Chapter 43: Ivy

Chapter

Forty-Three

IVY

M y heart pounds as I race up the rocky hillside, my legs burning with exertion. The wind whips my hair into my face, but I don't slow down.

He saved us.

He saved Plague.

The realization hits me again as I crest another small rise, my eyes scanning the craggy landscape for any sign of that telltale shock of bone-white hair. Valek could have let Azarel kill Plague. Could have stood by and watched as everything fell apart.

But he didn't.

A flash of white catches my eye, and suddenly he's there. Valek emerges from behind an outcropping of rocks, his sniper rifle slung casually over one shoulder. Even from this distance, I can see the wariness in his posture as he watches me approach.

He thinks I'm still angry.

He has no idea.

I don't slow down as I near him. If anything, I speed up, my feet flying over the uneven ground. Valek's eyes widen a split second before I slam into him, throwing my arms around his neck. The impact knocks us both back a step, but Valek's arms come up instinctively to steady me.

"Ivy?" His voice is rough with confusion. "What are you?—"

I cut him off, burying my face in his chest and inhaling deeply. That familiar scent of stone and smoky metal fills my lungs, and I tighten my grip on him. "Thank you," I whisper fiercely. "Thank you for saving him."

For a moment, Valek is utterly still.

Then, slowly, hesitantly, his arms tighten around me. One hand comes up to cradle the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my wind-tousled hair.

"You're... welcome," he says, his scarf askew, sounding almost dazed. Like he can't quite believe this is happening.

I pull back just enough to look up at him, drinking in the sight of his face. Those silver eyes I know so well are wide with surprise, a vulnerability there I've rarely seen.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I stretch up on my toes and press my lips to his.

Valek goes rigid for a heartbeat, and I wonder if I've made a terrible mistake. But then he's kissing me back with a desperate intensity that steals my breath away. His rough hands frame my face, tilting my head to deepen the kiss as he pours weeks of longing and regret into it.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. Valek rests his forehead against mine, his eyes searching my face like he's trying to memorize every detail.

"Little omega," he breathes.

There's a weight to the way he says his pet name for me, like there's so much more he wants to say. I watch the conflict play out in his eyes, the way his throat works as he swallows hard.

He doesn't need to say anything. We've always been on the same page in a fucked up way. Maybe it's because he's feral, too. Maybe not in the same literal sense Wraith and I are, but he still has the eyes of a wild beast.

He certainly has the grin of one.

A wolf, to be specific.

And I think I know what he's about to say. Those three little words that have been hanging unspoken. The ones I've felt in every touch, every glance, even when they haven't been said out loud.

Fuck. I'm scared, too.

Why? Why saying it so much scarier than feeling it?

Valek's eyes search mine, and I see the struggle there. The words are on the tip of his tongue, I can feel it. But then something shifts in his gaze. A flicker of understanding, as if he can read my mind.

A hoarse laugh escapes him, breaking the tension. "It's not the right moment," he says, his voice rough. "You still haven't forgiven me."

My heart skips a beat at his words.

He's wrong.

I have forgiven him.

And I'm not sure I fully realized that until just now.

But I can see the resignation in those sharp eyes, the acceptance of what he thinks is the truth. What he thinks he deserves.

I shake my head slowly, a small smile playing at my lips. "Maybe it is the right moment for something else," I murmur, watching confusion flicker across his face.

Valek's brow furrows, his hands still resting lightly on my hips. "What do you mean, little omega?" he asks in that velvet voice.

"For me to show you that you're wrong," I say, my voice stronger now. "I have forgiven you, Valek."

His eyes widen, disbelief warring with hope in his gaze. Before he can respond, I press myself closer, eliminating what little space remained between us. My hands slide up beneath the open front of his coat. Even through his shirt, I can feel the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palms.

"Ivy," he breathes, his voice strained. "What are you doing?"

I lean in, my lips brushing against his ear as I whisper, "What does it look like I'm doing?"

