THE LYCAON'S BRIDE

Chapter Ten - Silver Lining

Chapter Ten

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Luna's eyes flared red as she re-acclimated her appearance. The color reminded him once again, that she was wrong for him... but his body contradicted his thoughts.

She cleared her throat, "Excuse me, I'll have to get to Leo now and explain some things," her bitty palm set against his chest, nudging him away from her.

A frustrated growl rumbled from out of his throat. Not yet. He wanted to...

Wanted to what?

His mind was at war with his body. Already he felt her warmth retract. The cool air whipped against his skin while she escaped his grasp, replacing her heat.

His beast gnarled in displeasure.

Sean tossed Luna a monopolizing gaze. She visibly shivered. "We'll embark on our departure when you are finished. We don't have much to lead on but I have an inkling who might."

"I'll be quick, I don't want to leave Rissa out there by herself for too long," she darted outside, sheltering her flushed cheeks from his vision.

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"No portal this time?" Luna raised a brow in question as she buckled her seat belt in.

"I don't have that ability," Sean grasped the headrest of her seat to look back and pull out of the driveway. "I don't really want to, but we're going to the Underworld's hotel. There's a man I know, for a price he'll tell us what we want."

"What kind of price?" She asked.

"That's for me to handle," He answered. "All you have to do is make sure you don't draw too much attention."

If people knew he found his Mate, she'd be a walking target. A man only get's one in his lifetime if he's lucky.

Mine just happened to be a Vampire, he gripped the steering wheel tighter. That aside, she wasn't what he expected. He used to imagine his future with another Lycaon female. One that wasn't as petite, had creamy cocoa complexion from being active out in the sun, and strong legs that would wrap around his waist all morning. Someone that he could spar with, and enjoy activities with every day.

She started to fidget with her fingers and peered out the window. "I usually don't like asking for help-"

"You're not asking," he grunted, "I don't trust you enough not to get yourself killed, without knowledge of combat or the monsters you're dealing with," Sean spied her picking at the hem of her borrowed shirt.

After a brief look-over, he thought that she might not have been what he imagined, but she's still beautiful. The kind that most men would fawn over. The thought of her smiling, getting along with other men before he met her made him scowl.

It turned his mood sour.

Why should it bother me? She's mine now.

"Yeah, well... It's not easy for me to say this but I appreciate your help, and if it's one thing I learned from raising my brother alone through the years, is that help doesn't come for free," Luna lifted her gaze towards him. "I have nothing."

She is everything. "You have the capabilities of bearing me an heir."

"I don't want to, I have Leo." Her gaze was fierce, though her cheeks began to flush at his blunt request. "It doesn't have to be me."

"You're right," you're wrong, "I want a Lycaon child. Our beast will only recognize their mates. We can procreate, but the child will be human without our Mate."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Humans are weak with a life span that's worth a blink of an eye. I can't have someone weak leading our people in the future. My son needs to be a thorough Lycaon." His voice somber, "Something only you can provide me."

She looked out the window once more, brushing her hair out of her face, lying it on one side of her shoulders with her fingers. The faint mark of his bite on her neck captured his attention. His beast let out a pleased murmur. "I don't want to admit that our bodies have chemistry, but I need more than that." She shook her head sideways, "What am I saying? If I'm going to have children it's going to be with a man I am married and deeply in love with. One that doesn't refer to me as a leech and won't hate me for something that I have no control over. Someone... else."

Give someone else what's his by right? Not even a possibility!

Sean parked the car into the lot, unstrapped himself while leaning towards Luna, causing her to peer up at him with caution. Her deep violet eyes bore into him with challenge, "What?" Her voice stern.

He smiled coldly, "You give yourself to another man, you play with your life, Vampire." Sean reaches for Luna's shoulder, sliding his palm up against the crook of her exposed neck.

Her heartbeat thumped loudly against the pad of his thumb that started to caress the mark on her skin. She gulped, engulfed in his scent and dominating aura. Trying to hold her ground, she grasped his hand about to peel it off of her body. The heat of his skin only made her heart race more.

He stilled, daring her to move his hand. "Are you frightened?" Sean's bright ocean eyes narrowed to slits, causing her belly to somersault at the intensity of his dangerous gaze.

Luna pulled his hand away, "No," she squealed and cleared her throat.

Sean leaned forward, his face mere inches away. "You should be," he responded gravelly, baring his sharp canines. His low voice sent goosebumps across her body.

She heard the click of her seatbelt buckle before he removed the belt from across her waist and chest. Luna quickly pulled the car handle.

Scurrying away? He was oddly pleased at how he affected her. They both had no control over their body's reactions for each other. He found comfort in knowing it wasn't just him.

"What's your deal with Vampire's anyway? Not that the ones that I've met aren't complete shit so far," she changed the subject.

He didn't always hate Vampires. "Serves no purpose to bring up that past." His hand shifted to her hip.

Can't keep my hands off of her.

"It does, if it's influencing your disrespect towards me," retorted Luna. "Would it have been better before I was changed against my will?"

Her as a human? Weak! "You wouldn't survive the child bearing."

"Jesus, and you think I'll sacrifice myself for something as dangerous as that for a man that I don't love? Who cares about this Mate bullshit." Her tone surprised.

"You're an immortal now, you'll be fine," Sean realized that with her being a Vampire came with a silver lining. "Once we head inside, if anyone tries to converse, I will do the talking. Do not let anyone know who you are to me."

Luna stepped out the vehicle in sync with Sean. "Exactly what am I to you?"

He grimaced, "A vulnerability".