He pulls me to the center of the group. His hands guide mine around his neck, then land his on my waist. The fire cracks behind us. I don't know the next thing, or even how to take the next step. Ares gives me a large smile. My heart skips a beat. The world around us falls apart, each piece dropping to a different dimension. It leaves the world just him and I. My hips move left and right, his guidance providing confidence. We shift together, and I finally give into temptation leaning into him. He holds me against his chest rubbing into my back. We start the simple shuffle allowing our body heats to meld with the summer fire. Pack members start to float back into the picture. Each of them are smiling, most are watching us hold each other. Tusk stops on the edge. Gerald is holding him close and pecks a kiss on his head, "My body, I don't know why but I'm so tired."

"Let's get you home, love." He sweeps me into his arms carrying me through the masses of people. Everyone parts for us, some bowing their heads as we pass. I hear the occasional coo at our cuteness, some snorting at the sight of me. I don't know where all my energy went, moments before I felt amazing and ready to take on the world. Ares seems to be thinking the same thing, his face in a hard line. I poke at his frown forcing it up into a smile. He laughs at my attempt helping me into the house and back up to our room. The moment I hit the bed, my eyes droop. I feel my soul curl up in the warmth. This is what I need. Ares bends over placing a kind kiss on my head, "I love you."

I groan waving him off me so I can sleep, "I love you, idiot. Come to bed."

"I will soon, I need to say goodnight to the pack."

"No, you need to cuddle me. They can wait." I grumble patting the side of the bed, "You'll leave me tomorrow, let me have some time till then."

"But I'll come back to you. Always." He throws off his clothes and crawls into the bed pulling me into his arms.

"One day you won't, Ares. Even you aren't immune to death."

"For you, love, I'll fight death himself."

~

The lady working on my dress drags me to the circle podium surrounded by dresses, "Oh honey you are beyond bloated I am going to release the seams a bit."

"Thanks for the honesty I suppose."

"You look dead inside." She grunts picking at the seams. She's been a bitch the entire time I've worked with her, and the pregnancy brain is working hard to find a reason not to kill her. At least slap her around a bit. I'm just as tired as she is, and it took a craving meal and Ares's promise of head later to get me here.

I raise my brows at her after she pulls the fabric over me, "Are you always this blunt?"

"Only to Luna's who don't have any idea how to run a pack however everyone worships her. The deltas haven't stopped talking about you while I've tailored their suits."

The deep blue fabric looks nice against my pale skin. I've lost weight since Ares has found me from all the situations, all the things, "I would agree with you, but I'm not as oblivious as I was."

"Pssht. You're worthless, Veronica. You have no bloodline, no strengths, or assets. You bring nothing of worth to this pack. A sick half breed for our pack to follow is the only positive of your body. Most Alpha's have human mates, that's understood, however they also come with power. Your family name holds nothing. Not only are you weak as a human, but you provide nothing but mooching for your husband. A fucking leech if I have the boldness to say so." A snarl comes from deep in my chest, Kill her. She pricks me with a needle, I toss my hip away from her. She stabs another into me. Rip her to shreds, "You really are weak. Look at you, can't handle a prick."

"I'll fucking kill you."

"You can try bitch." I don't care about the loose seams in the dress. I lung for her, claws breaking through my skin. She screams at the sight. The child's wolf? I swipe my hand at her, she ducks. Her own wolf comes forward attempting to claw back. The baby goes into survival, and I do too. I dig my claws into the fabric ripping the base off the dress so I can move easier, "At least die with dignity." I have no idea where this is coming from. This strength. I love the taste of it on my tongue. I'm not defenseless, I'm not waiting on a savior. I can take this cocky bastard that demands respect.

I crouch. I feel the claws break through my toes. Hair goes at the elbows and knees. The seamstress snaps her jaw, teeth descending, "Come at me." She speeds up running right towards my front. I throw my hand up cutting through her breast and finding the still beating heart. My eyes shift color, my body heaving back as I rip the heart from her chest. She drops, mouth agape. The hole in her chest a deadly reminder of what the child within me will do to protect itself. All the heated emotion leaves me, the fire that was burning gone. The baby knows it's safe.

The heart drops to the ground. I wrap my bloody hand around the cell phone calling Ares. My brain takes all logic out of the mind link, "Hey. I'm on my way."

"Ares- I... I..."

"I know baby. I'm on my way. I have the healer with me. Don't worry."

