Chapter 18 - Flynn

She deserves so much more than just the truth, I'm aware of that. Right now, it's all I can offer her after tonight has given me a taste of what it's like to lose her.

I couldn't handle it. The thought of losing my mate forever had me doing the unthinkable—declaring the death penalty on a Blood Moon wolf.

If not for Lila and her forgiving nature, Cynthia would be dead by now. It's inspiring to see how compassionate Lila is, and how sweet her nature and heart really are.

I don't deserve her, yet I've been fated to her.

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and invoke my wolf, a deep sense of longing setting into my heart. It's a yearning to see her face, so I open my eyes again.

A faint bray escapes my wolf lips, and I nod in a gesture toward my back. Though we don't share the mind link, Lila seems to understand my wordless command as she takes a cautious step toward me.

I lower my giant form and wait until she's securely on my back, a wave of relief flowing through my veins when her fingers card through the thick hairs of my wolf's fur. With her thighs latched against my ribs, I carefully rise to my full height on all four paws, glancing at her curious eyes before setting out in a steady trot.

In wolf form, my sharper senses catch every little tick of hers…each breath, each sigh, each gasp of marvel as I carry her toward the south side of Zafra.

When we near the shallow dam behind her cabin, I slow my steps and lower my wolf to allow her to step off. She does so warily, and I can feel her trepidation as if it's a tangible manifestation in the air surrounding her.

The body of water she swam in when she was younger is significant to the troubles I caused in the past. Two years ago, the day before I left for the mountains, I'd found her at the water's edge, gazing at her own reflection.

Now that the surface glitters with the integrity of the moon's silver light, I can finally admit to myself that it was my inner wolf who led me here that day. I didn't know back then what I was searching for except for fresh air.

Only to find Lila alone out here, when she whispered the word “mate” to me.

I'm not sure how much she knows yet, but even being disconnected from any hope of an inner wolf, Lila knew it before I did.

With my wolf head hanging bashfully, I shift into human form and slowly rise, reaching out and taking her hand to lead her to the edge of the water.

“Flynn…” she whispers, but I press a finger to my lips to hush her.

Only we've reached the exact spot where I found her that day two years ago do I stop and turn to face her. My breath catches in awe at how ethereal her beauty is, her round face and creamy cheeks magnified by the Moon Goddess's torch tonight.

Fate.

That's what this is. All of it. From the moment I was born, my destiny had been written out for me. The only struggles I've ever faced were the demons of my own conjuring; from my inability to let go of Finch's death and trying desperately to walk in his shoes to denying the magnetizing pull toward Lila ever since I received my wolf, I realize I've only suffered because of the path I chose.

Taking both of Lila's hands in mine, I look down into her eyes and make a silent oath to myself to never have to wrestle against the inevitabilities in life.

I take a deep breath to strengthen my resolve before speaking up. For an Alpha, I shouldn't be afraid of the leap I'm about to make. But it will change the trajectory of our lives—all our lives, if everything goes as I've planned.

“Do you remember this spot?” I ask Lila, watching the way she glances at the body of water and shivers. She nods slowly as she gazes forlornly at the sparkling surface, her eyes tearing up.

A pang of guilt grips my heart, extending into my fingers as I squeeze her hands gently. This prompts her to look up at me again, her throat working as she gulps.

“I know that what I said that day hurt you deeply,” I admit earnestly. “And I want you to know that it destroyed me whenever I thought about it when I was gone.”

“Is—” she gulps again. “Is that why you came back and picked me…?” Her voice falters, as if it's being carried in the soft breeze that passes us.

“No,” I shake my head, taking a step closer. She appears so small right now, and it's not because she's at least two heads shorter than me. It's because she's vulnerable—a side I thought she'd lost when I came back from special ops training and was faced with her indifference.

“I didn't pick you as my mate to make up for what happened here two years ago,” I continue. “Something came over me that night during my swearing-in ceremony. It compelled me to utter your name during the most important time of my life.”

She frowns. “What…?”

“There is no way to explain it. Not with words, anyway,” I sigh, lifting a hand to cradle her cheek as I stare deeply into her eyes. “It's something you must feel for yourself. Something you will understand when I've properly claimed you.”

