Marking Her Mate
Author's POV
Williams’ hand lingered on Cleopatra's cheek, his fingers soft yet firm, grounding her as he met her gaze. He was hers, and he wanted the whole realm to know it. But she didn't want to mark him and that put Williams on edge.
Cleopatra's eyes, laced with both desire and hesitation, seemed to reflect a storm of emotions. She remembered the vision she had. The vision of Williams crawling away from her, his body covered with deep claw marks, blood pulling from them.
What if marking him will seal that fate? What if she ends up being the one to drive a knife into his chest? What if one day, he'll have the same look on his face, just as in the vision?
The what if’s died in her throat as soon as she felt Williams’ hands slide over her waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them, his fingers firm and possessive. Their mouths met in a fierce kiss, and the heat between them built, raw and unrestrained.
Cleopatra's hands roamed Williams’ back, feeling the tension in his muscles as he held her, his lips trailing along her skin as he pressed her down against him, each kiss igniting a fire that spread through her body.
Williams moves with an unhurried intensity, his touch firm as his hands traveled down her body, tracing every curve and line. Their breaths quickened, mingling as he leaned into her, every inch of them drawn closer by an electric pull. She felt her heart racing, her pulse pounding in sync with his, her body attuned to every shift, every breath he took.
She responded to his touch with equal passion, matching his rhythm, her fingers digging into his shoulders as he claimed her.
They moved together in perfect sync, each movement pulling them deeper, each touch stripping away the last of their defenses. Cleopatra gasped, her hands gripping him tightly as he thrust into her, a fierce need driving him that matched her own.
The world fell away around them, leaving only this moment, each other. The intensity between them built, filled by weeks of tension and unspoken words, releasing in a wave that left them breathless.
As their breathing slowed, their bodies still entwined, Cleopatra felt a surge of instinct take over. In that quiet moment, her reluctance melted away. Before she could think twice, she leaned forward, her lips grazing his neck. She could feel his pulse beneath her mouth, strong and steady.
Driven by an overwhelming need to claim him as her own, she hit down gently, marking him in a swift, possessive bite. His gasp filled the room, his muscles tensing under her hold as the bond flared to life.
Williams could feel her presence melding with his own, like fire and lightning merging in perfect harmony. He clutched her closer, feeling the powerful pull of the bond—the fierce need to protect her, the undeniable craving to be near her forever. He closed his eyes, relishing the heat that surged between them, binding them in a complete circle.
He breathed out loud with a soft smile. “Now, the whole realm will know that I’m yours,” he whispered under his breath.
As the intensity faded, Cleopatra eased her hold, her eyes searching his face for any sign of regret or fear. But Williams simply looked at her, his brown eyes were filled with love and admiration, and that made her heart swell.
He drew her closer, resting his forehead against hers, and together, they let the calming silence carry them into sleep, locked in each other’s arms.
*****
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the cabin’s window as Cleopatra stirred beside Williams. He brushed a gentle hand through her hair, marveling at her warmth against him. This was not the first morning they’ve ever woken up together, but something about this morning felt magical to them both.
They shared a quiet bath, the tensions from the night before dissipating in the steam, as they took their time, exchanging gentle touches and soft words. It felt like a rare, precious moment of peace that neither of them wanted to come out of.
After bidding farewell to Mr. Alex and his family, with Cleopatra promising to visit soon, Williams helped her mount his horse, guiding her close in front of him. She leaned back into his chest, their breaths syncing as the horse moved forward in a slow, rhythmic gait.
Williams wrapped his arm around her, feeling the warmth of her body against his own, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of them. Marcus rode just behind them, keeping a careful distance yet close enough to remain in protective range.
After a few stops and hours, they were nearing the borders or the palace territory, the trees thinning and the open field of the land stretching ahead.
Just as Williams was about to pull Cleopatra closer for a whisper, the sound of approaching footsteps and hushed voices reached his ears. Shadows moved swiftly around them, figures emerging from the cover of trees on both sides of the path.
A sense of weariness washed over Williams as he scanned their surroundings—nearly ten men, eyes cold and fixed on only his mate. Cleopatra.
Cleopatra’s gaze sharpened, her eyes flashing with fury as she recognized who they were. And who sent them. She slid down from the horse, her movements fluid and controlled, stepping into a defensive stance.
Williams could sense her energy shift, a deadly salt washing over her as she turned to face their attackers.
“Stay close to me,” she murmured to him, her voice steady, fierce.
Before he could respond, Cleopatra’s voice rang out as she moved forward to meet the attackers. “Let me get this straight. He sent you because he’s a wuss? He can’t stand to be on the same battle ground with me? Has he gotten that weak?” she teased the men, her voice icy.
But there was no response, just as she expected. Within moments, Cleopatra was in motion, swift and lethal, taking down enemy after enemy. Williams and Marcus moved to assist, but Cleopatra’s pace left little for them to handle. Her strikes were ruthless, her movements a blur as she attacked the men.
But she wasn’t moving to kill them.
Williams’ heart pounded, torn between being mesmerized by her strength and worry, as she cut down their attackers. ‘What if she gets hurt?’ he thought to himself quietly, moving further to fight alongside her.
But as he moved, Williams couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. ‘Who are these people? he thought. How does Cleopatra know them and how did they know to wait for us at this particular location?’
Just as he took down one of the men who lunged toward her, he glanced over and caught Cleopatra's gaze. For a brief moment, her expression faltered, and a shadow crossed her face. She hesitated, looking beyond him, as if seeing something no one else could.
Then he heard it—a low growl rumbling in the distance, echoing through the forest. Cleopatra’s head whipped toward the sound, her eyes widening in recognition.
Before Williams could even ask, she whispered, “He’s here.”
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