michael?" I grumble from below.

"You don't get it." He mumbles.

I snap up to sit again, anger filling me from my toes upwards.

"I don't get it?! No, YOU don't get it!" He shifts his weight, noticing his snide comment has clearly struck a nerve.

"You had your chance with a mate! It was short and it’s s**t and I'm sorry. But are you trying to tell me that if Liana was still here we would be together?" I stand mid-sentence filled with annoyance at his comment. 

He looks uneasy where he sits, knowing full well had his mate not died nearly a decade ago we would never be in this position. Seeing him fidget, I feel bad, take a deep breath and soften as I know this is a sensitive subject for him.

"I love you Michael, I really do. I choose to be with you, not because some bond or mark makes me feel like I should." I’m not lying, I really do love him. But being marked by someone was reserved for your mate and although I haven't found mine, or even think I will find him, I still believe I should respect at least that part of the sacred bond.

"I don't know if I will ever find a mate, I don't know if I will want to be with them. But it would be wrong of me to allow you to mark me before knowing that for sure. Do you understand?"  

His eyes roll up to mine, he stares at me for a few seconds, the cogs in his brain clearly turning while mulling this thought over.

"Yes."  He says it with sincerity, knowing full well that if he could bring Liana back he would and that if I ever find a mate it would be a huge betrayal to be marked by someone else.

"I just hate how people look at me like I'm your little b***h boy. Like I'm a f*****g man whore." He throws himself back to the top of the bed, body leaning against the headboard with his arms behind his head and his legs one on top of the other.

I study him for a second, appreciating every single part of him. His perfectly tanned skin, chiselled stomach and bulging biceps. His icy blue eyes staring intently at the ceiling and his thick brows, one scarred, furrowed in frustration. He ruffles his hand through his thick black hair in exasperation. Oh Moon Goddess, he is so effortlessly sexy.

"If you were a man w***e, I wouldn't spend so much time stroking your ego." I purr, ready to diffuse this whole fight and move on.

His head lifts slowly, his annoyance relaxing and now replaced with a devilish smirk across his luscious lips.

"Is that an euphemism?" He taunts.

I swipe my tongue across my top lip maintaining eye contact with him as I do so, letting him know what's on my mind. My eyes flick to his strong torso then I move my gaze lower and my breathing quickens as I think of what's underneath those grey sweatpants.

He lifts his chin taking a deep breath, smelling my arousal, as my leather jacket hits the floor with a soft thud. I don't need to smell his arousal; I can see it now.

I walk towards the bed, my eyes moving back to his as they become dark and hungry. When I reach the bed I start to crawl towards him, painfully slow just to tease him. My right hand lands on his calf and as I move closer to his face, I let my hand slide up his leg tantalisingly slow. His body wriggles under my touch, a soft moan escaping his lips. He knows I'm a tease but he also knows how to spur me on. His light groans and moans always make me want more and speed up the process.  

My right hand continues to move upwards finally settling on his now hard c**k. I move my hand up and down slowly over the top of his sweats while maintaining eye contact and licking my lips. 

"Is this the kind of ego stroke you were thinking of?" I ask in a breathy voice. His head falls back and his eyes roll in pleasure. Oh Moon Goddess, the way he responds to me is so f*****g hot.

With his neck now exposed, I continue my teasing;. Planting soft kisses and nibbles on his neck and sharp jawline while I let my fingers dance around at the waistband of his sweatpants. His rock hard c**k twitches at the need for my touch, craving my attention. Just when I've got him where I want him he gets tired of waiting and uses all of his strength to flip me over and pin me down.

He puts both my wrists in one of his hands above my head while his other hand snakes up my silk camisole to my bare breast. He squeezes down on it as he gives me a rough, hungry kiss.

"No bra?" He grunts.

"You know I like to feel free." I say as I smile against him, he grunts again in approval continuing his attack on my chest.

He massages circles into my erect n****e as he continues his rough kisses. A soft pinch elicits a moan of pleasure from me. Satisfied with my response, he sits up and removes my top in one swift movement then lunges down at my exposed breasts. His nibbles start soft and my breathing quickens, then he clamps down on my n****e and sucks while roughly groping my other breast. I can't help myself and groan his name in pleasure. 

The heat between my legs is increasing and all I want is him inside me; fingers, tongue, c**k. I don't care. 

As if reading my mind his nibbles and kisses trail down my stomach. I arch my back and let out a heavy breath, my body happy with his worship.

His kisses stop as he undoes the button to my jeans and pulls them off roughly, too impatient to care where they go. His eyes widen as he sees I am also not wearing any panties, I give him a wink as he dives down on to the bed again and separates my legs. He leaves little kisses up my inner thigh and the anticipation is getting the better of me. I let out little groans and whines each time he nears my throbbing c**t but passes by. He's giving me a taste of my own medicine.

I'm so f*****g wet I just need his touch and his tongue lapping up my juices. He seems to have grown impatient too as he finally places a sloppy kiss right on my needy c**t. We moan together in harmony, both happy to be moving passed our torturous teasing. 

"You're so f*****g wet, Meila. You taste so good, baby." He growls up at me through my shaking legs.

I don't have words but he can see his effects on my writhing body, my back arching in pleasure and my hands fisting in his dark hair craving more as his tongue swipes and swirls around my dripping folds.

"f**k me. Now." I manage to growl out.

"Yes, Alpha."

He removes his sweatpants, grabs the condom and rips the foil packaging, rolling it on in record time. He crawls up my body before planting a soft kiss on my swollen lips as he lines himself up with my throbbing opening. He thrusts inside me hard and fast as I let out a squeal of pleasure. He too growls at the feeling of being inside me, giving rough pumps into me, hands firmly planted on my hips as I wrap my legs around him, my fingers clawing at his taut back muscles.

His eyes are dark with lust as he starts to speed up his thrusts, dirty words leaving his mouth force me deeper into my pleasure spiral. It doesn't take long before we both call out in ecstasy as I clench around him and he releases inside me. Our breathing is heavy and beads of sweat cover our intertwined bodies. 

He slips off to the side of me, cleans himself up then pulls me into a loving embrace, placing light kisses on my neck and earlobe. I shiver under his gentle touch. He drives me wild.

"I love you Meila, so much." He whispers in my ear.

"I love you too, Michael." I reply before we both drift off into a peaceful sleep.