Chapter 9

They walked arm-in-arm back up to the cabin. "Is becoming wolf why I've been feeling so good?"

He nodded. "And Asher's mate told me I should lead with the fact that being turned not only ramps up your libido, but your metabolism as well, which means basically you can eat what you like and not worry about your weight."

Alexa laughed. "I think I want to meet Asher's mate."

"I think you'll like her. Her name is Nicole Wells. She did say she'd be happy to answer any questions you might have."

"Anything else I should know about this whole she-wolf thing?"

"Well, there is the knot."

"The what?"

"The knot. It's a kind of swelling at the base of an alpha male's cock…"

"You mean like in canines?" she asked, fascinated.

"Yes, but in wolf-shifters, only alpha males can form a knot in human form."

"I haven't seen anything like that."

"I have been repressing it. I saw no need to frighten you."

"Why would it frighten me?"

"Knots are not small, and they are hard. Many a maiden she-wolf has been frightened by her mate's knot."

Alexa shrugged. "I don't know. Sounds kind of kinky and fun."

Max chuckled. "Most don't think of it as either—more intensely sensual and intimate."

"This is sounding better and better." Once inside the cabin, Alexa turned to face him, slipping her finger inside the waistband of his jeans and pulling him towards their bed. "So does anything special have to happen for your knot thing to form?"

Max stepped forward, cupping her neck with his hand and leaning down to kiss her. "Only the presence of my beautiful mate."

Alexa pulled her sweater up over her head, peeling her bra off with it as well. She jumped up, wrapping her legs around Max's waist and rubbing her hardened nipples on his chest. She leaned back, offering them to him for suckling.

"Come and fuck me Max. Make love to me and show me what this whole knot thing is all about."

He wrapped his arms under her ass to hold her steady as he took her into their bedroom. Setting her down, he had them both naked before she even had time to think, much less do anything to help him.

* * *

Max looked down at her and chuckled. The knot had formed rapidly. He doubted he'd have been able to suppress it for much longer and certainly not after his wolf had her asking for it. He had already discovered that Alexa was never more enticing than she was when offering herself to him. Her nipples grazed his chest like tiny, pebbled stones. He could feel each ridge and whorl on their surface as they skimmed over his skin.

He stretched out beside her, running his hands over her body before covering her with his own, settling himself between her thighs where he could feel her honey as it leaked out of her core in preparation of his breaching her. His rampant cock throbbed with anticipation and need. It seemed to have developed a mind of its own and was determined to bury itself in her wet, velvety heat.

Lust and need were riding him hard as he leaned down to take her nipple in his mouth. Her sigh of pure pleasure was his undoing. He latched on and began to greedily suck and nip at her nipples, locking his hands under her ass to keep her in place and nibbling between her breasts as he hungrily took her into his mouth and pleasured her.

Max felt her fingers running through his hair, encouraging him to continue what he was doing. He nipped and kissed his way up the column of her throat and along her jawline, going up one side and then down the other. Reverently he kissed the almost completely healed mark. His cock was becoming increasingly engorged. Her moans and sighs began to give way to small growls of pleasure as Alexa embraced her new physiology.

If she wanted him buried deep inside her and to feel his knot, he was not about to deny her that. There was no better way to accomplish that than sinking his knot into her and tying her to him. The initial breach was usually painful for the woman, but the actual rocking motion of being knotted and then being tied to one's mate was peaceful and deeply satisfying. Her body might resist the breach, but once accomplished Max was certain Alexa's body would quickly accommodate it and then embrace the glory and ecstasy of the knot.

He plundered her mouth before moving back down her body—nibbling and kissing as he did so. He wanted her wildly aroused and lost in her own pleasure. His cock twitched and trembled as he dragged it past its intended destination. Alexa writhed and moaned as he seduced her into a place he had yet to take her. As he wrapped his lips around her clit and sucked hard, Alexa cried out and climaxed.

He continued to suckle and nip her swollen nub until he felt her body getting close to the edge of a second orgasm, then he removed his mouth, nuzzling her clit with his nose before plunging his tongue into her dripping slit. Again, her body arched upward, seeking even closer and more intimate contact. His cock now throbbed with necessity, his balls ached, and the knot was downright painful. Knotting this woman, his fated mate, was all he or his cock had ever wanted.

As Max continued to feast on her pussy, Alexa climaxed a second time. Without giving her any respite, he began to lick and nibble his way back up her body. He quickly replaced his tongue with his fingers and stroked her. She moved her hips in nature's oldest rhythm to match his stroking. He continued to finger her until yet again she was on the cusp of coming.

He held back as he settled himself in place, grasped her ass and whispered his love for her in her ear. Her body once more came apart as he surged forward, shoving himself deep and forcing the large knot past the entrance to her sheath and burying himself within her. This time the scream was part pleasure and part pain.

