Page 15 of Hexmate (Widdershins Supernatural Academy #1)

Chapter 15

Caden

S omehow Wild and Silver managed to separate Atlas and I, taking us to our respective dorms to rest. I wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms again, but Wild was right. If Atlas was around, I wasn’t going to sleep. Not after everything that had happened.

My whole world felt like it had been turned upside down in a single night. I’d almost completely forgotten the cruel intentions of Rowan and the other witches in my class. My mind was so bent on Atlas and our intimate, albeit innocent, night together.

He was unlike anyone I’d ever met since joining the supernatural world. Everyone, thus far, had been downright mean to me because of my lack of power. But Atlas was just the opposite. He respected me, he treated me kindly, and he never pushed his own wants and desires to the forefront like everyone else. He put me first… and I just plain wasn’t used to that.

In fact, the only thing he’d been insistent about was that I was his mate. Of course, that created a huge number of problems all on its own, but that didn’t stop it from feeling good. Who cared if no one would accept us? I certainly didn’t. Nobody accepted me anyway. But Atlas had a lot more to lose, and that worried me. He was so happy to give up everything for me and… honestly… I wasn’t sure he should. I wasn’t special or powerful or well connected. As far as I knew, my life had an expiration date thanks to my father’s threats. And now that Rowan was most likely plotting both of our deaths, the clock was ticking louder than ever before.

I tossed and turned in my bed, unable to shake the gnawing worry in my gut. Still, I somehow managed to sleep most of the day away. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw Rowan’s sneering face, heard his taunting words. He was keeping silent for now, not letting anyone know it was Atlas that had disfigured him. What was he planning? How far would he go? And his family… they would most certainly get involved. Once they did, so would Atlas’s pack.

Had we accidentally started a silent war?

As if summoned by my anxious thoughts, a soft tap came at my window. My heart leapt into my throat. I crept to the glass, peering out into the darkness.

There, illuminated by moonlight, stood Atlas. His golden eyes gleamed as he motioned for me to open the window. I hesitated for a moment, remembering how insistent Wild had been that I rest. However, he was gone and I had the room to myself. And the pull towards Atlas was too strong to resist.

I lifted the sash, and he gracefully climbed inside. Before I could speak, he gathered me into his arms, burying his face in my neck and inhaling deeply.

“I couldn’t stay away,” he murmured against my skin. “I needed to make sure you were safe.”

His touch sent shivers down my spine, igniting a fire low in my belly. I knew I should push him away, tell him to leave. But instead, I found myself melting into his embrace.

“Atlas,” I whispered, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. “We shouldn’t...”

But even as the words left my lips, I knew I didn’t mean them. His presence filled a void I hadn’t realized was there, soothing the restless anxiety that had plagued me all day.

He pulled back slightly, his golden eyes searching mine. “Do you want me to go?”

I shook my head, unable to voice the desperate need I felt. Atlas’s lips curved into a soft smile, and he leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine.

“Good,” he murmured. “Because I don’t think I could leave if I tried.”

His hands slid down my sides, coming to rest on my hips. The heat of his touch seeped through my thin pajamas, making my skin tingle. I found myself arching into him, craving more contact.

Atlas growled low in his throat, a sound that sent a jolt of electricity through my body. In one fluid motion, he lifted me off my feet and carried me to the bed. He laid me down gently, then crawled up beside me, his powerful body caging mine.

“Is this okay?” he asked, his arms holding me tight against his chest.

I glanced up at him, nodding, all too aware of his thick cock pressing against my thigh. My own, of course, was pulsing against belly. I felt a flush of embarrassment, my cheeks burning.

“Don’t worry about it,” he smiled as if he could read my mind. “I like that you’re excited by me.”

“I-I like it too,” I stuttered. “That you’re… you know…” Again, my cheeks burned, but I held his gaze. “I think you and I m-might need to talk about a couple of things b-before we go much further.”

It was hard to concentrate on my words as he pulsed against me, the heat of his body filling me to the brim. I wanted so badly to buck my hips, to seek out the friction I craved. Images ran through my mind of what he could do to me with his hands, his mouth, and that massive cock of his. And would I even survive it if I just told him to take me like I wanted to?

