The Alpha’s Forced Mate: Enemies to Lovers Shifter Romance, page 19
My eyebrows shot up.
“What else do you need to tell me?”
Gods, he was good. How could I ever hide anything from him again? We were bound to each other now—and we were about to solidify that connection with a ritual.
If it were the old me, I might have lied. But I didn’t want to make that a habit anymore. I wanted to be myself—without any shame.
He pulled his thumb from my mouth and slowed his pace.
“I…I was…” I licked my lips while struggling to focus. “I was a virgin.”
He hummed while nestling into my neck. His lips went directly for my mark. “That explains it.”
“Could you tell?”
“Yes, but I’m glad I get to be the only one.”
A balloon expanded in my gut, causing me to shudder stiffly. I clung to his shoulders as he steadily thrust into me, each dip sending me farther over the edge. Cool waves washed over my shoulders. Blood thrummed in my ears. Lava burst in my core.
Broken gasps signaled my eruption. Blake leaned back and clutched my hips, driving faster as I came undone. He held my gaze with a passionate commitment that snapped once he lodged himself to the hilt inside me.
Seconds later, the two of us were a heap on the ground. Arousal and semen soaked my thighs as I collapsed on top of him, struggling to breathe through the haze of my orgasm.
“Gods,” I groaned, “I think I’m still coming.”
He rubbed my back. “Just ride the wave, sweet rose.”
Another shudder ripped through me. Was this what it would always be like? “I love you.”
He sat up and cradled me in his arms. “Nica, you have no idea how much I love you.”
“Even after all that crap?”
He laughed. “Honestly, I think all that crap just made me love you even more.”
“Blake, that doesn’t even make sense!”
Though what he said was confusing, his laughter put me at ease. How could he possibly love me more because I tried to kill him?
I shook my head. “You’re such a weirdo.”
“But I’m your weirdo, right?”
“Yes,” I sighed while wrapping my arms around his shoulders. “You’re my weirdo. I’m not letting you go. Not for a second.”
“So, we’re going to the ritual looking like this?”
I blushed while peering down at our naked bodies. “I mean, it’s not unusual for wolves to be naked, but maybe…”
“Maybe?”
“Maybe we ought to put the robes back on.”
Blake chuckled while helping me up from the ground. I was cold without his arms around me. I didn’t want to be away from him for longer than a split second. As he helped me into a fresh robe, I shivered.
“Baby?” I whispered. “Do you think this is the right thing to do?”
“Cold feet?”
I bit my lip and turned to the mirror, surprised by my calm expression. And why wouldn’t I be calm? I was standing right next to my mate.
So, why was I feeling any doubt?
“I’d be worried if you weren’t nervous,” he whispered. “We’re basically getting married in about…” He glanced at the wall where a clock sat above the doorway. “Oh, shit. She’s going to kill us.”
“What? Why?”
He yanked on his robe and grabbed my hand. “Because we’re late.”
***
Imelda held up a bowl of herbs. The moonless sky glittered with stars behind her as a cool breeze rolled across the balcony. She tilted her head and smiled as the breeze rustled some of the herbs in the bowl.
“We call to our ancestors to guide us during this joyous night,” Imelda spoke softly. “We ask that our paths are made clear as a result.”
Doubt crept back into my chest as she set the bowl on an altar. Two candles flanked on either side of the bowl, both hosting flickering flames. A jar of oil sat near the edge of the table and two rings made of what appeared to be gold. It reminded me of the toxin I had just faced earlier in the night.
I shuddered.
A warm hand met my palm and then fingers laced with mine one by one. That simple gesture alone was enough to chase away the rest of my concerns.
And when I turned, I found the glowing face of my mate.
“Hey,” he whispered, “you’re doing great.”
“Am I?” I glanced at the white frock I was wearing. “I feel silly in this thing.”
“It’s just for the ritual. You can change right after, okay?”
Imelda came into view and playfully whacked Blake on the head with a bundle of herbs. “Listen to your ancestors, champ!”
I stifled a giggle. Imelda pierced Blake with a look of both love and annoyance as she held the bundle of herbs over a flame. An explosion of mint and rose met my nostrils.
And then my chest flared up. I swelled with the greatest bliss I had ever felt, shoulders spreading back so far that I thought I would be tugged into the sky by my chest alone. My eyes tilted skyward to observe the gorgeous canopy above.
Smoke swirled in my nostrils.
Imelda circled us and whispered, “May this union provide peace.”
She repeated this twice over, pausing in front of us and lifting our joined hands. Oil met my neck where my scar sat. Once the oil was applied, she encouraged me to look at her. She held up our hands for me to see and held up the rings. This was it. My life would forever be entwined with Blake’s.
As soon as she slid the rings over our fingers, a wild wind whipped over the balcony and snuffed out the candles. Herbs scattered in every direction. A sense of calm washed over me as the breeze died down, carrying with it the delicious scent of powdered roses and patchouli.
A new scent took its place. It was a robust and intoxicating smell that made me think of plants poking through the frigid layer of winter that remained before the spring. And when I turned to Blake, I could see he sensed it too.