A shudder runs through him, his hands tightening on my hips. I can feel the heat of his body through our clothes, smell the smoky, metallic scent that's uniquely him.

"This is a good spot, isn't it?" I ask, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. "It's secluded up here. Safe."

"Yes," Valek says huskily, his eyes darkening with hunger. But then he catches himself, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Wait… no. No, it's not safe." He gives a hoarse, low chuckle. "It's been too long. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to resist knotting you. If we were discovered…"

"There are other things we can do," I offer, sliding one hand lower, palming the obvious bulge in his pants. Valek hisses, his hips jerking forward involuntarily. "I could take care of this for you."

A low purr rumbles in his chest. "I certainly wouldn't turn that down," he says, his voice strained. "But… are you sure, little omega?"

The concern in his voice, even as he's clearly fighting for control, is why I've forgiven him. Because beneath all his sharp edges and dangerous smiles, he cares.

He's always cared.

"I'm sure," I say firmly, already working at his belt. "I want this. I want you."

Valek's breath catches as I free him from the confines of his pants. He's hard and hot in my hand, precome already beading at the pierced tip. I forgot how much I like his cock piercings. I run my thumb over the head, spreading the moisture around the metal studs, and he groans.

" Fuck ," he pants, his head falling back.

I start to stroke him, marveling at the velvet-soft skin over steel hardness. He leans back against the cliff wall, and I can tell he's trying not to breathe, not to lose control.

My hand moves slowly up and down Valek's length, savoring the feel of him. His choppy white hair falls forward over his silver eyes as he watches me, panting, his chest rising and falling rapidly. The scent of his alpha musk is growing stronger by the second.

I drop to my knees in front of him and his breath catches audibly. His hands clench at his sides, fingertips digging into the rough stone of the cliff face. The tension in every line of his body stands out in stark relief as he fights to keep still.

I lean in, my breath ghosting over his cock. He's so hard, the head flushed and glistening. I flick my tongue out, tasting him, and Valek hisses through clenched teeth.

"Fuck," he groans. "Little omega, you're going to be the death of me…"

I smile up at him, maintaining eye contact as I wrap my lips around the head of his cock. The metal of his piercings is cool against my tongue, a delicious contrast to the heat of his skin. Valek's hips jerk forward involuntarily, and I have to brace my hands on his thighs to keep from choking.

"Sorry," he pants. "It's been so long... you feel so good..."

I hum in acknowledgment, the vibrations making him shudder. Slowly, I take him deeper, hollowing my cheeks as I suck. The salty taste of him fills my mouth as his cock dribbles precome down my throat.

Above me, Valek is falling apart. His head is thrown back, exposing the long column of his throat. His chest heaves with each ragged breath. But it's the sounds he's making that really get to me. Low, frantic choking growls he's clearly trying to stifle.

Just when I'm starting to wonder if someone's going to hear him, he clamps his hand over his mouth and bites down, muffling a snarl. I feel a surge of pride at being able to make him lose control like this.

The great Valek, undone by my mouth.

I set a steady rhythm, bobbing my head up and down his length. My tongue traces the piercings at the head of his cock on each upstroke, making Valek's muscular thighs quiver and twitch beneath my hands. His free hand comes to rest on the back of my head and tangles in my hair, not pushing, just a gentle pressure.

I glance up at him through my lashes. The sight makes me dizzy. Valek's eyes are squeezed shut, his face a mask of exquisite ecstasy. His hand is still pressed firmly over his mouth, but I can see the way his jaw works as he bites back moans.

The need to hear those sounds, to make him fall apart completely, drives me to redouble my efforts. I take him deeper, relaxing my throat to accommodate his impressive length. When the head of his cock hits the back of my throat, Valek's hips buck wildly.

His sniper rifle, still slung over his shoulder, clatters against the stone cliff face. The sound is jarringly loud in the relative quiet, and we both freeze.