Lila's lips part with a gasp, her eyes softening and melting me in that moment. The tenderness I feel wraps its warm embrace around my heart, compelling me to lean in.

“I've been making so many mistakes as I go along. It's time I did the right thing.”

“Then do it,” she whispers, the warmth of her breath enticing as it fans my lips.

Her consent is all I need to close the mere inch of distance between us, time freezing until my lips meet hers. The gentle press of our lips ignites a fire deep inside, my heart blooming with a new sense of achievement.

My greatest one in life, and I haven't even touched her neck yet. Instead, I lose myself to the plushness of her lips, the kiss soothing every part of me that was ever troubled.

My fated mate…

The title swirls in my head like a marble in my skull, leaving me thoughtless as I pull her closer. Driven by the desire that pools at the apex of my thighs, her sigh is what sends me over the edge.

That feeling of being attracted to her all along was just an indication that she was fated to me. I wasn't crazy, but right now I'm about to go insane if I'm not inside her. I tilt my head and deepen the kiss, swiftly removing the layers of clothing that prevent me from feeling her soft skin in my hands.

She pulls away in a flurry of hot pants when she realizes she's unclothed, her chest heaving as if she's pushing her breasts at me.

“We're doing this?” she whispers with uncertainty.

I nod, hastily tearing off my own clothes. “I'm not running away this time.”

My oath of conviction is met with open arms that fling around my neck. I grab her to me, lifting her off her feet before stepping into the pool of water. When she gasps, I crush my lips to hers and distract her while carrying her into the deepest part of the dam until we're waist-deep in the cool water.

She clings to me for support, pulling away to allow me the pleasure of staring into her soul through the depths of her sapphire eyes.

With the moon's silver rays lighting up our endeavor, it glitters on her skin and leaves me breathless. If I ever thought I was worthy of meeting the Moon Goddess in the flesh, then I am the luckiest werewolf alive right now. Lila Hargis is the embodiment of the rich beauty of the moon, her warm smile a testament to the feminine softness provided by the night. My lips tug in awe as I sweep Lila's hair away from her beautiful face.

“Gorgeous…” I praise before pulling her closer and kissing her lips, drinking in the little moan she makes when I press my throbbing erection between her thighs.

Holding her glorious, supple body flush to mine, I reach behind her and guide my cock into the depths of her folds. She hangs onto me, nails biting the flesh of my shoulders as she sinks onto every last inch, stretching out her walls deliciously. A fit as perfect as a glove, my rigid length is buried in the warm sheathing of her womanhood.

Complete. That's what this feels like, the female destined to be my mate in my arms where she belongs. She lifts her head, her face contorting with the intricacies of pleasure as her lips form a perfect “O.”

“Flynn…” she breathes, her voice a sultry moan as she links her fingers behind my head.

Cupping the voluptuous mounds of her rear, I begin rocking her on my cock, each thrust building the knot of pleasure in my core.

“I'm sorry,” I whisper, overcome with intense emotion and remorse for all the crimes I've committed against her.

“No…” she says breathlessly, planting a loose kiss on my lips to dismiss the apology. “It doesn't matter…none of it matters…”

“Say you forgive me,” I press, staring regretfully into the depths of her blue eyes that reel me in, allowing me to see the reflection of the man I once was. A man I choose to never be again.

“I forgive you,” she murmurs, nodding softly, urgently, as she clings to me while I guide her hips. “I forgive you…”

When her eyes light up like the stars, I know that I've truly been forgiven. It's the permission I'm granted to finally take the leap of faith, dipping my head at her neck where her scent gland pulses with life. Radiating the pheromones that have been calling out to me, enticing me toward the truth, I press an open-mouthed kiss atop the flesh there. I can almost taste the sweetness from the mere scent, drooling with the need to mark her.

She tilts her head to the side, giving me the liberty of the expanse of her neck as her eyelids flutter like butterfly wings ready to fly off to its beautiful exploration. I take a deep breath to fill my lungs with the sweet scent, parting my lips and distending sharp canines that sink into soft flesh.