And it made him happy.
Hands still joined, we crashed into each other, eager to share a kiss after everything we had been through. Applause exploded from the room behind us, inspiring tears to spring to my eyes. Blake wrapped his arms around my waist and hoisted me into the air.
“We’re going to be a family!” he shouted over the roar of applause. “I’m going to be a father!”
Laughter burst from me as he spun me around. The stars revolved above as light flashed in my eyes. Energy radiated in every direction possible, reminding me of the many paths that lay ahead of us.
There was no telling which way the wind would blow. Not even the most talented witch could have given us a blueprint to the trials in our future. But those things didn’t matter to me because they didn’t yet exist. None of them were in my realm of control. So, there was no need to worry about them.
As soon as Blake set me down, I wobbled from dizziness. But I never lost my smile or my spark. I never lost my laughter. With his hand in mine, we wandered into the ballroom where his entire pack waited to meet us. Jermaine and Tanner stood aside, both of them appearing like they were trying not to cry. Shelly hung from Imelda like she was about to hit the ground at any moment, tears staining her cheeks while she smiled through her sobs.
It was a strange and encouraging sight. Weeks ago, I wouldn’t have guessed that my life would have taken this turn. But as Blake led me around the room and introduced me to each of his pack members, I exploded with pride and joy. Every hand I shook soothed me that much more as I felt the acceptance of his pack.
Every corner of the room billowed with excitement. A buffet of food was set up on the other side of the room with enough meat to feed an entire city. The delicious aromas enticed me, reminding me that I had barely eaten much at all.
Blake rested his hand over my stomach. “Come on. You’re eating for two now. You should have a plate before anyone else.”
“But what about—?”
He shushed me. “Mate first. Everyone else will fall in line.”
I bowed my head respectfully. “I’m not used to being treated like this.”
“I know, sweet rose. That’s why I want to treat you like this.”
Tears appeared so fast that I didn’t have time to hold them back. “I almost feel like I don’t deserve it.”
“You do deserve it. Because you saved me.”
“But I almost didn’t—”
He placed one finger over my lips. We were already next to the buffet table where someone was fixing me a plate. No one was listening, but I could sense that everyone was watching what I was doing. As his mate, I needed to make sure I behaved appropriately—and that meant deferring to his control.
Which didn’t take much effort on my part.
I nodded. “Alright, fine.”
He smirked. “Don’t worry. I’ll drive the brat right out of you.”
“I get the feeling you like the brat.”
He winked. “I guess we’ll both find out later.”
One plate of food and a glass of water later, I felt like a brand new person. And why wouldn’t I? I had just mated with the love of my life in front of his pack. Nothing else was required of me. Even though I suddenly held a high position, I felt like I didn’t have to perform. I just had to be myself.
And that was all I had ever wanted.
Chapter 25 - Blake
One week—that was how long it had been since I’d bitten Veronica’s neck and made her my mate. The mansion felt different than usual, with even more activity than during the mate trials. Pack members freely walked into the foyer and wandered the grounds, something that hadn’t happened since my father passed away.
It made me smile to see so many happy faces.
What once had seemed like prison was now my refuge. So much laughter echoed across the marble halls and rose up the spiral staircase. Comforting energy lurked around every corner. Safety grew in numbers as people utilized the library, played in the pool rooms, and created memories with me.
The rear den exploded with light from the windows overlooking the gardens. Members wandered through the maze, worked on the flowerbeds, and foraged in the woods and fields beyond the yard. The place actually felt like home. And I knew I had Veronica to thank for that.
I saw her fiery hair first. How could I not? The campfire flames hung in long wavy tresses that kissed her glorious skin. A pink hue sat on her cheeks as she bowed over a rather large volume that sat on her knees. The tip of her tongue poked between her lips as the expression on her face shifted from heated interest to intense fascination.
She held out her hand to me. I took it without hesitation.
“Aren’t you supposed to be looking at baby shower stuff?” I teased. I sat next to her and pressed her palm to my chest. “Are you distracted again?”
“Maybe. Kinda,” she whispered. “One more chapter.”
I chuckled and kissed her knuckles. “I’m glad you’re enjoying that one.”
“It’s so beautiful.” She turned the page reverently. “I never thought I would like period romances. But wow.”
“I know, right?”
She shook her head, draping a red ribbon onto the pale white page. When she looked at me, her smile expanded so wide that I thought it would spread right off her face. But it didn’t. Not quite. “I still have a whole library to dig through.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re never going to have time for me?”
“Because I won’t ever want to stop reading.”
I smirked. “If that’s what you want…”
She tugged my hand to her cheek. “I mean, you can read next to me. Right? Would you like to do that?” She suddenly looked self-conscious. “Is that stupid?”
“Why would that be stupid?”
“I don’t know. Melvin never liked reading.”
Her eyes went wide as she turned to the window. Light poured over her face, illuminating the sorrow that lurked beyond her calm demeanor. She was trying to hide it from me. She knew better than that.
But I allowed it anyway. “Nica.”
