Chapter 33
I really enjoy the light in our corner apartment. I enjoy sitting on the balcony and feeling the air settle on my skin. That’s where I sit on a chair with my feet up, drinking a cup of tea while I wait for Alaric to come home.
I went to visit him after my meeting, but he was busy, so I bought a magazine from Dawn’s and came home to read it. The magazine is a human one, Vogue, and although the price of the clothing advertised within is astronomical, the articles are decent—decent enough to keep me occupied, anyway.
I smirked in my teacup as I pictured Alaric’s smiling face. I can’t believe he’s mine, and that he wants me. Even now, I feel my bond with him grow. It’s hard to explain, but remembering my parents and how they are together makes it make sense. I understand now. I used to want that for myself, and now that I have it, I understand.
I feel the bond between Alaric and me close in, he’s near, and I smile when the door unlocks and scent him walk in the door. I put my tea down and walked over to greet him.
“How was your day?” I ask, hugging him.
“Good. Besides one thing.”
“I was listening to you,” I admit. Because I was. Mostly.
“How have people responded with the whole working the weekend?” I ask, partly because I’m interested and partly because I want to show that I was listening.
“They’re not happy, but they’ll get used to it,” Alaric says.
“And those who don’t?”
“Those who don’t, will. But you, my dear, owe me,” he whispers the last bit. My heart beats faster as I sense the arousal in Alaric’s scent.
“And what exactly do you mean by that?”
“You’re due for your punishment,” Alaric growls, punctuating his last word with a lick up my neck. My knees wobble and heat floods my core.
“Oh really?” I question.
“Aha,” Alaric says, abruptly grabbing me and throwing me over his shoulder.
“Alaric! What are you doing!” I yell. Unexpectedly I feel myself falling when I land on our bed, bouncing a little. I try to crawl backwards, but he grabs my ankles.
“It’s time for your punishment,” he says, pulling me towards him. He’s momentarily hovering above me when he captures my mouth in a needy and passionate kiss. I buck my hips forward, meeting his and feeling the hard ridge pressing against the fabric of his track pants.
Alaric kisses down my neck, nipping and sucking at spots making me groan. My hands find the back of his head and my fingers thread through his hair as I cling to him.
“Alaric,” I moan, arching my back once more. He responds by pulling my t-shirt up above my breasts, exposing my grey athletics bra.
I hear a tearing of material and before I can complain his lips mould around the pebble of my nipple, pulling on my flesh with his teeth. I whimper as he moves towards my next nipple, the remaining wet and exposed to the air.
I move my hands to his butt and squeeze, pulling him into my hips as I try to rub myself against him. I can feel his hardness between my folds and I swear my vagina throbs in anticipation.
“Alaric. Please,” I groan. I feel him smile against my breast and then he trails kisses up my body to capture my mouth.
We roll onto our sides and my hands move to his pants, pulling at the elastic down his hips.
“Uh uh,” Alaric says between kisses, grabbing my wrists to stop me. I cry in pain.
“Please Alaric, more. Please!” I beg, but he only smirks at that response.
“Nope. I’m going to punish you first,” he tells me.
“You’re mean,” I whimper when he pulls away from me. This makes him laugh and move off the bed.
“Are you…” I begin before he shushes me.
“Take off your pants,” Alaric orders. I can’t do this fast enough. My leggings are off as are my shoes. I lie there with my undies still on and give him a smirk. Two can play at this game.
“Your knickers.”
“No,” I reply.
“No?” Alaric balks. I shake my head and smile. I love how he takes over during sex and gets all bossy. But if he’s going to tease me, I’m going to tease him right back.
“No,” I reply, firmer.
“No?” Alaric growls, pulling at my legs. I try to kick him away but his grasp on my ankles is strong. He’s not letting go.
“Nope. No. Nein!” I giggle.
“Nope, no, nein?” he asks, pulling me towards him. I laugh, giving up on trying to get away.
“Really?” he adds. I bite my lower lip and nod.
“hmmm…okay then…” Alaric says, pondering his chin. He gets up and feigns moving away, but I just giggle.
Suddenly he’s on top of me again, holding my wrists above my head with one hand.
“I was going to take this slow, draw it out. But I don’t think you deserve that,” Alaric says with a growl. I look into his eyes defiantly.
“Roll over,” he orders, but I shake my head.
“Can’t”
“Why not?”
