Chapter 11

Sarah

The door closes behind Mark with a soft click, and suddenly, the world seems to exhale. I lean into Lucas, my body trembling with a mixture of adrenaline and relief. His arms tighten around me, strong and secure, and I breathe in his familiar scent – pine and something uniquely him, now mingled with the musky odor of his wolf form.

"You're safe now," Lucas murmurs into my hair. "I've got you."

I nod against his chest, unable to form words just yet. The events of the past hour play through my mind in a chaotic whirl – Mark's intrusion, Lucas's arrival, the fierce battle between the two wolves, and finally, my own confrontation with Mark.

Lucas pulls back slightly, his eyes searching my face. There's worry etched in the lines of his forehead, a tension in his jaw that wasn't there before. "Sarah," he says softly, his voice rough with emotion, "I... I'm sorry if I frightened you. When I shifted, I—"

I cut him off, placing my hand on his cheek. "Lucas, no. You didn't frighten me." I take a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. "I was scared, yes, but not of you. Never of you. You make me feel safe."

The tension in his shoulders eases slightly, but doubt still lingers in his eyes. "But when you saw me as a wolf..."

"I saw you protecting me," I say firmly. "I saw the man I care about doing everything in his power to keep me safe. Your wolf form... it's part of you, Lucas. And I accept all of you."

He lets out a shaky breath, leaning his forehead against mine. "You're incredible, do you know that?"

I smile, feeling a warmth bloom in my chest. "I did just stand up to Mark, didn't I?"

Lucas chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest. "You certainly did. You were so brave, so strong. I'm in awe of you, Sarah."

It's only then, in this moment of quiet intimacy, that I become acutely aware of Lucas's state. He's still naked from his shift, his body warm and solid against mine. The strong planes of his chest press against me. His arms encircle me, and I can feel the subtle flex of his biceps as he holds me close.

The heat radiating from him is almost palpable, seeping into my own body. And then I feel it – he's aroused. The hard evidence of his desire presses insistently against my hip, impossible to ignore. The realization sends a jolt of surprise through me, followed quickly by a wave of heat that pools low in my belly.

I pull back slightly. "Lucas?"

He meets my gaze steadily, his eyes dark with desire and concern. "It's a natural reaction for shifters," he explains, his voice low and soothing. "Especially after a fight where we've protected our mate. My body, my wolf... they both want to reaffirm our bond."

His hand comes up to cup my cheek, thumb gently stroking my skin. "But what I want doesn't matter right now. This is about you, Sarah. About what you need. If you're not comfortable, we don't have to—"

"Shh," I interrupt, placing a finger against his lips. His eyes darken further, a storm of desire raging within their depths. I drop my hand, replacing it with my lips, kissing him with all the pent-up fear, relief, and longing that's been simmering between us.

Lucas arms band around me like iron, pulling me impossibly closer. Our bodies align, and I can feel the evidence of his desire, hot and hard against my stomach. The ferocity of his kiss takes my breath away, but I meet him with equal fervor, my hands fisting in his hair.

With a growl that's more wolf than man, Lucas's hands find the hem of my shirt, pulling it up and over my head in one swift motion. His gaze rakes over my body, and I can feel myself flush under his intense scrutiny. My bra follows quickly, torn free by his impatient hands. His lips are on mine before I can even gasp, hungry and insistent.

My hands roam freely over the hard planes of Lucas's chest, the urgency of our connection making me bold. I slide my hand lower, my fingers brushing against the thick evidence of his desire.

I wrap my fingers around his considerable girth, marveling at the contrast between the velvety softness of his skin and the iron-hard strength beneath. A groan rumbles in Lucas's chest, the sound vibrating against my palm.

He pulls back slightly, his eyes locking onto mine with a heated intensity. "Sarah," he breathes, his voice a mix of reverence and raw need.

In response, I stroke him gently, my thumb circling the sensitive tip. His eyes flutter closed, his jaw clenching as he fights for control. But I want him to lose that control, to unleash the wildness that simmers just beneath the surface.

