Page 44 of Shattered and Saved

With a husky, possessive growl, he flipped me around. His erection pressed against my ass, and I instinctively arched my back to intensify the friction. He responded with a sudden move I wasn’t expecting. Holding my waist with one hand, he pressed the other to my back, forcing me down to bend me over the desk.

Shit, this was new for me - and I think I liked it.

I didn’t complain when he grabbed my wrists, guiding them behind my back to ground me against the cool surface. When I was restrained enough to his liking, he entered me with a slow, tender push.

Every inch of him stretched me with impossible calm, as if he wanted to show me how perfectly he fit me. He moved with a rhythm that matched the beating of my heart - steady, comforting, a gentle reminder that we were more deeply connected than I’d ever wanted to admit.

There was no rush, no frantic need, no fight for power. This was different. The usual blinding lust had been replaced by a passion more intense than I’d ever experienced.

Koen’s breath quickened against my skin, his movements growing more erratic, each one slightly more desperate than the last. At last, he released my wrists, clinging to my waist instead, both to pull me harder against him, and to secure me in place, as if he wanted to make sure I wouldn’t slip away. His lips brushed my shoulder, his groan low and ragged as the pace of his thrusts began to falter, a sign that the end was coming - inevitable, but in no rush.

I shuddered in response, a wave of warmth pooling deep inside me, and I gave into it, letting myself fall into him completely. The tension that had built up over the last few minutes snapped, my body tightening around him in an unspoken surrender. I cried out softly, the sound swallowed by his chest as he pressed me against him, not allowing me to retreat, not even for a second.

He stiffened behind me, a roar of satisfaction vibrating through his chest as his release followed mine, filling me to the brim with his hot cum. When he was done, we stayed there, bodies intertwined, holding onto each other as if time itself had come to a standstill. The world outside the office didn’t exist. There was only us - quiet, spent, breathing together as one.

Koen pulled away just enough to turn me around, drawing me into his arms with a tenderness that felt like home. Resting my head against his chest, I melted into the warmth of his embrace, and then, in a voice that trembled with sincerity, he confessed, “I love you, Avril.”

My eyes shot open, caught off guard by his words, but before I could even process them, he went on, “More than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything. I always have.” When I remained silent, still in shock, he added, “I’m sorry if it’s too soon. You don’t have to say it back if-”

“I love you too,” I interrupted, my voice coming out more quickly than I intended. As he stilled, I waited for my breath to steady, pulling away slightly, enough to look into his eyes and repeat, “I love you, Koen.”

At that moment, with his arms still around me, I knew it was true. He was mine, and I was his. And nothing else mattered.

27

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K O E N

I had never feltmore connected with Avril than I did in the moment we shared at her office. Suddenly, it seemed as though we weren’t worlds apart. We were closer than ever, bonded by more than just primal need - finally ready to confront our differences and work through them instead of ignoring them.

After we left the office, clad in our robes, I returned to my cottage to wash away the dust, blood, and sweat. Avril, on the other hand, simply changed into more appropriate clothes, not bothering to shower before hurrying off to talk to Waylon, saying it was more urgent than anything else.

Columbus wasn’t pleased with the idea of her meeting with that bastard so soon after mating with us. I, on the other hand, felt an inexplicable satisfaction in knowing she’d face him while covered in my scent, my seed still fresh inside her. I wished I could see his face when he caught my scent on every inch of her, but even if I couldn’t, the thought alone was entertaining enough.

As I tried to contain my victorious smile, I reminded myself that Avril was never a prize to be won.

But I had won her anyway.

When she was done, she came to see me in my cottage. Although she refused to tell me what went down in detail, sheassured me he had been reprimanded accordingly. As much as my wolf and I would rather settle things between us and Waylon on our own, I would never defy Avril’s authority. She was the alpha, and it was up to her to decide how to keep the order within her pack.

Following the eventful morning, Avril and I spent the rest of the day together, unwinding. Normally, she would have work to do, but whenever a challenger succeeded in the trials, everyone took the day off. At night, we ended up together in her bed again.

When morning came, I slowly opened my eyes to admire her. She looked most peaceful in her sleep, and watching her rest had become one of my favorite pastimes. Her beauty was regal, like that of a queen, as her tan skin glowed with golden hues when the first light of day streamed through the half-open curtains, dancing across her face.

My queen.

As we spooned, she shifted in my embrace, gradually coming out of her slumber. Electric blue eyes fluttered open, crystalline pools so deep I wanted to dive into them. A carefree smile spread over her lips as she realized I was already awake, and she turned to look at me.

“You know, that habit of yours is kinda creepy,” she uttered groggily.

I couldn’t hold back a chuckle at her humorous remark. “I’m afraid I can’t help it,” I confessed.

She rolled her eyes, but I noticed her lips curl further. Diving my face into the crook of her neck, I planted a soft kiss on her skin, enjoying the way she tingled with goosebumps before I finally released her. Rolling to the other side of the bed, I sat on the edge and started gathering my clothes from the floor.

As I pulled on my T-shirt, I heard Avril shift on the mattress, rolling onto her side to face my back. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“I should probably get back to my cottage before everyone else wakes up and I’m seen leaving the alpha chambers,” I answered, half-joking.

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