Page 46 of Rebel for Claws
"Would they?" Vivian pulled back to meet his eyes, her face streaked with tears. "I've killed so many people, Alaric. Human operatives, corrupt pack members, anyone who threatened innocent lives. Sometimes I wonder if I'm any better than the monsters I fight."
"You are nothing like them," he said firmly, his grey eyes blazing with conviction. "Nothing. You fight to protect the innocent and to create a better world. They kill for power and control. There's no comparison."
His thumbs brushed away her tears with heartbreaking tenderness. "You can tell me anything, Vivian. Every dark thought, every painful memory, every fear that keeps you awake at night. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. You're not alone anymore, and you never will be again."
The promise in his voice broke something loose in her—a knot of isolation and self-protection she'd carried for two decades. Looking into his eyes, she saw truth and acceptance and a love so fierce it took her breath away.
This is what it means to have a fated mate. Someone who sees all your broken pieces and loves you anyway.
"I love you," she whispered, the words barely audible but carrying the weight of her entire heart.
"I love you too," he replied, his forehead resting gently against hers. "More than I ever thought possible. And I swear to you, we're going to make Thorne pay for everything he's done. To your family, to mine, to everyone who's suffered under his reign of terror."
The fire popped and settled, sending sparks up the chimney as snow continued to fall outside their temporary shelter. But wrapped in Alaric's arms, sharing her deepest pain with the man who would stand beside her through anything, Vivian finally felt the cold knot of grief in her chest begin to thaw.
Tomorrow they would face Thorne and reclaim their stolen evidence. Tonight, she was exactly where she belonged—in the arms of her loving, protective, perfect mate.
TWENTY
ALARIC
The fire crackled in the stone fireplace and illuminated the dark hut. Outside, the moon hung high in the sky, its silver light filtering through the cracks of the shuttered windows as snow continued to fall in silent, relentless waves. Vivian was wrapped in Alaric's arms, her head resting against his chest and her breathing steady but soft. She had just shared her deepest pain with him, and in that moment, he knew she trusted him completely. And she knew he would stand beside her through anything—through every trial, every battle, and every storm.
Alaric tilted her chin up with a gentle finger, his thumb brushing over her lower lip. Her eyes met his, glimmering with vulnerability and something deeper—something that made his chest tight. He leaned in, claiming her lips in a slow, tender kiss, pouring every ounce of his devotion into it. It was a promise, a vow, and a declaration all at once. Vivian responded immediately, her hands fisting in the fabric of his thermal shirt as she deepened the kiss, her need for him blazing through her every movement. Her hunger mirrored his own, and it ignited something primal within him, something he could no longer contain.
When they broke apart, both panting slightly, Alaric didn't hesitate. His hands moved to the hem of her thermal shirt, and she didn't stop him. They undressed each other with a desperation that bordered on frenzy, shedding layers until they were both gloriously naked, the firelight casting flickering shadows over their bodies. Vivian was breathtaking, her skin glowing like polished marble in the warm light, her curves perfectly sculpted, and her violet eyes dark with desire. Alaric's gaze raked over her, his wolf stirring restlessly, demanding possession.
"You're mine," he growled, the words low and rough, his Alpha instincts surging to the surface. "Every inch of you."
Vivian didn't argue. Instead, she pushed him back onto the worn rug, her hands firm and commanding as she straddled him. Her lips crashed into his, fierce and unrelenting, and Alaric could feel the raw, aching need in her touch. She kissed him like she was starving for him, and the thought sent a jolt of possessiveness through him. He gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her skin as she moved against him, her body flush against his.
But Vivian wasn't done. She broke the kiss, her lips trailing down his neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Alaric groaned, his head falling back as she bit down gently on the sensitive skin, her teeth sending shivers down his spine. She continued her descent, her lips brushing over his chest, his muscled abdomen, until she finally settled between his legs, her breath warm against his throbbing length.
"Vivian," he warned, his voice a low growl, but she ignored him.
Her hand wrapped around him, her touch firm yet tender, and his hips jerked instinctively. When her mouth followed, warm and wet and perfect, Alaric swore under his breath, his hands tangling in her hair. The sensation was overwhelming, hertongue and lips working in tandem to drive him to the edge of oblivion. He could feel his control slipping, the tension coiling tightly in his abdomen.
"Stop," he commanded, his voice rough with need. He pulled her off him, his hands gripping her shoulders as he sat up. "I want to be inside you when I come."
Vivian's eyes darkened, but she didn't argue. Instead, she leaned in, capturing his lips in another searing kiss as Alaric laid her back on the rug. His hands roamed her body, worshiping every inch of her as he returned the favor. He started at her neck, his lips trailing down her collarbone, her chest, and her stomach. He nipped and licked his way down her body, his touch deliberate and unhurried. When he reached her core, her breath hitched, and he looked up to see her watching him with hooded eyes, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Alaric," she whispered, her voice trembling with need.
He didn't make her wait. His tongue flicked over her sensitive clit, and Vivian's back arched off the ground, a moan escaping her lips. He kept his pace slow, savoring every sound she made and every shudder that ran through her body. Her hands fisted in his hair, urging him on, but he refused to rush. He wanted her unraveled, completely at his mercy.
Just as she was teetering on the edge, her body trembling with the promise of release, Alaric pulled away. Vivian let out a frustrated growl, her eyes blazing with both desire and irritation.
"You're cruel," she accused, her voice breathless.
Alaric smirked as he climbed on top of her and positioned his cock at her slick entrance. "You'll thank me in a moment," he promised, his voice thick with anticipation.
His eyes had shifted to gold, a sign of his wolf rising to the surface, and he pushed into her slowly, savoring the way her body stretched to accommodate him. He could feel every part ofher inner walls pressing against him, so warm and so tight, and it was enough to make his head spin.
Vivian's breath hitched, her hands digging into his shoulders as he filled her completely. "Alaric," she whispered, her voice shaky with raw need. She was already arching into him, her hips urging him to move.
But Alaric took his time, his thrusts deliberate, each one designed to drive them both to the brink of madness. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her ear as he growled, "Patience, Vivian."
She wasn't having it. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper, and she let out a frustrated groan. "Stop teasing me," she demanded, her voice laced with desperation. Her nails raked down his back, a sharp sting that only fueled his own desire.