With a growl that's more wolf than man, Lucas lifts me off the ground, cradling me against his chest. "Where's the bedroom?" he asks, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me.

"Down the hall," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He captures my lips in a searing kiss as he carries me effortlessly through the apartment, his bare feet silent on the hardwood floor. The world around us blurs into a haze of desire and urgency as he kicks open the door to my bedroom and lays me down on the soft, rumpled sheets.

Lucas follows me onto the bed, his body covering mine as he continues to kiss me with a passion that leaves me breathless. His hands roam over my body, caressing, exploring, claiming. He breaks the kiss only to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down the side of my neck, nipping at the sensitive skin.

"Someday, I'm going to mark you here," he murmurs, his voice thick with desire. "I'm going to claim you in every way possible."

A shiver runs through me at his words, a mix of fear and excitement at the thought of bearing his mark. But there's no hesitation, no doubt in my mind that I want that—I want him, completely and irrevocably.

Lucas continues his sensual assault, his lips blazing a trail of fire down my body. He captures a nipple between his lips, sucking and teasing until I'm arching off the bed, my fingers tangled in his hair.

His hands slide down my sides, gripping the waistband of my pants and pulling them off in one swift motion. My panties follow, leaving me completely exposed to his hungry gaze. He takes a moment to appreciate the sight of me, his eyes darkening with need as he settles between my thighs.

Lucas begins to kiss his way down my body, his destination unmistakable. I squirm beneath him, nerves and anticipation making my heart race.

He looks up at me, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that stills my movements. "Let me take care of you, Sarah," he says, his voice a low, seductive promise. "Let me show you how good it can be between us."

And with that, he lowers his head, his tongue parting my folds with an expertise that leaves me gasping for breath. He explores me with a reverence that borders on worship, each stroke of his tongue bringing me closer to the brink.

I surrender myself to the sensations, to the feeling of Lucas's mouth on me, his hands holding my hips firmly in place as he drives me relentlessly towards release. My climax builds, a tide of pleasure that threatens to sweep me away.

"Please," I gasp, my voice barely more than a whimper. "I'm close, so close."

His tongue dances along my slit, each flick sending shockwaves of pleasure through my core. My fingers tangle in his hair, urging him on, but just as I teeter on the brink of release, he pulls back, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Lucas, please," I beg, my voice barely more than a whimper.

He flashes me a wicked grin, his voice a low rumble that seems to resonate within me. "All in good time, my love."

Frustration and desire war within me, a potent cocktail that leaves me aching for fulfillment. I can't wait any longer. With a boldness that surprises even me, I push against his chest, forcing him onto his back. His eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn't resist, his gaze filled with lust and admiration.

Straddling him, I feel the heat of his cock against my thigh, hard and insistent. I rock against it, my wetness coating his shaft, our mingled moans filling the room.

"Fuck, Sarah," he groans, his hands gripping my hips, his own need evident in his voice.

I lean down, capturing his lips in a searing kiss, our tongues mimicking the rhythm I crave. My pussy aches to be filled, to feel him inside me, stretching me, claiming me.

Positioning myself over his cock, I meet his gaze, my voice a sultry whisper. "I want you inside me. Now."

Without waiting for a response, I sink onto him, my body stretching to accommodate his girth. The exquisite sensation of being filled stealing the breath from my lungs

Lucas's fingers dig into my hips, his voice strained. "God, you feel incredible. So tight, so hot."

I begin to ride him, each thrust driving him deeper, our bodies moving in a primal rhythm as old as time. His cock hits a spot inside me that sends sparks of pleasure radiating through my body.

"Yes, Lucas, right there," I cry out, my hands braced against his chest, my movements growing more frenzied with each passing second.

He matches my urgency, his hips surging up to meet mine. "You're mine, Sarah. Say it."

The words come without thought, pulled from the depths of my soul. "I'm yours. Always."

His eyes flash with a possessive hunger, and he growls, the sound vibrating through me. "And I'm yours. Forever."

