Although the drive was silent, it was not the uncomfortable kind. On the contrary, I felt relaxed and at ease as I sat beside my mate who seemed engrossed in some form of work as he scrolled through his phone. I didn't feel ignored. Not when his warmth was so close to me, his arm brushing my own occasionally.
I was hyperaware of his presence beside me, more so when I closed my eyes and welcomed the sleep that engulfed me. I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, by all the events that had been. Too much had happened and although I knew I needed to process it all, I couldn't find the strength to.
All my body wanted to do was pass out and that is exactly what I did. I let the dreams engulf me, memories of my childhood being the center of my thoughts. Fragments of the night my father and I's original pack was attacked were mixed in between, a traumatizing night I would not easily forget.
It was exactly why I was more than grateful when I felt my mate's touch on me which seemed to chase away the bittersweet dreams and rouse me from the fog of memories.
My eyes fluttered open at the feel of movement, my mind instantly registering that we were going up a set of stairs.
"What's...going on?...Have we arrived?..."
I muttered, my voice tinged with the sleepiness that still lingered, threatening to take me under once more.
"Not yet, little wolf. Our home is much further than you think. We're boarding the plane now. Go back to sleep. I'll wake you when its time, alright?"
His strong arms that were wrapped around me tightened a little, almost in reassurance. I knew better than to immediately trust this man.
To lower my guard so quickly when I barely knew him but I couldn't help it. Not when my body felt perfectly in place with his arms. It was almost as if I was made for him which was somewhat true for those in our world.
I also didn't have the strength to fight him. To fight these overwhelming emotions. I needed his comfort now more than ever, after everything, and I welcomed it as I snuggled close to his chest. I would worry about everything else later. All I could focus on now was resting and being in his arms was more than enough.
"Okay.....Please take care of me, for now."
I whispered, not really sure why I said it and what his reaction was for the sleep was back with a vengeance and my dreams seemed to be a lot more pleasant...
***
Dante's PoV
Perfection.
Her body molded so well against mine. She belonged in my arms and the need to keep her on my lap even as we took off was overwhelming. The flight attendant as well as my men said nothing, each of them choosing to buckle in and prepare for the three hour flight.
As far as my wolf and I were concerned, she was more than safe in my arms and she seemed to feel the same as she snuggled even closer to me and slept deeply.
She feels safe...Content...
My wolf muttered, his words bringing a kind of excitement within me.
Although I barely knew the woman who was now my mate, I wanted nothing more than to please her and make her happy. I knew that the mate bond had something to do with it but I also knew that there was something more.
There is certainly more than the mate bond at play here...
I am not the most emotional person in the world.
Heck, I'm considered a sociopath by many, a psychopath with no regard for other people's emotions or safety. I am a cold, unfeeling bastard but none of their words or the doctor's diagnosis has ever mattered to me.
Not when my unfeeling character had gotten my pack as far as it was. I had managed to achieve more than anyone in my world and my antisocial tendencies had aided as I razed through all who had dared to stand against me.
And yet as I now looked upon the woman in my arms whose warmth seemed to seep right through my skin and make its home within me, I could not help but want to give her so much more.
She asked me to take care of her...So why in the world do I want to burn the fucking world at the thought of anyone harming her? And why is her safety now at the forefront of my mind?
Why do I want to protect her from the harshness of my character?
"I've heard tales of Alexandra Pierce through the grapevine but meeting her now, I have to say that the rumors do not do her justice."
My Gamma muttered from beside me, her words bringing me back to the present as I turned to face her. As an introvert, Jade Barnes rarely spoke up or made her presence known unless she has something particularly interesting to state. It also had something to do with her stealth tendencies.
The woman did not seem like a threat with her raven black, pixie cut, curly hair, brown eyes, caramel colored skin, petite figure and 5"7 stature but she was certainly lethal and all who had underestimated her had ended up six ft. under. Having her as part of my upper echelon of leaders was a blessing from the goddess herself.
The two of us had been friends since childhood with her own father being the Alpha King's Gamma. Although she had been adamant about joining my ranks and becoming like her father, I had found a way to change her mind.
A singular goal that was not far from being realized now.
Our hard work had grown the Crescent Moon to the place it was now and she and my Beta would be finishing our 15 year plan very soon.
"Why am I not surprised that you know her..."
I muttered, earning a small chuckle from Jade as she crossed her legs, her gaze fixating on my mate once more. It was not a calculating look at all. And neither was it a lethal gaze. No, this was more...thoughtful.
Almost as if she was trying to understand her.
And that in itself was surprising as hell.
My curiosity was already threatening to burst forth once Jade spoke up, offering up an explanation for her puzzling words and reaction.
"Daughter of the famous Beta Avant Pierce, they say her fighting prowess is just as good if not better than her father. I mean, I have heard and met many werewolves with decent fighting skills but she...well, she's lethal. She's better than all of them. What made her stand out, though, isn't the fact that she's a great fighter. Its the fact that No one has ever seen her wolf. She's fought all her opponents bare handed even when they've turned and she's taken down all of them. Fucking insane, huh?"
Jade muttered, her words stunning me as my awe matched her own.
Each of us turned to stare at the sleeping figure in my arms who looked nothing like the rumors that were going around about her. I couldn't help but wonder if they were true.
