Page 57 of Rebel for Claws
"Politics be damned," he continued, his voice heavy with emotion and determination. "Consequences be damned. This is what we need to do to protect our people because we literally don't have any other choice right now."
Vivian felt her heart slam against her ribs as she saw the absolute certainty blazing in his eyes. This wasn't the uncertain, brooding Alpha from dinner. This was the man who had escaped impossible captivity, who had survived three decades of manipulation, and who had just made the most important decision of his life without a moment's hesitation.
"Are you sure?" she whispered, though she could already feel the answer thrumming through their partial bond.
Alaric's thumb traced the line of her cheekbone, his touch both tender and possessive. "I've never been more certain of anything in my life."
His hands moved to her waist, lifting her effortlessly as though she weighed nothing. Vivian's breath hitched, her pulse quickening at the raw, commanding energy radiating from him. He carried her out of the dining room and up the grand staircaseto his private chambers, his stride quick and purposeful. Vivian couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation coil deep within her. The urgency of the moment was palpable but so was the undeniable pull of the mate bond between them.
This is it. No more hesitation. No more waiting.
He kicked open the door to his private chambers with a force that made the hinges groan. The room was dimly lit, the fire in the hearth casting a warm, golden glow over the opulent space. Alaric set her down gently, his hands lingering on her hips as he stepped back just enough to meet her gaze. His storm-grey eyes had shifted to gold, the wolf within him rising to the surface, and the intensity of his stare made her shiver.
"We don't have time to savor this," he said, his voice low and rough, "but I'll make it count."
Vivian nodded, her hands already moving to remove his shirt. "You better."
Their movements were frantic, their clothes falling to the floor in a messy heap as they undressed each other. Vivian's heart pounded in her chest, every touch of his hands igniting a fire that spread through her veins. She could feel the urgency in his touch, the desperation in the way his lips claimed hers, but there was also a tenderness that made her chest ache. This wasn't just about completing their mate bond or the looming war outside—it was about them, about the connection that had been denied for centuries by suppression and manipulation.
When they were finally naked, standing before each other in the firelight, Vivian took a moment to drink him in. Alaric was every inch the Alpha—tall, broad-shouldered, his body a perfect blend of power and grace. And now, this Alpha was hers.
He guided her toward the bed with a gentleness that belied the urgency of their situation, laying her down on the soft sheets. His hands roamed over her body, his lips leaving a trail of fire as he kissed her collarbone, her breasts, and her stomach. Vivianarched into his touch, a moan escaping her lips as his mouth found her core. The sensation was electric, and for a moment, she lost herself in the pleasure he was giving her.
But the reality of their situation came crashing back, and she reached down to grasp his hair, pulling him up to meet her gaze. "We don't have time for this," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Alaric's eyes burned into hers, and he nodded once, his jaw tightening with resolve. He shifted positions, laying back on the bed and pulling her on top of him. "Take control," he said, his voice a low growl. "Show me what you need."
Vivian didn't hesitate. She straddled his body and guided his cock to her entrance. The feeling of his hard length pressing against her made her breath catch, and she slowly lowered herself onto him, inch by agonizing inch. The sensation of being filled by him was overwhelming, and she had to pause for a moment to adjust, her head falling back as a soft moan escaped her lips.
"Look at me," Alaric commanded, his hands gripping her hips tightly.
Vivian obeyed, her eyes locking with his. There was so much emotion in his gaze—love, desire, determination—and it made her heart ache. She began to move, slowly at first, her body adjusting to the rhythm of their union. But as the heat between them built, her movements became more frantic, driven by the need for him to claim her fully, and to make this moment count.
Alaric's hands moved to her waist, guiding her as she rode him, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're mine," he growled softly. "And I'm yours."
Vivian leaned down, her lips capturing his in a hungry kiss. The kiss was filled with everything they couldn't put into words—fear, love, desperation, and hope. When she pulled back, sheburied her face in the crook of his neck, her body moving faster and the tension within her building with every thrust.
"Mark me," she whispered. "Do it now."
Alaric turned his head, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of her neck over the partial mate mark. The sensation sent a jolt of electricity through her body, and she cried out as he sank his teeth deep into her flesh. The pain was sharp but brief, quickly replaced by a wave of pleasure so intense it threatened to overwhelm her. She felt the mate bond between them snap into place, a flood of emotions and sensations crashing over her like a tidal wave.
Her orgasm hit her like a thunderclap, her body convulsing as waves of pleasure ripped through her. Alaric followed her over the edge, his hips jerking as he spilled himself deep inside her. The room seemed to spin, the world narrowing down to just the two of them.
When the aftershocks finally subsided, Vivian collapsed onto his chest, her breathing ragged. Alaric's arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly as though he never wanted to let go. The mate bond pulsed intensely between them, a constant presence that anchored her to him.
"It's done," Alaric murmured. "You're mine forever, Vivian."
She lifted her head to meet his gaze, her heart swelling with love for the man who had defied centuries of tradition and danger to claim her as his mate. "And you're mine," she whispered, brushing a kiss against his lips. "Forever."
TWENTY-SIX
ALARIC
Alaric lay sprawled across his king-sized bed with Vivian's naked body draped across his chest like a living masterpiece. Her pale blonde hair cascaded over his shoulder in silken waves, and he could feel her warm breath ghosting across his collarbone with each exhale. Their completed mate bond sang vibrantly between them—no longer the tentative connection of before, but a living, breathing entity that pulsed with ancient power.
Christ, what have we just unleashed?
The moment his teeth had broken Vivian's skin, completing their mate bond, Alaric had felt something fundamental shift within his very DNA. The partial activation from their previous encounter had been nothing compared to this. Where before his senses had been enhanced a hundredfold, now they seemed to stretch beyond the physical realm entirely. He could hear the heartbeat of every creature on his estate, smell the distinct scent signatures of his staff two floors below, and feel the vibration of footsteps through the stone foundation.
