Chapter Nine

“T his is easy,” Rose huffed.

“I want to see what you can do,” Kraven reminded her.

They were currently sitting on the floor of the cabin with a box of different sizes of wood, a bag full of hardware, and a schematic. Kraven had mentioned how he’d been meaning to put together a huge bookshelf for his living room and thought testing her photographic memory to construct it was a great idea.

Rose thought it was hilarious.

“Just look at the photo and then get to work,” he chuckled. Rose was sure he knew it wouldn’t take her long, but since he wanted to see for himself, she was going to oblige.

She picked up the instructions, and the schematics were very basic. Although it was a large project, it shouldn’t take her long. There were bags of hardware labeled with numbers, and the pieces of wood had stickers with letters. Scanning the piece of paper one last time, she handed it over to Kraven, being careful of where her fingers were.

He probably wasn’t ready to touch her skin to skin, and to be honest, she was scared of what would happen even though his sister had given her enough information she could put together how a mating would work. She tried to hide the blush that reddened her cheeks, but she couldn’t stop the scent that came off of her skin.

When Kraven’s chest rumbled, she grabbed the first piece of precut wood and got to work, seeing the instructions in her mind’s eye. Thankfully, he had a battery-operated drill with a Phillips-head attachment to fit the screws.

Kraven didn’t speak to her as she worked, but she noticed how he kept looking at the clock on the wall to gauge the time. Rose already knew she was only five minutes and fifty-two seconds into the build…and she was already halfway done.

“Jesus,” Kraven breathed once she finished. “Twelve minutes.”

“Actually, it was eleven minutes and forty-eight seconds,” she smirked.

“Can all of the MODs do what you did?” he asked, pointing to the beautiful dark wooden shelf against the wall.

“There are several who can’t do everything I can, and there is one who has the hound gene like me. She was my only friend, and I trusted her with my life. She was trained differently than me,” she admitted, remembering her friend who was even smarter than her. They used to spend all of their free time together, and she hoped MOD-122101 was safe. “I hope they haven’t punished her for my escape.”

“We will save the MODs as soon as we find the hospital where you were born,” he promised. His eyes were sparking amber, but the scent coming off of him…the mating scent…was stronger than ever, and if she was being honest, she loved it.

“Your scent is strong today,” she mentioned, not shying away. “We need to talk about our connection.”

The air in the cabin warmed as his scent amplified. There was something about the male that she was getting more and more attached to. Was it the fact they were to be mates like the others in the pride?

“Yes, I agree. We should talk about it,” he admitted, climbing to his feet. “Come with me.”

“Okay,” she replied, not knowing what he was doing.

“Have a seat,” he suggested, pointing to the couch. She watched him as he walked toward his kitchen. Staring at his backside and long legs did something to her lower belly and the spot between her legs. He was so attractive it hurt.

The longer Rose had been out of the hospital, the more she was starting to understand her true nature. Her destiny was no longer attached to the hospital or the male who’d created her and so many others. Now, she had a chance at a life she’d only read about in books and magazines. Could she and Kraven actually have a family?

“You okay?” he asked, returning to the living room with a cold beer in his hand.

“Yes,” she whispered, knowing she couldn’t be shy about their possible mating. And she only used the word “possible” because she wasn’t sure if they would ever touch at this point. With each day that passed, she wanted to more and more.

“So, you want to talk about our mating scents?” he asked, taking a swig of his beer. The hoppy scent from the bottle reached her senses, and for a split second, she wondered how it would taste on his lips…his tongue.

“Your sister has told me just about everything when it comes to matings, and I know that we are most likely mates.” She squirmed in her seat and finally readjusted herself so her legs were tucked underneath her.

“She’s right,” he nodded in agreement. “I know this is all new for you, and I’m not in any hurry to touch you to see if we are connected.”

“Oh.” She frowned, feeling a bit like she’d been punched in the gut. “I see.”

“Hey,” he said, lowering his voice. When she didn’t look up, Rose heard his bottle clink against the coaster and before she knew it, he was on his knees in front of her. “Look at me, sweetheart.”

Gods, she loved the nickname he’d given her, and she remembered hearing that fall from his lips when she was found in the forest. How had she lucked out and landed in those woods? Right where he’d been fishing that day?

“I’m sorry,” she replied. “I don’t know how to do this, and if you don’t want me, I understand. Your friendship means more to me than anything else.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t want you, Rose,” he growled, forcing her to truly look at him.

His hair was up in a messy bun and he wore a black, long-sleeved top. He’d been wearing a red plaid shirt over it earlier, but it’d been discarded across the back of a kitchen chair. Oh, how she wanted to put it on so she could have his scent on her body.

“Then what do you want?” she asked. They needed to clear the air, because her body was starting to change in ways she hadn’t experienced before and she had a feeling it was the arousal of finding a mate.

“I want you to be comfortable here with me, and I want you to touch me when you’re ready. I’m not going to push you to make that decision.” He was an honorable male just like his sister had promised. Rose was so damn lucky she’d been found by him.

