Page 50 of The Alpha's Auctioned Pregnant Mate

Wren turned in his arms, looking up at him with a mix of vulnerability and determination in her eyes. "I want to help," she said. "With integrating rogues, I mean. I know what it's like being on the outside. Maybe I could... I don't know, be a liaison or something?"

Pride surged through Articus. This was the woman he was falling for—strong, compassionate, always looking for ways to make things better. "I think that's a brilliant idea," he said, smiling down at her. "We can talk to the council about it tomorrow."

Wren's face lit up, and she stretched up on her toes to kiss him. What started as a gentle press of lips quickly deepened, months of familiarity allowing them to fall into a passionate rhythm.

Articus lifted Wren, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her to the bed, their lips never parting. He lowered her onto the soft sheets, his body covering hers as his hands roamed her curves. Wren's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as a soft moan escaped her.

Articus broke the kiss, trailing his lips along her jaw and down her neck. Wren arched into him, her breath coming in short gasps. Her hands slid under his shirt, tracing the hard planes of his back.

"Wren," Articus murmured against her skin, his voice husky with desire. "Are you sure?"

She pulled back, meeting his gaze. Her eyes, dark with passion, held a certainty that made his heart race. "I've never been more sure of anything," she whispered.

Their lips met again, slower this time, savoring every sensation. Clothes were shed between heated kisses and reverent caresses; each garment discarded revealed more of their bare skin to explore. Articus's hands trembled slightly as he removed Wren's last piece of clothing, his eyes roaming her body with awe and adoration.

Wren's cheeks flushed under his intense gaze, but she didn't shy away. Instead, she pulled him close, relishing the feeling of skin against skin. Their bodies moved together in a dance as old as time, finding a rhythm that left them both breathless.

Articus worshipped every inch of her with his hands and lips, drawing soft sighs and whimpers from Wren. She responded in kind, her touches both tender and urgent as passion built between them.

When they finally joined, it was with a shared gasp of pleasure. She let out a soft cry as he buried his length deep inside her wetness. A contented sigh escaped from Articus, the warmth and wetness of Wren waking up something very primitive inside him.

They moved as one, lost in the sensations and emotions coursing through them. His slow, deep thrusts were accompanied by the sweet, inaudible nothings he whispered into her ear.

Wren clung to Articus, her nails lightly scraping his back as waves of pleasure washed over her. Articus buried his face in her neck, overwhelmed by the intensity of their connection.

Their movements grew more urgent, driving them higher and higher. Wren's back arched off the bed as she cried out Articus's name, her release triggering his own. They clung to each other as they rode out the waves of ecstasy, their bodies trembling in the aftermath.

As their breathing slowly returned to normal, Articus rolled to his side, gathering Wren in his arms. She nestled against his chest, feeling safe and cherished in his embrace. He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her back.

"Fuck," Wren whispered, her voice filled with emotion. “That was…fuck!”

Articus tightened his arms around her, chuckling softly. "Such eloquence," he teased, pressing another kiss to her hair.

Wren playfully swatted his chest, a smile curving her lips. "You've rendered me speechless. Take the compliment."

"Gladly," Articus murmured, his tone growing serious. "You're incredible, Wren. I've never felt anything like this before."

She lifted her head, meeting his gaze. The vulnerability in his eyes made her heart swell. "Neither have I," she admitted softly. "It's a little terrifying, if I'm being honest."

Articus nodded, understanding etched on his features. "I know. But we're in this together, right?"

"Together," Wren agreed, sealing the promise with a tender kiss.

Afterward, they lay side by side, a small gap between them. Articus stared at the ceiling, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

The physical connection they'd shared was undeniable, but he found himself grappling with the intensity of his feelings. It was too soon, too complicated.

Beside him, Wren shifted, her breath evening out as she drifted toward sleep. Articus turned his head slightly, studying her profile in the dim light.

She looked peaceful, but he couldn't help wondering what was going on behind that calm exterior. Did she feel the same tumult of emotions? The same fear of falling too fast, too hard?

As the minutes ticked by, Articus felt the weight of his responsibilities settling back onto his shoulders. Tomorrow, there would be pack matters to attend to, decisions to make. The brief respite they'd found in each other's arms couldn't change the reality of their situation.

He thought about the council meeting, about Wren's desire to help integrate rogues into the pack. It was a noble idea, but he knew it would face opposition. Change never came easily, especially in a world as steeped in tradition as theirs.

With a quiet sigh, Articus closed his eyes. Sleep eluded him, his mind too full of unanswered questions and unspoken worries. As the night wore on, he found himself no closer to untangling the complex web of emotions that Wren had stirred in him.

The rain that had been threatening all evening finally began to fall, its soft patter against the window a fitting backdrop to his restless thoughts. In the darkness, Articus listened to Wren's steady breathing, finding a strange comfort in its rhythm even as uncertainty gnawed at him.

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