Page 53 of Shattered and Saved

When I made it to the top floor of the packhouse, my friends were already waiting for me outside. I quickly opened the door and they followed me inside. After taking my seat, I told them my concerns.

“By now, the destruction of Blood Rose must have been reported,” I observed. “The Elder Council has probably just arrived at the scene of a bloodbath, with no peculiar wolf shifter to study. When they ask questions, I want to be able to answer all of them, leaving no room for questions and finding anything we don’t want them to find.”

“That’s why you’re planning on confessing that Azure Smoke is responsible for the massacre?” Rhea wondered.

I nodded. “They already know about our existence - they just don’t know exactly what we are. I want them to continue to believe we’re merely an emerging pack of regular wolf shifters with skilled warriors and a unique fighting strategy,” I explained. “We just need to come up with a reason to justify our attack on Blood Rose, and make sure there are no holes in our story.”

While the three of them exchanged thoughtful glances, a knock sounded at the door. His scent had reached me the moment he started walking down the hallway. Without hesitation, I called out for him to come in.

As Koen scoured the room, understanding what was happening, I playfully said, “Morning, Sleeping Beauty.”

Focusing his attention on me, he frowned. “You could have woken me,” he mumbled, squaring his shoulders and raising his head as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

After Koen joined us, we continued our discussion for the next hour or so. I hadn’t expected to craft a detailed, convincing lie in such a short time; this was just the initial step - brainstorming and raising key points to consider later. Thankfully, we likely had at least a couple of days before the Council launched their witch hunt, and I intended to use all the time we had.

When we were done, I dismissed my friends, asking Koen to stay. Anxiety settled over me as I questioned whether this was truly the right time. Kea’s voice echoed in my mind, urging me not to be a coward. In the end, I listened - I couldn’t wait any longer.

Allowing Koen to tag along on the mission had been a final test - the last confirmation I needed. It wasn’t that I doubted his capability, but I wanted my pack to see his potential too. I had waited for the chance to witness how he would work alongside the Ashen Wolves, and once again, he had exceeded every expectation.

With a sigh, I braced myself for something I’d been wanting to do for a long time.

“What’s so secretive that the alpha can’t even discuss it with her team?” Koen joked, but the quickening of his heartbeat, matching mine, betrayed his nerves.

Closing my eyes, I pushed away the rising tide of nervousness. When I opened them again, I met his gaze and said, “I want you as my chosen mate, Koen.”

Time seemed to freeze. Koen’s expression shifted, his shoulders sagging as his defenses crumbled. His mouth opened,but no words came out. He stared at me, a mix of confusion and disbelief etched across his face, as though he doubted the moment was real.

Drawing a deep breath, I stepped closer, my voice softer, more pleading than I intended. “Lead with me,” I whispered. “Be my King. My Alpha Consort.”

After a brief pause, I placed my hand on his chest, leaning in as my words brushed against his lips. “My mate.”

His eyes fluttered shut as he pressed his forehead to mine. Our noses grazed, and he inhaled my scent like it was his lifeline, releasing a low, melodic groan. His hand slid up my chest to cradle the side of my neck, his thumb gently tracing my jawline. I waited for him to close the distance between us, but instead, he pushed me back - firmly, but only slightly.

When my eyes met his, they were wide with intensity. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice soft but insistent.

A chuckle slipped past my lips. “As sure as I’ve ever been.”

At last, he brought his lips to mine - urgent yet tender, love and lust perfectly balanced. Grasping my thighs, he lifted me effortlessly, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck. As our tongues intertwined, I didn’t care where he was taking me, though I vaguely recognized the blurry surroundings of the alpha chambers as he gently set me down.

Eager to feel his warmth against my skin, I broke our kiss briefly to tug his shirt over his head, my hands instantly gravitating to his muscular chest the moment he was bare. In response, he slipped off my tank top, skillfully unfastening my bra to let my breasts fall free. He immediately cupped both of them, ripping a moan from me.

Without thinking, I reached to unzip my pants, but he stopped me, catching me off guard. “I’ll take care of it,” he murmured, his voice a soothing promise. He trailed kisses down my chin and neck until his lips closed around one of my nipples.

“Fuck, Koen,” I breathed out, letting my head fall back as I let pleasure take over, my fingers wrapping around his hair.

As his tongue flicked over my hardened nipple, his thumb and index finger captured the other, teasing with perfect precision. He sucked, pinched, nipped, circled, licked, and massaged - pushing all the right buttons, proving he knew my body better than I did.

Suddenly, he replaced his mouth with his other hand as he dropped to his knees, leaving me curious but never disappointed. While his fingers continued their magic, I glanced down to see him unzipping my pants. In one swift motion, he pulled them down along with my underwear. After planting a single, lingering kiss just below my belly button, he surprised me again by pressing his nose between my folds. A gasp escaped me as my thighs instinctively clenched around his face.

He lifted his face slowly, a long, delicious groan reverberating against my core before his half-lidded eyes met mine. “Do you like seeing me like this, Alpha? On the floor, submitting to you?”

Fuck, yes,I agreed in my mind as I bit my lip. Looking down at this powerful man surrendering his dominance stirred the animal inside me. Kea was going wild in my head, fire burning in our eyes as we both craved what he would do next.

“You’re the only one I’ll ever kneel for,” he said, staring directly into my eyes. “My Queen,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to my clit, sending shivers through me. “My Alpha.” He repeated the gesture, breathing in deeply before finishing with, “My mate.”

Shit,he was going to make me come with just his words.

“Stop teasing,” I half-commanded, half-begged, my eyes darkening as I added, “Be done with it and eat me like I’m your last damn meal.”

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