“My body is changing…I can feel it,” she admitted, pressing a fist into her lower belly. “I’ve never had this happen to me, and I have no idea what it is. I can only assume it’s my animals and their need to mate you.”

“They know I am your mate,” he reminded her.

“It feels strange to me,” she offered. “They seem to fight amongst themselves for space in my head, but they’re calm and relaxed when you’re around. It’s refreshing.”

“That’s one of the great things about finding your mate,” he said, still kneeling at her feet.

“I have a question.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I’m a bit afraid of the…intimate part.” She paused to clear her throat. Gods, she should be embarrassed to talk about sex, but she wasn’t with him. Rose was being honest when she said her friendship with him meant so much.

“The sex?” He frowned, and Rose heard a slight rumble coming from his beast. “Why? Were you hurt at the hospital?” She could tell he was getting angry.

“No,” she barked, waving her hands in the air to calm him down. “I’ve never done…it, Kraven. I barely know what to do.”

“Oh, thank the gods,” he said, going from kneeling to sitting right on his glorious backside. “You scared me for a moment.”

“They didn’t make us do that at the hospital. Our virtue was too important, and it was rumored they would put anyone down who was caught having sex.”

“That’s awful,” he said. “Sex is not just for procreating, Rose. Intimate relations between mates are also a bonding experience. When you’re together, it’s just the two of you in your own little bubble away from the outside world. Shifters honor each other and our bonds are strong. Spending time together is a cherished act once you’re mated.”

“That sounds wonderful, actually,” she sighed. “I’d love to experience that with you.”

“Only when you’re ready,” he reminded her.

“And when I touch you,” she reminded him.

“Yes,” he chuckled.

“I don’t know, but I can tell you what I do know,” she whispered, lowering her eyes for only a second. When she looked up again and made eye contact with him, he saw a fire in them he hadn’t seen before.

“Tell me.”

“I know that I want to be with you.” She paused to take a breath. “It doesn’t matter that I’m inexperienced. It doesn’t matter that I had an upbringing completely different from you. It doesn’t matter that I’m still trying to navigate the real world. What does matter, Kraven…is that I enjoy being with you, and I love our bond and friendship. I don’t want to spend a day of my life without you in it. Whatever happens after that is just extra.”

“You are making me want to break my rule of waiting for you to touch me,” he growled, feeling his cock harden in his tight jeans. It was uncomfortable, but he didn’t care. He wanted her.

“Why do we have to wait?” she asked. A small wrinkle formed between her eyebrows and he desperately wanted to trace it with his thumb, forcing it to go away.

“I want you to fall in love with me first,” he stated. Gods, it was so hard to keep his manners in check. He’d told himself for years that he’d never force the touch on a female, and fuck if he didn’t kick himself for that part of his honor.

“Kraven,” she breathed, her mating scent filled the room.

“What, sweetheart?”

“I don’t want to wait,” she replied, dropping to her knees in front of him.

“Rose! Don’t!” Kraven barked, pausing her actions.

“Why not?” Rose tilted her head to the side. Kraven’s mating scent was hanging in the room like a thick fog, and when hers mixed in, it made the room disappear.

“We should wait.”

“Why are you stopping the inevitable? I know you are going to be my mate, and I want that even if I don’t know everything about relationships.” She leaned forward to change positions so she was on her hands and knees in front of him, and that sparked something inside Kraven.

“I want you to make sure you care for me…for us.”

“I do, Kraven,” she growled. Her eyes started flashing between her panther, hawk, and the hellhound, but it didn’t warn him away. What he was seeing in her eyes was beautiful…just like Rose. Every shifter could read another shifter just by what their eyes did, and he knew she was feeling the need to mate even if she was inexperienced. “What we have is nowhere near conventional, but I do know that my beasts and myself want to stay with you. I…we like it here…with you.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” he cooed, closing his eyes for only a moment. When they opened again, he knew the amber hue was complete in his gaze. “If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure, Kraven. I’m more confident in this decision than when I decided to leave the hospital.”

“ Gods ,” he whispered.

She used her super speed to lunge at him, pressing her lips to his as hard as she could. When his tongue snaked out and lapped at her bottom lip, her hormones took over and she cupped his face as something swirled around them. It was in that moment that the magic took over.

“Fuck, Rose,” he snarled, using his hands to wrap around her body. His beast had already come to the surface, and he felt his canines thickening in his mouth.

Her eyes were closed only for a moment, and when she opened them, they were the same amber color as his own. Her tongue was rough like her animal's, and he couldn’t wait long to mark her as his mate.

“Come here,” he ordered, letting his panther growl to get all of her attention. When she pulled away from him, she reached for her shirt.

“Oh, my…Kraven,” she panted. “My animals know what to do. I can feel their guidance.”

“Good,” he grumbled, standing up so he could lift her into his arms. “We are going to our bed.”

She kissed his neck the moment he pulled her legs around his waist…her long, blonde hair covering his face. He didn’t need to see the way to the bedroom because his legs moved of their own accord.

