Bonds

-Maya's POV-

We stared at each other, the air thick with a silence that stretched on for what felt like an eternity. His eyes were now focused entirely on the mark that marred my shoulder. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, as if searching for the right words.

"Amaya," he finally managed, "..." The sentence trailed off unfinished, hanging heavy in the air.

My own hand instinctively reached up to touch the mark, my fingers traced the mark. The memory of Alex's mark, once vibrant in the same spot, flickered in my mind. It had faded over the years, mirroring the weakening of the bond after his rejection. Now, Ivan's mark sat boldly on top, a new claim etched onto my skin.

"You marked me," I whispered, the words catching slightly in my throat.

The silence returned, heavy and oppressive. He ran a hand through his hair, "I didn't..." he started, but I cut him off.

A grin, genuine and unexpected, split my face open. "You marked me," I repeated, this time with a hint of amusement dancing in my voice.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

His brow furrowed in confusion. "You're not... angry?" he stammered, clearly surprised by my reaction.

I shook my head slowly, letting my hand linger on the mark once more. "No," I smiled, a blush creeping up my cheeks that I couldn't quite control. "Actually," I continued, my voice dropping to a husky whisper, "I've wanted you to do this for a while now. I wanted you to claim me."

He held my gaze for a long moment, his eyes searching mine as if trying to decipher the truth behind my words. Then, a smile, slow and hesitant at first, spread across his face.

In a swift movement, he pulled me towards him, his arms wrapping tightly around my body. I melted into his embrace, the warmth of his touch a welcome comfort. He rested his forehead against mine, his breathing ragged and uneven.

"Thank you," he murmured into my ear, his voice thick with emotion. Those were the last coherent words I heard before sleep claimed me, pulling me into a world of dreams where worries and anxieties melted away.

When I finally opened my eyes, the room was bathed in the soft glow of dusk. The warmth of his body was no longer next to me, and a wave of disappointment washed over me. Pushing the feeling aside as quickly as it came, I pulled myself out of bed and made my way to the bathroom.

Standing in front of the mirror, I took stock of myself. My reflection showed me messy hair, tangled from sleep, and bright eyes that sparkled with a newfound happiness. But the first thing I noticed was the mark on my shoulder. The raw edges were starting to soften, the black ink losing its initial intensity. It would heal quickly, completely, if my wolf side wasn't so weak. But even with the delayed healing, the mark would eventually become a permanent brand on my skin, a constant reminder of the bond I now shared with Ivan.

But a nagging thought followed. For us to fully form the bond, I needed to do the same but my wolf would have to come to terms with it first. She had been eerily quiet. It wasn't a surprise - I knew she wouldn't agree with Ivan marking me. She was still attuned to Alex, forever marked by his rejection. But I also knew, with a deep certainty, that she would eventually understand.

The hurt and pain of Alex's betrayal was fading, replaced by a burgeoning hope for the future. Ivan, with his kindness and strength, was becoming more than just a welcome distraction. He was becoming my future.

"Thinking about ways to remove the mark already?" His voice startled me, cutting through the silence of the bathroom. There was a teasing Lit to his tone, but beneath it, I sensed a hint of doubt.

I turned around, ready to playfully scold him for sneaking up on me, but the playful banter died on my lips. He stood there, casually leaning against the doorway, his eyes fixed on the mark...

"No," I whispered, my voice surprisingly steady. "Just admiring how beautiful it'll look when it's fully healed."

He pushed himself off the door frame and walked towards me, his movements slow and deliberate. He stopped just a hair's breadth away, his eyes searching mine. Then, with a tendemess that took my breath away, he reached out and wrapped his hand around my waist, pulling me gently closer. Our bodies brushed, sending a jolt of electricity sparking through me.

"You Wer were gone when I woke up." I whispered, the question tumbling out before I could stop it.

He leaned back slightly, a flicker of apology crossing his face. "I'm sorry. Something came up that needed my attention."

"Is everything okay?" I couldn't help but ask, a sliver of worry creeping into my voice.

He gave me a reassuring smile. "Everything's under control. For now, at least." He didn't elaborate, and I knew better than to push. There were things he couldn't share with me, burdens of the pack leadership that weighed heavily on him.

Instead, I changed the subject. "What is going to happen now?"

He didn't answer right aw away. His gaze drifted back to the mark on my shoulder, a silent conversation taking place between him and the symbol etched onto my skin.

"This changes things, Amaya. Marking you... it ties you to me, to the pack, to this war even if you have somehow been the center of it, now more than ever, you are a part."

"I know," I met his gaze head-on. "But I also know I don't want to be anywhere else." The words tumbled out, honest and raw, a confession of my growing feelings for him.

He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine as if looking for any sign of doubt or hesitation. Finding none, a slow smile spread across his face. It wasn't the usual charming grin he wore, but a genuine, heartfelt smile that reached his eyes.

"I don't want you anywhere else either," Then, he cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs gently stroking my cheekbones. "But I won't lie to you, Amaya. Things are going to get worse before they get better. The war with Alex, it's escalating. Your father..." he trailed off, his jaw clenching with frustration.

"We'll figure it out," I leaned into his touch. "Together."

He leaned down then, his lips brushing hesitantly against mine. The kiss was slow, tender, a promise whispered on the skin. I felt him harden as he deepened the kiss, "I want you again."

He turned me around to face the mirror, I caught our reflection in it. He stood behind me, his hungry eyes stared back sending shivers down my skin. His hands found their way to my hips and I moaned as he pressed himself into me. I could feel his hardness against my ass and my core tightened at the thought of him taking me from behind again, He dropped to his knees suddenly, spreading my legs and then running his tongue up my thigh from behind. His fingers brushed my fold and I let out a moan closing my eyes and my head falling backwards. "Open your eyes, watch yourself in the mirror." his voice cut through the haze.

I opened my eyes, staring into his hot m

gaze, our reflections glared at us. He dipped his tongue into my folds, he sucked my clit softly and! shivered at the sensation, tilting my pelvis closer to his mouth..

10:31 Sat, 22 Jun G Chapter 92

His fingers slipped inside of me slowly, stretching me open. My fingers dug into the countertop as I held on, leaning forward, bracing myself for what was about to come.

He slid his finger in and out of me slowly, gently pulling me closer to the edge. He added another finger, stroking me deeper inside. My head spun, my heart raced faster.

I was close. I could feel it.

"Please," I pleaded. "I need you."

His fingers moved faster, dipping in and out, one by one. Then he stopped abruptly, causing me to cry out in frustration. His hand left me, leaving me craving for more.

He rose, moving around the counter. He ran his fingers through my wet folds before grabbing my hips, lifting me off the ground until my legs were on either side of his waist.

Before I had time to realize what was happening, he pushed himself inside of me in one thrust. "Holy f*ck!" I screamed out in ecstasy, my walls gripped his cock tight.

He slammed into me with such force, pushing me closer to the edge. His hard thrusts forced me to grip the counter top, holding on as tight as I could.

My body tensed as the orgasm hit me, waves after waves of pleasure coursed through me couldn't catch my breath, my mind swam with lust, all I could think about was how good he felt inside of me.

My walls contracted around his dick and he groaned, releasing himself inside of me. We both stayeddiken that, our bodies still locked together. "F*ck," he whispered, planting his forehead against mine then his gaze bore into my eyes, "Come work for me."