Thanks to Roman for denying me my dream.
Thanks to Ryker for believing in me.
Thanks to my damn self for not trusting my innate instincts.
“Well, you’re mine,” Roman said, lifting my chin. “And nobody will take what’s mine away from me again.” He paused for a moment. “But I have a lot of shit to make up for, Isabella, I know.”
I brushed some of his mud-coated hair behind his ear and smiled. “We can sort everything out when Ryker is dead,” I said because I couldn’t stand to have him lie to the Lycans any longer or to listen to him boast and brag about the number of rogues he killed.
He ordered the attacks. He paid the rogues to kill. He was the root of his own evil.
Just as I was about to pull away, Roman grasped my wrists and held them to his chest. “No.” He shook his head. “I’m not making the same mistake for a third time.” He gazed down at me, his eyes glowing as golden as the sun.
I pressed my lips together, yet my heart fluttered with so many butterflies when I saw his canines emerging from under his lips. “Roman, we talked about this. I have to leave.”
“I’m not letting you go without my mark.”
Without his mark.
Without his teeth in my neck.
Without his claim on me.
My heart hammered against my ribcage. Though I was covered in blood and mud and dirt from killing the rogues, this moment couldn’t have been more perfect. We were both warriors in the midst of the biggest battle we would probably ever face. Marking me in the time of war was the ultimate proclamation of acceptance.
I rested my hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat as quickly as my own. With his fingers lightly digging into my hips, he pulled me toward him and kissed me. One long, passionate kiss on the mouth.
And I didn’t taunt, tease, pester, or defy him that simple pleasure.
This time, I wanted him. I really wanted him. More than I wanted those late nights. More than I wanted to hurt him the way he hurt me. More than I wanted sex. Him. I wanted every part of him. The good. The bad. The worse.
I rested my head back against the tree and closed my eyes. He placed light kisses down my jaw to my neck. I shivered when his stubble tickled my skin and moved my head further to the side so he could claim me.
He drew his nose up the side of my neck and breathed unevenly in my ear, like he was holding back, like he was waiting for me to tell him that it was okay, that I needed him.
“Mark me, Roman,” I said breathlessly. “I’ve been waiting so long.”
In one moment, he laced his hand through my hair, pulled my head to the side, and grazed his teeth against my collarbone. My breathing hitched, and I curled my fingers into his chest. My wolf was quiet, awaiting his bite.
“I love the way you react to me, my dear Isabella.” He drew his canines up my neck until he found my soft spot. I moaned softly, my heart racing. And, without waiting a second more, he plunged his teeth into my skin andfinallyclaimed me.
My body shook with pleasure. Every emotion that I had ever felt for him hit me like a wall, and my eyes filled with tears. This moment… this was the moment that I would remember forever.
A tear slipped from my eye. I never thought I would get my moment.
Mom was right. This was pure joy.
He sunk his teeth deeper inside of me and stilled. After drawing me closer, he inhaled my scent, took me in, and connected with my wolf on a deeper level than alpha-omega. We were Alpha and Luna. King and Queen. Warrior and Warrior.
When he pulled his teeth out of me, blood dripped from them. My wound closed almost instantly, but his mark remained. I could feel a part of him whirling around inside of it.
I brushed my fingers against it and grinned. We had lied to each other, kept things from each other, were so damn angry at each other… but we ended up here. Together.
“Mine,” he whispered against my lips.
“Isabella,” Raj called through the woods.
I turned my head in his direction, but Roman turned it back to face him. “Mine.”