“I think you’re right,” he nodded. “This is a lot to process, even for me.”

“You said I’m your mate, fated by the gods or whatever, right?” I asked.

“That’s right.”

“So, we’re just meant to be together?”

He shrugged. “More or less. That’s how it was explained to me.”

“Okay.” I swallowed hard, taking a deep breath to steel myself for my next question. “But we’re not… bonded yet, are we?”

Atlas’s eyes widened. I wasn’t sure if he was surprised by the question or my knowledge of such acts, but he nodded, nonetheless. “That’s right. We’re not bonded until we…”

“But we already did.”

He smiled at that, shaking his head. “We barely covered foreplay,” he explained, trying to keep it casual. “Creating a lasting bond between us would require me to… well…” He paused, suddenly looking a bit nervous. “It would mean I fuck you,” he said at last. “And, for lack of a better term, breed you.”

“Oh.”

My mind reeled as I felt my face flush even hotter at Atlas’s blunt words. The idea of him “breeding” me sent a confusing mix of arousal and anxiety through my body.

“And that would bind us together permanently?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Atlas nodded, his golden eyes intense as they bore into mine. “Yes. Once we’re bonded, there’s no going back. We’d be connected for life.” He looked more nervous than I’d seem him in a while. “I’ve heard there are ways to undo it, but I’ve heard it’s extremely painful magic.”

I swallowed hard, trying to process the weight of what he was saying. Part of me thrilled at the idea of being tied to Atlas forever. But another part hesitated, remembering all the complications and dangers we faced.

“Is that... is that something you want?” I asked tentatively.

Atlas’s arms tightened around me. “More than anything,” he growled. “But only if you want it too. I won’t pressure you into anything you’re not ready for.”

His consideration touched me deeply. I reached up to trace the strong line of his jaw. “But wouldn’t you want to get to know me first?”

Atlas stopped, his smile fading as my words sunk in. “I… I’m sorry, Caden,” he said, blowing out a long sigh. “You’re right, I’m getting ahead of myself. The pull toward you is so strong that I’m having a hard time keeping a level head about all this.” He lifted his gaze to me. “Of course I want to get to know you. We should take this slow and treat it like a normal relationship, not rush into bonding ourselves together forever in the first week.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. “I think that’s smart. There’s so much going on right now with Rowan and everything else. We should focus on getting to know each other and staying safe.”

Atlas smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You’re right. And I want to do this properly. Court you like you deserve.”

His words made my heart flutter. “I’d like that,” I whispered.

We lay there in comfortable silence for a while, just holding each other. Despite my earlier exhaustion, I felt wide awake now, hyper-aware of every point where our bodies touched.

“Can I ask you something?” I ventured after a while.

Atlas hummed in assent, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my back.

“What exactly does being mates mean? Beyond the bonding part, I mean.”

He was quiet for a moment, considering. “It’s different for every pair, but generally it means we’re perfectly matched. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. We complement each other in ways no one else can.”

I mulled this over. “Even though I’m a witch?”

“As far as I know,” he said. “Fated mates can be from any species. It used to be more rare that they crossed over. But the more the world expands, and we interact with others, the more things like this seem to happen. I’ve got a cousin that’s mated to a vampire. Talk about a tense union.”

I nodded. Vampires and werewolves were known to have a long history of disagreements. In the last century they’d become much more docile toward one another, but old wounds ran deep, especially considering most vampires were practically immortal.

“So… does that automatically make you my familiar?”

Atlas stared at me for a long moment. “I… I don’t know. Would you want me to be?”

I bit my lip, considering Atlas’s question. The idea of having him as my familiar was both thrilling and terrifying.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted softly. “I’ve never had a familiar before. And you’re already so powerful on your own. I wouldn’t want to... diminish you somehow.”

Atlas chuckled, the rumble of his laughter vibrating through his chest. “You could never diminish me, Caden. If anything, being your familiar would only make me stronger. Our powers would be linked, amplifying each other.”

My eyes widened at that. “Really? But I’m so weak compared to you.”

He shook his head, cupping my face gently. “You’re not weak. Your magic is different, but it’s not less powerful. You just haven’t learned to tap into it yet. Or maybe a familiar bond is just what you need to awaken the powerful witch inside that I know you are.”

