Page 21 of Alien Charming (Alien Wolf Tales #3)

CHAPTER 21

T he woods felt different as Elli made her way down the path Agatha had shown her. No longer did the shadows threaten or the rustling leaves startle her. Instead, they welcomed her like old friends, conspirators in her newfound courage. Each step carried her closer to the Vultor enclave, closer to Seren.

What if he doesn’t want to see me? The unwelcome thought crept in, but she pushed it away. The memory of his eyes glowing gold as he looked at her and the warmth of his arms around her gave her strength.

A twig snapped somewhere ahead. She froze, then relaxed as a familiar sensation washed over her—that same awareness she’d felt all those days ago in her garden.

“Seren?” she called softly.

The forest stilled as he emerged from between two ancient trees, his eyes burning like twin flames in the dappled light.

“Elli.” Her name rumbled from his chest, relief and wonder mingled in that single word.

They moved towards each other as if an invisible string were pulling them together. When only a breath separated them, he reached out, his hand hovering near her cheek as if afraid she might vanish.

“I thought I’d lost you.” The pain in his voice made her heart ache.

“I’m sorry I ran.” She leaned into his touch as his fingers finally brushed her skin. “I was afraid. Afraid my aunt was right about me. Afraid that I was?—”

“She was wrong.” His voice hardened. “About everything.”

She smiled up at him, emboldened by the intensity of his gaze. “I know that now.”

His thumb traced the curve of her cheek. “Where were you going?”

“To find you.” She placed her hand over his, relishing the warmth of his fingers. “I realized I’ve been running from happiness ever since my mother died because I didn’t believe I deserved it.”

Seren’s breath caught. “And now?”

“Now I’m done running.”

Gold flames flared in his eyes and time seemed to slow as he bent towards her, moving with a caution that made her chest ache. When his lips finally met hers, the world around them faded away.

This kiss was different from their others. There was no hesitation now, no holding back. Strong arms encircled her, holding her as carefully as though she were made of glass, and she nestled against him, clinging to him as the kiss deepened. She felt the rumble in his chest—not quite a growl, but something primal and possessive that sent shivers down her spine.

“I’ve wanted this since I first saw you in your garden,” he murmured against her lips, his voice rough with emotion.

She smiled, strengthened by his confession. “I think I’ve been waiting for you my whole life without knowing it.”

His response was to claim her mouth again, more urgently this time. The cool bark of a tree pressed against her back as he guided her backwards, surrounding her completely with his warmth and strength. She clung to him, lost in sensations she’d never imagined possible.

The forest seemed to pulse with life around them—birds calling, leaves rustling, the distant gurgle of a stream—all of it forming a perfect backdrop. This is where we belong , she realized. Amongst the wild things, free from judgment and constraint.

When they finally broke apart, both breathless, he rested his forehead against hers. He searched her face with such tenderness that she felt tears spring to her eyes.

“I never thought I could feel this way,” she whispered, running her fingers along the strong line of his jaw. “Like I’m finally where I’m supposed to be.”

He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “You are exactly where you belong, little one. With me.”

“What happens now?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The question encompassed everything—her future, their relationship, the life she’d just abandoned by defying her aunt.

He traced the line of her jaw with one gentle finger, his touch reverent. “Now you choose, Elli. For once in your life, you decide your own path.”

The concept was so foreign, so liberating, that she felt momentarily overwhelmed. Her entire life had been dictated by others—first her mother’s illness, then her aunt’s rigid control. The sudden freedom made her dizzy with possibility, but in the end, there was only one choice.

“I want to be with you,” she said simply, the words coming from a place of certainty she’d never experienced before.

“Thank the gods,” he muttered before she pressed a finger to his lips.

“But your world is very different from mine.”

A shadow crossed his face. “I can’t deny that it will be complicated.”

“I’m not afraid of complications. I’ve spent most of my life being told I wasn’t enough—not pretty enough, not clever enough, not worthy enough. But when I’m with you, I feel like maybe those things don’t matter.”