“Because you have my hands,” I reply. Alaric smiles and lets go of my wrists, smacking my bottom as I roll over onto my stomach. I feel him push my legs apart with his knees and then I hear another rip. Okay, that was my fault. The material of my underwear falls from my bottom, but I don’t have time to acknowledge it when another slap hits the skin of my arse.
“Ready for your punishment?” Alaric growls. I don’t have time to respond because I feel him push into me. I groan as my core stretches to fit him, but it’s a good feel. Although painstakingly slow.
Finally, I feel him press against the edge of my womb, his hips flush against my backside. And then he moves. Sweet goddess and all there is in heaven, he moves. Every nerve tingles as he pulls himself out, sending a thrill throughout my body, and then he sweeps forward again. I pull a pillow closer to me and hug it as Alaric fills me in long, tingly swoops, making noises as he goes.
“You like that baby?”
“Uh huh,” it’s like I can’t formulate words or think thoughts, my sole focus on the steady rhythm Alaric’s created and the pleasure he brings with it. That and trying to keep my position upright instead of falling from the huge puddle of delight he’s increasing in me.
“What about now?” Alaric asks, grasping my hips and slamming faster and harder inside me.
“Yes!” I cry out.
“Yes, what baby? Do you like it or should I stop?”
“No!” I cry out. Alaric slows down and I whimper.
“Move, harder, faster,” I beg between thrusts. Suddenly he picks up his pace, our bodies slapping as he drives faster in me. I feel my orgasm build in my chest and my cries of pleasure increase and become louder. Alaric’s hand reaches for my clit, and his fingers press against my wet folds. I come. My walls clench and my body tenses, clamping onto his cock as my orgasm breaks. My hands fist the sheets beneath me and I scream in pure ecstasy. Alaric pulls on my hips as he’s stopped too, hopefully meeting his release.
We flop onto the bed, our breaths fast as our bodies try to wind down from the high. Alaric pulls me closer to him and I snuggle into his chest, our scents delightfully mixed.
“You can punish me any time you want,” I murmur as I close my eyes, tiredness wrapping around me like a warm blanket.
//\\///\\\//\\
I’m teaching music at Isabella’s work when a familiar scent wafts towards me. Looking up I see someone who I don’t particularly care for. I could ignore him but I knew he wouldn’t leave until I talked to him, so I turned to my students and smiled.
“Okay everyone, now you can have some free time and try making your own music using the patterns you’ve learnt!” I tell them. They cheer and the room is suddenly filled with a cacophony of noise. I wince, the harsh sounds deafening to my ears, and get up from my spot on the floor.
“Conner,” I greet, indicating to the left of the room where I hope is less noisy.
“Georgie. I’ve been trying to talk with you all week but I keep missing you,” Conner says. I know. He’s been a constant at my periphery, and whenever I’ve sensed him I’ve gone out of my way not to have to talk to him.
“What do you want?” I ask. Conner’s calm expression shows that he’s not surprised by my question.
“Look, I know you hate me, but you haven’t told your dad about us, have you?” he asks, sounding worried. I shake my head.
“There was never an us,” I tell him.
“Yeah, there was. Come on. You felt it, remember?”
“I try not to. Look, why are you here?”
“Come on, Georgie. Don’t be like that,” Conner smirks.
“I don’t know what you want from me, Conner.”
“You know what I want.”
“I already have a mate,” I reply, my arms folded.
“Look, every one of my friends has settled down and started having kids…”
“So?”
“So… we need to talk. Please, Georgie!”
I turn to look at my small class, who are thoroughly enjoying themselves hitting their instruments as hard as they can so that they make the loudest noise.
“This isn’t a good time or place,” I reply.
“Well, we could meet later, maybe Miss Coffee? I heard you have to pay but the food is good!”
“Fine. When?”
“Tonight, say six? Please Georgie?” he begs again. I shake my head. If I don’t talk to him privately, he’s never going to leave me alone.
“Yeah, sure. Tonight, at six,” I reply.
“Great! Just you and me?” he asks.
“Sure. Just you and me,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“I’ll see you then,” he tells me, waving goodbye and leaving. Great. Just what I want to do.
I take a big breath in and turn back to my noisy students.
“Okay everyone, who wants to share their music with the class?” I ask, clapping my hands, for their attention.
“Me! Me!” they all cry out. I smile and sit back on the floor to join them.
//\\///\\\//\\
It’s been bugging me all afternoon about my upcoming meeting with Conner. I haven’t told Dad or Alaric about him. Firstly, because I don’t want them to know, and secondly because Conner means nothing to me anymore. Which begs why I’m even considering this meeting.