“Ah…” she mewls, tightening her arms around me just as my teeth puncture her skin and I taste her blood on my tongue. “Oh, my Goddess…” Lila whimpers, moaning as I complete the marking and remove my teeth from her neck.

When I lift my head, she stares at me with newfound wonder and wipes my bottom lip with the pad of her thumb. A tiny trace of her blood is left on her finger, so I lean in and suck what's left of her sweet essence.

Then our lips collide again, this time with fiery passion as I thrust more firmly into her, each stroke a passionate testament to the completion of the mating ritual.

“At last…” my inner voice acknowledges, a sigh of relief resounding in my mind just as our hearts begin beating in unison. Lila's eyes light up with wonder as realization dawns on her, just as we unravel together and claw toward our peaks.

All I can do is stare into her eyes as my entire existence comes full circle in this moment. I pull her to my chest, closing my eyes and soaking in the sanctity I feel now that I've claimed her as mine.

“Do you feel it…?" I rasp at her ear, to which she nods gently.

“It all makes sense now…I am—”

Lila's voice is cut off when an urgent howl bellows out behind the mountain. She quickly lifts her head, eyes growing wide with horror.

“What was that?”

“Alpha Flynn! Where are you?!” Delta Howard trespasses on the sweet moment with an urgent mind link.

“Shit!” I mutter a string of curses under my breath, swiftly pulling out from Lila and carrying her out of the water. “This can't be happening right now.”

I set her on her feet and pick up her clothes from the ground, pushing the bundle in her hands.

“Get dressed,” I command, losing the calmness in my tone. “Now, Lila!”

“What's going on, Flynn?” she wails while she dresses quickly. I do the same, pulling only my pants over my legs.

“I can't explain. I have to go.”

“No!” she yells out, grabbing my arm when I turn. “You're not leaving me again!”

“ Alpha!”

I glance toward the north side of Zafra, my heart pounding nondescriptly because I need to go. My soldiers need me.

But so does Lila.

“I'm not leaving you, Lila. I swear. This is far worse than you can understand.”

“Make me understand, Flynn!” she demands, and I see that same fire from earlier tonight lighting up the blue orbs like burning embers.

“We are under attack. Rogues,” I explain quickly.

“Why didn't you tell me about this before?” she stares at me in disbelief.

“We've been trying to keep the females in the pack calm. We've been handling it. But they have found us and they are out there, attacking our soldiers. You should know—”

“How would I have known that?!” she exclaims, cutting me off. “It's not like you've considered me your mate, your partner. I have no idea what's going on in the pack, and I want to know. I want to be a useful Luna. I've been the useless Omega all my life!”

“You're not useless!” I thunder back, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close, staring vehemently into her eyes. “You are my fated mate. I've proved it tonight, right here, where I once was stupid enough to deny what I felt. But right now is not the time for this. I have to go.”

“ Miles has been captured! I repeat. Miles has been captured!”

“Miles…” I breathe as panic rises like bile in my throat.

“Go!” she begs urgently, understanding how dire the situation is with just the mention of her brother’s name. In her eyes, I see her desperation—she can't lose her brother.

Just as I can't lose someone I care about. Again.

I nod, quickly shifting into wolf form and crouching for her to climb onto my back. I race through the woods, stopping in the town square to drop her off. With teary eyes, I nod at her before turning and speeding out of town toward the north borders of Rosette Valley.

The further from Lila I go, the more incessant the pull in my heart becomes. The only difference is that now, the tug of my heartstrings creates a melodic symphony that fills my wolf with a deepened sense of power and finesse. Each lunge feels like I'm soaring through the air, my paws thundering the ground with the mighty force only a true Alpha possesses. Now that I'm whole, complete in the completion of the mating ritual with my fated mate, my senses are heightened.

Everything is clearer now. As I race toward my howling soldiers, I have no fear left inside me.

I know I'll get Miles back. The rogues will not take him far. My sense of smell is at its peak, giving me the ability to track his scent as I cross the borders of Zafra and tap into the minds of the Alphas who form the alliance.

“ Alphas of Oklahoma! It is I, Flynn Lycoan! The rogues are headed for Fort Smit! Make haste!”

It worked.

Marking Lila as my mate has given me the powers I needed to save her brother.