Page 10 of Wolf Mate's Forbidden Fire
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t flinch. “That snake,” she said, her voice sharp. “I knew he was trouble. So what’s the plan? You’re not sending me away, Omer. I’m in this, with you and your pack.”
I pulled her into a fierce embrace, her body warm against mine, the mate bond humming between us. “You’re too damn stubborn,” I said, my voice muffled against her hair. “But I need you safe. Viktor’s moving in, maybe in days. We’re preparing for a fight, and I can’t lose you.”
She pulled back, her hands on my face, her eyes fierce. “You won’t lose me,” she said, her voice steady. “I’ve got the ritual ready, Omer. It’ll protect Moonridge, I know it. And I’m not hiding in this cabin while you fight. We do this together.”
I nodded, her courage steadying me, and kissed her hard, my hands tightening on her waist. “Together,” I said, my voice rough. “But you stay with me or Mara, no running off alone. Promise me.”
“Promise,” she said, her fingers brushing my chest, her touch grounding me. “Now, let me show you the ritual notes. We’ll need the sacred circle, the runes, and the chant timed with the moon. I think we can pull it off.”
I followed her to the desk, her notes neat despite the chaos, the rune stone sitting beside a sketch of the circle. “You’ve done your homework,” I said, my voice warm with pride. “This could work. Mara’s preparing the circle, but it’s risky. If the Fire turns on us, it’s over.”
She nodded, her hand on mine. “I know. But it’s our best shot. We’ll do it right, Omer. For Moonridge.”
Before I could respond, a howl cut through the air, sharp and urgent. I moved to the window, spotting a scout sprinting toward the cabin. “Stay here,” I said, heading outside. The scout, a wiry shifter named Taryn, was breathless, her eyes wide. “Alpha,” she said, panting. “We found Lukas’s tracks, heading straight to Blackthorn’s territory. He’s with them, Omer. Viktor’s got him.”
I cursed, my fists clenching. “Confirm it?” I said, my voice hard.
She nodded. “His scent’s fresh, mixed with theirs. He’s turned traitor.”
“Alright,” I said, my voice steady despite the rage burning in me. “Double the patrols, Taryn. Tell the squads to be ready for an attack by tomorrow night. Go.” She nodded and ran off, her form disappearing into the trees. I turned back to Aurora, who stood in the doorway, her face set. “Lukas is with Viktor now,” I said, my voice low. “This just got uglier.”
“Then we move faster,” she said, stepping closer, her hand on my arm. “We get the ritual ready, we fight together. I’m not letting Lukas or Viktor win.”
I nodded, pulling the leather pouch from my pocket. I took out a sacred amulet, a stone carved with a rune of strength, and pressed it into her hand. “For you,” I said. “The pack’s wearing these. They’re symbols of our resolve, our unity. Keep it close.”
She closed her fingers around it, her eyes soft. “I will,” she said, then leaned up, kissing me softly. “Go get your pack ready, Omer. I’ll be here, working on the ritual.”
I nodded, stealing one last look at her before heading out. The forest was tense, the air heavy with the promise of war. I distributed the amulets to my warriors, their faces hardening as they took them, their resolve strengthening. Lukas’s tracks to Blackthorn’s territory confirmed his treachery, and Viktor’s pack was closing in. I steeled myself for the fight, my heart heavy withAurora’s safety, but her courage gave me strength. We’d face this together, or we’d fall trying.
Chapter Eleven
Aurora
I slipped through the dark forest toward Omer’s cabin, my boots soft on the pine needles, the air heavy with the tension of the coming battle. Moonridge was quiet, the pack bracing for Viktor’s attack, and I needed to see Omer before everything went to hell. My heart pounded, the woven bracelet and sacred amulet on my wrist a steady reminder of our bond, their weight grounding me against the uncertainty. The moon hung low, casting silver light over the cabins, and I knocked lightly on Omer’s door, my breath catching in my throat. He opened it, his broad frame filling the doorway, his gray eyes intense under the moonlight. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing the scars crisscrossing his chest, and the sight of him, strong but worn from leading his pack, sent a rush through me, the mate bond humming like a live wire. “Aurora,” he said, his voice low and rough, stepping aside to let me in. “You shouldn’t be out here alone, not now.”
I stepped inside, the cabin warm from a crackling fire, the air thick with cedar and his scent. “I had to see you,” I said, my voicesoft but firm, closing the door behind me. “Tomorrow’s coming fast, Omer. I couldn’t wait.”
He moved closer, his hand brushing my arm, his touch sparking heat under my skin. “You’re stubborn as ever,” he said, a small smile breaking through the tension in his face. “But I’m glad you’re here. I was about to come find you.”
I looked up at him, his gray eyes pulling me in, and the words spilled out before I could hold them back. “I love you, Omer,” I said, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat. “I know it’s crazy, with Viktor and the Fire and everything, but I needed you to know. I’m all in, no matter what happens.”
