The Alpha

Chapter 17

          I could feel the change in my bones. It was the sparkling ache that rolled through all of my nerves, until I was almost rabid with desire. I could even smell Luca when he was near. The scent of my mate was strong - it was coaxing - and it took everything in me not to run through the hall and throw myself in his arms. 'Tonight is the night. Tonight I will be his.' His husky voice invaded my mind like it always did. 'You are already mine.'
'Well tonight it will be official.'
'Yes, it will be.'
          I gazed at myself in the mirror, hands moving along my body as I started to think about the change. What it would be like. The pain of my bones breaking and shifting, the physiological effects of going from human to animal. 'I hope I'm strong enough.'
'You are the strongest person I know.'
'You are only saying that because I am your mate.'
'I am speaking the truth. You are perfect for me.' I stifled a smile by biting my lip, sighing as my fingers twitched at my sides. With each minute passing, I knew the inevitable was coming. I was frightened by the uncertainty of the evening. 'What is the ritual of a blue moon?'
          I hoped to hear Luca's voice in my head like before, but I was disappointed when there was no response. 'I guess he wants to keep that a mystery.' The thought made my heart pound, but the anxiety didn't remain for long. I heard footsteps down the hall, the hairs on my body stood on end, as I was met with his smell just as he stopped in the doorway of his room. "The blue moon is..." He stopped, eyes moving down my frame as I turned around to level a sultry gaze with him. "It is a night when spiritual boundaries cross and the mating of an alpha and his queen can be approved by the goddess."
"Wow. That sounds intense."
          His laugh echoed in the room, hearty and thick until it warmed my veins and I felt my original worry ebbing away. He stepped into the room, a look of admiration on his face as he moved his gaze along my face. "With us, it will be." He moved until he was right before me, his hand raised to caress the side of my cheek. His eyes became hooded with desire as a spark passed from his fingertips into my skin, and I gasped with shock. "Oh, how I just want to fuck you right now..."
"I want you so bad I-"
'It's hard to even admit.'
"Tell me, anima mea."
"I-I can smell you... even feel you before you're in front of me."
          I diverted my ashamed expression down at the ground. He pulled away his hand, and stepped into me so his chest was pressed against mine and I had no choice but to look up at him. "That is the wolfs instinct. Your body knows the transition is close... knows you're going to mate with me. It's to be expected, my soul." He gaze me a small reassuring smile and sighed. "Come." He grasped my hand in his, licked his lips and nodded to the bathroom door. "Take a bath with me."
"B-But I'm already dressed." I stammered my response, aware of how nervous I sounded, and it made me want to kick myself. I was about to be this man's mate and he still made some naive, scared little girl come out of me whenever he was around. "I will be sure to remove your clothes carefully."
          The cockiness in his voice, made my face head up, and I flexed my fingers in his grasp. "Okay, Luca." I let him lead me to the bathroom, my eyes moved over all the modern fixtures, and they stopped to linger on the soaker tub. The air in the room began to vibrate with a pulsating need that was shared between us. 'Oh god, I hope I can be strong enough to resist this instinct inside of me... I will be his soon enough.' He tensed for a moment, before he let my hand go and spun around to smile down at me gently. "I can have self-control..." His words were followed by a deep breath of air he left out that was accompanied by a lustful gaze. 'That was not convincing. But I trust him.'
          He lifted his hands to my stomach, fingers softly grazing my skin through the lace and with each lasting moment that he touched me, I felt my self-control taking a morbid low. 'It's fine. I've waited years to finally.. lose my virginity. What's a few more hours?' He growled and clutched my hips, yanking me into his firm, muscular body so I could feel his twitching erection against my stomach. "This is what you do to me. My body is begging to be inside of you. But I just deny myself the sweetness between your thighs." My bottom lip quivered, the angst of my sexual arousal was amplified whenever Luca was around, and I found myself unable to hold back. "We have a bath to take." He narrowed his eyes to scrutinize my face for a moment, before he turned around and began drawing the bath. I was surprised when he pulled out bath salts and bubble bath. "Where did you get that?"
"Taila."
'Of course... And they're in his bathroom?'
