When I woke up, I was wrapped in a thick, soft quilt in front of a crackling fire. I immediately recognized it as Aidan’s home, far from where we’d had the ceremony. How long had I been passed out? My lips were cracked, and my throat felt unbelievably parched. The faint scent of cinnamon hung in the air, and I inhaled its pleasant aroma.

“You’re awake,” Aidan said as he slid next to me on the couch. He ran his hand down my arm and kissed my forehead gently. “I was worried about you. You were out a long time.”

“A long time? How long?”

“It’s been three days. Don’t you remember anything?”

I shook my head. “No. The last thing I remember, we were in the ice temple and then…”

Oh God, I remembered the pain and how it tore through me. I’d done it. I’d mated myself to Aidan. There was no going back now, was there? My head throbbed.

“There was something I saw right before I blacked out. A white light that surrounded me. I felt so drawn to it, but then I pulled back. What was that?”

“It was the portal to the afterlife. You had the choice to stay with me or depart this life. I’m glad you made the choice to stay.”

“I don’t remember making the choice at all.”

“Do you regret it?” he whispered.

“No, I don’t regret it,” I wiped the emerging tears from the corners of my eyes. “Of course, I don’t regret it.”

Silence hung between us for a moment as thoughts swirled inside my head.

“What are you thinking about, love?”

“It’s nothing. It’s just work stuff. It’s been three days already. I’m very behind schedule, and should get back to it, even though I don’t want to at the moment.”

Aidan shot me a pained look. “Don’t you think you should rest? I mean, it’s been a big change for you and…”

“You know I can’t walk away from this case now. There’s far too much is at stake. I’ve given up everything for it…” my voice trailed.

“Like your humanity? You gave up your humanity.”

“No, Aidan, don’t say that.” My eyes softened. “You know it’s more complicated than that. I didn’t agree to be your mate for Chase. And I didn’t do it because I was afraid of Dominic. I did it because I love you.”

“Just checking.” He smiled. “I love you, too. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” I blushed. The truth was that I wanted him by my side more than anything.

Aidan rubbed my shoulders. “Tell me what I can do to help.”

“That’s just it. I don’t know what to do. Dominic obviously wants Chase to be some kind of sacrifice, and I can’t allow that. But how do I stand up to the most powerful shifter in Alaska? It’s a lot to ask of anyone.”

Aidan threaded his fingers through mine. “Well, you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you.”

His eyes searched the floor and I knew his whole heart wasn’t set on helping me.

“What aren’t you telling me, Aidan? Remember you promised to always be truthful.”

He sighed. “Look, I believe in what’s best for the pack is more important than any one individual in the pack. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be alpha.”

“Is that your way of saying that we should just let Chase die because it’d be more convenient? What about the real killer who’s on the loose?”

Aidan’s jaw tightened. “No, I’m not saying that. Look, I’m just telling you that I’m going against my natural instinct to put the safety of everybody in the pack on the line so you can carry out your own personal crusade for a man you hardly know.”

His words stung. I swallowed. “I get that. I do, and I’m sorry. I wish I could give in and do things your way, but you know I’m not built like that.”

“I know the case is important to you.”

The room suddenly felt cold as the fire died down. The glowing embers rested in the fireplace and smelled like smoke. Aidan stood and stoked the fire, throwing another log on for added heat.

“The case is important to me, but it isn’t everything.”

“I love you, Olivia. And I want to help you because I love you and because you’re my mate. But for the record, I think it’s a bad idea for us to go out on a limb for Chase.”

“You went out on a limb for me, though. When you stood up to Dominic and took me as mate.”

Aidan nodded. “And I would do it again.”

“I know you would,” I said softly. His gaze met mine and all my worries melted away, at least momentarily.

He kissed my ear softly as he played with a stray tendril of my hair that hung past my nose. The mating ceremony had been far different than I’d expected. My mind flashed back to the sight of blood, and of that burning feeling that’d overtaken my body. But being by Aidan’s side felt good; it felt right. Even if it looked messed up on the outside, I knew that deep in my heart, the love I felt for him was more real than anything I’d ever experienced before.

