Ajay went to lay on the floor.
"No, please, I want you to hold me."
"You sure you want that? You're not too upset with me?" he asks.
Shaking my head, I reach my arms out to him.
He chuckles. "Okay, beautiful."
I stand up so he can lay down first. I want to sleep on his chest. Climbing on the couch, I cuddle up next to him. Placing my head on his chest, I feel loved and protected listening to his heartbeat. He gently rubs my back.
"I want you to obey me because I am the Alpha, but I am protective over you because you're my girl," he states.
Despite the exciting events of the evening, weariness overtakes me and I fall asleep. I'm feeling so comfortable sleeping on Ajay's chest, I don't want to wake up when I feel his lips on my neck and cheek. We have slept together all night.
"Good morning, Uwoduhi," he says.
I let out a groan. "Let's just sleep for a few moments."
"We have a long journey ahead; we must leave in less than an hour."
I nod my head. Hopefully, this is an easy battle with the zombies.
"You need to protect your neck, don't let a zombie bite you again in that spot."
"I will."
"You shouldn't even be going; I might have you stay here at the camp."
"No, I don't want to be here alone. Please, Ajay." My eyes start to feel watery, and I grab his arm. He kisses me on my head.
"Please," I say again.
"Your neck is bleeding, through."
"I will protect it the whole time."
"Fine, but you will stand behind me."
"I will."
Ajay gets up from the bed. I hear the others stirring know the day has begun.
"Get out of bed, lazy bone," Dev says, busting into the room.
Climbing out of bed, I go outside, taking a deep breath of the morning air. Pain overtakes my neck, and I begin to rub it. It isn't long before I hear the door to the camper open, and my eyes didn't see who my brain thought it was.
"Look at your neck, darlin'," Chetan says, walking over to me.
"Yeah, that damn zombie got in a good bite."
"You should be inside resting."
"I am fine."
As he walks closer to me, I begin to feel nervous. I don't want to want him at all.
Is the way he makes me think only because he is my Mark mate? This isn't' something more.
He wraps his arms around me; his arms feel so strong, my mind begins to cloud. He brings his face to mine I want to run in the other direction, but my inner wolf severely craves him. His lips are on mine, kissing me hard. He grabs my butt with his hand and runs the other through my hair. I feel his tongue between my teeth and then down my throat, his lips moving quickly over mine.
This is wrong. What about Kiara? And now Ajay is involved. I pull away from his kiss and his arms. "We can't do this."
"Why? I enjoyed it. Just relax and let yourself have what it wants."
"No."
"What is going on out here?" Ajay asks.
I didn't even see him walk outside. He looks concerned.
"Nothing." Ajay would surely be pissed and kick Chetan out of the pack. That would kill Kiara. Me kissing Chetan alone would kill her.
"What happened, Zare?" asks Ajay, a little more aggressively.
"We were just talking."
Ajay looks at Chetan, and he nods his head. Ajay doesn't say anything and goes back inside.
"You think I care if that little bitch knew I was kissing my Mark mate? He has no entitlement to you, but I do," he says.
"You shouldn't disrespect the Alpha like that, and Chetan no one has an entitlement to me."
"We are marked on each other's souls, now I call that entitlement. Even Kiara doesn't own me the way you do. There isn't a hoop I would jump through for you."
Looking down at the ground, I know he feels the pull of the mark, too.
"Do you love Kiara?"
"I do, and I love you."
"We have to ignore these feelings before Kiara gets hurt."
"You can't just shut off feelings for the person you are destined to be with, Zare."
"We have to."
"All right cubs gather around," Ajay shouts, halting any further discussion.
Everyone is in a circle in moments.
"The goal is to take the zombie as easily and quickly as possible," he says.
Everyone nods their heads.
"Zare's neck isn't in good shape, we must protect her," he announces.
"Then she shouldn't be going," says Chetan.
"For one, that is my call, and two, you better hope your lips or hands weren't on her earlier, because I won't be handling you as your Alpha." Ajay's fists are clenched at his side.
"Oh, my lips and hands were all over her." He laughs.
Kiara changes into her wolf and dashes off into the trees. I change to follow after her.
"Zare, you stay here," Ajay commands.
"I need to make sure she's okay."
"You're staying here!"
Letting out a deep breath, I know I have to obey the Alpha's command, but I want to make sure my sister is alright.
"You have no entitlement to her. She is my Mark mate, she is mine," Chetan hisses.
"No, Kiara is yours, or you need to leave her because you two are hurting her," Ajay yells.
"I think you need to mine your business, Alpha," Chetan sneers.
"I am not your Alpha now." Ajay grabs Chetan by the shirt, and throws him roughly to the ground. Chetan grabs his arm and whimpers in pain.
"Dick!" he growls.
"Touch my girl again, and I'll show you what a dick is," Ajay warns.
Chetan gets up from the ground, clutching his arm.
"Chetan, go after Kiara and meet us at the crossing bridge," Ajay says as if nothing happened.
Chetan changes into his wolf and rushes after Kiara.
"The rest of you follow me," Ajay instructs.
Walking up to Ajay, I reach for his hand.
"I asked you what happened, and you lied to me," he speaks.
"I am sorry. It happened so fast, and I felt like I couldn't even stop it from happening."
"We will discuss this tonight; right now, I have to keep everyone in the pack safe."