Chapter 9

9

ARTEMIS

W aking up with my fated mate's vanilla scent in my lungs and her perfect body pressed against mine was more than I could have ever dreamed. Being around my packmates building their families with their women, I wondered if I'd ever have that. I was so fucking relieved that I'd never have to worry about that again, but she was worth all the agony and doubt.

I would've waited a thousand years to find Marielle. She was perfect for me.

My arms tightened around her, and she let out the cutest little snore. Studying her face, I wondered if I'd been too rough with her last night by taking her so many times. They were faint purple smudges beneath her eyes, and her pussy had been a little red and puffy when I ate her out before the last round. It'd been the only reason I hadn't taken her again when I woke up a few hours ago. Not wanting to run the risk of hurting my mate, I cuddled her sweet body against me and fell back asleep.

There was no way that was going to happen again since I was wide awake now, so I carefully pulled my arm out from under Marielle and tucked the blanket around her before sliding out of bed. Then I padded into the bathroom to take a piss and clean up before heading into the kitchen.

We had devoured the pizza we made between our first and second rounds of sex, but I figured my mate would wake up hungry after the workout I had given her. With my healthy appetite, I kept the kitchen well stocked even though I stayed in my cave more often than the cabin. Although that might change if my mate was more comfortable here. Whatever Marielle wanted, I planned to make sure she got it, starting with some much-needed pampering this morning, including breakfast in bed.

Marielle's entire world would change because she was mine. I was determined to do everything in my power to make sure she never had a reason to regret accepting me so easily.

The smile she beamed at me when I returned to the bedroom with a plate of French toast in one hand and a mug of coffee in the other was all the reward I needed.

"I thought I smelled something yummy." I set the plate on the bedside table and groaned when she licked her plump lips. "How did you know that I loved French toast?"

"Just a good guess," I replied, claiming her mouth in a deep kiss that left both of us breathless before I took a sip of coffee.

"Hey, I thought that was for me," she grumbled, snatching the mug from my hand. Her nose wrinkled as she sniffed it. "Dang, you made it strong and without any hint of cream or sugar."

"I wasn't sure how you took it." Jerking my chin toward the plate, I added, "Leave it for me on the table while you eat your breakfast. I'll go grab you a new cup."

"You better be careful of spoiling me," she warned with a grin.

Pausing in the doorway, I glanced over my shoulder at her and winked. "Why would I be careful when that's my plan?"

Her breathy sigh of appreciation had my dick trying to punch through the sweatpants I'd tugged on when I got up. The damn thing hadn't gotten hard until yesterday, and now it refused to go down no matter how many times I'd come inside her tight pussy. Maybe this primal need to fill her with my seed would die down a little once I knocked her up, but I doubted that it would ever go away.

When I brought her a different cup of coffee, fixed the way she'd requested, she was already done with her breakfast. "Did you get enough to eat?"

"Mm-hmm," she hummed around the mug I handed her.

"Do you need to get back to campus for any classes today?"

"Nope." She beamed a smile at me over the rim of the cup. "Two of my courses are online this semester, and the other three are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I don't even have any assignments or tests due tomorrow, so you've got me all day."

I wanted nothing more than to keep my mate to myself, but I knew that I needed to let Keane know that I had finally found her. Being a member of his pack came with responsibilities. But so did being Marielle's mate…including educating her about the mating process.

Setting her mug next to mine, I climbed on the mattress and settled her on my lap, facing me with her legs dangling past my hips onto the mattress. "I'm sorry, my treasure. I got distracted last night and left out an important part of your education about shifters."

"I can't blame you. Things kind of spiraled out of control when I kissed you."

I hadn't been surprised by how hot the passion between us burned, but I couldn't help but wonder if it had taken her by surprise since she hadn't grown up knowing she was destined to be with me and hearing stories about fated mates. "Do you have regrets?"

"Not even a little bit." She shook her head, trust shining from her hazel orbs. "So don't be worried about whatever it is that you need to tell me. All of those mind-blowing orgasms you gave me softened me up for this conversation."

"It's not bad, just different because you're human," I reassured her.

She shook her head with a soft laugh. "It can't be any wilder than you shifting into a giant dragon."

I brushed my thumb over the spot where her neck met her shoulder. "I think I made it clear last night that mates are a big deal for shifters, but I left out a couple of details. You might've wondered over the years why you never felt attracted to anyone else—it's because you were destined to be mine."

"Is the same true for you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Yes, my treasure," I confirmed with a smirk. "I never felt desire until I caught your sweet scent in my lungs and locked eyes with you."

She relaxed into my hold. "Good."

My dragon was smug about her satisfaction with my answer. "And in order for me to fully claim you, I'll need to bite you here and mark you as mine forever."

"Do it now," she demanded, tilting her head to give me better access.

"The mating mark only takes hold if I'm deep inside you and your pussy is full of my come."

Her bottom lip puffed out in an adorable pout. "Ugh, I really want you to claim me, but I think my body needs a little break before I'll be ready to take you again."

"I know." I nipped at her bottom lip. "Which is why we should probably get up so neither of us is tempted to do anything that would hurt you."

She sighed. "Yeah, you're probably right."

Lifting her off the mattress, I stood. "I need to let my alpha know that I found you anyway, so maybe we should head over to his cabin."

A short while later, we did just that. Although she didn't have my mark on her shoulder, Marielle was drenched in my scent and wearing one of my T-shirts over her leggings. So there was no mistaking her as anything but mine.

"Wait out here for me, my treasure?" I requested, brushing a kiss against her temple when we got to Keane and Laina's back deck. "Keane can get cranky if his cubs get woken up, and they might still be down."

"Go ahead," she urged with a smile. "I'll enjoy the fresh air while you risk the wrath of your alpha."

I found my alpha alone in the kitchen. "Artemis, I'm surprised to see you. I figured you'd be at your cave today."

"I found my mate yesterday."

"Congratulations." Keane clapped me on the back. "I'm fucking thrilled for you, man. Claiming your fated mate is the best damn thing that'll ever happen to you."

"I haven't fully claimed her yet," I admitted, scrubbing my palms down my bristly cheeks. "Biting her wouldn't have been right when she didn't know about it last night."

"I recommend that you get on that sooner rather than later," he suggested. "Your dragon won't settle until she carries your mark for all shifters to see and recognize her as yours."

I knew he was right, but I needed her sweet pussy to heal a little before she could take me again, and the mating mark couldn't be given until she was filled with my come again. My inner beast would just have to understand that our mate's comfort came before our needs.