Page 22 of Bound to Enemy (Wolf Billionaire #3)

CHAPTER 22

ALESSANDRA

T he fire crackled as the wood burned gently in the flames. The stars hung brilliantly in the skies and the crescent moon displayed itself dominantly against the black canvas.

It was the night before the battle, and a thick tension hung in the air as we all knew that tomorrow the dry ground we stood on would be tainted red.

I sat on my husband's lap while my aides, Elliot, and two of his head warriors all sat on their chairs staring at the fire.

This was a tradition in their pack. The night before a big battle, they would sit around the fire and take in the atmosphere while it was all still calm. It grounded them, in a sense allowing them time to connect with the land and seek the strength of the moon.

We had been sitting out here for what seemed to be an hour if not more. There was a solemnness in the air but there was also a warmth in the atmosphere. Going from blood enemies who could never see eye to eye to now being able to sit side by side with each other, there was a bittersweet taste in this moment.

"Why do we all seem so quiet like it's a funeral?" Alex's voice pierced through the silence. "This isn't a time to be somber, people. Tomorrow we head into battle with our heads held high and our claws at the ready."

"Was that your attempt at being inspirational?" His twin sister swatted him upside the head. "And you didn't even come up with that, I'm sure you stole that line from Captain America."

Alex gaped at the accusation. "I will have you know that was pure originality from me. And besides, we all know the best superhero speeches come from Dr. Strange."

And thus began a whole debate on Marvel characters and the greatest heroes.

I could not partake in their conversations so I just observed and listened.

When the sides had been settled and everyone was a little calmer, it was Daxton who chose to speak next. His free hand played with my palm and threaded our fingers together. I had never felt so at ease as I did with this man.

"I would like everyone to use this moment to go around the circle to express one thing they are grateful for. It doesn't have to be big or small but just anything that your heart is happy for." I knew that this was also part of their tradition. They would say what they were most grateful for. It was a way for them to shift their mindsets and get into a space where they would find something worth fighting for.

And so everyone took turns answering his prompt. I was shocked to see just how many of the Blood Moon were grateful for us; they expressed their gratitude and openness.

"Well," it was now time for Daxton.

"Fine, but on a serious note, I do want to thank all of you from Blood Born. What I have asked of you is no easy feat. You could have easily declined my request, but you came here ready to fight. And whether you fight for me, the packs, or you fight for your own alpha, I still want to thank you."

Daxton's hold on me tightened when I placed my hand on top of his. The sincerity in his tone and his eyes alone was enough for me. I looked back and pressed my lips to his for the briefest of moments. When I pulled away I heard the various howls and 'awws' that surrounded us.

Looking at us now I never would have guessed that this would be my life. This was more than just the mark, this was my heart and how I truly felt on the inside.

We mingled for some time after the confessionals. I stood by the fire wanting to keep warm and try to fend off the chill the night air brought. Others found new things to debate over like, 'if pineapple was a respectable topping on pizza'.

Over the past few weeks, we had morphed into this weird blended family. We still had those who had their feelings about us but I could see the shift and it was a start. You couldn't erase hundreds of years of conflict in the space of a month.

I stood with Elliot by the fire, everyone was milling around and socializing like we had all been friends for some time. It was funny to think that had this been six months ago we would have been at each other's throats.

"Who knew that those two could be friends?" Elliot nudged my shoulder and pointed to my left where Jason and Daxton were deep in conversation.

It was quite a sight.

"You have changed him, you know?" Elliot forced my attention from the two men. "I have known that man a very long time. After losing his mother and my brother, it was like pieces of him died that day. The only thing he could think of was being the alpha. That was the only thing that mattered to him. But now, there are other things that matter to him more."

When I tore my gaze from my husband and friend I caught Elliot staring right at me. There was this sense of knowing that hid behind his eyes. He didn't need to say anything, the look in his eyes alone told me all I needed to know.

"And dare I say, Luna, you have changed too."

I mused over his words for a moment. "I think so too."

After Daxton was done speaking with Jason he walked over to the fire where we stood. He pulled my back into his front and nuzzled his nose into the crook of my neck. The stubble on his jaw tickled my skin.

"I think this is my cue to leave." Elliot winked at the two of us and sauntered to where Alex and the head warrior were in a heated debate about their pizza toppings.

I allowed my body to melt into my husband, feeling completely at ease within myself. Being close to him like this always offered me a semblance of peace.

"Let's go to bed," he muttered into my ear softly.

I turned my head to the side at the same time he retreated from my shoulder. He pressed his lips to mine only for a short moment, but I felt everything in that kiss. It galvanized my entire body.