His expression softened, and he caught her hand in his, pressing a kiss to her palm that sent shivers racing up her arm.

“They don’t,” he growled softly. “You are perfect exactly as you are.”

The way he looked at her made her feel precious, valued in a way she’d never experienced before. His golden eyes held such intensity that she found it difficult to breathe.

“I’ve lived alone for a long time,” he said. “I never thought I would find someone who could see past what I am, who could look at me without fear.”

She smiled, reaching up to touch his face. “How could I fear you when you’ve shown me nothing but kindness?”

“I meant what I said last night. I want to claim you. I want you to be my mate. To live with me, to build a life together. I want to show you what it means to be cherished, to be protected, to be free to grow into all that you are meant to be.”

Joy burst through her like sunlight breaking through clouds.

“Yes,” she whispered, tears of happiness spilling down her cheeks. “Yes, I want that too.”

His face transformed with a smile so brilliant it took her breath away. He lifted her effortlessly, spinning her in a circle as their laughter—his deep and resonant, hers light and breathless—echoed through the forest.

When he set her down, he cradled her face between his hands, looking at her with such wonder that she felt truly beautiful for the first time in her life.

“My mate,” he murmured, the words filled with reverence. “My Elli.”

“My mate,” she echoed, the words filling her with joy. “I want you to claim me, Seren. Right here. Right now.”

He froze for an endless moment. Then a shudder rippled through him, and he lifted her effortlessly into his arms, carrying her across the clearing to a bed of thick moss beneath a towering tree.

He laid her down gently, his body a solid, reassuring weight as he stretched out beside her. One hand cradled her head, his thumb tracing circles along her jaw, while the other skimmed down her side, sending shivers of pleasure through her.

“Are you certain, Elli?” he murmured. “I will wait as long as you need me to.”

She smiled up at him and took his hand, guiding it to her breast and gasping as her nipple peaked under his palm. “I want this. I want you.”

With a groan, he captured her mouth again, his hand kneading her soft flesh. She arched into his touch, her body seeking his instinctively. His lips trailed down her throat, leaving a trail of fire wherever they touched. When his mouth found her breast through the thin fabric of her dress, she couldn’t suppress a moan of pleasure.

She fumbled with his shirt, eager to feel the warm, solid expanse of his chest against her palms. He chuckled softly, and shrugged it off. The sight of his bare torso, bathed in sunlight, took her breath away. He was a warrior, honed by battles and a lifetime of training. The scars that crisscrossed his skin only made him more beautiful in her eyes.

“You’re staring,” he said softly, and she blushed.

“You’re magnificent,” she replied, her fingers tracing the lines of his muscles. “Don’t I have the right to look?”

He caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. “You have the right to more than look,” he murmured before claiming her lips again. His kiss was slow and sensuous, full of promises. She could feel the restrained power in his every touch, in the tension of his body against hers.

He shifted, kneeling before her, his hands sliding up her legs, pushing her skirt higher. His fingers brushed the soft skin of her inner thigh, and she gasped at the sensations his touch unleashed.

“You’re so sensitive,” he growled, his voice rough with desire. “So responsive. I want to touch every part of you.”

His fingers reached the juncture of her thighs, finding the damp heat that awaited him there. Her breath caught as he stroked her, his touch gentle yet insistent, stoking the fire that was already burning within her.

“This is mine,” he growled, his eyes glowing gold. “You are mine, Elli.”

She could only nod, helpless to resist the truth of his words. He was claiming her, not just with his touch but with his entire being. And she wanted to be claimed, to belong to this fierce, gentle, honorable male.

His mouth found hers again, swallowing her moans of pleasure as his fingers continued their magic. When he finally broke the kiss, she was breathless and flushed, her body humming with need. His eyes held hers as he slowly lowered himself, his broad shoulders pushing her thighs apart. The first touch of his tongue against her sensitive flesh made her cry out, her back arching off the ground. He groaned, the sound vibrating through her, and she tangled her fingers in his hair, holding him to her as he feasted.