After my lesson with my four-year-olds, I walked to Alaric’s office to talk to him. It’s bigger now and he’s been so busy he’s even got his own secretary. Man, I could have done that. And I don’t like her. The secretary that is. Not that she’s not nice to me, because she is. And that’s it. She’s nice. But she gets to see Alaric at work every day and I’m jealous.
“Georgie!” Fiona greets me when she sees me. I force a smile on my face and say hello.
“Is Alaric free?” I ask.
“He’s just doing paperwork I think, so go on ahead,” she replies.
“Thanks,” I say, walking past the desk and entering Alaric’s office without knocking.
This room is so different to his last one. Because of where it is, there is no natural light, but there are windows viewing the sparring room on one side. Alaric sits at his desk which is positioned at a right angle from the window, facing a wall full of books and two large sofas sitting opposite each other.
“Hi!” Alaric greets me with a smile when he sees me.
“Hi,” I reply, smiling back. Alaric walks over to me and gives me a hug and a kiss on my head.
“You finished for the day?” he asks. I nod.
“Yup. I’m teaching them to play sounds using a four-beat. They’re getting better,” I admit. I’m quite proud of them. They’ve come from not listening and playing whatever to carrying a beat repeatedly and performing it.
“I’m almost finished, and we can have afternoon tea?” I smile at that and nod.
“I had a visitor today while I was teaching,” I admit, sitting down.
“Oh yeah?”
“Conner,” I add. Alaric furrows his brows and looks at me.
“I didn’t know you were close with Conner.”
I gag at that statement.
“I’m not. No. Not at all. He’s just been wanting to talk, and I’ve been avoiding him,” I admit.
“Why? What does he want to talk about?” Alaric asks.
“I think I know, but I need to tell you something,” I say, pausing.
“Conner was my first mate,” I say quickly.
“You mean he’s the one that almost killed you?” Alaric growls.
“Well, he didn’t almost…” I begin.
“Yes, he did! The doctor at the hospital checked you out. You had residue from his rejection. It’s why you got so sick so quickly. You didn’t get that bad just because of me!” Alaric angrily states.
I nod, thinking. A tear threatens to fall and I wipe it away. I picture meeting Alaric and I remember my hair falling out. I remember coughing blood. I knew what was going on. It happened so quickly after meeting him, whereas with Conner, it took longer for the rejection to cause damage. It happened so quickly because Alaric was rejecting me. But that wasn’t so.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I know it’s a hard memory for us. But I did speak with the doctor. He did say you had damage from your previous rejection. I’m sorry I brought it up,” Alaric says, hugging me. I let myself fall into his arms. I don’t blame Alaric for what happened between us. I’ve accepted that it wasn’t his fault, that he was being drugged. But Conner knew. He knew what would happen to me once he rejected me. I would have died if I hadn’t gotten away.
“I… he wants to talk” I repeat.
“But you don’t want to?”
I shake my head, letting my tears fall off onto Alaric’s shirt and wetting it.
“There’s nothing to talk about. I barely know the guy. And I don’t want to know him.”
“Do you want me to come?” Alaric asks. I wasn’t expecting that, and I’m not sure of the answer.
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Then I’ll come. I’ll be right there with you, okay?”
I nod into his chest and wipe my tears.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Always.”
We stand there for a little while, me enjoying the comfort I get from Alaric’s warmth and smell. I didn’t want to move.
“We need to get going,” Alaric says, breaking the spell.
“Didn’t you need to finish up?” I ask as I watch him grab his jacket from his chair.
“Nah, it can wait for tomorrow,” Alaric replies, taking my hand.
We leave the office and Fiona looks up from her work.
“We’re going to leave early today. You can go if you want, too,” Alaric tells her.
“Thank you. Have a good night!” Fiona calls as we leave.
“Why couldn’t I have Fiona’s job?” I ask once we’ve sat down at the food court with a coffee and a muffin.
“Wouldn’t you get sick of me?”
“No! And I’d get to see you every day!”
“Fiona’s not a Delta. And she’s five days.”
“So!” I say, but I know my argument is weak.
“How are you going at work?” Alaric then asks. I roll my eyes. My team is doing construction this week. What’s it under… community service? But my team is doing construction, which Alaric knows. The females, and the males also, who didn’t want to learn how to build or like me had no skills were on administrative duties. For me, that means stock responsibility. It’s my job to meet the stock, make sure we have it all, and then send it out to where it needs to go. It’s not rocket science, but it’s boring.
