Page 22 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter (Moonbound Mates #3)

JAVI

I wake up with my knot still nestled inside Peaches, her cunt warm and wet around me, her head tucked against my chest, red curls spilling like fire across my throat. One of her arms is thrown across my ribs, her fingers curled lightly in the center of my chest like she never meant to let go.

I don’t know what time it is. It’s still dark outside, the only sound the waves crashing against the support beams of the Rig, a deep-throated rhythm like the earth breathing around us.

She’s breathing slow. Peaceful.

It should be enough to keep me grounded. But I can’t stop the low pulse of anxiety rising in my chest—because morning’s coming, and when the sun rises, I’ll have to leave her. I’ll have to pretend this never happened.

I’ll have to act like I didn’t fall in love with her last night.

She stirs. Just the softest twitch of her fingers against my chest—but her brow furrows, and I know she feels it. The bond is real now. Her bite still burns on my neck, and my blood is in her veins just like hers is in mine.

She can feel it all. My panic. My shame. My fear.

And maybe that’s why she tightens around me—instinct or comfort or some silent signal that she’s still here, that she’s mine. Her cunt clenches and my hips jerk forward without thought, desire licking up my spine like wildfire.

Her lips part, a sleepy little gasp slipping out, and I press my mouth to her temple.

Her scent is everywhere. On my skin, in my sheets, soaked into my cock and buried in my chest.

My mate.

I rock my hips again, just enough to move inside her, and the barest friction makes her whimper, lashes fluttering open.

“You’re beautiful,” I whisper, my voice like gravel. My eyes trail over the constellation of bite marks dotting her shoulder, her breast, the inside of her thigh. “I can’t stop looking at you.”

She shifts, presses her nose against my throat like she’s hiding—and then breathes out the words that make my wolf snarl in satisfaction.

“Fuck me again.”

It’s not a question. It’s a promise.

I slide my hand over her lower back, down to her thigh, and lift it across my hip to cradle her close, spooning her from behind. Her breath catches as I roll into her, my knot still swollen, my cock twitching with how good she feels around me.

“Javi,” she breathes.

“I know, Peach,” I murmur against her shoulder. “Come for me, mate.”

Her body obeys. Of course it does. Her cunt grips me tight, her hips jerking as slick gushes down my length, coating my shaft in the evidence of her pleasure. My hand splays across her belly as she arches back into me, her pulse thrumming under my lips.

And still—she keeps coming.

She gasps again, and I feel the second orgasm hit before she even realizes it. Her pussy flutters around me, desperate and wet and so fucking perfect, and I kiss her cheek as she writhes in my arms.

I don't move—not yet.

I want to stay inside her for as long as I can.

But when her body finally softens, when her breathing slows and her heartbeat calms, I ease myself out of her with care. She makes a soft, sleepy sound at the loss, and my hand instinctively moves to soothe her, to pet her curls, to trace the bite I left above her heart.

My knot slips free and I feel the warm trickle of my seed leaking down her thighs.

I’ve marked her. Claimed her. Filled her so full there will be no mistaking it—she’s mine, inside and out.

She always will be.

I let my hand rest over her belly, my nose in her hair, and let myself pretend for one long, quiet moment.

Pretend this is our home, that I’ll get to kiss her every morning like this, that we’re safe…but we’re not.

This isn’t our bed.

It’s a prison cell with clean sheets.

And in just a few hours, I’ll be forced to leave her behind—to fish, to obey, to act like I’m one of them.

Peaches rolls over and looks me in the eye as she cuddles against me, unable to extract herself from me—not that I would want to. She looks concerned, her lips tilting down and her brows raising.

“Don’t worry,” she says, her fingers grazing over the bite she left on my neck. “We’re connected through the bond.”

“I know.”

“And I know how to hide,” she says. “Your scent is all over me, no one will touch me.”

“I don’t trust this,” I say. “He’s separating us for a reason.”

“He just wants your ear,” she says. “He’s going to try to turn you against me.”

“He won’t be able to,” I reply.

I take her chin in my hand, run my thumb over her lower lip and the tiny nip I placed there. “You’re my first and only priority. And if I get my way, he’ll be dead before we leave here.”

Her eyes widen, and I wonder if I’ve misstepped. But she’s not all sweetness—not when it comes to the man who killed her mother and who’s keeping us prisoner, who’s imposed horrible rules on the omegas here.

“He’s strong,” she says. “Dangerous. And every other alpha here has his back.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” I say. “And as far as him being strong…I’m stronger.”