I ran my fingers down his arm. His skin was smooth and taunting. My heart quickened and the inside of my thighs glistened with wetness, anticipating his touch. I felt the heat rising from the growing bulge in his pants. He placed his hand on my thigh tentatively, as if I was a fragile doll that could easily shatter.

“It’s okay, Aidan. I’m not going to break,” I said softly.

“Are you sure you want to do this now?  I mean, it’s okay. I can just hold you.”  

I moved his hand to the heat of my inner thighs, already slippery for him.

“I want you, Aidan. I’m ready, if that’s what you’re asking.”  I squeezed him for assurance. My hands cupped his ass as his eyes glinted in the light.

“Okay, as long as you’re sure, sweetheart.”  

He kissed my forehead softly, his lips smooth against my skin. I loved that he cared about my feelings, always making sure that I felt safe with him before ravaging my body with his primal ways.

“Aidan, you don’t have to be so gentle.”  

I teased him, biting my lip as I straddled him. The lace thong I wore gave him a sneak peek of what was to come. He took the cue, snapping the elastic waistband against my ass and tugging it down around my curves until it fell onto the floor beneath us.

“That’s more like it.”  

I giggled, feeling the pleasure of his touch as he pulled my hips around him, while my breasts danced underneath my t-shirt, bra-less. He lifted the edge of the worn jersey top, and caressed the sensitive skin under my breasts. Within moments, the shirt flew over my head and into a puddle at my feet. I was completely naked, exposed to him, and he hadn’t even taken off his shirt yet.

I bit the soft part of his neck with the edge of my teeth. His sensitive flesh caught in my mouth as I sucked him slowly. My fingers pulled up his shirt as he worked on the belt of his pants. The fine hairs on his chest shivered as I pushed my breasts against him, our bodies hot with desire that kept building with each passing second.

“You’re not wasting time, are you?”  

He smiled deviously. Then, he pressed his hands against my inner thighs, and massaged me with building intensity. His thumb gently stroked my clit, as waves of pleasure overtook me.

“Neither are you,” I whispered. The pulsing of his fingers sent my arousal to new heights. I gasped as he caught my nipple in his mouth, his tongue gently flicking it while his fingers continued their rhythmic dance down below.

I grasped the couch beneath us, and clawed the slippery leather fabric. My body tensed as his dark head lowered between my legs, his tongue expertly licking my exposed slit. He rimmed the quivering opening of my body, teasing me with flicks of his tongue, until he finally sank it deep inside me. I arched my back off the edge of my couch. My head pressed into the soft throw blankets as he tantalized me and brought me to the edge.

I caught a glimpse of his wicked grin, and his eyes hell-bent on pleasing me.

“Aidan, it feels…” I started to whimper as I glanced down at the man I loved.

He caught my gaze and held it; his eyes locked onto mine as his lips fluttered over my clit. He pushed my knee up towards my stomach, my muscles clenching as the heat under my leg burned. I trembled, unable to speak, as he sucked me, setting my senses afire. I cried out, powerless to stop the climax that came in overwhelming waves that rocked me to my core.

“Oh God. Aidan.”

I sputtered his name as tears flooded my cheeks, the rush of release overtaking me and offering me a rare glimpse of heaven.

I was still shaking, euphoric from release, when he kissed his way up my torso and wrapped his arms tightly around me. His muscular body encased me, so hot and warm, as his cock nudged my thigh. I reached for him, taking his stone column in my fists and stroking him with a steady pressure. His eyes trained on my face; his lips were still wet from my quivering clit. His breath quickened, and his muscular chest heaved as he panted his desire for me. I closed my eyes and smiled, amused at how gentle he’d been with me earlier, contrasted with how hungry and primal he felt now in his heightened state of arousal.

“I love you, Aidan.”  

I whispered softly as I guided his heavy, thick cock into the trembling folds of my swollen cleft. He buried himself deep inside me, his rod burning the trembling ring of my opening as he thrusted hard, rooting himself to my full depth.