          Jealousy moved over me and I tensed. The fact that her bath stuff was in his bathroom made me nauseous. I glared at the bubble bath as he added it to the water that was filling the tub. 'He probably used them when they were intimate. Those are just the leftovers. God, how many times were they in this bath together.' He whipped around so fast I felt my eyes bulge and I stumbled backwards while clutching my hands to my chest. My heart pounded quickly, making my chest feel tight as I noticed his darkened gaze. "Have you forgotten I am inside your mind?" He tilted his head a fraction before arching a  brow. "Are you jealous, my Rae?"
          A smug grin slowly spread on his face, and I glared at him before crossing my arms over my chest. "Does that make you happy?"
"It's cute."
"Not to me."
"I like when you're possessive."
'I hate being jealous.. it makes me think violent thoughts and that's not like me.' He stepped forward and I shook my head, but that only made him chuckle as he hooked his fingers into my skirt of my lacy negligee. "What are you doing?"
          Ignoring my question, he clicked his tongue tauntingly, before tugging at my hooks that kept it closed in the front. "My gentle Rae, you are the only one worthy of me. Haven't I made that clear?"
'Well... it still doesn't excuse the fact her stuff was in his bathroom.'
"You are the only woman I want... The only one I want to fuck. The only one I want to hold. The only one who will stand by my side and rule." He gently pulled until it opened as he shoved it down my body, and I went to shift my thighs to cover my panties but he nudged his legs between them and shook his head. "Don't hide yourself from me, Anima mea." He lowered his face towards mine. "I want to see all of you."
          I shivered as he eyed my breasts. He adorned my hardened nipples like they were perfect pearls meant to be seen by only his eyes. "They are so perfect." He cupped a breast in his hand, and lowered his mouth to my nipple but he didn't fart his tongue out for a taste. Instead, he grazed his thumb over it, causing me to whimper before he pulled away. "Come.. The water is ready." He grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the tub. I halted to shimmy my panties down my legs, before he helped me into the water. The warmth was refreshing. It deeper into my skin, enlivening me until I was much calmer than before. I watched as Luca began stripping off his clothes. 'I don't recall ever seeing him naked...' My eyed rolled down his chest slowly, a little nervous as I got towards his waist which was complimented by a defined muscle that trailed downward to his thick trunk. 'Oh my god.. Oh my - Is that really his...'
          Even in thought, the words got stuck  in my throat as I was overwhelmed by the sight before me. Luca wasn't just big. He was the kind of length that caused my soul to leave my body. 'I must sound ridiculous. I knew he was big, but I wasn't really prepared for this.' He stepped towards the tub and it actually swung between his thighs. 'He'll hurt me..' He stepped into the tub wordlessly, the water sloshing around his intruding legs before he lowered himself into the tub, and pulled me in between his legs, until my back was pressed against the front of him. "Luca...."
'I don't know what to say.' I sounded worried as I took a deep breath. 'I'm afraid he will hurt me. I've never slept with anyone.'
          At that, he groaned and I felt his hand on my thigh, trailing upward. "My pure Rae. Anima mea, you were meant for only me." His hand dipped to the inside of my thigh and I gasped. "You will accommodate my length.."
"Y-your length?"
          For emphasis, he thrusted slightly so his erection pressed into my back and I gasped once more. He roughly grabbed my chin and turned my head sideways so he could angle his neck to place a greedy kiss on my lips. "I will fit perfectly inside of you, my soul. As your destiny is with me." I moaned when he kissed me again and that was when my eyes widened as his hand slipped upward until his fingers were swirling teasingly next to my pulsating center. "Shall I touch you?"
'Oh yes, I can barely keep my hips from gyrating and forcing his fingers to touch me. But this was the kind of thing we were trying to avoid.'
"Touch me."
          He exhaled a breath that vibrated his chest before he placed a kiss on my neck just below my ear. My eyes fluttered closed from his warm mouth and without another warning, he stroked my center with his fingers. "Luca!"
"My name sounds right on your tongue." He stroked me again. "I can feel you quivering." Another stroke. "Desperate for my fingers." Another. 'I... can't... think... straight...' I was gasping for air, arching my back to press him as hard as I could against my eager bud of nerves. His husky voice was low in my ear as he worked his fingers in just the perfect way to have me thrusting them. "Thrust your hips, anima mea. Claim your pleasure." He snarled as a choked moan left my lips, and with a few more frantic thrusts of my hips against his hand, I shattered into blissful oblivion where my orgasm consumed me. 'That was..'