“I know,” she sighed. “I’m allowed to feel sad.”
“It’s true.”
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes while exhaling. “It’s just weird without him around. It’s weird without any of them around.”
“They weren’t good for you.”
“I can see that now.” She squeezed my hand. “No teenager should be training to be a killer when they just lost their parents.”
I pulled her gently into my arms. She didn’t fight the embrace, choosing to nestle into the crook of my arm as I reclined on the couch. “You’re right.”
“I just feel—” She swallowed audibly. “—guilty about settling into a new, happy life without those people.”
“They chose to side with Raymond Gilbert. They deserve what they get.”
She sat up abruptly and pierced me with a critical stare. “That’s just the thing, Blake. I don’t think they deserve to suffer like that.”
A frown turned down my lips. I wasn’t accustomed to opposition like this, but I was willing to listen to her.
She was my mate. I wouldn’t deny her words. Not even if I was bothered.
I nodded for her to proceed. She sat back for a second and chewed the inside of her lip, quietly going over what was in her mind. Though I couldn’t see what she was truly thinking, I could feel the roller coaster of emotions rattling through her.
Guilt, shame, fury, indignation—it was all a righteous explosion.
She sighed shakily as she met my gaze. “I feel like I’ve abandoned them. And not because I owe them anything. But because I think they deserve to be with a good leader, Blake.” She stroked my cheek. “A leader like you. An alpha like you.”
A smile slowly spread over my mouth. “Yeah?”
“Maybe we could absorb them someday.”
“That’s a big goal to have, sweet rose.”
She shrugged. “We’re all about big goals, aren’t we?”
“What makes you say that?”
“You were set on winning me as your mate when it seemed like it wasn’t possible at all, right?”
I smiled. “Yeah, I’m guilty of that.”
“So, we can make more big goals. And we can achieve them together.”
“You really want to rescue an entire pack and incorporate them here?”
She grinned, tugging me into a sitting position. She pressed her lips sloppily to mine as she crawled into my lap, her heart beating to the rhythm of her breath. Just like that, my thoughts were of her and only her.
I broke the kiss. “You’re being sneaky.”
“Is it working?”
“Maybe. Sorta. Kinda.”
She grinned while sliding from my lap. “It’s just an idea. I don’t think he’s going to be happy that I mated with you. I don’t think he’s going to stop.”
I stood up and ran my fingers through my hair.
She was right. Raymond wouldn’t take kindly to losing. He would probably come back for more in the future. There was only so much stunning my pack members could do without causing serious brain damage.
I hummed thoughtfully. “What do you think we should do?”
She stared at me. “Are you really asking me?”
“Yeah, why not? You know him better than anyone. I want your counsel here.”
She smiled weakly as she closed the space between us. Seconds later, her lips were plastered to mine again. It was impossible to stop kissing when we weren’t speaking. I had to guess that the servants were getting sick of hearing us doing much more than that all over the mansion.
When she drifted back, I was left breathless.
I hoped she never stopped impressing me like that.
“You’re right. I need to be planning the baby shower,” she said. “I’ll grab the tablet and start looking through decorations.”
“Nope,” a familiar voice argued from the doorway. “That’s my job.”
Grandma sidled into the room with a tray of tea.
I smiled gratefully. “Mamaw, you don’t have to do all that.”
“I know,” she snorted. “But I want to.”
Veronica laughed while accepting the tray of tea. Mamaw touched her forehead and then kissed her crown as was customary for grandparents to do with new mates. Watching them interact, I felt a sense of accomplishment that my family had been pieced back together.
And all it had taken was the love of a sweet and humble woman like Veronica.
Grandma guided Veronica to the couch. My mother wandered into the room eventually and sat next to them, the three of them chattering excitedly about the shower.
“Purple,” Veronica suggested. “I do love purple.”
“And green?” Mom asked. “You know, to be inclusive about the gender and all.”
I rolled my eyes as I took a seat nearby. “Mom.”
“What? You told me I had to be mindful,” she argued while waving her hand. “So, I’m being mindful. Green is good, right?”
Veronica beamed. “Green is gender neutral, yes.”
“What about yellow?” Grandma asked. “I was always fond of yellow.” She looked troubled suddenly. “Well, not that this is about me. This is about you, dear.”
Veronica smiled warmly and took Grandma’s hands. “I want all the help I can get. I’ve never had this kind of help. It’s…” She trailed off as tears appeared.
While my wolf urged me to rush to her aid, I didn’t. Because I didn’t have to at this moment.
Mom patted her back. “It’s alright, dear. We’ll be glad to help.”
“I have all sorts of old baby things in the attic,” Grandma said. “Bassinets and cribs and all those clothes.”
I shook my head. “My kid is not wearing fashions from the eighteen hundreds.”
Mamaw scoffed while Mom gave me a horrified look. The only person who cackled was Veronica.
A knock echoed from the doorway. I turned to see Jermaine and Tanner patiently waiting for me to welcome them.
I waved them in.
Jermaine sat next to me as the three women across from me chattered on about the baby shower. Tanner leaned against the armrest and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
