Blood Moon: Lunar Eclipse
Ch4 - Provoking the Alpha

Ariella

My body was no longer in pain. My side was resting against something soft and plush whilst my head rested on something hard and firm.

It felt as though I had curled myself around a furnace, allowing the flames to wrap around me for warmth.

Then I felt something touch my head.

A hand?

It was a gentle caress, smoothing my scalp in a slow and comforting rhythm.

I cursed under my breath when I tried to move. My body felt heavy. Without warning, I recalled what had occurred in the moments before I fainted. I was encased by the memorable yet enticing scent of rainwater and citrus.

My mate.

I panicked and darted my eyes up the long body I had somehow ended up curled around. Those tantalising light grey eyes with traces of turquoise were staring back at me.

I jolted from his grasp and kneeled on the soft platform. My heart thumped so fast that I failed to notice my heat was finally over.

I quickly scanned the room, noticing I was in a bedroom. Probably his bedroom.

My wolf was elated, urging me to let her out to meet her mate. It didn’t help that I was in his room, covered in his scent. I, on the other hand, was less pleased. I needed time to process everything that had just happened.

I was mated to an Alpha.

I would become the Luna of my pack.

But worst of all…

I was a submissive.

The silence in the room lingered, neither daring to break it. Sitting there with him, I couldn’t help but feel at ease. It was all because of the mating bond we shared. The pull we had on each other was intense, almost scary, and impossible to resist. It was like an electric current running through our bodies, trying to pull us towards one another.

I was the first to break the silence. “I need to shower,” I nearly stuttered but surprisingly kept my voice steady.

He leaned in and tenderly brushed a fallen strand of hair behind my ear.

“Ariella,” he whispered, more to himself than out loud.

How did he know my name?

“How do you know my name?” I muttered.

His eyes bore into mine before slowly descending towards my neck. I followed his gaze and remembered the necklace my parents gave me for my birthday.

Of course.

He must have seen it when I was passed out. I held the necklace between my fingers, fiddling with the dainty Lunar Eclipse design.

Without saying a word, he gestured towards a door at the far end of the room. I crept away from the bed and quickly made my way towards it. As I was about to close the door, a large hand swung it back open, almost sending me flying.

Logan strode into the bathroom and towards me with a look of determination. I usually wouldn’t back away so easily, but I could tell his wolf was on the verge of being released and pissing off an Alpha wolf was something you never wanted to do; even I knew that.

I continued taking steps back for every step he took towards me. His muscles flexed, his jaw clenched, and his eyes were a lighter shade of grey. I felt something cold touch my back; I was against the wall. His tall frame blocked me in.

When wolves replace their mate, they satisfy their natural impulses to mate almost instantly. But we haven’t. Some wolves wait until their mating ceremony to mark their mate; the majority, however, don’t. It’s just too hard to resist the urge.

His wolf was ravenous. He wanted to coat me in his scent and claim his territory as a way of protecting what belonged to him. I could feel my wolf getting excited. She wanted her mate to claim her.

Deep down, I wanted it too…

He placed his ample hands on the tiles beside me. Leaning down until his head was in the crook of his neck, he deeply inhaled.

He was trying to control his wolf.

My legs felt wobbly, and my eyes involuntarily fluttered closed from his close proximity. His scent alone was enough to make me want to submit, to take him right here and now. It was as though he heard me as he growled and moved his head back to face me, his eyes now lighter than before. That’s when I detected the throbbing between my thighs, which he could probably smell thanks to his heightened senses.

I was aroused.

Damn mate bond.

As I was about to say something, his lips crashed onto mine. Electrifying sparks coursed through my body all at once as though I had been struck by lightning. I became utterly lost in the moment and kissed him back. Whatever I was about to say was long gone from my mind.

The kiss grew intense and forceful, as if he was trying to prove his dominance. I fought for control until I felt a hand pinch my now erect nipple. I gasped. He took this opportunity to plunge his tongue into my mouth.

His hand tangled in my hair and pulled back, allowing his tongue to explore my mouth even further. I didn’t recognise the noises coming from my lips. The reactions my body was having were foreign to me. The sounds were heavy, needy moans to which he responded by releasing a deep growl of his own.

I felt the hand in my hair release and wrap around my thighs. He lifted until I was at his eye level. It was as though his body was made for me as my legs wrapped around his waist with ease and my hands hooked around his neck.

We never stopped the kiss.

No longer did we feel the need to breathe.

I felt his chest vibrate as he growled. He was trying to keep his wolf in check, but even I could tell it wasn’t easy. My own wolf was very close to taking control. Way too close.

He bit my bottom lip as he removed his lips from mine. I savoured the slight taste of metal in my mouth. I glimpsed his elongated fangs, the cause of my nipped lip, but it didn’t make me want to run away. If anything, I wanted to see what else he would do to make the throbbing in my core disappear…

My dress was now above my hips, my panties on full display. His hands seized both of my bare ass cheeks with ferocity, causing a satisfying slap to echo across the bathroom tiles.

My hips instinctively ground against his manhood. His steel rod was standing tall and thick. I felt my pussy pulse as my panties ground against his cock, causing the wetness between my thighs to soak my underwear completely. The ache in my core felt satisfied as I rubbed against him, but the second I stopped, the throbbing just grew worse.

It wanted more.

I needed more!

He released a husky moan, “Fuck,” as he watched my hips grind into him.

I was pulled further into his body as he walked towards the sink. He placed me on it with slight force and positioned himself back between my legs. His piercing gaze, tense frame and solid swell in his pants told me he was just as roused as me, if not more.

One had held my jaw and moved my head to the side to expose my neck; the other twisted in my hair as he began leaving a trail of rough kisses along my jaw, neck, and shoulder. My erect nipples were now rubbing uncomfortably against the fabric of my dress, demanding freedom.