“I believe you,” she says, “but I don’t want it to come to that.”

“He deserves to die for what he’s done.”

Peaches’ eyes shine like she’s about to cry. “Please be careful.”

I wrap her in my arms and tuck her head under my chin, reveling in the way it feels to pull my mate into my embrace. She’s not in heat—she can’t be, not this far out from the full moon—but I’m still wild for her, almost unable to resist another round.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” I tell her. “I’m a survivor.”

“But you shouldn’t have to be,” she says. “Neither of us should.”

My cold, dark heart twists and aches. This is what I was afraid of.

She’s gonna break right through all the walls I’ve put up.

I roll out of bed and tousle my hair, finding that I can’t shake her scent.

I run water to the bath, at least to dunk my head in and collect myself.

There are still hours until morning, I think—but I need to focus and toughen up again.

I can’t stay in this soft place with this soft girl and her wild hair and round hips…

Her arms come around my waist from behind, one hand on my ribs and the other over my heart.

I didn’t even hear her get up, her steps so light as to be imperceptible.

Makes sense for someone who’s had to do a lot of hiding in their life.

I let a breath out as she wraps herself around me, her cheek on my back, her breath puffing out on sweat-slick skin.

“Please don’t pull away from me, Javi,” she says. “I can help you be strong.”

I cover the hand over my heart, curling my fingers around hers. My instinct is to wrench her hand off of me, but even when it’s necessary, I just can’t be cruel to Peaches.

Fuck…why do I feel like she’s going to get us both killed?

“Don’t get you get it, Peach?” I ask. “You’re my greatest weakness.”

Her voice is small when she replies. “I don’t want to make your life harder.”

I turn to face her, lifting her chin to look at me. She’s so small—so delicate, so kind. This world is no place for someone like her, and I want nothing more than to shelter her and make her feel safe.

“It’s not like that,” I say.

“Then what’s it like?”

“I know things are different in Austin, but most places—most packs—they use the things you love against you,” I say. “The only way to get out intact is to go it alone, and I’m not willing to do that with you.”

“So you don’t think we’re going to get out?” she asks, voice high and reedy.

“No, I do,” I say, pulling her in and trying to soothe her. “Because I’m gonna fight like hell for you. We just have to survive.”

“I would fight for you too,” she says, her voice muffled against my skin.

I almost laugh at the idea of her fighting anyone—let alone the alphas on this ship. I’ve seen some tough omegas out there, but Peaches isn’t one of them.

“It’s my duty as your mate to fight for you,” I tell her. “To protect you.”

“I don’t want you to have to protect me at all,” she says.

“But that’s the way it is,” I remind her. “And remember—it’s my fault you’re here in the first place. Don’t feel bad for me.”

“I don’t,” she says. “I just love you and I don’t want to see you hurt.”

She’s already hurt me with her words more than anyone else could with their claws and teeth. I’m still certain I don’t deserve her—that hasn’t changed—but I’m helpless when it comes to giving her what she wants…and I know it will be easier to keep her safe now.

“Promise me you won’t put yourself at risk for me,” she says.

I don’t respond.

Because yeah…that’s not gonna happen.

I lean down to splash cold water on my face before turning off the spigot and sitting back on my heels. Peaches puts her hands on my shoulders and starts rubbing them slowly, methodically. It feels great on my sore muscles, but I shake her off.

“Are you having a bath?”

I glance back at her. “No—I want to make sure the others can scent our mating. Don’t want any doubts that this is real.”

“Were there doubts…?”

I nod. “Abel knew. You didn’t tell me you and him used to be a thing.”

She snorts. “I wouldn’t describe it that way.”

I watch her as she comes around in front of me and my whole body sings when she straddles me. Her pussy is still wet with her own arousal and my seed, and my cock begs to be buried in her again. I lean down to kiss her collarbone instead, pulling her snug against me.

Fuck…if it were up to me, I would stay here forever and fuck this gorgeous girl.

“Tell me about them,” I say. “Gideon, Ephraim, Abel…”

“I’d rather do something else,” she purrs, shifting suggestively. “Not exactly what I want to talk about while I’m…you know.”

I look up to find her brown eyes glazed with desire.

Jesus, I wanna give in.

But we still have work to do.

“It’s to help us escape,” I say. “They’re not a united front—I want to know more.”

She bites her lip, but I don’t make another move. Sex can wait; getting away can’t.