When I pulled away my body was hungry and ready for this man.

We said our goodbyes to everyone by the fire pit and made our way into the house to rest, but we both knew that we would be getting little to no sleep. War was on the horizon, but first, my insatiable hunger for my husband would need to be quenched.

We barely made it into the room before Daxton had my back pressed against the wall and his lips ravaging mine.

Fuck.

This man was as sweet as sin and as deadly as hellfire, and I was willing to get burned every single time.

We clawed at each other like we hadn't touched each other in weeks. Layer by layer, our clothes came off, our teeth clashed, our lips swollen and our tongues tangled.

Daxton laid me on the bed and I spread my legs wide for him. My body buzzed with anticipation.

He positioned himself at my entrance, the heat of our bodies mingled together in this passionate cloud of lust and desire.

I felt supercharged.

He moved his tip up and down my throbbing pussy. My back arched off the bed and I moaned into the dark room.

My nipples were hard and taut, and my body only wanted one thing, and that was to feel him in every single cell.

I edged myself closer to his length, but every time I did that, he pulled away. I was growing increasingly frustrated, and I was sure that he could sense it too because the man dared to swat my hand and chuckle when I attempted to stimulate my pussy.

"Daxton, I swear to all that is good and mighty I will—ah!" He filled me inch by glorious inch. His large cock stretched me, forcing my body to accommodate him. "Fuck."

This man would forever feel glorious to me.

"You talk too much, Ale." He kissed along the sides of my neck. "How does that feel, baby?"

"I..." I couldn't even find the words. The only thing I could focus on was my expanding walls and how his naked dick felt inside of me.

He peppered sweet little kisses all over my face, his body stilled over me. He was giving me time to accommodate his size.

"You okay?" He moved his face back so I could stare into his eyes. "I can stop."

"Don't you dare," I dug my nails into his broad shoulders. "Okay, you can move."

Daxton claimed my lips with his and did as I asked. He pulled out of me and then plunged back inside but without as much force.

We had sex multiple times over, especially after I had gotten my mark. But in those times, there had been this hunger and urgency behind it all. But this time it all felt different.

He moved in and out of me with angled precision, and I met him thrust for thrust.

With every single movement, I drew closer and closer to the edge; all I could think of was him. All I could feel was him.

We collided the way the stars did, and from that birthed this...feeling. It was all-consuming and unlike anything I had ever felt in my life.

I wanted more of it.

"More, Dax." I breathed, pulling him down to me so I could bury my head into the crook of his neck.

He picked up his pace, but not only that, the man lifted my hips so that he could go in far deeper than he had before.

Fuck me.

He felt glorious.

"You are amazing, baby." He muttered those words into my skin, eliciting another moan from my lips. "So fucking amazing."

We worked each other hard, our bodies dampened with sweat, and the closer we drew to the edge, all I could focus on was how well we just fit. He was mine and I was his. There was no world that he existed in that I would not be by his side.

"Almost there..." This was more than just sex.

"I'm right there with you, baby."

We were making love.

With one final thrust, we fell off the cliff's edge. The orgasm ripped through my body and his as well.

We rode out the tidal wave that had come overhead and consumed us.

Perfection. That was what that had felt like to me.

I stared up at him, his now flaccid cock still inside of me. The thick cloud of lust and sickness covered us, enveloping us in this one singular moment for just a little while longer.

Little sparks of electricity shot out all over the area. All I could feel and think was Daxton; it was this supersonic, DNA-altering feeling.

We had fucked before, but this had felt like...more. It was explosive, but even within the fierceness of the moment, it was also very gentle and soft.

My heart felt so full, I worried that at any moment it would burst and I would self-combust from beneath him.

My right hand traveled to the nape of his neck and threaded through the soft tendrils of hair at the very end. My left hand cupped the side of his face, to which he responded with a kiss to my inner palm and then he leaned into my touch.

His eyes glimmered with joy that I felt radiated on every inch of his skin.

"I love you." The words slipped from my mouth, even catching me off guard. But regardless of me not having meant to say those three words out loud, I didn't regret them.

They were true and they would forever remain true until the very end of my days. I loved this man, and no force or person would be strong enough to change my mind.

My mate's eyes flickered. There was only but a millisecond of hesitation before his lips split into a warm and welcoming smile.

"I love you too, Ale. So, so fucking much."

He crashed his lips onto mine, and suddenly the strength for another round found its way back into our bodies again.

He was simply a drug that I could not quit and didn't plan on ever getting off of. If loving Daxton Vale would be my ruin, then it would be the best way to go.