Chapter 29

Twenty-Nine

JAMES

V olgriff's body was heavy in my arms as I walked to my people's village for the burial.

My heart was heavy, and I couldn't look at his lifeless face. The funeral tonight was going to take a hard toll on me. Alana walked beside me along with her two alphas. The vampires who had come to my rescue walked in front and behind us for protection, holding bows and arrows. I was shocked that Volgriff had come out of hiding to save me, but I knew he was looking for any excuse for revenge against the government. I thought he despised me for what I had done. There was a love-hate relationship between us. He took care of me like a father would after my family was killed.

"Are we going back to your village?" Alana asked me, looking up at me with her beautiful wide eyes. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she gazed at me with concern.

"I would prefer you stay in the safety of your city," I grunted. Sweat trickled down the back of my neck from the long walk to the cave. We were getting nearer, and I was worried about what my people would say once they saw her.

"No, I'm coming with you," she said, looking straight ahead. "Please don't tell me to leave you again."

Her alpha glanced at me with disapproval in his eyes, but at least it wasn't in ultimate hate this time.

"Are you the leader of the pack? I'm not sure how all this works," I asked him.

"Yes, my name's Lio," he said, introducing himself and about to shake my hand but held back when his eyes landed on the dead body in my arms. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"He was like a father to me," I said gruffly. I was wary about divulging too much information with an alpha who shared my omega's heart.

"Oh hell, that's tough," said Lio, shaking his head as he looked straight ahead. "I can't even imagine."

I nodded, not saying anything else. I didn't trust myself speaking in case I broke down, showing weakness in front of her alphas.

"It's odd she's in love with you too," said the second alpha, who looked much older than Lio. "I'm Markus, by the way. Pleased to make your acquaintance in battle."

"Markus, he just lost somebody close to him," said Alana, who gripping his hand.

"Sorry man," said Markus, glancing at Volgriff's body.

"It's fine," I said shortly, and the alphas finally stopped trying to make conversation with me. I wasn't in the mood right now. "You all don't need to come with me to the funeral."

"Wherever Alana goes, we go," said Lio. "Without question."

"Sounds dandy," I said, and Alana glanced up at me with pain in her eyes. I knew she wished I could get along with her alphas, but it just wasn't happening right now. I wanted her with my entire soul, and sharing her love with alphas sickened me.

When we reached my secluded community between the mountains, the vampires waiting for their warriors watched us in silence. They were staring at the werewolves walking in with me and at their dead leader in my arms.

Volgriff's aunt, Fran, and Volgriff's brother rushed to me with horror etched onto their faces.

"What happened?!" screamed Fran, clutching her white hair.

"He died during battle," I explained. The brother silently took him from my arms. The vampires assembled before me, staring at the alphas and the omega.

"What is she doing here?" said the brother snidely, giving Alana a dirty look. I stood in front of Alana, blocking her from everyone's gaze.

"We are not to touch her or her alphas. The government had agreed to allow us to live in peace amongst them," I said, and the brother spit on the sand.

"Fuck no," he said. "We will stay here until the day we die. There's no fucking way we'll live under their mercy."

They had just dealt with a severe loss, and I needed to be patient.

Volgriff's brother took the body from my arms before the funeral. They were grieving, and rightly so. The other vampires stood there expectantly, looking at the stone necklace on my neck and waiting for me to command.

To lead them.

"Volgriff gave me this necklace before he passed," I said.

They somberly bowed their heads at the mention of their beloved leader. The one who couldn't do anything wrong, even though I disagreed with him so many times.

"What are you going to do now?" asked a young vampire in his teens.

"You all need to start with mind-wiping all the captured betas and setting them free."

Alana

It was frightening seeing the number of betas they had captured into cages.

I watched as each beta stumbled out of the vampire encampment one by one, looking confused after being mind-wiped by the vampires at the cage entrance. I found a large boulder to sit on while Markus paced around in front of me. I knew this wasn't easy for James as I watched him barking out orders to the vampires. They were hesitant to obey him at first since he took away their main meals, but the necklace he was wearing seemed to hold much significance to them, so they had to respect him.

The funeral was a somber event as we stood off to the side watching when they placed a large black cloth over Volgriff's house. His body was wrapped in white cloth and set on a pedestal. Three elderly vampires surrounded the body, anointing his face with droplets of oil.

As I watched the proceedings, I thought about my relationship with James. I didn't want it to be over just because he was the leader now of his people now. I knew it was irrational to be together, but my heart wouldn't let me think otherwise.

Later that night, as I hung out with Markus- I saw Lio and James talking in the distance.

"What are they talking about?" I said out loud.

"No idea," said Markus, with his hand on the small of my back. "But I'm getting tired as fuck. We should be going home soon."

But without James? I thought silently.

My heart pounded faster as Lio and James approached us in the night.

"We've come to an agreement," said Lio.

"Umm, what kind of an agreement?" I asked, confused.

"I can tell you're very much in love with James," said Lio. "And you're much happier than I've seen in months."

"How do you know I'm happier?" I asked. I had gone through several heartbreaking nightmares of James gone. Months of depression had taken hold of me, but I'd try to smile and act like everything was alright.

"I can tell, babe," said Lio.

"I will divide my time between you and coming here to lead my people," said James. "Once things start to settle down, I'll visit you often. And every day during your heats. How does that sound?"

"But…tonight, will you stay with us?" I asked. I knew it was huge and probably selfish of me since he had just lost his leader, but I wanted to cuddle with him tonight, and I couldn't bear to tear myself away.

"What?" said Markus in shock.

"Just tonight," said James. "I miss the babies and I miss you, Alana."

"I missed you too," I said, my voice high-pitched with emotion. He leaned towards me but stopped.

