Aida

I know I should feel nervous or anxious about today, but I wake up next to Argent and all I feel is elated. Calm, even. I know there's a storm approaching in the form of some ancient battle, but for now, I just revel a little in the bliss of last night.

I try not to move, staying like we are, his arm thrown over my waist, pulling me close, his head tucked into the back of my neck. Both of us are a tangled, sweaty mess, but I don't care at all.

Last night was the best of my life.

And then I remember something ...

We marked each other. It was simply amazing. Mind blowing. Almost better than everything else. Almost.

I slip out from under his arm as smoothly as I can, and he mumbles incoherently, rolling over. I grab his shirt and throw it over my head, covering my nakedness though he has seen literally every part of it and then some last night. I sneak into the bathroom and switch on the light after closing the door.

My eyes search my body and look in the mirror for the place where he bit my neck.

There, right in the middle of the left side of my neck, between my ear and my shoulder, is a small pink mark. Argent has said that by the end of today it will be white and barely visible, but I can feel it tingle as strongly as it did last night as I run my fingers over it.

The sensation of it causes memories from last night to rush back into my mind. The closeness. The passion. The bite. Jesus, I have been with guys before, but nothing prepared me for the sensations that being with my mate would give me. I turn the shower on, hoping the steam will calm my thoughts and let me take this all in.

I close my eyes as the heat warms the entire room, my mind drifting back to the steamy moments of last night. Pun all the way intended.

He came back from James' room frustrated and worried and I knew that it was my job to try to take away at least some of that pain.

And did I ever.

I heard him come in the door and as he closed it behind him, I stepped out of the bathroom, still wet from my shower, may hair dripping down my back as I just stood and let him take me in. Watching his eyes widen as he raked them up and down my body, I actually see his pupils dilate as I step my fingers up and over my breasts, lingering on each nipple, giving each a slight flick as I move my hands down, step by step, creeping them down to where I want his hands the most, at the apex of my thighs.

As one of my hands finds my centre, and I release a low moan as I circle my most sensitive bundle of nerves, he begins to step slowly but deliberately towards me, hunter approaching his prey. He begins to lose his clothes as he gets closer, stopping only once he gets to a foot in front of me, where he pauses to kick off his shoes and then keeping his eyes on me and what my fingers are up to, he pushes his pants down, allowing me finally to see him. All of him.

He reaches for me then, pulling my hands up and away from their task, bringing his lips close to my ear as he whispers to me;

"Let me touch her now baby"

I shudder in response as one of his hands holds my waist and the other snakes down my front, his thumb finding my clit as his fingers dance towards my folds.

His lips find mine as he suddenly slides them both in and I open my mouth with a gasp that he swallows whole, fucking me with his fingers and circling my nub at the same time.

I feel his teeth rake across the space between my ear and my shoulder and he pulls forward just enough to gage my response as he brings me closer to the blissful edge. I nod and close my eyes as his fingers continue their beautiful assault. I ride his hand with abandoned force as his teeth scrape their way back to their final resting place and as my core begins to convulse around his curling fingers, he bites down into my flesh.

His teeth sink in as though my skin was butter and as I come apart around his hand, I feel the awakening of his senses seep into mine.

Before I have a chance to blink my eyes open, he drags us toward the bed, laying down on his back as he pulls me on top of him. His eyes find mine again, pleading with me to join us as one and I don't waste another second. I take him in my hands, pumping once from his tip to shaft before I straddle him and sink down onto him, letting him stretch me as I wiggle around. His hands find my shoulders and as he lifts his hips to reach mine, he pulls my face to his, devouring my lips with his and then gripping my chin, his lips meeting my ear in a warm breathy growl.

"Fuck, Bite Me Aida. Make me yours".

I don't even think about it, though I'm sure the gross memories about blood will hit me tomorrow. Right now, I just want the bliss. The epic moment we are in the middle of, the high we are both feverishly chasing.

I drag my teeth up his chest and over his shoulder, his growl in response tells me I'm on the right track. I'm seeking out his sweet spot. I use my tongue to lick across his neck, earning myself another deeper growl from him as I suddenly and without warning, force my teeth into his skin.

The second my bite breaks through and his life force slips down my throat warm and coppery, a light forces my mind's eye to open. Thoughts burst forward, emotions sing to my heart, love crashes onto me like a tidal wave in time. This is him. Argent. My life. My love. This is us.