          I was speechless. Unable to form coherent thoughts, so instead I remained still, breathing softly as he gently used a loofah to wash my body as I came down from the high of my orgasm. "You are going to taste so sweets Rae." He took deep breaths as he continued to wash me. 'I am still in awe that this man will be mine.'
          The bath remained a gentle atmosphere where Luca lathered me up and showed me just how an Alpha takes care of his mate. When he was done washing me up, he began washing himself. "Let me wash you." I slowly turned so I was facing him, and he grinned like an amused school boy as I took the loofah from him and dipped it into the water before soaping it up. Slowly, I dragged it across his chest and shoulders, making sure to work the soap into every inch of him until I was satisfied. "I like taking care of you."
"You do?" I felt heat rising to my cheek. "I do."
"The feeling is mutual."
          When I was just about done lathering him up, he captured my wrist and brought it over to his mouth where he placed a innocent kiss on the back of my hand. "It is close." His eyes moved out of the window and peered at the darkening sky. "We should get out." I gave him a small smile and nodded. 'I am ready to become one.' I climbed out of the tub, shooting him a sultry gaze over my shoulder as he stares at me appreciatively from the tub.
          When he climbed out of the tub and I watched water droplets drip from every inch of him, I swallowed nervously and willed myself to remain strong. He swiped a towel that was hanging up and began slowly drying my body, starting with my shoulders, moving down each arm. He then moved to my breasts, and the feeling of the textured towel over my nipples made me shiver. "Easy now, Rae. Save this passion for later." He gave me a teasing smirk and continued down my stomach where he dipped the towel into my navel and I giggled at the ticklishness of it. "Is my Rae ticklish?"
"Maybe."
"Good to know." He continued down one leg, making sure to get the inside of my thigh before he moved to the other leg and blotted that. He made it apparent to graze the towel against my center teasingly, and I captured his wrist. "I thought you said to save it for later." I arched a challenging brow. "I guess I should heed my own advice."
          I loosened my grip and he bit his lip and quickly whipped me around, before he dragged the towel down my back and gently bent me over to dry the most intimate parts of me. I should have felt embarrassed but the intimacy of his caresses was just too much and instead I was horribly turned in. "You are driving me crazy." He snickered before he moved to dry himself. I turned and took the time to pull my clothes back on. I moved to grab the door handle and pull open the bathroom door when his hand slammed against the door beside my face, closing it shut. "Luca?" He moved the front of his clothed body into me, inhaling deeply before growling. "It's time." He inhaled the scent of me, and I felt myself beginning to pant from his dominance. 'I thought we had a few more hours...' He shook his head. "It starts now." I nodded quickly, feeling my senses heightening. He spun me around before he picked me up and wrapped my legs around his waist. My skirt bunched up around my hips. "I can walk." He growled in response, his darkened eyes scanned my face. 'Okay... I guess not.'
          He carried me out of his room, down the stairs toward the howling wolves that I heard lingering outside. He kicked the door open, his eyes remaining on me, as he moved to the field that was illuminated by moonlight. 'I feel the change near too.' My eyes moved over the wolves that were all lingering near the edge of the field. 'They must watch.'
          I felt the potency behind those words like they were ingrained in my blood. He laid me down in the field, and a chorus of howls broke through the silence of the trees until it was all I could hear; that and the low growl rumbling in Luca's chest as he eyed me. 'Oh yes.' I hissed as I captured his shirt in my hand, and yanked him down so I could taste his lips as a feral need to swallow him whole filled me until my limbs were jerking with anticipation. 'Luca... My mate... Anima mea...' I pulled away quickly, sucking down a gulp of air as I moaned the next words. "Take me." He leaned forward, capturing my lips once again before biting my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. I did the same, biting his lip until the combination of him and I were swirling on our tongues. 'Yess...'
          I growled. It came out of nowhere but instead of deterring Luca, it was motivation, and I found him tearing away my clothing. Piece after piece until I was a quivering mess of naked curves. He eyed my flesh and was unable to stop himself from licking his way down my body, over my naval, before he roughly parted my thighs and sucked me into his mouth. "Luca! Oh!" He snarled and the strokes of his tongue caused me to pant and shove my fingers into his hair to hold him tighter in between my thighs. Howl's rung out as I cried out loudly. Luca was too immersed in the change that was about to take both of us. 'My soul.'
