Burning the Alpha

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I wasn't sure where River had gone, and I didn't care to find out. I took his absence to mean my freedom, and I knew the portal would get me out of there.

There was a short pause while the three of us waited to see what the other two would do. Once I realised that they were probably as unsure about me as I was about them, I stepped up to the portal.

Images of Shaun swirled through my mind, and I embraced them wholeheartedly as I stepped through the portal and whispered, "Home."

Time was nothing and everything. It wrapped around me like a giant hand, and pulsed like a heart-beat. I saw the earth move, and seasons change - not because of time, but because of place, and the position of the sun.

I held on to the image of Shaun. He was my destination.

The pulsing became more intense, and the pressure around me became so forceful that I was sure it would tear a human body apart.

Suddenly, I was released and, as the world re-took its shape around me, I re-took my human form.

The first thing I recognised was the pack house, large and full of life. From inside came the sounds of talking and laughter, but from somewhere outside, I could hear a rhythmic thud, and angry grunting.

As I walked around to the back of the house, I saw him. He had been chopping fire wood, but as I rounded the corner, his head went up and sniffed the air.

Slowly, as though not quite sure it was real, he turned his face towards me.

He lowered his axe and took a step towards me, now sniffing in my direction.

I put my hands out, as if to better show him, "It is me."

He continued his slow approach. "I thought we'd never see you again."

"River got what he wanted." I said with a shrug.

"So, it's over?" He asked, still seeming slightly hesitant.

I smiled and nodded. "It's over."

That was all he needed. Suddenly, the distance between us was gone, and his arms were around me.

He draw his face back to search mine, stroking my cheeks with calloused hands, burning with an important question. "So, are you ready to be mine?"

I gave him a small smile, before pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "Yes, I'm ready to be yours." But as I said the words, they gave me pause, so I felt the need to add, "As long as that means you are also mine."

He let out a laugh, and kissed me more possessively. "I've been yours since the moment we met."

A new sensation bubbled through my fires. It was immensely pleasant, and I wanted more of it. I pressed into him more fiercely, searching his mouth with my tongue. I wanted more of him.

A low growl started rumbling in his chest, and his hands caressed my body on their way down to grab hold of my thighs. He lifted me off the ground, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He maneuvered us around until my back was pressed against the outside wall, then pressed into me until there was no space left between us.

"I want you. So much." He whispered in my ear.

"I want you, too." I whispered back.

He growled, and pulled back slightly to work at the clasp of my pants. "You don't know how long I've waited to hear you say that."

It was a strange statement to me. It seemed obvious how long he'd been waiting, but I didn't want to let my confusion spoil the moment. I pulled his face back to me so I could kiss him again.

Admittedly, I hadn't had that many s****l partners. It hadn't really been an area of interest for me until the most recent few centuries. I'd never tried it with a mortal, and I'd never tried it in an upright position, so I was excited for these new experiences, but also strangely nervous.

I felt myself slowing down to pay attention to his every move.

His hands may as well have been magic. It was like they knew exactly where I wanted them to go, and fluctuated in pressure in a way that sent my senses into overdrive. I'd never experienced anything like it.

He was just starting to move his attention back to my pants, when we were very rudely interrupted by someone opening the back door.

An adult male fixed his eyes on us, but didn't seem in any way apologetic or uncomfortable as he spoke.

"My apologies, Alpha." He said, lying. "We just got word of a disturbance at our Western border. Your presence has been requested."

He nodded his head at Shaun, but didn't meet my eyes again before he left.

Shaun let out a long breath and rested his forehead against mine.

"Sorry." He whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips, then my forehead. "Promise you won't go anywhere? I'll be back as soon as I can."

I considered his question. Unsure what I would do with myself in his absence, I asked, "Can I come with you?"

He let out another long breath and shook his head. "I wish you could, but it's all a bit complicated. I'll explain everything when I get back, is that okay with you?"

"Okay." I gave him a human nod.

He gave me one more kiss and moved to leave, but as he moved away from me, I noticed red marks on his arms and face.

In the shape of my hands.