Sexual content ahead - marked with ****
The moment I felt Alaia's presence, I knew I had to get out of there. After hearing Zira's story, it made me even more cautious. Besides, there was nothing I could do or say here, since she was the Luna and she had the Alpha wrapped around her evil little finger.
I can’t believe he was still with her after everything Alpha Zack and myself told him about her past. I guess for him, love does conquer everything. Didn’t mean I had to be happy about it though.
When I returned home, my first instinct was to search for Zira and I found her on the warriors' field. I watched as she sparred with one of the warrior women. I refused to let any men near her and was glad Alpha Fiona understood. Like any other day, she held my attention. The connection between us has been getting stronger, even with my absence.
She was wearing tight black sweatpants that showed every delicious curve. Reminding me of the day, I woke up next to her. She had on a matching black crop top, showing off her stomach for the first time since she gave birth. She was getting stronger, which meant it wouldn’t be long until she rejects me and leaves. Deacon didn’t like the idea and now, neither did I.
Then let her mark us and complete the bond Deacon said.
I left from watching her. With Deacon in my head, I nearly wanted to run to her right there and take her. The more I saw her, the more I think the idea of letting her go was absurd. She is strong. She is beautiful and tough, and I wanted her. I needed her. Instead of going to her, I left for the forest to run off my angst.
After spending way too many hours in the forest, I returned and noticed she wasn’t in her room. Little Zacharias was in his crib asleep, so I followed her scent to the kitchen. She was baking and at this hour it only meant she had another nightmare.
I stood in the doorway, watching her stare off into space. I could feel she was sad and I wanted to change that. After tasting her amazing cinnabons, I felt Deacon trying to get out. I was tired, so eventually he won and had her trapped in the corner. It’s been a minute since I’ve been this close to her.
“Deacon.” I heard her say as he stared into her beautiful hazel eyes.
Everything about her was making him, us, crazy. The way her skin felt under our roaming hands, her scent filling the air surrounding us, the way she spoke and, most importantly, we could smell her arousal. We affected her. I could feel a rumble vibrate through my chest as Deacon moved ever so close to her lips. I felt her hands trace along our chest before she pushed us back enough to move away.
“We can’t do this,” she said, walking to the opposite side of the island. Putting distance between us. She was looking at us with a serious face. “I feel stronger now and I thank you for that, truly, but this can’t happen. So…I, Zira Amethyst Lake, reject you-”
“No!” We both yelled at her. She stepped back with a shocked expression before it went to anger.
"What is your problem? Isn't this what you wanted?"
"No," Deacon growled. "I want you, mate."
She looked at us for a second before shaking her head. She sighed and left the kitchen. No doubt the yelling might’ve woken up Zacharias.
Well, I tried. It’s your turn Deacon said to me.
I don’t think right now is a good time.
Grow some balls already and get our mate Deacon growled at me.
I followed Zira back to her room and, of course, Zacharias was having a fit. She noticed me at the door.
“See what you did,” she yelled, going into the bathroom.
I walked over to his crib and picked him up. He was rubbing his eyes, which meant he was trying to fight off his sleep. I could hear the bath running as I walked around the room, rocking and talking softly to Zacharias. It was working as his gray eyes slowly disappeared under his eyelids.
Zira walked in talking to herself as I put a finger up to my lips to hush her. I continued to rock Zacharias as I moved around the room. Zira silently followed me. I finally got him back to sleep and put him in the crib.
“Why are you doing this,” Zira asked with her arms crossed.
“Doing what?”
“This,” she said, pointing to Zacharias. “Being nice to me, being sweet to MY baby.” I frowned at the thought that she didn’t want me to. “We both know where this is going. So why are you doing this?”
“Zira. It's because I...” Because I have fallen for you is what I wanted to say but it would just complicate things. “Because I like doing nice things for people I care about.”
She scoffed at me. “Care, really?”
I knew where this was going, so I left the room and headed for my own. Sure enough, she followed. Such a fighter.
“If you cared about me, you would let me go. Let me be free and accept my rejection.”
That last part angered Deacon enough for him to push to the surface. He turned on her and trapped her against the wall.
“I will do no such thing, mate.”
I saw Zira’s hazel eyes turn yellow and I knew Nina was out. A growl started to seep through as Nina stared at us. I tried getting back control but Deacon held fast.
“Back. Off,” Nina said through gritted teeth.
I could feel her anger through the bond as she placed her hands on my chest and pushed us back. Her fists were balled up against her side and her eyes were closed before she took a few deep breaths. Seeing how he angered her, Deacon gave me back control. Coward.
“Zira-”
She held up her hand to stop me. She took a few more breaths before opening her eyes and staring at me.
“I get that you still love someone, James. I really do and we’ve both seen how far jealousy can take a person. So it’s best if we just do this right now. I’m not playing the other woman any more. I deserve more.”
“Of course you do and I want to give you all you deserve.” She laughed cruelly at my statement but I kept going. “It was never my intention to keep you here, but I just…I don’t want to be without you.”
There! I finally admitted it. I watched as she processed my words. She looked angry but slowly her face started to soften. Spending time with Isabella and Victoria reminded me of how I felt when I found Maria-when I found my mate.
“I’m stupid. All this time, I kept thinking that the Goddess had a better plan for me. A plan that included what I most desired. A plan that included Maria, but now…now I realize it’s been you. She led me to you for a reason.”
I took a step closer to her. Trying not to scare her back to her room. “Zira, I’m sorry that it took me this long to realize that. I should have been thanking the Goddess for the blessing she has given me. A second chance at love. A chance with you,” I said while reaching for her.
“Don’t,” Zira said, turning her back to me. “Don’t say things like that. Don’t make me believe something if it isn’t true.”