He stilled himself inside her.

"Shh, my love, I know the breach was painful, but try and relax and let yourself grow used to the fullness you feel."

Max remained motionless as her body accommodated him and his knot was pulled forward and down, making her sigh with immense satisfaction. He caught his breath as the knot began to swell within her, tying her to him. When the knot had formed the perfect seal, Alexa's eyes rolled back in her head, and she orgasmed again.

"Oh my god. Nicole is wrong, lead with the knot," she said with a mixture of lust and wonder.

Max chuckled as her legs came up to intertwine with his and she nuzzled and kissed him. He began to roll his hips forward—in essence rocking within her. She came again for him, sighing his name. He rocked her repeatedly as he brought her to orgasm after orgasm. It was as if one was starting before the other had time to finish. The spasming of her pussy along his length and the knot itself was exquisite.

Each time she came, she clung to him and called his name. Never did she try to retreat from him or dislodge the knot. Finally, he felt his balls draw up as his cum rushed up through the knot and spilled into her. Max had never experienced as long or as hard an orgasm as he did now. His warm essence bathed her pussy with his seed. Her sheath continued to contract around him, ensuring it got all he had to offer.

When at last he had finished, he raised his head to see her beautiful face reflecting back to him all the love he felt for her.

"That was amazing," she sighed. "Don't uncouple from me. I love the feeling of your power and strength. I suspect my pussy is going to hurt like hell when you do, but I will deal with that."

Max chuckled. "I'm glad you feel that way, as we will be tied together for several hours."

"What a shame," she said sarcastically, gasping as he rolled to his back with her.

"I thought I was going to pass out from the pleasure. How often do you get those?"

Max nuzzled her. "In the presence of my willing mate, it is more that I will have to suppress them than encourage them to form."

"The whole knotting part was intense, but this is just… blissful. Do all male wolves get knots?"

"In wolf form, yes. In human form, only the alphas."

"I guess then it's good for me that you're an alpha. I'm not sure if you weren't I wouldn't be looking for the first alpha I could find with a good-sized knot." Her eyes danced with merriment and love. "Seriously, Max, I've never experienced anything that even compares to this. Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve?"

"Only one."

"As good as this?"

"Better."

Alexa shook her head. "Doesn't exist," she said with confidence.

"We'll have to find out. I'm told knotting your mate from behind is deeper, the rocking more pronounced and longer, and both of our orgasms are more forceful and satisfying. The tie itself can last up to eight hours. Most couples who engage in rear knots sleep spooned and tied together."

Alexa purred in a predatory way, rubbing her head against his chest. "I'm going to hold you to that," she said dreamily as she drifted off to sleep.

* * *

As the days turned into weeks, Alexa and Max settled into a comfortable routine on Kodiak Island. They continued to explore the land that had once been owned by Nathaniel and Evelyn, uncovering more of its hidden treasures and secrets. Alexa wrote her article for the magazine and then began work on a book to showcase and bring new attention to the beauty and history of Kodiak Island and all it had to offer the intrepid traveler.

Max, inspired by their journey, began a new series of sculptures that were far more sensual and sometimes bordered on the erotic. His work gained even more acclaim, and soon, galleries from around the world were reaching out to showcase his art.

One sunny afternoon, as they hiked to their favorite hidden cove, Max turned to Alexa, his eyes filled with excitement. "I have something for you," he said, reaching into his backpack and pulling out a small, intricately carved box.

Alexa"s heart raced as she opened the box, revealing a beautiful antique locket and a gorgeous diamond ring. Max knelt down on one knee, "Alexa Carrington, will you do me the honor of accepting this ring and marrying me?"

She fell to her knees, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. "Do you really have to ask?"

"Well, seeing as how I didn't ask about the whole robbing you of your humanity thing…"

"Okay, let's get that settled. You didn't rob me of anything. You rescued me from it. You rescued me even when I didn't know I needed or wanted to be rescued. You are the love of my life, my fated mate, and I will love you through this life and all the lives to come."

His eyes softened and he kissed her gently. "I love you and now understand that I was only existing until you came into my life. If I rescued you, then you rescued me right back." He took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger. Then he took the pendant and placed it over her head. "This locket belonged to Evelyn. I found it among the treasures we uncovered. Nathaniel gave it to her. I want you to have it as a symbol of our journey and the love we share."

As they stood together, overlooking the breathtaking beauty of the lake and the surrounding wilderness, Alexa felt a profound sense of peace and fulfillment. With the sun setting over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the rugged land that stretched out before them, Alexa knew that they were exactly where they were meant to be. Embracing the future, hand in hand, they were ready to face whatever adventures lay ahead—together.

* * *

Next week there will be another story, His Secret Mate. It will be Lara's story, Tess's sister.