As Cedric woke up entangled in the sheets with his mate pressed tightly against his side, he couldn't help but think that this was life. For the first time in a long time, Cedric felt fulfilled. Everything was perfect. With Marisol by his side, he felt like he could do anything. He was happy, content, and peaceful. What more could a man ask for?
However, there was one thing that sat heavy on his mind, and that was Marisol's obvious turmoil regarding the decision she had to make. He was aware that she'd been in a dilemma for the last few days but had been pretending and even going as far as thinking only happy thoughts whenever he was around.
He wanted to ease her burden, and so a plan had begun to take root in his mind. He could make things easier for Marisol by relinquishing his position as Alpha so that he and Marisol could return to her pack.
All they needed to do was wait until the prophecy was fulfilled, and then they would leave.
The decision had put Cedric in a bit of a tight spot too, because not only did it mean he would be abandoning his birthright and his pack, but he would also be trapping his brother permanently in Redwood, but he was ready to do all that and more for Marisol. He didn't want a title if it meant his mate would be unhappy and unsatisfied for the rest of her days.
If they'd met under different circumstances, it would have been different. However, she'd been tricked and kept here like a prisoner. It would be too unfair to her to make another decision that would take away her right to choose and her freedom.
'It's better this way', Cedric thought with a determined nod. He couldn't stand to lose Marisol, and this was the only way to make sure of that.
As if sensing the turmoil in his mind, Marisol stirred, "Cedric," she murmured, and Cedric leaned closer to her, humming in answer.
"Why are you so restless?" She asked groggily, eyes still shut as she moved to rest her palm on his chest, "Your wolf..... it's so anxious about something." She noted, and Cedric's heart skipped a beat.
Sure, he'd made the decision, but his wolf wasn't in support of abandoning his pack and his position as Alpha to follow Marisol. It couldn't understand why Marisol couldn't just stay. They were meant to be together, but Cedric was also meant to be Alpha; that was all it knew.
"Are you doing anything later today? I have something to tell you." He settled down, and Marisol's beautiful hazel-blue finally fluttered open. Slowly, she propped herself up, and the worry in her features was evident as she tilted her head.
"Did something happen? My wolf is anxious and upset with you at the same time. And that's weird because, usually, we adore you to bits." She said it so easily, as if the confession didn't tug violently at Cedric's heartstrings.
He showed her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes and pulled her into his arms, "We adore you even more."
Marisol let out a small sigh, "Give me a hint." She said before narrowing her eyes at him in accusation, "And don't try to distract me."
He couldn't stop the smile that slipped onto his face as he started to trail his fingers down her spine.
"I'll give you a hint only if you bribe me with something," he teased, not missing the way she melted even further into his embrace.
"And what kind sir, would that be?" she played along, and Cedric's smirk grew. He continued with his teasing, loving how she responded to his slightest touch.
"How about...... you offer me something, and let me decide if it's bribe enough."
Marisol let out a soft growl, and just like that, she had him falling back onto the bed with a small 'oof', and ground down on his crotch teasingly. A hiss left his lips as his hands went to her waist, controlling her movements as she claimed his lips in a hungry kiss.
"Damn, Princess," he breathed out afterwards, and she giggled against his lips, fingers reaching into his hair to tug at the strands roughly.
"Princess," Cedric growled, slowly losing his willpower.
"Is that bribe enough?" She whispered, with another roll of her hips.
"No!" He growled, and she let out a squeak as he lifted her off to throw his briefs off impatiently, her flimsy gown following in a minute, and they wrestled back into position.
The moment Marisol sank down and clenched around him, Cedric let out a low howl.
"Fucking hell, Princess."
He tried to concentrate and tease her breasts and his mark, but Cedric couldn't help but feel at a loss when she began to move at a torturous pace.
His fingers dug into her waist as he slowed her down with an animalistic groan before setting a pace he could control, helping her move up and down to meet him where it truly mattered.
Her movements grew more frantic and sloppy and knowing she was nearing her release, he flipped them over and finished up for both of them.
His sweaty back hits the bed, their chests heaving, both fully sated and ridiculously happy.
Marisol curled up in his arms seconds later, already knocked back to sleep.
Cedric knew he should get up, he had a handful of meetings lined up for the day and he also needed to supervise and evaluate the pack's progress in their training.
However, he couldn't bring himself to move. The moment was too beautiful to ruin. Besides, with what he'd told them about his supposed unpredictability, they should expect days like these.
'Let Caleb handle it. After all, he's about to become the official Alpha.' He thought to himself as he drifted off into light slumber.
'Danger!' Cedric jolted out of sleep about an hour later as his senses howled in alarm. His wolf was agitated. Something had crossed his border, something big and sinister and it was headed right for the pack.
'Caleb!' He called into the pack link. 'Something is coming. Gather the troops.'
He tapped Marisol awake, her eyes opening lazily, the afterglow still evident in them as she gave him a lazy smile.