The feeling of bliss coupled with the dull ache below made me both smile and grimace as I felt Hannes wiping at my stomach with a cloth.

I watched him for several seconds until I quickly decided that I needed to shower, again. A sheen of sweat covered my body, and I knew I wouldn't be able to rest comfortably in the bed until it was gone.

"Thanks." I mumbled to Hannes once my stomach was clean. I leaned forward, pressing a chaste kiss against his lips whilst taking the cloth from him and dropping it to the floor.

"Where are you going?" Hannes' voice was significantly deeper than what I had expected as I stood. I paused briefly to take up my towel and he then understood.

Mischief shone in his honey eyes as he watched me walk to the adjoining bathroom.

I barely managed to turn on the shower before I heard the clearing of Hannes' throat. I glanced over my shoulder to look at him, allowing a grin to cross my lips before I stepped into the shower, sighing in relief and anticipation whilst hot water trickled along my body.

I rubbed the soap in my hands, gathering foam as I listened to Hannes enter the shower as well. Although he didn't touch me at first, I could feel the heat that seemed to be radiating off of his body as he stood behind me.

I continued lathering up the soap with my hands, hiding the laughter that tickled my throat as I waited for Hannes to speak, or do something.

My eyes traced the tiled walls and I tilted my head when Hannes eventually moved, a low sound of impatience emerging from his mouth. His chest brushed my back and I felt him nuzzling my neck as I began to soap up my body.

"You said you wanted to mark me." I murmured, eyes fluttering when I felt his fangs glide over but not puncture the skin of my neck shortly after I spoke.

Hannes released a low breath against my neck, causing me to shudder and I paused the movements of my hands after resting the soap down.

I leaned into his body, head tilting further, which allowed more of my neck to be exposed to him.

I could feel the water washing off the remnants of soap on my skin, and Hannes reached an arm forward to wrap around my stomach, keeping me against him firmly. I could feel his still hard cock against my back, and felt his quickly growing need and lust through our bond.

"Yes," Hannes raised his head to study my expression when he finally spoke. "I did say that."

I knew that marking commonly happened with mates. I also understood that it could strengthen the bond, which was something I wasn't opposed to. I trusted Hannes; I wouldn't have slept with him if I hadn't, and the thought of him marking me did not bring about any negative feelings. It was something I'd welcome.

So, I found myself smiling when his arm tightened around me, not releasing me when I turned to face Hannes.

My fingers swept up his wet chest, traced over his strong jaw before lingering on the side of his mouth. I could see his fangs from his slightly parted lips, and could hear his slightly shallow breaths as he waited.

"Mark me, Hannes." I told him, voice soft but certain. Hannes immediately released my waist, and his hand cupped the side of my neck firmly whilst his head dipped. I exhaled slowly, wincing when I felt his fangs pierce my skin deeply.

My eyebrows furrowed as pain immediately started to pound in that area, and I stiffened when Hannes eventually pulled away.

I lowered my head to watch the dark blood that came from him biting me trickle down into the water on my skin and fall to the drain below us.

"Some pain may linger." Hannes' voice was husky, and he gingerly and barely swept his thumb over it. I immediately flinched, but it was not entirely because of pain.

It was also very sensitive, not at all uncomfortably so, but definitely surprising.

I lifted a finger to graze it along the mark, and my eyes widened at the sensitive feeling that arose once again. I dropped my hand away, turning my attention back to Hannes, my gaze tracing his muscled arms and resting on his lips.

Hannes' arms swept up my back to pull me towards him, his hot breath tickling the shell of my ear when he told me, "I can smell your arousal, Olivia."

My stomach tightened, and I pressed my thighs together. My hands lowered, fingers teasing the head of his still hard cock that rested between us. Hannes shuddered, snarling loudly before hauling me upwards, lifting me so that I had no choice but to wrap my legs around his waist.

I whimpered softly when his cock slid into my wet vagina, my walls hugging his length as he thrusted into me deeply.

Hannes groaned, his sharp eyes narrowing as he watched me begin to slowly rock my hips and bounce on his thick cock, his strong hands keeping me up.

My whimpers amplified as my slick pussy slid up and down his cock, and my fingers gripped his shoulders as I rapidly began to approach an orgasm, but he abruptly pulled out of me and gently set me down on my feet.

Before I could utter a word of frustration, Hnanes turned me around to face the wall. I barely had time to press my palms against the tiles before he slid into me once more.

Hot pleasure erupted from my core with each thrust, and I pushed back against him when an orgasm shook my entire body. I panted heavily for several seconds and the smell of sex in the air intensifed when Hannes continued to pump into me, his hands gripping my hips tightly.

His pace slowed when I began to straighten, my mind still riddled with heavy desire. I didn't realize I'd been biting my bottom lip until Hannes plucked it from between my teeth.

He pulled me to him, until my back was against his chest and his mouth was by my ear. His cock throbbed in me as he snarled, "Moan for me, Olivia."

His hand slid down to rest on my clit. My eyes rolled with pleasure and my lips parted as I moaned repeatedly when he began to rub and pinch it, continuing to thrust into me slowly, the combination of his dick in me and his fingers moving against my clit slowly making me climb to an orgasm.