“Good. I’m an extra and apparently when I’m there more work gets done,” I say proudly.
“Extra hands.”
“Yeah, could be. Or the fact that they know who my mate is and work better on the days I’m there,” I tease.
“Or the fact that they know who your mate is and don’t want to get on my bad side,” Alaric rebuts. I chuckle.
“Or they’re just scared of you,” he adds.
“I’m not scary!” I cry. Alaric just laughs.
I don’t want to be hungry and have to stay that long at Miss Coffee with Conner, so when we get home Alaric and I make ourselves homemade pizza with pizza sauce, herbs, cheese and Lebanese bread. By the time we finish, it’s time to meet Conner for coffee.
I take a deep breath to try and calm myself before we leave. I don’t know if it works, and I end up taking another deep breath when we arrive at Miss Coffee.
Conner is already sitting there waiting for me when we arrive. I look up at Alaric and he squeezes my hand.
“I’ll get us a coffee,” he says, before walking on ahead.
“Hello,” I greet Conner as I sit down.
“Hello. I didn’t know you were bringing him.”
“Well, he is my mate,” I reply. Like, yeah. As if Alaric wouldn’t be here to protect me.
“Is he going to sit with us?”
I shrug my shoulders. Alaric and I didn’t talk about it, but I guess.
“What can I do for you?” I ask with a sigh.
“Did you tell Alaric I was your mate?” he whispers. This is a coffee shop with werewolves. If people wanted to listen they could.
“Of course she did,” Alaric says, sitting by me.
“Did you tell your dad?”
“No. Why should I?”
“Oh. Thank goddess. I like your dad but… if he knew I was your mate…”
“Would hurt him. I know,” I interrupt.
“Not only that. But he was devastated that you’d left. If he knew I was the cause…”
“Then you’d be dead,” Alaric says. Conner looks at Alaric, sceptical.
“How would you know?”
“Dad told me he thought I was dead. He knew that I had suffered from your rejection. You almost killed me,” I reply.
“And it’s what I would do for my daughter,” Alaric adds.
“I didn’t know that would happen. You’ve got to believe me! I didn’t know anything until I talked to you in front of your friends all those weeks ago!”
“Know what? That I suffered or that you now can’t have children?” I ask.
“Well… I did look it up in this pack’s library… and it says… it says I can have children if you’re not dead and forgive me. So I can have children.”
“What would I forgive you for?” I ask.
“For me, you know. Rejecting you.”
“Why should she forgive you for that?” Alaric asks.
“Because she’s here, still…” he quavers.
“You’re right. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have left my family and wouldn’t have eventually met Alaric. But forgiving? I almost died,” I say.
“I didn’t know that would happen. You know, they don’t tell us when you reject someone the bond remains a little… I thought that once it was done it was done. I was free! To do what I wanted!”
“The bond remains for a while, just in case someone changes their mind. You would have been taught that at your pack’s pup lessons,” Alaric scoffs.
“But I wasn’t!”
“Did you know, every time you were unfaithful to your bond, she would feel it?” Alaric asks.
“You knew!” Alaric growls when Conner hesitates just that moment too long.
“I didn’t know it could kill her…” Conner mutters. I shake my head. Yeah, he hurt me. But that was back then. I haven’t thought about him much since. I’m surprised at this realisation. I take a deep breath in before I speak.
“Do you know how many times I’ve thought about you since I left Swan Valley?” I ask him. He shakes his head.
“Not much. I felt you being… intimate… but slowly that faded to the point I forgot. But seeing you again…” I shake my head.
“Please, Georgie. If you forgive me, I might be granted a second chance mate… children. That’s what you’ve got. Can’t I have it to? All you need to say is that you forgive me. Please!” Conner pleads.
“To forgive you, I would have needed to have thought about you. And I haven’t. I’m sorry. You can’t take back what you did. You hurt me. You took me away from my family and you destroyed my friendship with my best friend. I just can’t. I’ve moved on. You should too,”
“That’s what I’m trying to do, though!” Conner pleads, but I’m in the process of getting up and leaving. I don’t want to hear anymore.
“I want you to leave my mate alone. Or you’ll have me to deal with,” I hear Alaric say behind me.
“Are you okay?” Alaric asks, grabbing my hand as I walk to the foyer for the elevators.
“Once he’s gone, I will be,” I admit.
