The Wolf's Prey (30 page)

"Alpha Thompson
informed me he told you a way to secure your mate."

"He didn't tell
me anything. Secure her in what way? A pup? We've figured that out
already." I say, getting in the car. The man that drove us here
gets behind the steering wheel as we pile into the car.

We're all seated
when Beta Martin turns in his seat to look at me. "No, not by a
pup. By her marking you."

It clicks in my
head what he's talking about. "Alpha Thompson told you of
this?"

He nods. "He told
me and your mate."

"When?" I
question. If Jocelyn had found out did she have time to tell me? If
so why is she hesitating? The feelings she felt when I left aren't
putting me at ease.

"I don't know.
Alpha Thompson told me the day she was attacked. He said he was
going to tell you and your mate."

"So, you don't
know for certain he told me mate?"

"No, I assumed he
had when she came into the office today. Since he told her about
the Rhys situation, I'm sure he told her about marking
you."

Even if he had
told Jocelyn, she didn't have enough time to talk to me about it.
The knot in my gut lessens knowing that.

Jocelyn's
POV

After asking
everyone to leave I think about what I want and can only come up
with one answer, Lennox. My heart is his, but I need to convince
him that he can talk to me. I want more than his reassurances, I
want the truth.

It's getting late
but I've made sure to focus on what Lennox is feeling. So far no
pain has registered only irritation, frustration and confusion. I
decide to pack our things which isn't much for Lennox. I pick up
his dirty jeans and boxers and a black box falls to the ground. I
look at it briefly before picking it up. Caressing the velvet box I
sit on the edge of the bed and debate whether to open it or
not.

I can't open it,
it might not even be a ring. I set the box next to me on the bed
and stand up to pack the rest of our thing. Why would he get me a
ring now? It's not unusual for couples to give each other rings. It
just seems odd, I can't picture Lennox taking the time to look for
one.

I finish cleaning
my room not wanting to leave a mess behind and pace the floor. I
know I have nothing to be alarmed or nervous about, but I'm itching
to get back home and for things to go back to normal.

I hear the door
open and spin around quickly as Lennox walks into the room. I turn
running to his open arms hugging him tightly.

*********

Its
Official

Jocelyn's Pov

After
embracing I can tell something is off about Lennox, it’s like he's
on edge. He doesn't say much and I realize it’s not the time to
demand that we talk about things between us. I brush it off as his
anxiousness and need to get back to the pack. I don't know what
happened with Alpha Rhys, but it can't be good. I notice him pick
up the black velvet box and slip it in his pocket, obviously not
caring that I've seen the box.

We leave
shortly after saying a quick goodbye to everyone.

The whole
trip back to the pack is silent; it’s almost like he's angry with
me, but I can’t tell for sure. With Lennox I don't know where his
moods come from. If he’s happy, sad, mad or content he's always the
same, silent. I have decided to tell him about the marking after we
talk about his lack of communication with me and the lies. I need
him to realize I deserve to know the truth even if it’s unpleasant.
If he wants to be my mate then he'll treat me as an equal, not a
fragile piece of glass.

As he
parks the car in the garage his silence is starting to grate on my
nerves, if he’s upset about something he should tell me. He opens
the back and takes out our bags and I hold the door open for him. I
follow him to our room and as soon as the bags hit the floor I've
had enough. "What’s going on Lennox?"

He
straightens up and turns to me. "Nothing."

I'm not
surprised by his answer. "Something is wrong. Talk to me, please."
I plead, tiredly.

"It's
been a long day." He replies, deflecting my question.

"Yes, it
has. What happened with Rhys?" I ask, trying to be understanding
and patient with him.

"Wesley,
Wendy's brother killed him for his deception towards
Wendy."

"She had
a brother in Rhys’ pack?"

He nods
simply and doesn't explain, but he doesn't need too. Usually, the
only reason families are separated are lost challenges and
mating’s. "You seem angry about something." I point out, walking
closer to him.

"I'm not
angry."

 
"Lennox, I am seconds away from shaking
you. Talk to me! It shouldn't be this hard to open up to me. We're
mates treat me like one!"

"Mates!"
He shouts back making me jump. I have heard him raise his voice,
just never at me. As soon as I feel myself shrink back I snap back
and push his chest steeling my spine. I stand straight up glaring
back at him, refusing to back down.

"Yes,
mates." I reply, staring at his burning eyes. I won’t show him how
scared of him I am, but I know he can feel it. I try to calm my
racing heart and control my breathing. 

"I know
about Alpha Thompson telling you to mark me and you haven't said a
word about it. Second thoughts, babe?" He questions, his anger
intensifying.

Confused
and surprised he would think I was changing my mind, I open my
mouth to respond and nothing comes out. "You're not getting out of
this. You're mine."

Finding
my voice finally, I respond softly, "I wouldn't want it any other
way. I was going to tell you. I just wanted to talk to you
first."

He scoffs
and turns around walking to the bathroom and slamming the door. He
doesn't believe me! I grit me teeth and storm towards the closed
door. I turn the knob and push it open with all my strength,
hearing the satisfying bang against the wall. The shower is running
and Lennox has his shirt off, he drops it to the floor and I cross
my arms glaring at him. "If you want me as a mate then start
treating me like one. You're the only one I want, but I need to
know you think of me as someone you can talk to, someone you can
confide in otherwise we're nothing. I realize you think you are
protecting me but you’re not, you're alienating me from your life."
I explain sadly, practically begging him to see what he’s doing to
us.