Hannes' breath was heavy and warm against my neck, but I could feel him watching me as my eyes drifted shut and as my body trembled for a few seconds.

My fingers dug into his arm between my legs when I came, holding his fingers against my clit as my hips rocked, my juices soaking his throbbing cock. My vision was hazy for a while when I opened my eyes once again, and I rested my head back against his chest, facing the spray of water from the shower head above as my body shook.

Hannes didn't wait until I recovered before thrusting into me at a fast pace, his groans echoing in the bathroom. I briefly wondered if Willow or Jeremiah could hear us, but I didn't dwell much on that thought when I felt Hannes stiffen.

Quickly moving away from him, since I wanted to lessen the chance of becoming pregnant, I instead pumped his cock for a few seconds until he came, his head tilted upwards as he groaned gutturally and hips jerking as my hand continued to pump his shaft.

I watched as his thick cum trickled down my fingers and into the shower drain, and I continued to stroke his cock until he gently moved my hand away and wrapped his arms around me, his warm lips pressing against my mark and his chest heaving with each breath.

********

"It's about time you came downstairs." Athena's voice rang loud early the next morning. I paused mid-step, taking in her dark clothes, which was such a contrast to the bright colors she usually wore.

I could hear several voices, including Hannes, but as I continued walking, I could not see the owners of the other voices.

"Good morning to you too." I muttered dryly, running a hand over my face as I walked to the kitchen with Athena hot on my heels.

"Are you ready?" Athena asked, eyes skipping up and down the attire I'd chosen to wear for training today. I plucked a banana off of a fruit bowl resting on a kitchen counter and my gaze darted to a clock on the wall.

"I'll be ready for training in a couple minutes." As I said this, Willow entered the room, and she gave me a confused look.

Athena huffed, and my eyes went back to her. "We're going hunting today, Olivia."

"I know sometime today that we planned to. But I thought it would be after my training…?"

"No." Willow shook her head and leaned against the counter. "There will be no training today. Tomorrow we will resume however."

My eyes flickered to the doorway as voices rose, and I finished off the banana before asking Athena, "The hunters who will be joining us are in the living room?"

When she nodded, a flutter of nerves could be felt in my stomach. I slowly pushed away from the counter to walk to stand in the wide doorway of the kitchen, and I felt Athena brush my shoulder as we both stared in the direction of the living room.

I could hear deep masculine laughter amongst soft, light ones, and I glanced at the excited female lycan beside me.

"How many hunters will be coming?" I asked Athena. She paused, and with the assistance of her gloved fingers began counting softly before declaring confidently that fifteen persons would be present.

"There's no need to change your clothes, by the way," Athena quipped just as I glanced down at them in contemplation. "They are appropriate."

I nodded, nerves still pooling in my stomach. I saw Hannes exit the living room, along with Jeremiah and his eyes brightened when he caught sight of me.

Hannes grinned and I smiled back at him, but then looked away when I saw that Willow was watching us.

"You seem awfully chipper this morning, Alpha." Willow commented. I hid my laugh with a cough, and slipped away to the kitchen sink, saying that I needed a glass of water.

When I eventually left the kitchen, I was takenaback by the sight of the many lycans in the home. The majority of them were visibly muscular, and like most lycans, were tall and had an almost confident and intimidating air about them.

Heads turned in my direction, and I swallowed thickly, eyes seeking out Hannes. I almost immediately felt his hand cover my own and felt him stand beside me.

My chest constricted when I saw the hunters approach us, and I felt Hannes squeeze my hand in reassurance.

"They will not harm you." Hannes' voice was low, but it appeared as if several of the hunters heard him. Some looked surprised, others almost hurt, but those expressions softened when I managed to muster a smile.

"Good morning," I called, thankful that my voice didn't shake. I felt Hannes intertwine my fingers with his own and we both began walking forward.

Names were exchanged and handshakes were given, and Hannes never left my side throughout this. In fact, his hold on my hand seemed firmer each time I turned to another lycan to greet them.

"Will Henri and Elle be coming with us?" I finally asked Hannes once we left the home.

"No," Hannes released my hand to watch me slip on gloves and reach for him again. "Jeremiah and Willow are with us."

Athena hurried to my side, her smile wide and eyes gleaming with excitement as we walked. "Hannes loved hunting as a child. In this pack, there's a tradition that the children of the alpha and luna start hunting when they are of the age of seven."

Athena's eyes darted between Hannes and myself, her smile making my own lips twitch.

"Perhaps the pack will be welcoming a baby soon?" Athena chirped innocently. I stiffened, and felt my ears begin to burn as I stared wide-eyed at the woman.

Hannes chuckled deeply, and my fingers squeezed his own tightly, especially when Athena continued to look at me expectantly.

I grimaced. I did not want a baby anytime soon; I'm twenty years old and would prefer to wait a few more years, and after I feel utterly confident in my ability to assist in taking care of and raising a baby, before making the decision to have one.

I didn't tell this to Athena though, and thankfully Hannes brought up a subject that captured the attention of his mother.

I exchanged a grateful look with him and slipped out of his hold to walk between Willow and Jeremiah, who'd begun to bicker but stopped when they saw me.

"These next few hours shall be very interesting." Willow muttered, steadying me quickly when I almost tripped over the slick road.