Page 54 of The Alpha Wolf's Bullied Bride

When I lift my head, she stares at me with newfound wonder and wipes my bottom lip with the pad of her thumb. A tiny trace of her blood is left on her finger, so I lean in and suck what's left of her sweet essence.

Then our lips collide again, this time with fiery passion as I thrust more firmly into her, each stroke a passionate testament to the completion of the mating ritual.

“At last…”my inner voice acknowledges, a sigh of relief resounding in my mind just as our hearts begin beating in unison. Lila's eyes light up with wonder as realization dawns on her, just as we unravel together and claw toward our peaks.

All I can do is stare into her eyes as my entire existence comes full circle in this moment. I pull her to my chest, closing my eyes and soaking in the sanctity I feel now that I've claimed her as mine.

“Do you feel it…?" I rasp at her ear, to which she nods gently.

“It all makes sense now…I am—”

Lila's voice is cut off when an urgent howl bellows out behind the mountain. She quickly lifts her head, eyes growing wide with horror.

“What was that?”

“Alpha Flynn! Where are you?!”Delta Howard trespasses on the sweet moment with an urgent mind link.

“Shit!” I mutter a string of curses under my breath, swiftly pulling out from Lila and carrying her out of the water. “This can't be happening right now.”

I set her on her feet and pick up her clothes from the ground, pushing the bundle in her hands.

“Get dressed,” I command, losing the calmness in my tone. “Now, Lila!”

“What's going on, Flynn?” she wails while she dresses quickly. I do the same, pulling only my pants over my legs.

“I can't explain. I have to go.”

“No!” she yells out, grabbing my arm when I turn. “You're not leaving me again!”

“Alpha!”

I glance toward the north side of Zafra, my heart pounding nondescriptly because I need to go. My soldiers need me.

But so does Lila.

“I'm not leaving you, Lila. I swear. This is far worse than you can understand.”

“Make me understand, Flynn!” she demands, and I see that same fire from earlier tonight lighting up the blue orbs like burning embers.

“We are under attack. Rogues,” I explain quickly.

“Why didn't you tell me about this before?” she stares at me in disbelief.

“We've been trying to keep the females in the pack calm. We've been handling it. But they have found us and they are out there, attacking our soldiers. You should know—”

“How would I have known that?!” she exclaims, cutting me off. “It's not like you've considered me your mate, your partner. I have no idea what's going on in the pack, and Iwantto know. Iwantto be a useful Luna. I've been the useless Omega all my life!”

“You're not useless!” I thunder back, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close, staring vehemently into her eyes. “Youaremy fated mate. I've proved it tonight, right here, where I once was stupid enough to deny what I felt. But right now is not the time for this. I have to go.”

“Miles has been captured! I repeat. Miles has been captured!”

“Miles…” I breathe as panic rises like bile in my throat.

“Go!” she begs urgently, understanding how dire the situation is with just the mention of her brother’s name. In her eyes, I see her desperation—she can't lose her brother.

Just as I can't lose someone I care about. Again.

I nod, quickly shifting into wolf form and crouching for her to climb onto my back. I race through the woods, stopping in the town square to drop her off. With teary eyes, I nod at her before turning and speeding out of town toward the north borders of Rosette Valley.

---