"If I wasn't covered in blood, I'd hug you right now."

A couple of hours later, Owen stared at all of us wide-eyed when we entered the house past midnight. We were all covered in blood, especially James, and we looked rough as hell as we took off our shoes at the doorway. I felt exhausted to the bone, but all I could think about was hugging James and catching up on missed time.

"What happened?" Owen asked. "The babies are finally sleeping, and I couldn't watch the news."

"James will stay the night with us," I said.

"What?!"

"Just for one night until we can figure something out," I said. Owen looked over at Lio for help, but Lio simply nodded. Not a word passed between them. I started to wonder if I pissed off my pack, but they clearly agreed that this was okay. "Come, James."

I grabbed him by the hand, and we walked upstairs to the largest bathroom in the mansion. I wanted us to shower before we saw the babies.

"Where are you taking me, omega?" he asked.

"To the shower," I said, leading him to the door.

"Aren't you coming in with me?" he asked.

"I thought you might want some space…"

He tugged me by the waist into the bathroom, shutting the door with his foot. "The only space I want is the one between your legs, little omega."

I giggled as we quickly stripped at top speed. I peeled off my blood-stained jeans, shirt, and underwear. He threw his loincloth in the trash.

"Alright, let's get in here," I said, stepping into the glass doors and turning on the shower. I watched James's look of pure pleasure as he stepped in after me, just standing under the water.

"God, I missed a real shower," he groaned, his long black hair plastered to his face as he gazed at me. "This is nice. Very nice."

I slathered soap onto my skin, smiling while he enjoyed himself under the water. But he quickly grabbed my shower rag and started washing me instead.

"Ooh," I said as he circled the pink rag around my breasts.

"Hold on, I haven't kissed you properly yet," he grumbled, moving his face to mine and kissing me hard. He cupped me between my legs with the rag as we kissed wildly under the water. I missed him so much, but at the back of my mind, I was worried about my pack. "There's something on your mind, my love."

"I'm worried Lio might be feeling bad," I said in a low voice while our wet bodies were pressed together in the shower.

"Don't be," he said, his eyes studying my face. "I may not be officially part of the pack, but I am yours, and you are mine. Just as you are to them."

"That makes me feel better," I said, gasping as he pressed a finger between my legs.

"Good," he growled against my lips, and I shivered in his arms. He was all around me, muscular, tall, and powerful. My stomach fluttered as he washed me with his bare hands all over my body. His hands were callused and rough against my skin as he washed my legs. Then he knelt before me and pressed his mouth against my pussy. "Oh, how I missed your tight little pussy."

He gripped my ass cheeks and prodded my legs open with his nose. I willingly obliged. I missed his touch, his calming presence, and his sexual energy. Everything about him made me come alive under his fingertips.

"Is this wide enough for you?" I asked him, spreading my legs further and gripping his wide shoulders so I didn't slip. He licked my pussy in one swoop, and my belly clenched with desire.

"Did you miss my tongue on your pussy?"

"Yes," I breathed, feeling his cold breath on my pussy when he spoke. He licked again, and the cold contrast of his tongue against the warmth of the water was too much. My knees buckled as he continued to lick me in long strokes. His thick tongue pressed into my pussy, jabbing inside me, stretching me open.

"I need your slick babe," he said, voice muffled. His shoulders flexed under my fingers as I moaned. "Delicious."

He released one of my ass cheeks and pushed a finger into my pussy while he licked my clit in faster strokes. I moaned and bucked on his face. He slipped a second finger into my pussy, while furiously sucking my clit. The tension in my belly rose and rose until it finally snapped into a wave of pleasure. I gripped his shoulders as I yelped through my ecstasy. I tried closing my legs and pulling away, but he hadn't had his fill.

"Oh," I moaned, trying to pull away from his grip on my ass cheeks. "I'm done."

" I'm not done," he growled, continuing to lick me in softer circles until I was weak in the legs. "One more time, little omega."

He pumped his fingers into me, and I could feel my pussy stretching when he placed a third finger. I groaned in delight, and more slick squeezed from my pussy in his persistence.

"We're supposed to be showering," I moaned as I felt myself coming close. He started to suck on my clit again, and I trembled all over as I rode my second orgasm in a row. "Oh, my moons."

He finally released his grip on my ass cheeks and softly licked my pussy before the shower water washed me clean. Then he lifted me up against the wall of the shower, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

He lifted me up further until his dick speared into my pussy. My eyes rolled back in pleasure.

"I missed fucking you," he growled in my neck. He started thrusting into me, bouncing me up and down on his dick. It felt so fucking good, I could cry.

"I missed it too," I moaned in his ear. He scratched my neck with his fangs, and I longed for him to bite me. My heart pounded fast, and my pussy squeezed around him.

"Fuck yes," he grunted with each thrust into me. I felt his hunger. His raw masculine need to take what he needed at this moment was enough to turn me on. "I dreamed of taking you like this. Under the water."

"Oh," I squeaked when he jammed his cock deep into my pussy. Deep, slow, powerful strokes while he nipped and kissed my neck.

"You're mine. Say it."

"I'm yours," I whispered.

"Look at me, Alana."

I turned my face to look at him face to face. His eyes glowed red as he plunged one more time inside of me.

"I love you," he roared, and his hips bucked. His semen sprayed into me, filling me like an alpha's would but without the knotting.

And it was okay. Because…

"I love you too, James," I said, kissing him on the lips. He kissed me back while his cock was still deep inside me. Unmoving and unwilling to part from me.

He held me against him, and I hugged him back. We stood like that for a while until I lost track of time- with my head pressed against his collarbone and my legs wrapped around him.