For a long moment, neither of us moves. I stay perfectly still, Valek's cock heavy on my tongue, as we listen for any sign that we've been discovered. But there's nothing. Just the whistle of wind through the rocks and the pounding of my own heart in my ears.

I pull my head back, letting his cock bob free. "Shhh," I whisper before licking up all the way along the length of his shaft. He makes a strangled noise and bites down harder on his hand.

Blood trickles down his wrist.

The sight is enough to make me snake my hand under my clothes, my fingers immediately finding my throbbing clit as I keep sucking his cock with renewed vigor. The sooner he comes, the sooner we can get to safety.

The danger is part of the fun.

My fingers circle my clit as I take Valek deeper, hollowing my cheeks around his length. I'm so wet already, my slick coating my fingers as I touch myself.

Valek makes the mistake of glancing at me and his eyes go wide, pupils dilating until the silver of his irises is barely visible. The realization of what I'm doing while I suck him off makes his whole body go rigid, his muscles trembling with the effort of holding still.

I pull back slightly, focusing my attention on the head of his cock. My tongue swirls around the piercings there, tracing the cool metal. At the same time, I increase the pressure and speed of my fingers on my clit. The dual sensation is almost too much and I have to slow down to keep myself from coming first.

Valek closes his eyes tight, his brow knotting, so he doesn't come from the sight of me. His throat bobs as he swallows compulsively. The moment he starts to unravel is obvious immediately.

The hand in my hair tightens.

His hips stutter, losing their rhythm.

Blood trickles down his forearm in rivulets.

The broken, muffled snarl that escapes him, muffled by his bleeding hand, sends a jolt of heat straight to my core. His whole body goes taut as a bowstring. And then he's coming, spilling down my throat in hot pulses.

I swallow greedily, not wanting to waste a drop. I come at the same time, white-hot pleasure radiating out from where my fingers still work against my clit. I moan and purr around Valek's cock, my lips brushing against the edge of his swollen knot, the sound resonating through both of us.

When the aftershocks finally subside, I pull off slowly. Valek's legs give out and he slides down the cliff face, landing in an ungraceful heap on the rocky ground. His chest heaves as he tries to catch his breath. Blood coats his forearm now, stark crimson against his skin.

I crawl into his lap without thinking, pressing myself against his chest. His arms come up to wrap around me automatically. For a long moment, we just sit there, both of us trembling slightly in the aftermath.

"Are you okay?" I ask finally, my voice hoarse.

Valek lets out a breathless laugh. "I think I should be asking you that, little omega."

I pull back just enough to look at him. His eyes are hazy, pupils still still blown wide. But there's something else there too. The same vulnerability from earlier.

"I'm fine," I assure him. "Better than fine, actually."

A ghost of his usual smirk tugs at his lips. "I'm not sure 'fine' is a strong enough word for what just happened."

I laugh softly, shaking my head. Leave it to Valek to try for witty banter right after having his brain sucked out through his cock. But then my eyes land on his bloodied hand, and my amusement fades.

"We should take care of that," I murmur, reaching for it.

Valek tries to pull away, but I hold firm. "It's nothing," he says dismissively. "I've had far worse."

"I know you have," I reply. "Let me take care of you."

He goes very still at that, searching my face. I'm not sure what he sees there, but after a moment, he relaxes slightly. "Alright," he concedes. "If it will make you feel better."

I nod, already reaching for the small packet of supplies I've taken to carrying alongside the holster for my knife. As I clean and bandage the bite marks on his palm, neither of us speaks. Neither of us feels the need to fill the silence.

It feels... right.

Natural.

When I finish, Valek flexes his hand experimentally. "Not bad," he says, sounding genuinely impressed. "You've picked up a thing or two from our dear doctor, I see."

I shrug, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through my body. "Someone has to keep the Ghosts from bleeding out."

Valek's laugh is softer this time, almost fond. "My hero," he teases gently.