          With another thrust of his tongue, my orgasm exploded and I felt the passionate shift in my aching bones as it moved through me. The moonlight gleamed down on my quivering, naked flesh. "Sweet, just as I suspected." He pulled himself away from my body to begin pulling off his clothes, one by one, until he was naked again in front of me, and palming his shaft. With an instinct that came out of nowhere, I wrapped my legs around his waist and forcefully whipped him sideways with my thighs until I was on top of him with heaving breasts at his mercy. "Rae..."
"Mine..." I hovered above his length, warmth emanating from the head of him.
          Just as I was about to lower myself down on him, a small voice called from the woods. "No!" My head snapped at her, watching as she moved carefully toward us. She was naked. I shot her a death glare. 'A threat.'
"Luca! Please don't do this!"
'She wants what's mine.' I snarled at her, hopping off Luca as I felt my blood run cold as the urge to tear her throat out overwhelmed me until it was the only thing in my mind. I ran at her, a bloodcurdling scream erupting from me as I neared her frightened self. "Rae!" He was behind me before I had a chance to reach her. He yanked me back, before I heard him growl something in Latin at the other wolves. They began to surround her. "You've dishonored this pack. You have called for the end of the blue moon ritual, and for that you are no longer a part of this pack."
          The wolves began growling at her, pushing her closer to the edge of the woods, until one snapped at her leg and she stumbled backwards. "Luca..."
"Do not utter my name Taila. Or I will let Rae go, and if I do, she will tear your throat out." I frowned, shooting daggers at Taila as tears rolled down her face. She stood and whipped around, running off into the woods. The line of wolves looked after her before they turned back to face us. Luca carried me back towards my clothing where he sunk to the ground with me in his arms. "You are mine."
"Yours. You are mine."
"Forever."
          I mounted him once again, crying out when the head of him managed to bump my burning core and without wasting anymore time, I shoved myself down on his length. The pain of accommodating him was nothing compared to the pleasure, physically, spiritually, emotionally. "Rae..." He groaned my name, and the connection that passed through us was insane. It was as if his mind had opened up and invited me in. I heard his heartbeat, his thoughts, all which repeated one word over and over again, Rae. 'You are my alpha.'
'You are my queen.' He captured my waist in his hands, slamming me uncontrollably down on his shaft. Howls serenaded the passion that coursed through us. I lost myself inside Luca, in the feel of him, the smell. "Luca! Luca!"
          I chanted his name until it was morphed into a growl as I felt myself getting close. He rolled us until he was on top of me. He slammed his hand onto the ground beside my head, and pounded into me, until every part of me was bouncing wildly for his eager eyes. "Fucking perfect. I feel you're close. Take your fucking pleasure, Anima mea." He groaned and my name slipped from his mouth once again. The sound of it on his tongue was what pushed me over the edge, and I came endlessly around him until he swelled inside of me, and I was sure he would break me as he orgasmed. 'My destiny.'
          Just as my body began to calm down, I felt my body shaking. Luca threw himself off me, and groaned. My eyes widened and I stared up at the moon as I felt the change taking over. 'This is it.' Luca cried out my name, before I heard the audible sound of a bone cracking. I didn't realize it was mine until I registered that I had screamed.
          The pain was blinding, something I had never experienced before. I thrashed and rolled as I felt every single bone break and snap back into place. 'Luca!' His voice was in my head. 'I am here! I am here with you, Rae. Breathe through the pain, my love.' Even his voice in my head sounded pained. But as soon as it began, it was gone. Completely gone.
          In its place was a vibrating warmth that took over my limbs. Instinct took over, and suddenly my mind was filled with the voices of my pack. 'Welcome.' A few more voices rang in my head of pack members I couldn't recall right then and there. I realized I had been closing my eyes. When I opened them, I was no longer peering through the eyes of the Rae I had known my entire life. I was finally peering through the eyes of who I was meant to be. 'A wolf.'
          Panic surged in me as I moved to glance at Luca's spot, but he was not where I left him. 'Luca!' I began whining, only to be interrupted by his voice in my head. 'Rae, my soul, my destiny, my mate.' I turned slowly, letting the needs of the wolf take over. He was behind me and I felt the comfort of familiarity when I gazed at my Alpha. 'I am yours, forever.'