The entwining of our souls causes a shift in us that echoes so deeply in my soul that we both cry out as we grind our bodies together in rush to complete our bond. We tip over the edge, his hands on my ass, pushing us together as forcefully as he can as we both rise up and up until we finally tumble over the edge of a new tomorrow together.

The night was a blur of naked bodies. Sweat and tears and joy and peace and all of it combined into something I can never put into words. It's being complete. It's everything I never knew I needed.

The water turning cold brings me back to the moment and I find myself still wanting his touch on my skin. Again and again. Forever. It will never be enough.

It was something that I'll never forget for the rest of my days and nights. It was primal; deeper than just a physical connection. It was spiritual. Something ancient awakened between us. And only in that moment, when our wolf and human selves recognised each other, did I really feel like I belonged in this world. The wolf world. And with him.

The door to the bathroom opens and stirs me from my sexy daydream.

Argent comes in. "Hey, all okay in here?" and pulls me into his still naked body. Old me would have been slightly embarrassed, but new me loves it.

"Save water and shower with me?" I smile up at him, waiting for a response.

He just grabs me, slings my legs around his waist, and steps us into the shower, t-shirt and all! "Arge, your shirt!" I exclaim, laughing.

"I have more." He laughs and helps me take it off. I turn to grab the soap for washing my hair, and he slaps me on the behind.

I gasp, spinning around. "Hey! None of that, buddy. Today is all about serious pack business, remember?"

"How can I help it when you're in here being all distracting?"

I frown at him and shake my head, retreating to the edge of the shower to wash my hair. "Are you worried about today?" I ask tentatively, trying hard to be serious when its hard just being around him now without wanting to jump him. He brings my mind back to the present;

"About James winning? No, not really. I mean, that other idiot is a psycho, but he's no match for James in combat ... But you just never know. Crazy people are unpredictable." He winks at me. He looks down and lets the water wash over his head. I can see that he's worried, even if he won't admit it.

I say, "Babe, James is going to be okay. I know it."

"Yeah, I know. I just hope that they aren't using this to ambush anyone, you know? I just don't trust them. And when they see us there and Father, I just hope shit doesn't erupt."

My voice is stern when I say, "We won't let it."

He takes my head in his hands. His face is suddenly serious. "I don't want you anywhere near if things go south. If I say run, you run. Okay?"

My brows push together with worry. "What if I can't shift without the shock?"

"I know you will. And just in case you can't for some reason, I have a plan. Well, it was Jemma's idea really."

"Shit. What is her crazy plan this time?"

He laughs. He knows she is one crazy wolf. "We'll taser you."

Nope. He's just as crazy. "What?"

"I know, I know, but just a small shock and hopefully your body will remember enough to respond. I'm hoping we won't have to. I'm hoping now that you're marked and we're officially mates that your wolf will be able to do this on her own."

"Oh, so that was the motivation, was it? To wolf me up?" I act indifferent. I know that this isn't why he marked me.

He gives me an incredulous look. "You're kidding, right? You have to know that last night was the best night of my entire life." His face grows troubled. He stares directly at me, his eyes piercing me like only he can do. He traces his hand over my mark softly, and the sensation of him touching me there drives me wild. I do the same to his mark, and it takes all I have in me to ignore the low growl that escapes his lips.

"Aida ..."

"It was for me too," I say before kissing him hard on the lips.

He pulls me in under the water and we stay like this, close for a while before we have to get out and face the day ahead. Neither of us know what to expect today. I don't think we could guess all of the probable outcomes or reactions. Even the possibilities that we've thought of are many and complicated.

We finally emerge and dress for today. Arge tells me to pack spares to take with us for when we shift. He then calls his father and lets him know we are off to face Strand.

James and Jemma are waiting at the car when we emerge from our room, and Jemma gives me a very obvious wink and smile. She tilts her head to the side and leans in so that the boys can't hear her. "Nice mark, babe."

I swallow hard and punch her in the shoulder. "Shut up! Show me yours!"

She smiles and pulls her jacket to the side, revealing her small pink mark, lighter than mine but still very fresh. "So ... how was it?" she asks, biting her lip.

