AellaWarmth, that's the first thing I register upon waking up. Eyes still closed, I focus on it, feeling it wrap around my body like a blanket.
It's not a sweltering heat, unbearable and oppressive. But rather, more comforting, like a campfire on a cold night. I cuddle closer to it, relishing in its glow. It isn't until I hear a small snore that I realize where I am, and my eyes shoot open.
A broad, muscular chest sits in front of me, and for a moment all I can do is stare. The smooth skin is stretched taunt over sculpted muscles, only interrupted by small scars and an old bite wound. Almost out of instinct, I gently trace over the ridges and scars, amazed at how soft the skin is.
Tracing over his shoulder, I make my way down his thick arm, tracing over the large crescent moon inked onto his bicep. The black and gold ink is etched in an elegant pattern with the silhouette of tall trees, and gold stars. It's so beautiful...
I trace the stars up to his shoulder, this time going up his neck and jaw, tracing over the light stubble on his chin before lingering on his lips. I brush my fingers over them softly, feeling his warm breath fan over them through the slight part in between.
I continue upwards, going over his nose which has obviously been broken at least once, and his eyelids with extreme care. I don't want to wake him, not yet. After running through the long tendrils of his soft, dark hair with my fingers, my hand and eyes wander back down...to his now open eyes. Their brown depths far from being as plain as most would think, traces of golden flecks glimmer faintly in them, like the stars of his tattoo...
My cheeks flush in embarrassment, and I quickly attempt to pull my hand away.
"I'm sorry, I-"
"Shhh."
He grabs my hand with one of his, the other pressing his thumb to my lips to silence me. He takes my hand and presses the palm over his heart, allowing me to feel the strong, steady rhythm as it beats. He takes my chin in his hand and pulls my gaze upwards to his.
"Don't be ashamed my love, this is all for you, only you."
I can hear my heart begin to pound in an erratic pace, spreading heat down to my collarbone. Is this always what it's like to have a mate? To have someone who can make you feel so powerful and yet so vulnerable at the same time? To have someone who can tell what you're thinking the second you're thinking it?
"O-okay..."
A smile spreads across his lips, a glitter of amusement twinkling in his eye.
"Are you shy?"
What I would give to be able to turn invisible right now.
"How adorable."
He mumbles as he buries his face into my neck, inhaling deeply and rubbing his cheek against my fevered skin. With needing a distraction of any kind, I return my fingers to his arm, tracing over the tattoo again.
"Do you like it, my love?"
I nod, still looking over the ink in fascination.
"It's beautiful."
An approving growl reverberates from his chest, his hand running up and down my arm slowly.
"I'm glad you like it, it's the pack crest, the symbol of our pack."
A shiver goes through me. Our pack. It sounds so good...then I realize something, I have no idea where we are, or what this pack is called. In fact, I barely know anything.
"I can tell you have questions Aella, you can ask me anything."
I bite my lip, not sure what to ask first. I decide on the biggest ones first.
YOU ARE READING
Heart Of The Storm
Werewolf"How could you love me? I'm a monster." I immediately stand up, pulling her up with me. Holding her gaze in mine as I trace along her cheeks and jaw, down her neck and back up again. "You are not a monster, you never were. If anything you are a sol...