I can feel the tension building within me, a coiled spring about to release. "I'm so close," I gasp, my nails raking down his chest.

Lucas's own release is imminent, his body tense beneath me, his breath coming in short, ragged pants. "Come for me, Sarah," he commands, his voice a low growl.

I fall apart, my orgasm crashing over me like a wave, my body convulsing around his cock. Lucas follows me over the edge, his own climax triggering a guttural roar of satisfaction as he spills himself deeply within me.

We collapse onto the bed, our bodies a tangle of limbs, our hearts pounding. Lucas's arms wrap around me, holding me close as our breathing slowly returns to normal.

His lips brush against my ear, his voice a hoarse whisper. "I love you, Sarah Mitchell. More than life itself."

I turn my head, capturing his lips in a tender kiss. "I love you too, Lucas Morgan. Now and forever."

We lie there for a while, our bodies intertwined and our hearts beating in sync. The world outside this room feels distant, unimportant.

Lucas's hand traces lazy patterns on my back. "I want you to know," he murmurs, his voice low and serious, "that I'll always be here for you, Sarah. To make you happy, to keep you safe. Whatever you need, whatever it takes."

His words warm my heart, but they also trigger a sudden rush of anxiety. Mark. In the heat of the moment, I'd almost forgotten about him. "Lucas," I say, my voice trembling slightly, "what about Mark? What if he wants revenge for what happened? And... oh God, what about your job? If the university finds out about us—"

Lucas pulls me closer, his embrace tightening reassuringly. "Shh, it's okay. Everything's going to be alright."

I look up at him, searching his face. "How can you be so sure? And... why didn't you answer when I called earlier? I was so worried."

He takes a deep breath, his expression turning apologetic. "I'm sorry I couldn't answer. I was actually in a meeting with the Dean."

"The Dean?" I gasp, sitting up slightly. "Lucas, what—"

He gently pulls me back down, his hand running soothingly through my hair. "It's okay, really. I went to her proactively to discuss our relationship and the situation with Mark. I wanted to get ahead of any potential issues."

"And?" I prompt, hardly daring to breathe.

"And everything at the university should be fine. We'll need to go through some formal processes with the ethics committee, but the Dean was surprisingly understanding once I explained everything. As for Mark, well... he probably won't be working there much longer."

I blink in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Lucas sighs. "I also had a talk with Marcus – he's the Beta of our pack. He reached out to Theo, the Alpha of the Howling Pines pack."

"But aren't they rivals?" I ask, confused.

"They are, but Marcus and Theo were friends growing up. When Marcus explained about Mark's abusive behavior... well, Theo may be our rival, but he would never condone abuse against women. Mark's been kicked out of the Howling Pines pack. Without a pack to back him up, he'll likely leave the area soon."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "So... it's really over? We're safe?"

Lucas cups my face in his hands, his eyes intense as they meet mine. "Yes, Sarah. You're safe. We're safe. And I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way."

I lean into his touch, feeling the tension drain from my body. For the first time in what feels like forever, I allow myself to truly relax, to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything really will be okay.

As I look into Lucas's eyes, I'm overwhelmed by a wave of gratitude and love. I think back to when we first met, how scared I was of getting close to anyone, especially a shifter. But Lucas had been patient, kind, and understanding. He'd given me the time and space I needed to work through my fears.

And now, lying here in his arms, I'm so glad I found the courage to trust him, to open my heart again. This man, this wolf, my mate - he's everything I never knew I needed.

Filled with emotion, I lean in and press my lips to his. What starts as a gentle, grateful kiss quickly ignites into something more passionate. Lucas responds immediately, his arms tightening around me as he deepens the kiss.

Before I know it, he's turning us over, his body hovering over mine. His eyes, dark with renewed desire, search my face. "Again?" I ask, a little breathless but unable to keep the smile from my lips.

Lucas grins, a mix of love and mischief in his expression. "Always," he growls softly, before capturing my lips once more.

As we lose ourselves in each other again, I know with absolute certainty that this is where I belong. With Lucas, I'm home.