Her world narrowed to the sensation of his mouth, his tongue, the scrape of his fangs against her skin. He growled against her, a possessive, primal sound that added to her arousal. When her release finally swept over her, it was more powerful than anything she’d ever known. She cried out his name, her fingers digging into his scalp, her hips bucking against his mouth. He didn’t stop, didn’t relent until she was spent and trembling, her body slick with sweat.

As she lay there, catching her breath, he moved back up her body, pressing a kiss to the soft skin of her belly and more kisses to her aching nipples. Then he was kneeling between her thighs, his massive body blocking out the trees. She looked up at him, his face fierce and beautiful in the golden light.

“Are you ready, little one?” he asked, his voice rough with barely restrained desire. He’d discarded his pants and her mouth went dry at the sight of his erection, long and thick and glistening with need.

She reached up, tracing the lines of his face with her fingertips, marveling at the strength and tenderness she saw there. This was the male she’d dreamed about, the one she’d never dared to hope she’d find.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m yours, Seren.”

His eyes flared golden at her words, and he lowered himself onto her, his weight pressing her into the soft moss. She could feel him at her entrance, hot and hard and impossibly large. He captured her lips in a searing kiss as he slowly pushed inside her, stretching her, filling her. There was a brief moment of pain, quickly forgotten in the rush of sensations that followed.

He moved slowly at first, letting her body adjust to him, each thrust a little deeper than the last until she was moaning and writhing beneath him, her hips rising to meet his. He growled, low and deep, his control slipping. His thrusts grew faster, more powerful, each one driving her closer to the edge. She clung to him, her nails digging into his skin, urging him on.

“Elli,” he groaned, his voice raw with need. “Elli, I need…”

“Yes,” she breathed. “Take what you need, Seren.”

That was all it took for his control to shatter. He pounded into her, his hips snapping against hers with a force that should have frightened her but only drove her pleasure higher. She could feel the pressure building inside her, the tension coiling tighter and tighter until she thought she might explode.

With a snarl, he buried himself deep inside her, his hips grinding against hers. At the same time, his hand slipped between them, his fingers finding the sensitive nub at the apex of her thighs. With a single deft stroke, he sent her flying over the edge, her body convulsing around him. Her release triggered his own, and he threw his head back with a roar that echoed through the forest, as he grew unbelievably, impossibly larger, locking their bodies together as he pulsed inside her, filling her with his warmth.

She gasped, stretched to her limit and beyond, her body quivering with the overwhelming sensations. His arms tightened around her, holding her close as they rode out the storm together.

“What… what happened?” she whispered when she could finally breathe again. She squeezed experimentally, and they both groaned.

“My knot,” he growled. “It locks us together.”

“For how long?” she asked, squeezing again and sending another streak of excitement through her body.

“Until I give you everything,” he groaned, and she felt him twitch again as another wave of pleasure made her tremble and cry out.

He gathered her closer, pressing kisses to her sweat-slicked forehead and whispering soft, tender words in her ear as they waited for his knot to subside. Finally, he slipped free with a wet sound that made her blush, but also made her want more.

“I had no idea,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I didn’t realize it could be like this.”

“Neither did I, my sweet mate,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Neither did I.”

She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close, feeling his heart beat against her own. The forest surrounded them, a verdant witness to their love. He left her for a brief moment, soaking his shirt in the nearby stream before returning to cleanse her gently. She shivered as he pressed the cool cloth against her, her body responding to his touch despite a growing ache.

“You are very swollen,” he growled. “Did I hurt you?”

“No,” she said quickly. “At least not in any way I didn’t enjoy.”

“I would never hurt you,” he murmured. “Not willingly.”

“I know that,” she said softly, reaching up to cup his cheek. “You are a good male, Seren. The best male.”

He turned his head to press a kiss to her palm. “Your male,” he said. “For as long as you’ll have me.”

“Forever,” she said firmly. “That’s how long I’ll have you.”

He smiled then, a slow, delighted smile that lit up his entire face. “Forever it is.”