Top of Form

He nods stiffly,
I can see he’s taking in my words and thinking about what I'm
saying. "I didn’t see it like that." I watch as he turns off the
shower and looks back at me.

"I know. That's
why I wanted to talk to you first." I say, feeling like a ton of
bricks being lifted off of me. This is what he’s feeling, he
thought the worst and instead of confronting me about it he’s
carried it around all day. Feeling sorry that I didn't address the
issue either, I see that he’s not the only one not communicating
openly. I should have told him about the marking sooner.

He steps towards
me and I meet him. He wraps his arms around me and leans down
nuzzling his face in my hair. "So, no second thoughts?" He
inquires, needing reassurance.

I smile. "No, no
second thoughts. Just anger with you for spearing my feelings and
not being truthful with me."

"I felt that. I
knew you were upset when I left. I promise you, you won’t feel that
way ever again." He states, firmly.

I hug him
tighter. "I love you."

He pulls away and
bends down looking under the sink cabinet. When he stands back up
he has a box of condoms. "Oh, now you want to play it safe." I say,
smirking.

"It’s not that I
want to, just that I will until you're ready."

"Thank you." I
reply, happy that he’s taking my feelings into account.

He nods and sets
the condoms on the counter top. He steps closer bringing his hands
to rest on my hips and lifts me until I'm sitting next to the box
of condoms with my legs spread and him standing between
them.

Kissing me
sweetly and pulling away. His eyes burn into mine. "Mark me." He
orders, softly his voice sounding husky.

"Now?" I ask,
stupidly.

"Now." he
replies.

"Shouldn't we do
that in bed?" I question, knowing that a true mating can be very
intense and sexual. Agreeing that the counter-top isn't the best
place to consummate our mating he carries me and the box of condoms
to the bed.

{Sexually Explicit}

Lennox lays me on
the bed and undresses me slowly. His eyes touching every part of my
body like he’s committing it to memory. His rough hands caress the
most sensitive parts of my skin making it burn and tingle with
need. When the time comes for him to undress, I watch him utterly
entranced by the movement of his muscles as he works on such a
simple task.

I can’t keep from
blushing as he opens the box of condoms and puts one on. He
watches me the whole time never breaking eye contact. When he leans
over me kissing me deeply I moan with excitement and dig my fingers
in his hair. Feeling him enter me I pull away from the kiss and
pull his hair until he exposes the side of his neck. I lick the
spot I'm about to mark and hear him groan. Putting my mouth on his
neck I bite down until the skin breaks and the taste of blood
reaches my tongue. Instantly a flood of sensations comes over me,
changing me. I feel myself become more aware and the mark on my
neck burns slightly.

The need to be
fulfilled is overwhelming as Lennox slams himself into me with an
almost brutal force. I feel my pleasure mounting with each thrust
and call out his name in a haze of passion. By the time Lennox
finds his release my legs are sore and I've been pleasured
repeatedly. My eye lids heavy, I curl up to Lennox's warm body
murmuring, "I love you."  

"I love you,
too." Is his reply, before I feel him shift and leave the bed. I
open one eye and watch him sleepily. He goes to his discarded pants
and takes out the black ring box and walks back to the bed with it.
Sliding back under the covers he pulls me to his side and opens the
box. "I wanted to give you this. It was my grandmothers." He takes
out the princess cut diamond ring and shows it to me.

"Its beautiful."
I say, as he slides it on my hand. "Thank you."

"Almost as
beautiful as you." He says, kissing the ring on my finger and
looking into my eyes. I know at this moment I couldn't love him
more.

*******
Bottom of Form

The Big Day

September 22

I look at myself
in the mirror; today's my birthday. Today's the day of the
challenge and the day of Lennox's and my commitment party. My whole
family and all of our friends are here. I nervously fix my snow
white dress and leave the room. I see Marta and Thompson talking
quietly with each other in front of the room she's staying in. They
both turn towards me when I close the door. Marta blushes lightly,
which is such rarity I almost gasp.

"Hey guys." I
greet them awkwardly.

"Happy birthday,
sis." Marta replies warmly.

I smile, even
though it's not really my birthday. This is the day I want to
celebrate every year. Thinking of my real birthday, I'll only think
of being taken away. At least with this birthday, I’ll share it
with one of the best sisters a girl could ask for. "Thanks. I see
you two are becoming close." I say, smirking. I've never gotten to
tease Marta about a man before, I can't pass up this
opportunity.

"Ye-"

We hear a
commotion coming from the room across from Marta's. "Jessica?" I
call out, concerned.

"I'm going to
kick his ass!" She screams before opening the door to continue.
"When I'm done with him he'll be a dickless, bloody stump and
former beta."

I try not to
smile, the wrath of Jessica is not something to take lightly.
"It'll wash off." I reply, trying to sound consoling. Liam and
Jessica have had a pranking relationship with each other. It all
started three days ago when both started daring each other to jump
off of the cliffs at the local falls. It was supposed to be a
relaxed time, just us enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.
However, it seems the two of them are determined to one up the
other and that has escalated to pranks.