His eyes softened, and he cupped my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks, his touch gentle but firm. “I love you too, Aurora,” he said, his voice raw, the mate bond blazing between us like a flame. “You’re my mate, my everything. I’ve been fighting it, but I’m done running from this.”
I pulled him close, my fingers threading through his dark hair, the soft strands catching on my calluses, and our lips met, the kiss deep and urgent, like we were claiming every second we had left. His hands slid to my waist, pulling me flush against him, his body hard and warm, the bond igniting every nerve in my body. I kissed him harder, my tongue teasing his, a soft moan escaping as his hands roamed under my jacket, tugging it off with a slow, deliberate pull, letting it drop to the wooden floor. My fingers fumbled with his shirt, pushing it open, my hands gliding over the scars and taut muscle of his chest, his skin scorching under my touch. He growled low, the sound vibrating against my lips, and lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me to the bed, the furs soft and warm beneath us.
He laid me down, his eyes locked on mine, dark and hungry, the firelight casting shadows across his face. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his hands sliding under my shirt, peeling it awayslowly, his calloused palms grazing the bare skin of my sides, sending shivers down my spine. I arched into his touch, my hands tugging at his jeans, undoing the button with a trembling pull, my fingers brushing the taut skin just below his waistband, pulling a sharp hiss from him. His lips trailed down my neck, hot and open-mouthed, kissing the curve of my collarbone, then lower, his tongue tracing the swell of my breast, teasing the sensitive skin until I gasped, my hands gripping his hair, urging him on. He took his time, his mouth lingering, sucking gently, his teeth grazing just enough to make me moan, the sound echoing softly in the cabin. My nails scraped lightly down his neck, and he growled again, the vibration sending heat pooling low in my belly.
He pulled back just enough to tug my jeans off, his hands deft and sure, sliding them down with my underwear, leaving me bare beneath him, the cool air a sharp contrast to the heat of his gaze. I pushed at his jeans, helping him shove them off, my fingers tracing the hard lines of his thighs as he kicked them away, his body now bare against mine, skin to skin, the firelight glinting off the sweat on his scars. He kissed me again, slow and deep, his tongue exploring mine, his hands roaming my thighs, fingers teasing higher, brushing my core with a deliberate slowness that made me tremble. “Omer,” I whispered, my voice shaky, my hands gripping his shoulders, nails digging in just enough to anchor me. “Please.”
He smiled against my lips, his voice a low rumble. “I’ve got you, love,” he said, his fingers moving with skill, teasing and circling, building the pleasure until my breath came in short gasps, my hips arching into his hand. His lips moved to my breast again, his tongue swirling, sucking, his teeth grazing just enough to push me closer to the edge. “Let go,” he murmured, his voice warm and coaxing, his fingers relentless, and I did, my cry sharp and raw, waves of pleasure crashing through me, mybody shuddering under his touch. He kissed me through it, his lips soft on mine, his hand steadying me as I came down, my chest heaving.
He shifted, his body aligning with mine, his hardness pressing against me, teasing my entrance. I wrapped my legs tighter around him, urging him closer, my hands sliding down his back, feeling the flex of muscle beneath his skin. “I need you,” I said, my voice breathless, my lips brushing his ear. He growled, low and primal, and entered me, slow and deep, the stretch filling me, pulling a moan from both of us. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me, each thrust deliberate, building a rhythm that matched the pounding of our hearts. I kissed his shoulder, my teeth grazing his skin, my hands roaming his back, nails scraping lightly, urging him deeper. His lips found mine, the kiss hungry, his tongue tangling with mine, his growls softening to murmurs of my name. He shifted, angling deeper, his hands finding mine, fingers interlocking, pinning them above my head as he moved, my body meeting his with equal passion. The pleasure built again, hotter, more intense, the mate bond burning between us, binding us tighter with every touch. His lips moved to my neck, sucking gently, his teeth grazing my pulse, and I gasped, my body tightening around him. “Aurora,” he groaned, his voice raw, his movements growing faster, more urgent. As we reached the peak, my cry mixed with his growl, our release a shared fire that left us trembling, collapsing into each other, breathless and spent.
We lingered, skin to skin, his arms wrapped around me, my head on his chest, his heartbeat steady under my ear. His fingers traced lazy patterns on my back, and I smiled, my voice soft. “When this is over,” I said, “what do you think we’ll do? If we beat Viktor and the Fire doesn’t burn us all, I mean.”
He chuckled, his hand tightening around me, his voice warm. “You’re already planning our victory party?” he said, teasing. “Isee us here, in Moonridge. Maybe a bigger cabin, one we build together. You’d keep studying, probably drive me nuts with your books and runes. I’d teach you to track, show you the pack’s ways.”
I laughed, lifting my head to meet his eyes, their gray depths soft in the firelight. “You think I’d be a good tracker?” I said, my tone playful. “I’d probably scare off every deer in Esoterra.”
