Haven't Seen The Light In A While

Chapter Twenty-one

Mel's POV

Rory rushed to his room, cradling me in his arms as if I were the most precious thing in the world. The door swung shut behind us, creating a small sanctuary filled with the soft glow of sunlight filtering through drawn curtains. Triumph coursed through me at that moment—I had made my point. The wolf inside of me was fiercely determined to show Sabrina that Rory truly belonged to me, and nothing could change that bond. It became jealous and possessive when she leaned over his lap, her chest rubbing on him. She didn't mean to do it with ill intent, but she's lucky my wolf didn't confront her. My connection with my wolf has proven more challenging than anticipated. Since my shift, I have felt more like an animal than a human. I heard a click of a lock, and then Rory's body was on top of mine. 

"Rory," I called out, my voice barely above a whisper. It felt strange and unfamiliar, almost as if it belonged to someone else. The sound that escaped my lips was more profound and rougher than usual, carrying a raspy quality. He didn't respond to me; he was too busy nipping at my ear. My poor behind couldn't take another pounding after last night, but I brought this onto myself, so I should follow through. Right? Shifting my lower back on the bed, I wrapped my legs around his waist. He was still gently nipping my ear. His hands held my sides as his teeth traveled down to my neck. "Rory, you don't-" His teeth clamped down on my neck, but he held back and didn't mark me. I howled out as the pain and slowly the pleasure coursed through my body.

"Too hard?" He asked, pulling his head away from my neck quickly. 

"No, it's fine," I yanked his shoulders back towards me. "Kiss," I demanded. Without missing a beat, Rory kissed the spot where he had bitten. He littered my neck with sweet, soft, little kisses. My body tingled beneath him, and my breathing became heavier. He trailed the kisses past my collarbone, skipping over my shirt sleeve down my arm, taking hold of my left wrist. Slowly, he sank his teeth into my wrist, this time marking me his. I sucked in a sharp breath just as the pain subsided. Rory lifted his head, his glowing eyes meeting mine. "I don't think I'm ready for -"

"It's okay, I know. Your bite got me riled up, and I didn't want the others to see me mark you. You let me know when you're ready, babe." The sharp sting radiating from my wrist made it difficult to respond. I raised my arm to get a better look at the intricate mating mark Rory had left there. It depicted a mesmerizing triangle formed by the sun, earth, and moon, each symbol carefully crafted and vibrant against my skin. Surrounding this celestial trio were delicate star constellations, twinkling like tiny diamonds in the night sky, adding to the mark's ethereal beauty. It felt like a part of the universe had been inscribed onto me, binding me to Rory profoundly and undeniably.

"Will giving each other marks before mating affect anything?" I whispered.

"No, but it might induce your heat."

"Ugh, I just finished my heat cycle."

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of you," Rory cooed reassuringly.

"Just you and me, yeah?"

"Was the group sex overwhelming?"

"Maybe a little. I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, but it was intense." The heat rose to my face, thinking back to last night.

"I'll go easy on you." Rory smiled, tracing a finger down my cheek.

"I love you all so much." I gently tugged him down, our faces drawing closer until our lips finally met. In that fleeting moment, a rush of warmth enveloped me, and I felt like I was floating, suspended in the magic of our kiss. Suddenly, I felt Odin pouting on the couch with his arms crossed, mumbling to himself. Then, I heard Sam's voice saying, "You can't keep this from him." But I was confused—keep what from who? Who was he talking about? A low whimper echoed in my mind, and I snapped my eyes open, pulling away.