The intensity in his golden eyes made me shiver. I could almost imagine it - the two of us, our powers intertwined, facing down any threat that came our way. But doubt still nagged at me.

“What about your pack?” I asked. “Wouldn’t they object to you being a witch’s familiar?”

Atlas’s expression darkened slightly. “They might.”

“My father would probably congratulate me,” I sighed. “But only because I was powerful. As soon as he found out you and I were mated, he’d probably kill me.”

“Your father… doesn’t sound very nice.”

“He’s not,” I said plainly. “In fact, he’s threatened to remove me from the family by the end of this year if I don’t show more promise.”

Atlas’s grip on me tightened, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “He won’t touch you,” he said fiercely. “I won’t let him.”

I felt a warmth spread through me at his protectiveness, but also a twinge of fear. “Atlas, you don’t know what he’s capable of. He’s... he’s not just any witch. He’s powerful, and he has connections. He has the entire academy in his back pocket.”

Atlas pulled back slightly, his golden eyes blazing with determination. “And I’m not just any werewolf. I’m the future Alpha of my pack. And even if my father kicks me out of the pack, I’m still more than a match for any witch thanks to my heritage.”

I swallowed hard, torn between hope and anxiety. “Your Alpha form?”

He nodded. “That’s why Rowan’s magic didn’t affect me. In that form I’m practically impervious to spells.”

“Is… Is that common?”

He shook his head. “It may seem like it here at Widdershins, but that’s only because the oldest and most powerful families send their children here. But compared to the rest of the werewolves in the world, my gift is incredibly rare. Most Alphas can only attain that form during a full moon that falls on Halloween and they lose control completely. But I can call it up whenever I want and maintain my sentience.”

“So… you really could stand up to my father…”

“I could,” he nodded. “But I’d rather not if I can help it. Still, if he insists on hurting you, I’ll have no choice. Although I’ll try not to kill him, for you.”

I couldn’t help but scoff. “Kill him. I’d prefer it.”

Atlas’s eyebrows shot up, his jaw falling open slightly. I could see a thousand different questions on his lips, so I lifted a finger to silence him.

“We can talk about family trauma later,” I said. “Right now, I just want to enjoy being with you.”

Atlas’s arms tightened around me as he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. The warmth of his body enveloped me, making me feel safe and protected in a way I’d never experienced before.

“I want that too,” he murmured against my skin. “Just being with you like this... it feels right.”

I nodded, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. His scent - a mix of summer rain and something wild and untamed - filled my senses, making my head spin. Despite our agreement to take things slow, I couldn’t deny the pull I felt towards him. Every cell in my body seemed to cry out for more contact.

As if reading my thoughts, Atlas’s hand began to trail down my side, his touch igniting sparks along my skin even through the fabric of my pajamas. I shivered, pressing closer to him instinctively.

“Caden,” he breathed, his voice husky. “I know we said we’d take things slow, but... can I kiss you again?”

My heart raced at his words. I pulled back slightly to meet his gaze, seeing the same hunger I felt reflected in his golden eyes. Without hesitation, I nodded, unable to find my voice. Atlas smiled softly before leaning in, his lips meeting mine in a tender kiss. Unlike our frantic kisses from earlier, this one was slow and sweet, as if he was savoring every moment.

My hands found their way to his chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath his shirt. Atlas growled low in his throat, deepening the kiss as his tongue traced the seam of my lips. I opened for him eagerly, moaning as his tongue slid against mine.

The kiss quickly grew heated, our bodies pressing closer together as passion overtook us. Atlas’s hand slipped under my shirt, his warm palm splaying across my lower back. I arched into his touch, wanting more.

“So,” he said, clearing his throat as he pulled away, his cheeks a blaze of pink. “Where… uh… do you want to go on our first date?”

I couldn’t help but smile. Having this Alpha wolf so enamored with me was a new feeling, and one I was quickly learning to enjoy. He was so soft and sweet with me. It made me feel like the luckiest boy in the world.

“Let’s go somewhere private so we can get to know one another,” I offered. “Someplace you like to go.”

Atlas smiled, and that’s all it took to fill me with joy.