“Oh God. I love you, Olivia.”  

His forehead pressed against my cheek as he surged, his thick column burrowing to the edge of my comfort. He surged again, grinding his hips against mine, as his body honed in on the release he craved. I pushed back, my hips circling his as I screwed him hard, his cock burning me like fire. My arousal rose again; I was unable to stop the crested pleasure mounting inside me. I bucked against him, desperate in both my desire to please him and to be pleased.

“I love you so much, Olivia. I’ve waited so long for you, and now that I’ve found you, my happiness is complete. My only fear is that I’ll lose you somehow. That’s why I work so hard to protect you.”

His rhythm slowed for a moment. He stretched me uncomfortably to my seams as he gazed into my eyes, his breath caught in his throat.

“Aidan. I know. You don’t have to say anything…”  

My throat tightened, too hoarse to continue speaking. I rocked my hips back on him; he pulsed inside me as we laid silently for a moment, wrapped in each other’s tight embrace.

He held my arm over my head with one steady hand and coaxed my hipbone with the other, thrusting me back into him as his cock dove deep. I cried out, my body stretching to accommodate his thickness.

“You feel so good.”  He moaned loudly. “I can’t stop myself when I’m with you.”  He sucked my lip forcefully; a pang of erotic pleasure coursed through my body.

“Fuck me hard, Aidan,” I whimpered. “I need you. I love you.”  

I writhed on top of him, his cock stroking me from the inside in fast pumping spurts. He plunged relentlessly as I pushed into him, my clit pulsing on the grind of his hip. My core tightened with every heaving impact of his muscled body against mine. The couch beneath us shook, and creaked against the thick oak floorboard. Our intensity equalized; we both pushed towards climax, an insatiable drive that wouldn’t stop until we’d both come together.

“I want to suck you off,” I purred in his ear, sending his arousal to new, explosive heights. Hearing my own words ignited my tender nerve endings. My body spasmed in ecstasy; an intense orgasm raced through my body. Aidan kept pounding me as the pleasure originating at my clit radiated up my spine and through my fingers and toes.

“Oh, God,” he whimpered, his back arching as his glistening rod burst powerfully into my slick sex. He spilled out of me, as he came in long spurts, his moans unending. He ran his hands through my messy hair, twisting knots around his fingers. His chiseled abs glistened with sweat as they tensed around his core. He held my face in his hands, and his gaze met mine.

“I love you so damn much, Olivia.”  

I grinned, knowing the feeling was completely mutual.

I rolled over, my hair soaked in sweat and my body fully released of all tension. I ran my fingers through his cropped hair, and shook the tousled strands until they stood at attention.

“Aidan, I’ve been thinking…”  I looked into his icy blue eyes, and drew a circle on his chest in the shape of a heart as I chose my words carefully.

“Yes, love. Thinking?  Why would you go and do a thing like that?”  He smiled, arching his back as he stretched the full of his gorgeous body.

“No, I’m being serious. I want you to be honest about everything with me. I want to be your equal.”

“I am honest with you. But sometimes, I need to protect you, too,” he said quietly.

“But that doesn’t mean keeping me in the dark.”

He rolled onto his stomach, hiding his semi-erect cock from my view. Had I said too much?   I started to second guess myself when he finally spoke, his words short and unnaturally clipped.

“You should know that I’m an open book to you.”

I threw my leg over his back and straddled him, feeling the hot wetness inside me ache for more. I ran my hands along his spine and massaged his shoulders. My fingers kneaded him deeply in the spots where the tension arose.

“Every time you talk to your brother, Jameson, I feel like you’re hiding things from me.”  

Aidan moaned softly as I worked out the kinks in his back, and ran my fingers seductively up and down his slick skin. I slowed down, letting my hands rest in the grooves of his muscles as he turned over to face me.

“Olivia, sweetheart.” He pushed the hair from my eyes. “Do you really need to talk about this right now?”

I nodded. “I’m not made of glass, Aidan. I want you to always tell me the full truth. It’s the only way I can be happy and feel at peace. This has been bothering me for a while.”  