I felt his hands release, but his lips never stopped moving. I heard the click of metal and the pull of material. My eyes shot open, my mind slightly clear from the rising fog.

He noticed my startled movements and stopped himself from unbuckling his belt.

“I’m… I’m a v-virgin…” I stammered, then awkwardly averted my gaze to the floor.

I heard him take a few deep breaths. When I looked up, his eyes had returned to their usual grey and turquoise shade.

Without hesitation, he left the room and slammed the door behind him.

What the fuck just happened!

You nearly fucked him Ariella, that’s what, I hissed to myself.

I roughly rubbed my palm against my head.

He walked away when I told him I was a virgin.

Did I disgust him that much?

Logan

I had to get out of there.

My wolf was so close to marking her. I almost couldn’t stop myself.

And to make matters worse, she was a virgin.

I felt pride in knowing she had saved herself, but that doesn’t mean I expected it. I had no experience with virgins. Most women I have been with were experienced and liked it rough; I know I did…

When I saw her jump at the realisation of what was happening, it made me take back some control. She looked nervous. The flush on her cheeks and embarrassment in her voice made her look cute.

I wonder if she would keep that innocent look on her face as I fu…

No!

If I think like that, it’ll get me started again.

I heard the shower turn on in the bathroom, and my mind went straight back to her perfect curves, those shapely, plump lips I could devour all night and her soft red hair that seamlessly wrapped around my fist.

I grunted as I felt my member begin to rise.

I took a few more deep, steady breaths to settle my wolf, who was slowly rising to the surface again.

I peeked at the bathroom door and realised she hadn’t taken any fresh clothes. She didn’t have any unless she wanted to wear the now dirty and slightly ripped red dress again.

I walked into my closet, grabbed the first things I saw and waited until the shower stopped running. Once it did, I opened the door a crack, just enough to allow my hand inside.

I caught the strong scent of cherry blossom and cinnamon mixed with citrus as she took the clothes from me. I was tempted to push the door open and finish what we started earlier, but remembering her reaction stopped me, so I closed the door and paced the room, waiting for my mate to emerge.

Ariella

My core was still pulsing, my thighs sticky with my juices. I climbed off the sink to stop reliving my recent humiliation.

I made sure to keep the shower ice cold and climbed in. Whatever arousal I had felt before was now replaced with embarrassment and rage. I scrubbed myself clean whilst washing off the dirt from my hands and feet.

I plucked the conditioner from the shelf, as my hair was a tangled mess and brushing it would be impossible. The second I opened the bottle, a delightful smell overpowered me.

Citrus and tropical fruits.

I sighed as I begrudgingly ignored the delightful smell and continued to wash my hair.

I felt refreshed as I walked towards the towel rack and wrapped a black cotton towel around me. There was only one, so I would have to let my hair air dry.

I was about to walk out until I noticed what I was wearing. Considering what happened moments ago, I don’t think it’s a good idea to step out in just a towel.

But what choice did I have?

I went to twist the door handle until someone on the other side of the door beat me to it. I saw his hand reach through, holding a shirt and what looked like shorts.

Maybe he wasn’t as bad as I thought. He took the time to realise my unfortunate wardrobe absence after all.

I hesitantly took it, and then the door swung shut with a slight force.

I removed the towel and began to change into whatever he had given me.

I scanned myself in the mirror. My hair was a frizzy, damp mess, and I was dressed in a large, oversized shirt which reached my mid-thigh. The shorts he had given me would have been tight on a man his size, yet for me, they kept falling, so I tied the back of the shorts in a little knot.

I felt my wolf bristle with comfort at being covered in my mate’s scent. It was refreshing and somehow managed to calm my boiling anger.

I made my way to the door. My hand hovered over the handle. I was still vexed with my submission mark; I have always been independent, stubborn, and strong-willed. Not the traits of a submissive mate.

Nevertheless, he was still my mate.

Maybe I should wipe the slate clean and start again; he might not even be so bad. We just got off to a rocky and somewhat unconventional start.

I took a final breath and walked through the door.

He stood before me, his golden-brown hair tousled as though he had run his calloused hands through it several times. His eyes entrapped me, causing whatever anger I had to turn into a puddle of mush on the floor; that was until he spoke…

“The mating ceremonies in four days. I will be proclaimed Alpha in two.

“You’ll be living here from now on. I have already arranged for your belongings to be moved here tomorrow,” he stated.

That’s it!

My mate thought he could boss me around, and I would do as he said just because he was declared the dominant through the mate bond?!

Hell no!

“When did I say I was moving in? And when did I agree to the mating ceremony?” I crossed my arms and kept my voice steady, asserting my seriousness.

It was usual for a mating ceremony to happen soon after you met your mate, but everything was happening too fast. I just needed time to myself. I wanted to stay with my family, just for one more night.

In one effortless stride, his face was inches from mine. “This isn’t up for discussion Ariella,” when he said my name, I felt my wolf begin to give in, just like she did before. But I held my ground.

“I am staying at my house for one more night. I should at least get to say goodbye to my family before I move in here for the foreseeable future,” I responded.

His jaw tensed, and those grey and turquoise orbs closed as though considering what I was saying.

Whether he agreed or not, I would replace a way to see them tonight.

“You can stay there for tonight, but you will be back tomorrow morning,” he declared sternly.

“Thank you…” I began but was interrupted.

“The mating ceremony will happen whether you like it or not. You are my mate.

“You’re lucky I am not making it happen sooner,” he growled the last part.

I hated being told what to do, so I let my smart mouth get the better of me…

“And what if I choose to reject you? What makes you think I want to be your mate or Luna?” I confidently interjected.

That was the worst possible thing I could have said…