Page 81 of Alpha's Unclaimed Mate

“I wanted to let you take full advantage of me,” he says with a wink, his voice still soft with sleep.

I pull my wrist out of his grip, but as I’m moving away, he says, “My back is a little itchy.” He turns his gaze away from me, pretending to be embarrassed, but I know this man inside and out.

I roll my eyes as he sits up and removes his T-shirt. I grab a comb from the side table and start running it over his back. He groans.

“What is that? It’s too blunt. It isn’t helping. Can you use your nails?”

I shake my head but do as he asks, and after a dance of “no, not that spot…to the left…lower,” he soon starts sighing. I continue running my fingers over the fading scars on his back, hoping it brings him comfort.

“I’ve really missed you, Seren. You can’t imagine how much. Each day was a fucking nightmare.”

Tears gather in my eyes as I hear the vulnerability in his voice. For the first time, I don’t doubt his words. Circling my arms around him from behind, I hug him tightly.

“Promise me you won’t leave me again,” he says as our cheeks touch.

I don’t answer, but his arms hold onto mine, and we stay like that for a while. He slowly rubs his cheek against mine, sighing.

What do I do? Can I trust him again? Are my feelings just nostalgia, or is this real?

Needing an escape, I make an excuse about filling his water bottle and slip away. As I press my back against the wall outside, trying to steady my breathing, the question repeats in my mind: Can I give us another chance?

Suddenly, a series of loud, jarring noises erupts from the other side of the room. My heart races as fear grips me.

Another attack! I race back inside Theron’s room.

CHAPTER 30

THERON

Serenthrows herself over me, shielding me with her body.

My mate’s soft body is pressed against mine, her hands frantically tracing my face, her eyes searching mine with a mix of concern and urgency.

“Are you okay?” Seren whispers, her warm breath brushing against my skin, making me wince. How do I tell her I’m not okay at all?

“What happened? Tell me what’s wrong,” she presses, glancing toward the windows.

The laughter of children from outside makes her freeze, and Luke’s voice follows. “And that’s why I told all you pups to wait for me to light up the firecrackers.”

“Firecrackers?”

The way she repeats the word, her voice trembling, makes her look both comical and endearing. I can’t help but laugh—a deep, throaty sound that feels good to release.

“You thought that was gunshots and you wanted to save me, huh?”

Her cheeks flush with color as she tries to pull away, but I pull her closer, feeling the firm press of her breasts against my chest. I bury my face in her hair, inhaling the familiar lilac scent of her.

“I appreciate the thought,” I say softly between kisses, my lips brushing against her ear. The feel of her breath against my skin is electrifying.

She places her palms on my chest, attempting to move away, but I wince slightly at her movement.

“I’m hurting you. Let me get up,” she whispers weakly.

I gently roll our bodies until she’s on her back and I’m positioned above her. Her hair spreads out around us, and I relish the intimate contact of her body pressed so closely to mine. I guide her hand over the front of my boxer shorts, letting her feel how hard her touch has gotten me.

She gasps at the contact, her eyes widening in surprise. I seize the moment to kiss her deeply, my lips moving over hers with a mixture of passion and tenderness. Her response is immediate; her fingers grip my hair, pulling me closer as her lips part under mine.

“I need you, Seren,” I murmur against her lips, my voice urgent. “I want to feel you. We both do.”

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