A Tale of Two Opposites (Stryders #3)

Chapter 52- EDITH

West stared up at me hopefully.

Marking me? Now? Before the Alpha Challenge. This meant...

"You'll know what happens if something happens to me," I tell him quietly. I don't think I could stand West being hurt because of me.

"So?" West says, leaning down and brushing my hair back to expose my neck. His lips gently brush down where he intends to make his mark. He wasn't making this easy. "And you can mark me after you win." He says this with such conviction and confidence, I clutch his back a little tighter.

"Do you really want this?"

"Oh yeah," West chuckled, "I'm being patient please help out me here, Edith. I'm not patient."

I couldn't help but smile. "I know you're not."

"Now....Let me remind you that you were the one that kissed me first. Wonder how long you've been wanting to do that." West stole a kiss from me, gazing down at me with his muddy brown eyes, darkening with the emotions he felt.

"Are you sure-"

West leaned down to kiss me, hard and sensual, effectively shutting me up. I made a small noise which he growled out his approval.

"I'm sure." His lips made their way down my jaw, back to the sweet spot that made me clutch his shirt again, making me sigh out. "Stop making those noises!"

"Stop making me feel good!" I argued.

"Never."

Before I could retort something back, West bit down on my neck, his teeth elongating piercing my skin deeply- definitely an Alpha's mark. It was only a sharp stinging pain for a second before a wash of pleasure, sweet it was almost sickly, overcame me.

A whoosh of emotions filled me, all related to West.

I think I made a noise again because West's eyes flashed red.

"Hmm," West inspected his mark, kissing it, sucking it, a shock wave of pleasure made it's way up to me. He lifted his head, a lopsided smile gracing his beautiful lips. "Absolutely beautiful."

The way he made me feel sent me to inwardly shiver, I was never letting go of this feeling. How could I ever have thought to hide it?

"I want to see," I took out my phone, inspecting it in the camera. The mark was fresh, a deep purplish red. Now, everyone would be able to discern West's scent on me.

"I didn't hurt you did I?" West asked when I was quietly inspecting it, and I shook my head.

A mark was official official.

XXXX

The night before the Challenge I had to say my goodbye to West. He spent all day with me, which my mom and Ava recommended for me not to train and relax before the big day, so we did exactly that. Spent the whole day doing nothing, lounging around, kissing- okay, there was a lot of kissing- and just enjoying not having to worry about anything.

Except for what tomorrow would bring.

It was late, and Mom told me I had to sleep soon, get a goodnight sleep. I walked West out to Penelope's front door.

"You can't be there tomorrow with me." I looked down at our entwined hands. There was no way Salvatore wouldn't shift. West would let Salvatore shift and not even try to control him.

This one hurt him. I felt it through the newly strengthened mate bond. West sighed, kicking the dirt.

"I know."