Chapter 100: The Marks

Chapter 100: The Marks

Elena

We were sitting in the living room on the sofa. I was laying in between Bernard's legs and he was behind me. He was playing with my fingers as we watched a movie. I am still getting used to the idea that cables are useless now.

He came back from his talk with his mother and Helen and the conversation had gone as well as any confrontational conversation could have gone with those two. He hadn't gone into great depth much to my dismay but he is alright. I had him now and that was all that mattered, everything else was irrelevant.

To think, three months ago, I was wandering about in the forest lands trying and fighting hard to stay alive. Who would have known a month later, that I would meet my soulmate and the love of my life. He was my first kiss and the first person I ever let into my heart deeply and I wanted him to be every other first after that. I didn't have anyone to talk with about these kinds of things seeing as my mother is no longer here and his mother pretty much hated me. I had no real female guidance.

The credits of the show started rolling and I looked up to see Bernard staring down at me already. He had a small smile playing on his lips and I could see every emotion swimming behind his forest green eyes.

"I never knew it was possible to love anyone as much as I love you, Elena Rosalie." He threaded our fingers together.

"You are like the sun in my dark world, you bring light to everything you touch."

His words warmed my heart, I never knew my heart could hold so much love for one person. Loving him has been the most exhilarating experience of my life. Our love had to survive the harshness of the world before it was able to bloom for the first time. He made loving him so difficult at the beginning but once all the secret arrows that had been thrown our way were revealed, loving him became the easiest thing I could do. I craned my neck backwards and touched my lips to his softly.

When I was about to pull away, he brought his free hand to my neck and drew me back in. Our lips collided again in a soft and gentle kiss. But there was something different about this kiss, there was so much behind it. It was like we were confessing something so much deeper than we could say in words. I love you, just didn't seem enough anymore.

When we pulled away, my heart was beating frantically in my chest and my eyes were seeing stars. I was delirious from his touch. He went to sit up, taking me with him. In one swift motion, he had me straddling his lap, his eyes were beaming with happiness and love. I was sure mine mirrored his, I had never known that a happiness like this ever excited me.

"I love you." I leaned in and kissed him sweetly.

"I love you too." He whispered against my lips.

"More than words will ever be able to express."

We kissed until our lips swelled, I wanted more with him and I knew there was a certain order to things and I didn't want to disrespect tradition but my wolf was getting anxious. I don't know how the world works now but back when I was a child, my mother would always tell me that we needed to follow the order of things. No steps could be skipped or overlooked.

"What is it?" He brushed away a small strand of my hair.

"What do you mean? I am fine."

"No, you are not. I can see your wheels turning. What is going on in your mind, my love?"

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as I even tried to utter the words. I didn't even know how to begin asking for what I wanted from him. Would he think I was being fast? Would he be mad if I asked?

"Elena," he let out a soft laugh.

"Just tell me, I am your mate and boyfriend." I cast my eyes downwards and then looked into his eyes.

"I want to give you my mark." He froze.

He stared into my eyes with an unreasonable expression. I didn't know if he was angry or happy which was all the more confusing to me.

"I am sorry." I immediately started apologizing.

"I jumped the gun on that one, we don't have to do that. I understand there is a certain order to things and I was wrong for trying to push it."

I looked away but then he grabbed my face and brought it closer to his in a toe-curling kiss. When he pulled away, his smile was as wide as the Atlantic.

"Elena, I have been dying to give you my mark but I thought you would have wanted to wait until after we were married." I shrugged.

"I don't see why we can't just do it now. We were going to do it anyway and I feel ready for it. I just don't know how to do it."

"It is okay, I will show you." He then looked around us.

"But we won't do it here, let us go to my room."

His room? My back stiffened, I wasn't ready for all of that just yet.

"Relax, my love. I know that you aren't talking about mating. We will save that for our wedding night."

I breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to get up from him but he circled his arms around me, keeping me in his lap. He then stood up and switched me in his arms quickly and carried me like a bride. I squealed, circling my arms around his neck on instinct.

"Bernard, what if you had dropped me?"

"I wouldn't have dropped you, you forget you are dating an Alpha. My reflexes are sharp and swift." I rolled my eyes.

He started moving towards the stairs, I laid my head on his shoulder and enjoyed the ride to his room. My heart hammered harder and harder with each step he took. I wasn't scared or anything, I was just excited.

He expertly used his hand to open the door and then close it again with his foot. There was no one in his house so he didn't bother to lock the door. Since I started coming to his house, he doesn't have maids anymore and I am thankful for that. I enjoyed our alone time away from prying eyes

He laid me on the bed gently and stood above me. He reached behind his back and pulled off his shirt, revealing his chiseled torso. I knew this man was a unit but I still got surprised every time I saw his body. He smirked when he caught me ogling and I couldn't help the blush that came over my face. He then came to lay on top of me and was careful not to put too much weight on my body. I was wearing a thin tank top and I wanted to take it off too but I was wearing nothing underneath and I wasn't ready for that just yet. Our breaths were hot and mingled together.

"I will give you mine and then you can give me yours." He brought his lips to my neck.

"It will hurt at first but then, the pain will turn into pleasure, okay?" I nodded, my breathing coming out a little harder than before.

"I love you." He whispered before I felt his fangs elongated and then plunged into my skin.

I let out a cry of agony, the stinging sensation traveled from the side of my neck down to my feet. I wanted to push him off but I resisted my initial reaction and waited. Then just like he said, the pain faded away and the pleasure set in. I felt this eutrophic feeling take over me and my hands found their way into his hair. I drew him in closer and craned my neck a little further to give him more access.

He retracted his fangs and pulled away slightly. Then I felt his tongue on the mark, cleansing it with his saliva to help it heal. When he pulled away slowly, his eyes were dark with a need I had never seen before.

"Are you okay?" I nodded.

"Better, it's your turn now."

He surprised me again and flipped us over so that I was now on top of him and he was laying on the bed. I was a bit nervous but I knew that I could do this. It was an inbuilt natural instinct of mine and I knew if I allowed my wolf to take over, she would know exactly what to do.

I brought my lips to his neck and waited for a moment. I allowed my wolf to come through even more and my fangs began to elongate.

"I love you." I whispered before I plunged my fangs into his skin.

He hissed in pain and his entire body stiffened beneath me. After a few more seconds, he relaxed and then I felt it too. The tether that had been there before morphed from a thread to a full blown cord. I felt the tether grow stronger and stronger. I released my fangs and then licked the mark as he had done. His arms were around my waist and he was holding me flush against his body.

I pulled away from his neck and kissed his cheek. I could feel the strength slowly leaving my body and the fatigue of all that had occurred in the last weeks was finally catching up with me. My eyes fluttered closed as the darkness pulled me in deeper and deeper.

"Marry me." That was the last thing I remembered as his gentle voice whispered.