Chapter 24

(Amelia POV)

I had seen the moment I had mated with Owen in my vision, so I had an idea of what I would feel once I had been mated to him again but with Alexander, I had no idea what to expect. He was not a wolf; he was a vampire and I wasn’t sure how bonds worked with vampires. Being alone now seemed to be the opportunity he had been waiting for, and as much as I wanted to stand my ground, I felt my resolve faulting the moment I felt his breath against my neck. He had fed from me, but it had been more innocent, and I didn’t think much of it.

With the air between us thick and hinting toward a more intimate encounter, the idea of him feeding from my neck seemed more than just routine. That and the fact that he did not bite me as soon as we were close, he pressed gentle kisses along the side of my neck. I felt warm under his touch and with every kiss he pressed to my skin my boy became more relaxed. For a moment I wondered if this was how vampires subdued their victims. Was he making me more relaxed to make me more complacent?

That realization made me tense and I had the urge to push him away, but I didn’t need to because he moved away and looked to me as soon as he felt my body become tense.

“What’s wrong?” He asks still close enough that I could feel his breath against my cheek.

“It’s nothing.” I say with a shaky breath.

He takes a step back to put more space between us, which makes me relax almost instantly.

“No, something is wrong. You tensed up. What is it? Are you uncomfortable with this? Because I know I can be forward sometimes but I would never force you to do anything!” He says defensively.

He steps back and sits on the arm of the couch looking up at me and waiting for me to explain. I sigh and beat myself internally for messing up this moment between us with my overthinking. So, I walked toward him and touched his face trying to show him that I wasn’t upset.

“I just don’t know much about vampires, and I had a thought that made me a little uneasy. But I trust you, I know you talk a big game, but you would never force yourself on me.” I tell him tucking a small piece of his hair behind his ear.

“You say that, but do you really believe it? What did you think of that made you afraid of me?” He asks again.

I let my hand fall away from him and I turn around cursing myself, before tunring to him ready to tell him the truth.
“I just wondered if vampires had a way to subdue people to make them more complacent so you can feed from them without them putting up a fight.” I say quickly.

He looks at me and at first, he doesn’t react but a moment later he stands and starts to pace a little.

“And you think that is what I was doing to you just now?” He asks and I can hear the anger in his tone.

“No, I’m not saying that. I just am not very experienced in this field and I don’t know I felt totally relaxed with you once you started kissing my neck. It made me think of that, but it was stupid!” I tell him feeling myself panicking a little.

I felt like I wanted to cry, I hated these kinds of situations when I anger someone for saying something, I should have just kept to myself. I don’t know what came over me, and why I thought it was a good idea to say any of that. All those years of my mom drilling into my mind that I was to be seen and not heard had slipped my mind. Why did it think it was ok to say such things just because she wasn’t around to remind me that it was wrong? My heart was starting to race, and I felt my breaths become short and rapid. I was sending myself into a panic attack!

‘Amelia it’s ok. Everything is fine. Just relax ok?’ Anaya had been with me all those times I had my anxiety episodes, and even though I pushed her away and ignored her, she knew the signs.

I start to feel my legs getting weak and my head getting foggy, and soon Alexander is taking hold of my arm.

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” He asks looking me over.

“It-it’s nothing. I just need to sit down for a minute.” I tell him walking toward my bed and slowly sitting.

He kneels in front of me and holds my hands.

“Please tell me what’s wrong? Are you hurting somewhere?” He asks with worry.

“It’s nothing. It will pass.” I say closing my eyes and taking a few deep breaths as Anaya talks to me.

Soon the attack passes, and I feel my heart return to its normal rhythm and my breathing levels out as well. Once I feel myself calm again, I open my eyes and look to Alexander giving him a weary smile. He looks back at me wide eyed with worry rubbing circles on my hand with his thumb.

“I’m so sorry.” Is say feeling the dam break and tears begin to fall down my cheek. “I didn’t mean to make it sound like you were forcing me. It was insensitive! Please don’t be angry with me.”

He lets out a breathy laugh of what seems like relief. “I am not mad Amelia! I was scared. I thought I had gone too far and made you scared of me!”