I roll my eyes, but I can't quite keep the smile off my face as I nestle into his side again. I'd be content to sit with him like this for as long as he likes, gazing out from the cliff at the ruins of the old church and the wasteland beyond, but the gray clouds gathering in the distance promise we'll get caught in the rain if we stay much longer.

"We should head back," I murmur reluctantly. "The others will be wondering where we are."

Valek nods, rising and pulling me with him. "Of course. Can't have them thinking I've kidnapped you."

I snort as I stand, brushing dirt from my clothes. "Pretty sure that ship has sailed, all things considered."

He rises gracefully, adjusting his own clothing. For a moment, he just looks at me. There's an intensity in his gaze that makes my breath catch.

"Thank you," he says softly. "For giving me another chance. I know I don't deserve it, but?—"

I cut him off by pressing a finger to his lips. "You're right," I say firmly. "You don't deserve it. But that's not the point. We're a pack. You're pack."

"Even me?" he asks with a slight grin.

"Even you," I confirm. Then, because I can't resist, I add, "Goddess help us all."

That startles a genuine laugh out of him. It occurs to me that a laugh like this from Valek is incredibly rare. Just pure, unguarded amusement.

"Shall we?" he asks, offering his hand.

I take it with a smile. "Thanks."

His hand is warm in mine as we pick our way down the rocky slope. The wind whips my hair around my face, carrying the scent of rain. I breathe it in deeply, savoring this moment of peace before we have to return to the others and face whatever comes next.

My legs are still a bit shaky from our encounter on the cliff, and I stumble slightly on a loose stone. Valek's arm snakes around my waist, steadying me. The casual intimacy of the gesture makes my heart skip. It's been so long since I've allowed myself to be this close to him, to trust him like this.

We reach the bottom of the hill, and I spot something gleaming in the weak sunlight. A sleek white motorcycle. It must be Surhiiran, but it lacks the usual eye-catching flair. This one's understated enough to not be immediately obvious.

Valek's hand slips from mine as he goes up to the bike and picks up the helmet hanging on the side. As he turns back to me, I catch the glint of mischief in his eyes.

"Safety first, little omega," he purrs, his voice low and teasing as he walks up to me with the helmet.

I arch an eyebrow at him. "Aren't you the one who can't afford another head injury?"

"Touché," he says, his lips quirking into that familiar smirk. "But I insist."

Before I can protest further, he's sliding the helmet over my head. His fingers brush against my skin as he fastens the strap, and I have to suppress a shiver. Even after what we just did, the slightest touch from him sets my nerves on fire.

"There," he murmurs, his face close to mine as he adjusts the helmet, tucking my hair back behind my neck so it doesn't get stuck to my face. "Perfect."

I roll my eyes even though he can't see it through the tinted visor. "You're ridiculous."

"You love it," he quips.

And for once, I can't bring myself to deny it.

Valek swings his leg over the motorcycle. "Hop on."

I don't hesitate. In one fluid motion, I'm behind him on the bike, my arms wrapping around his waist. I press myself against his back, savoring the warmth of his body even through our clothes.

"Hold on tight," he says, his voice barely audible over the engine as it purrs to life beneath us, the vibrations intense between my legs after what we just did up in the cliffs.

I tighten my grip just as he twists the throttle. The motorcycle leaps forward with enough force to make me gasp. We tear down the winding road leading away from the cliffs, the wind whipping at our clothes as the world blurs around us, a smear of muted colors beneath the overcast sky.

As we round a sharp turn, I can't help but let out a whoop of exhilaration. I feel Valek's chest rumble with laughter beneath my hands. He takes the next curve even faster, leaning into it with confidence.

This is freedom.

This is what I've been chasing my whole life without even realizing it.

Not just the wind in my hair or the roar of the engine, but this feeling of belonging. Of being part of something bigger than myself. Of having people who would tear the world apart to keep me safe, and who I would do the same for in return.

Not just people.

My pack.