I instantly blush. "Jemma! I can't tell you that ... right now. How about we get through today and we can divulge sexy mark stories, just you and me, over ice cream later?"

She laughs. "Oh! I like it. If you keep sweet talking me like that, Aida, I might have to mark you too." She pinches me on the bottom and jumps into James's car.

"Seriously, will everyone leave my ass alone?" I groan. My brother shoots me a worried look, and Argent loses it and starts laughing out loud, slapping James on the back.

"Relax, man. I swear, I didn't touch her butt. It was our first time."

"Argent!" I put my face in my hands and shake my head. Trust my mate to make a weird joke to lighten the mood.

James puts his fingers in his ears and starts humming out loud. "I don't want to know! Ever!" he exclaims.

We all laugh, and Jemma starts making kissing noises. The guys get into the front of the car, James turns it on, and head out of the parking area and start our drive to Strand. We head down the highway and all of a sudden, the mood has changed. We're all quiet. Too quiet.

We take the turn off before the Strand land begins and head into a heavily wooded area. James parks in the designated park for the hiking trail, and we sit in the car, no one moving.

"Whatever happens today, I love all of you. Even you, Argent." James's joke breaks the ice, and I feel a little lighter. Just a little.

"Okay, let's do this," Argent gives the order, and we all get out and get organised. "We'll go on foot up the trail, and then when we're close to the border, we'll shift. It's safer that way."

James tells us the plan, and we all take as little as possible because we will need to carry whatever we take tied to our legs when we shift.

Jemma hands Arge a small device and when I look closer, I see that it's the taser.

"But we won't need it," Argent reassures me, kissing me on the head when he notices my worried expression.

We lock up the car and head out on the trail. It's early and still dark, so we're the only ones there. The silence and the dark are an eerie combination and do nothing to calm my nerves about today. Arge and I follow James and Jemma up the trail, all four of us in silence but very obviously battling our own noises in our heads.

We walk like this for thirty minutes until we reach the peak of the trail and the part where the track winds to the left. We go off the trail here, leaving the marked path and heading further into the woods.

It becomes obvious when we get close to the border. I can smell it. We all can. James and Arge scan the surrounding areas constantly, and Jemma waits for me to pass and takes up the back position. Nothing is said. They all just know what to do. They're all so choreographed. I have so much to learn.

Once we get another twenty minutes in, they stop. We've reached the point where we need to shift. It's safer to travel in wolf form from now onwards.

"Okay, babe, it's now or taser," Argent teases me, but he comes close, kissing me gently on the forehead.

"Alright. So, what do I do? Just think of the reverse from yesterday when I needed to shift back?" I ask, glancing at everyone.

He nods. "Yeah, sort of. Let your wolf come to the surface. Let her in. Let her take control and light the fire."

James and Jemma start to take off their clothes to my left, and I turn my back. I'm not ready to see that much of James just yet.

"You first, babe," Argent nudges me. "In case we need this?" He holds the taser up.

I really don't want to be shocked again.

I immediately start to breathe in and out, slower and deeper, and start to undress. Argent does the same, and when we're both just in our underwear, he smiles, looking me up and down and winking at me.

I close my eyes. I search my inner mind for my wolf. I picture her waking up slowly, rising for the day, stretching her long limbs and shaking her hackles.

She lifts her head and lets out a soft howl.

Come on, baby, I think. Come on.

I feel her warming presence growing a little in my mind. I feel her strong self-confidence becoming more and more alert, and I am acutely aware that she wants to take over. She wants control. I sense that if I act scared now, she won't do it. She is waiting for me. Waiting for me to give in to her, to let her take the reins.

Come on then, baby. Let's go for a run.

A white heat shoots through my body, warming me from the core. My insides burn, and my wolf yearns to be released. My limbs stretch and crack under the pressure of the heat and I feel her, ever closer.

Come on. Come on.

I open my eyes. I blink a few times and look around. I see the huge wolf form of James to my left and Jemma just behind him. I sense something behind me. It's Argent in wolf form.

You're a natural, babe.

I hear him in my head. I look down and see two large white paws standing in the grass. Yes. Thank god!

No taser for me, baby! Woohoo!

I let out a howl. God, I love this.

Alright, kids! Let's do this! Let's go kick some ass. Argent gives the order, and we run. Towards what end, I have no clue.