He says looking to me and whipping a tear away. “To answer your question, yes, we are able to manipulate people in the way you said, but I would never us that ability on you. Never! I will never force you to be with me in any way unless you choose to be. That being said, we are souls bond to one another and although I am new to that sort of thing I assume it makes our attraction to each other very strong. So, it’s possible that what you were feeling is because of that.”

I take into consideration what he says for a moment, and I realize he is probably right. Just like wolf mats feel a strong pull to be mated, perhaps it is the same for us. I was being drawn to him to complete our bond and because of our bond I felt relaxed to be in such a situation with him. I just wished I had thought of this before opening my mouth and ruining everything.

“You are probably right! And now I have totally ruined the mood! I’m so sorry.” I saw covering my face with my hands in embarrassment.

He laughs and removes my hands. “You didn’t ruin anything. I always want you, and I will want you whenever you are ready! So, don’t worry, we will have other chances.”

He gives me a reassuring smile and I reach out and run my fingers through his hair and holding him at the back of his neck.

“I want you too! But I am new to these feelings, so you will have to patient with me. Everything is so new and intense for me.” I explain.

“We will go as slow as you need. We waited this long, a little longer will be easy!” He says smiling up at me.

I felt this rush of emotion toward him that made me want to lean down and kiss him, so I did.

“Thank you.” I whisper against his lips.

I pull back and run my hand down the back of his neck. “But I don’t want to wait. I want this and I am ready! If you still want me.”

He smiles with slight mischief. “Like I said I always want you.”

He stands quickly and grabs me by the hips, picking me up with easy and pushing me further onto the bed until he is hovering above me.

He stops for a moment and looks at me seriously. “Are you sure?”

I nod with a smile and he leans down and kisses me deeper this time and with more purpose. The same feeling I had earlier returns but this time I am not scared of them, this time I let myself feel everything. I close my eyes and shiver as his lips travel from my mouth down my check and to my neck once more. Soon I feel the tips of his fangs drag along my skin and my breath hitches waiting for the pain I expected to feel when he breaks the skin. But it doesn’t come.

He instead kisses me again and his hands begin to run down my arms and my stomach until his hands push past the hem of my shift. His hands brush against my bare skin and goosebumps form all over me. His lips meet mine again as his hands explore further and with a surprisingly swift motion, he pulls my shirt with a strong force ripping it away.

“Really? I liked that shirt.” I whine.

“Sorry love, but it won’t be the last one I ruin. And I will happily replace everyone that I ripe from your body.” He says with a smirk before kissing me firmly again.

I want to scold him more, but I soon forget all about the ripped shirt as he carefully removes the remainder of my clothes taking care not to destroy any more. Once all my clothes are gone, he takes a moment to look me over which makes me blush and I reach for a blanket to cover myself, but he stops me.

“You’re beautiful.” He says before kissing me once more.

He quickly removes his own clothes and joins me on the bed again pulling the covers over us and continuing to kiss me. The next moments were intoxicating and when we were both so close, he brushed his fangs along my neck once more. He stops for a moment as if he was waiting for me to object, but I quickly assure him that I want this. Then his fangs puncture the skin of my neck and I don’t feel pain because the only thing I can feel is euphoric pleasure wash over me. It was the most intense feeling I had ever felt, and it triggered something in me.

I could feel my wolf side break the surface just enough for my own fangs to emerge and as if I was not in control of my actions, I sink them into the side of Alexander’s neck as well. He pulls away from my neck with a hiss, but once I pull away, he sinks against me.

“Did you just mark me?” He asks with a exhausted chuckle.

“I guess Anaya is feeling a little territorial. She says once we go to the pack, everyone will know you belong to us.” I tell him.
He lifts himself up and looks at me with a big smile.

“I will only ever belong to you. I will never look at another girl the way I look at you! And I will never want anyone else, ever! So, I will proudly wear this mark so it will tell everyone to stay far away!” I smile and pull him down to kiss me once more.

I had marked one of my mates and it felt so empowering. To have something that was mine and that could never be taken away, not by anyone. Something real and secure, something I could never have imagined having.

And it felt amazing!