Jade is not one to dish out unconfirmed rumors. And her own reaction means she believes them. She's impressed...In awe even...
Fucking hell. My woman just continues to be a vault of surprises, huh?....
"It seems the moon goddess, apart from blessing you with a mate to begin with, has given you one who is pretty fucking incredible. We are yet to see her in action but I just know she's going to take us all by surprise. She's going to prove exactly why she belongs in the Crescent Moon. I can't wait to see what she's capable of."
Jade stated, her excitement stunning me as I took in her small smile and the glint of elation in her eyes.
It was rare to see such a display of emotion from the introverted assassin, a summation I shared with the rest of my men who glanced at their superior with surprise and confusion before their gazes flittered over to my sleeping mate.
A chuckle I didn't realize I had been holding in escaped me, the sound stunning all of them as they turned to stare at me. I didn't care that I was showcasing more emotion than usual.
I was proud of my little wolf who had managed to garner a reputation worthy of the Luna of Crescent Moon. I was happy that she had already won the heart of one of the hardest people to impress. She still had a long way to go to gain the trust of my people but I knew she could do it.
If she's crazy enough to fight turned werewolves barehanded then maybe she can stand beside me...She can survive the storm that I am...
"It seems she's going to be more fun to figure out than I anticipated. I will enjoy unwrapping her, and looking upon all of the pleasantly surprising layers that she possesses."
I responded, earning a small smile and nod from Jade whose expression turned serious as a thought flittered to her mind.
"I was stunned that you chose to ignore the new Alpha of the Blood Rose pack despite his clear infatuation with her. From what I gathered, everyone was stunned by Natalia Steele's induction as Luna. Everyone believed that Alexandra and Reed would be together. The two have been crushing on each other since their childhood years. She may yet still possess feelings for him as he clearly does for her."
Jade frowned at the very thought, her reaction matching my own as I turned to stare out at the night sky as we made our way to my home. I was not stunned by Jade's question.
It was true that the young Reed Michaels had incensed me to no end. It had taken everything that I had to keep myself from pummeling the shit out of his face and breaking him for daring to look at my beloved with longing.
He still drew breath not because of his new status as Alpha of the BloodRose pack. I could not give two shits about that.
No, he lives because Alexandra still cares for him and his family.
He lives because in as much as I wanted to beat him to death for having her, it would be unfair to my mate.
I had fucked many women in my lifetime, none of whom I cared for more than what they could offer me.
Killing Alexandra's first love just because he had possessed her body would be a hypocritical move. It was a surprising emotion considering my proclivity to not giving a fuck but this was different.
She was different.
He still loves her and she doesn't know what to feel.
The scent I had gathered from Alexandra the moment we met was not from his shitty shirt.
It was from the two of them spending the night together.
He made my little wolf lie to me. She wanted to protect him and that pissed me the hell off now just as it had when she tried and failed to lie to me.
My blood boiled at the very thought of him touching her beautiful body that I had only gained a glimpse at.
Of him pleasing her.
Being privy to her moans of pleasure and her touch.
To think that he kissed her with love and longing.
That he knew what it was like to be inside her delectably smelling cunt made me borderline insane.
"Dante...Ease up. You're hurting her."
Jade's voice pulled me back from the haze of red that had engulfed me. The sound of my mate's pained exhale had me instantly releasing the tight embrace I had her in. It was an unconscious reaction brought forth by my rage but I still could not help but feel incredibly guilty as I watched her wince in pain.
"Fuck me...I'm sorry, baby girl."
I muttered, placing a soft, chaste kiss on her forehead that seemed to ease her pain and put her back to sleep.
"I thought he was smart enough to realize that he has lost her but that stupid motherfucker still thinks he has a chance. It's fucking laughable that my show of mercy that was motivated by my respect and consideration for Alexandra's feelings went completely over his head. He seems to think that I won't rip his fucking body apart for daring to take something that belonged to me, let alone still long for it. He is a young and foolish boy who has no idea what I'm fucking capable of but no matter. Alex and I are playing the long game. She may not know it yet. Heck, she may still be in love with that waste of fucking space but soon enough, she will discover that her emotions are distorted. She will know that I own her now. Her soul already belongs to me and her body will soon enough. All her thoughts and fantasies will revolve around me. As the Luna of Crescent Moon, her dedication will be solely to myself and our pack. And when the right time comes, when the long game is ripe and ready, our revenge is going to be earth shattering. I will give her the closure she does not know she needs and thoroughly enjoy it. And if that little shit still thinks he can take her from me then I will do what I stopped myself from doing today. I will end him."
It was a firm declaration that I believed with all of my being.
Although she refuted my offer on getting revenge on the man who had broken her heart, I had noted her hesitation. She wanted it but she stopped herself.
She is too fucking good for that asshole...I am going to mold her into the perfect instrument of Reed Michael's destruction. And she is going to enjoy his downfall.
"You are a fucking lunatic."
Jade muttered, a small smile on her lips despite her comment that made me chuckle in amusement as I held my beautiful future closer to my fast beating heart. She knew well enough that I was much more than that.
I was evil incarnate and no one would be able to survive my darkness...Not even the woman of my dreams snuggled close to my body...
Especially not her...
***