But it was true and now more than ever I wanted to provide it to her. I went to the door and cracked it open just in case Zacharias woke up. Silently prayed he didn't. I walked in front of Zira and lifted her chin so she was looking at me. This time tears fell down her face and I gently wiped them away.
“I like you, Zira,” I said, leaning forward.
Her hands pressed against my chest to stop me from coming closer, but I grabbed them and brought each one to my lips. Then I put them around my neck as my hands went around her waist.
“I like you so much I can barely control myself around you.”
I kissed the side of her lips on both sides. I grabbed the bottom of her lip with my teeth as a moan escaped her lips. She was hesitant at first but she soon returned my kiss. Our kisses became hungrier and greedier. I broke it just for a moment to make sure this was okay. I was caught in the moment but was glad to see the lust in her eyes.
****
I picked her up as she wrapped her legs around my waist and moved us to my bed. I kissed her again before traveling down the side of her neck and sucked on my mark near her collarbone. She arched her back as another moan escaped her lips. I kissed further down her body until my hands came to her panties.
“I want you, Zira,” I said, sliding her panties down her leg while maintaining eye contact.
“James, I don’t know if…”
I threw her panties to the side and moved to capture her lips before she could finish. I broke our kiss and stared into her eyes. Her lips were parted slightly and her breath was shallow with anticipation.
“I want you in every possible way. Say yes.”
My hand skimmed up her thigh until they found her slit. She moaned as I played ever so lightly around her clit. Her breath became unsteady.
“Ye..ye..yes!”
It was all I needed. I stood and quickly removed my shorts. She watched me with slightly closed eyes and it only fueled my desire. I ripped her nightgown into pieces, revealing her naked body to me. She instinctively tried to cover herself but I grabbed her hands.
“No, I want to see every beautiful part of you.”
I positioned myself between her knees and took my time looking at every inch of her body. Deacon was going crazy inside my mind, wanting me to take her hard and fast, but no. I wanted to take my time and I knew where I wanted to start. I positioned my face between her thighs, placing a few kisses on both.
“You are beautiful, Zira," I whispered against her skin, making her shudder from the heat. Her arousal smelled so sweet and she was oh so wet for me.
I looked up at her and her eyes were laced with excitement before I buried myself into her folds. I hooked my arms around her thighs to keep her from moving too much. I won’t allow her to escape from this. I licked and teased her as her body tensed up in my hold.
“James,” she whimpered as her body started to tremble.
Just the sound of my name drove me crazy. I could hear her heartbeats picking up and I knew she was getting closer to coming. I removed my mouth and replaced it with my fingers. Stroking her sensitive bud while moving my fingers in and out of her. I wanted to see her face when she came.
I moved my fingers faster against her walls, curling my finger ever so slightly. Zira raised her hips upwards with her hands gripping the sheets as her muscles tensed around my fingers. Her mouth was slightly opened and she clenched her eyes as she cried out her climax. It was by far the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
“MINE!” Devon growled through me.
He wanted her just as badly as I did, but this was my time. I needed to have more of her. I wanted to have all of her now. I positioned myself over her body and before she could catch her breath, I entered her slowly.
I nearly stopped breathing as her walls gripped my entire length. I slowly thrust in and out, savoring every moan coming out of her mouth. She trailed her nails down my back adding another layer of pleasure as she moved her hips with mine.
She grabbed my hips, pushing me in deeper until I felt I was hitting her cervix wall. She jerked under me, clenching her eyes tight, and I stopped for a minute. Her throaty groan made me think that was the spot.
“Zira?”
She opened her eyes and stared at me. They were going from hazel to a golden yellow.
“I need you to go faster and harder,” she growled.
That was all I needed to hear. I moved at a steady rhythm, thrusting in and out, trying to hit the same spot as before. It must’ve been working as her hands traveled all over my body, probably leaving marks. I placed my hands right above her shoulders to keep her from moving away.
She kept up the rhythm, moving her hips up to meet mine. We started moving faster and I was starting to lose my mind. I didn’t want to hurt her but her walls were pulsing around my length like hands and I could feel my climax building up.
“Goddess, you feel so good, Zira,” I panted, hoping I could hold on long for her to come. I bent down and sucked the mark on her neck, making her scream out.
“Yes! There, right there,” she screamed as her legs tightened around my waist.
The position allowed me to move in more. I pounded into her, knowing I might’ve been a little too rough, but we were already getting lost in each other. She pulled me in close when she came as her walls tightened around, refusing to let go. One second she was screaming my name and next I felt a sharp pain on the side of my neck.
That was all I could take in that moment. A wave of pleasure washed over me and a loud growl erupted from my mouth as I spilled my seed inside her. Every muscle in my body tensed and relaxed, over and over.
I closed my eyes to keep my world from spinning and noticed the flashing lights behind my eyelids. I collapsed on top of her for a second before I managed to push myself to the other side. We laid side by side, trying to catch our breath before we heard Zacharias in the other room. No doubt my growl woke him up.
“Shit!” Zira struggled to get up as I failed to even help, and she started to laugh. “I guess we’re going to have to skip round two.”
Round two? I could barely move to help her up. She noticed my helpless look and laughed.
“Don’t worry. I’ll do all the work and all you need to do is just lie there,” she smiled while walking to her room.
I love her Deacon blurted out.
Yeah, I think I do too, buddy I thought while listening to her talk to Zacharias. I wanted to sit and enjoy the moment we just had but I knew it wasn’t going to last. She wanted to go back to her pack. What will happen to us after that? Obviously, she wanted to stay with me after marking me, right?
I wasn’t sure what I could say to keep her here. To keep her safe. All I do know is that Alaia is not taking another love away from me. I made up my mind that I would do anything to protect Zira. To protect Zacharias. To protect my family.