When he entered the bedroom, he used his boot to slam the door closed. If he wasn’t holding his new mate in his arms, he would’ve thrown the lock he never used, ensuring they would not be disturbed by anyone…not even his fellow Guardians.

Rose pulled back from his lips and panted a few times before squirming in his arms. She was wrapped around his waist, and the movement rubbed his cock. The jeans he wore were getting too tight and unbearable.

His hand tangled in her hair, tightening just enough to immobilize her. The smile that tugged at the corner of her lips had him groaning at the sight of her reaction.

She let out a soft sound as he brought her to the bed, laying her on the mattress. He wasn’t gentle with her as he placed her there, but he wasn’t rough, either. He was becoming feral with need, but he wouldn’t do anything to scare or harm her.

She didn’t even need a queue to remove her bra, and when her breasts came into view, he remembered them from the forest. Except now, they were clean and bountiful. No mud or dirt covered her strong body, and he was thankful for his quick actions in finding her after tracking her scent that day in the forest.

“Gods, you’re beautiful,” he hummed, leaning over her to take her lips again.

“My animals are stirring,” she admitted as her eyes began to shift colors between all of them. “It hurts, Kraven.”

He reached for the waistband of her jeans, running his finger across her stomach where the form-fitting material kept him from her virginity. He had to remember to go slow no matter what the mating magic wanted him to do. In another life…another scenario, a mating would be fierce, but he couldn’t rush with her.

“I know, Rose,” he whispered, flicking the button on her jeans. He unzipped them and paused to scan her face. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were wet from their kisses. “We have to go slow.”

“I don’t want slow, Kraven,” she admitted, lifting her hips so his hand pressed harder against her lower belly. “Don’t take your time…please.”

“Fuck, Rose,” he snarled, giving in to the beast that lived inside him. When his canines bit into his bottom lip, she reached up and ran her thumb over one of the sharp points.

When he didn’t make a move to continue, she reached for his jeans and made quick work of getting them loose, snarling when she reached for his cock.

“Make love to me,” she begged, stroking his hardness like she’d done it before. He knew that wasn’t the case.

He pushed his jeans down below his knees before stripping her of her pants, taking a moment to admire her beauty before leaning over her while he kicked his the rest of the way off, dumping all of their clothes on the floor.

When his naked body covered hers, the magic swirled again and they both snarled at the need to complete the mating.

“Please…” she groaned as his hand slid down her body.

The moment he touched her core, she put her hand over his and pressed his fingers against her wetness. It took everything in him not to rush…but fuuuuuck did he want to rush!

“I need to taste you, sweetheart,” he said as he started to slide down the bed so he could capture her desire on his tongue.

With his first taste, his panther growled loudly and the vibrations had Rose hissing out his name. The more he lapped at her body, the more she squirmed beneath his tongue, causing a satisfied smile to pull at the corner of his lips.

While he devoured her desire, he used his thumb to circle the nub at her apex. With each movement…each pass of his tongue, she grew more and more unhinged. The last thing he wanted to do was make her wait so long that she was in pain. So, he finally climbed her body, kissing a trail up to her breasts, stopping for only a few seconds so he could stimulate her nipples.

“Gods, fuck,” she groaned.

“I’m going to mate you now, Rose,” he began, “I will mount you from behind and make my mark on you. You will have to take over after that and mark me by your own free will.”

“I know, Kraven,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “The females of the pride told me what was going to happen. That’s why I wanted to touch you now.”

“You are amazing,” he said right before flipping her over to her stomach. He didn’t wait for her to scramble to her knees. He did that for her.

With his hand tangled in the back of her hair, he pressed inside her, breaking the seal of her virginity. She didn’t make a sound of protest, and that gave him the strength to continue.

One thrust led to another. With his hand in her hair, he pulled her up so her back was to his chest, and his free hand reached for her clit, rubbing it in circles.

“Something’s happening.” Her voice quivered and not in a bad way.

“Let go,” he ordered gently. “It’s your orgasm. Accept it and give it to me.”

His words must’ve spurred her on because a few seconds later, her head flew back and turned to the side as she screamed out his name, bucking against his cock. His release was too close, and as much as he wanted it to last, his body had other plans.

“Fuck, Rose!” he snarled as his orgasm shot into her body. His head came down and his canines sank into the spot where her neck and shoulder met. Her blood filled his mouth and he drank just enough to complete his portion of the mating.

“I need to mark you,” she growled as he released his teeth from her mating mark.

His mate was strong, and he was glad when she let her instincts take over, bucking him off so she could roll him to his back. When she threw her leg over his hips, he grabbed his cock and guided it back to her core. He’d never rebounded that quickly in his life, and if this was any indication as to what the rest of their lives were going to be like, he would die a happy male.

“I need to bite you,” she snarled, seeing her eyes flicker between the red of her hellhound and the icy blue of her panther.

“Do it,” he ordered, pulling his long, dark hair out of the way. The moment she struck, he released inside of her, negating his earlier thought of being able to rebound for his mate.

When she’d drank down his offering, she fell on his chest from exhaustion. He rolled them to the side, and when her eyes opened, she smiled. “Happy Birthday.”