“Okay, fine. I’ll tell you,” he sighed. “Jameson has always wanted to be alpha. He was born four minutes before I was, so he’s older than me, which he never stops telling people. But he’s unstable. He messes around with too many women, and he’s hot headed. Everyone knows that he wouldn’t be an effective pack leader. So, it fell on my shoulders. But being alpha was never something I wanted. It was thrust upon me by circumstances outside my control.”  He gripped me harder, and I could sense the pain in his voice as he searched for the right words. “Since my parents died, I’ve always felt like I have to take care of everyone else. That’s why I understand you, Olivia. We’re more alike than you think.”

I smiled. I loved Aidan, but we were so different. He fought first and asked questions later. I was a play by the rules type of girl, and I didn’t like bending them…even for him.

“Okay, tell me one more thing.” I paused. “Does it bother you that Dominic is trying to control my case, just because he doesn’t like humans?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Aidan pressed his hands onto my shoulders, and pushed me down on top of his manly abdomen. I was inches away from his hardened cock.

“So, you admit it, then,” I said forcefully.

“You know Dominic is the head alpha over all the packs. I have to respect that. I don’t like it, but it’s the way of our culture. If we don’t have our traditions, and we don’t hold onto the rules of our society, then all shifters are doomed.”

“But Dominic doesn’t even respect me.”

“Dominic is bound by the same laws I am. He has to respect that I claimed you as my mate. Beyond that, I don’t care what he thinks. All that matters is that you love me. You’re all I need.” Aidan stroked my hair as he spoke, finally resting his fingers on my bare stomach. I leaned into him, and my back arched to meet his caress.

“I love you, too.” I paused. “I’m sorry about your parents. I didn’t know. I should have known…” my voice trailed.

“It’s okay. How could you have known? I didn’t tell you.” Aidan paused, and a faraway look swept over his handsome face. “A few years ago, Sawyer’s father killed my dad. It was an accident, or so they said. Sawyer’s dad left afterwards, and he never came back. That left me to fill my father’s shoes. And so much earlier than I’d planned…”

Aidan drew his hands back through his hair and gazed up at the ceiling. I felt closer than ever to him. But he stiffened and pushed me away, like he’d shared too much and needed to close off from me.

“Aidan, stay with me.”  I raked my fingers along his strong arms, enjoying the ripples of his muscular biceps. “You can tell me anything, you know. I’m your mate.”

He smiled and stretched his arms leisurely overhead. “I know that, Olivia. It’s still hard for me to talk about things, you know?”  

He bit his lip and rolled on his side to face me. Our bodies pressed together as he held my face in his smooth hands.

“After I became alpha, I had to change who I was. I was bound by duty to be a strong leader for my pack. I had to put all my personal concerns aside for them. All of my father’s responsibilities became mine. I took over the Café, and I had to figure out how to run it without any help. Jameson certainly wasn’t there for me.” The bitterness in his voice leaked out. I could tell there were parts of his history he still hadn’t come to terms with, even after so much time had passed.

“That sounds tough,” I said quietly. “Losing your dad and then having to step into his role all at the same time. I don’t know how you did it.”  

He smiled reluctantly; the corners of his eyes crinkled as he kissed my forehead.

“It wasn’t easy. I made some mistakes, that’s for sure. When I met you, it was so unexpected, a breath of fresh air. You were someone I never could’ve imagined. You’re so precious to me, Olivia. I never want to lose you.”  

“And you never will,” I whispered in his ear.

He gripped my wrists as he locked his hips into mine. His pull was so strong, I couldn’t escape, even if I tried. I kissed him deeply, resigning myself to him completely. He protected me even when it felt like the entire world was against me. I didn’t need Dominic’s approval, or anyone else’s. Aidan and I had each other and I knew I could trust him completely, no matter what.

Aidan was wild and he was fierce, but he was my wild and fierce. I ran my finger softly down the bridge of his nose, and rested my head on his strong shoulder. I shut my eyes tightly and hoped that this moment would last forever. But of course, as I soon discovered, nothing lasts forever…