Her bloodied body stains the bottom of my dress. The right-hand falls back on the ground landing right on my foot. I splay my hand over my belly, the baby has settled. It's wolf... The protective nature racked through my human body. The exhaustion sinks through my skin throwing a world of black around me. I can't handle it, it's too much. I go to fall, the world slowing around me. My body shifts back, heart dropping, and then him. The smell of Ares is enough to keep my conscious, "You need to eat, my love. Healer, now!" He spits to the woman. She comes rushing over instructing him to lay me down. He settles me down in the side of the room, his hands stay on me as much as possible while the healer works around me.

"The pup is stripping her of strength. The seamstress must've threatened her, and the pup felt the need to defend themselves. She doesn't have a wolf to replenish either of them, we need to get her a B12 shot. Can you get her to your home quickly? I'll meet you there."

"Don't fuck this up, healer."

"On my neck, Alpha." She runs off, the blood squeaking under her feet. He lifts me up wrapping his arms around me tightly.

"We are going to stay human for this, tell me if we need to stop." He rushes from the shop taking us down the street. My body slumps against his, the energy seeping from my body by the moment. The wind rushes against my ears. It tells me enough to know we are very much running non-humanely. The shop wasn't far from the house, maybe a thirty-minute car ride, and now with his wolf speed we are getting back even faster. We break into the house, and he runs us up the steps laying me down on the bed. I lay still on the mattress, chills racking up my spine, "Here's a blanket, baby."

"Alpha?" The healer calls through the room, I throw my eyes down to see a large shot in her hand, "I need her on her side."

Ares gives me a soft look helping me shift over. The healer rips the middle of my dress tearing it upwards. The shot goes deep into my hip, but the energy is immediate. I feel my heart take up a notch, liquid energy jumping through my system, "Alpha, the baby is stronger than I spoke with you about. She needs to mark you or that baby will drain her to keep itself alive."

Ares curses to himself, "Right fucking now? She'll hate me!"

I find the rejuvenation so full filling. I haven't felt this awake since I worked in the restaurant. The door breaks open, Jessica running in. She gives me a side glare, me awkwardly laughing in return, "You're pregnant?"

"Who fucking told her?" I groan sitting up pressing my hands against my head. The energy has rushed all the way through me, my body finally moveable.

"The hoard of healers running through the house trying to find any and everything b12 to help you? What the fuck Veronica?"

"I just found out a little bit ago, the day of the bonfire actually, I just... needed time to process."

"You're Luna is going through a fucking situation and you're chastising her for not telling you her own business?" The healer squeals at my friend. Jessica takes a step back looking over the woman before giving her a sneer.

"And I'm your beta female, show some respect." Jessica growls. Her body shifts up and down, and I swear I can see the blood rushing to her skin.

"I don't show respect to people that hound the Luna for something she has every right to do. Remember who you answer to human."

I wave my hands between them catching their attention. They are both heated and looking over me with hot glances, "Look, guys. It's okay. Let's call it good across the board, and I'll go hunt for a new dress before the baby kills another person in this room."

"The baby is going to kill you if you don't mark your mate, Luna." She gives me pleading eyes, I look to Ares who is just as begging.

" Let me have some space please. I need a shower, and major therapy after today, actually, these past few weeks." I spit at everyone leaving the bed and walking into the bathroom. I hear the shuffle of everyone leaving, but Ares stay's hot on my tail following me into the bathroom. My body turns to him, a small smile in greetings, "Thanks for... knowing I wouldn't want to be forced to mark you."

He doesn't smile in return, his eyes are a dead set glare, "The amount of stress you put me under is almost psychotic."

"But you love me." I shrug my shoulders. And I do. I agree with him, but I don't know how to make it better nor do I know if I want to.

"You've been a very bad girl, Veronica." My core responds. A liquid fire shoots through my veins, my body elevating for him. I snap my eyes up to him, my fingers wrapping tightly into his shirt.

"Oh yeah? How should I be punished?"

Ares curses to himself. This b12 and pregnancy hormones have combined to be the perfect horny, "Strip."

"Yes, master." I groan taking off each piece of clothing slowly. He takes me in, his breathing shallow. It amazes me that no matter how much we do this, it never gets any less exciting.

"Step under the water. Leave the curtain open, I want you to clean yourself thoroughly. Then I'll join. Got it?" I step into the warm shower water letting it pour over my body. He watches me intently while I scrub the soap over me and work it into my breasts allowing the bubbles to form deliciously over my skin. My body heats for him, every part of my being heating up at the thought of touching him, being touch by him. I want to kneel for him and demand him take me like the submissive I am. Mark him.

The thought springs into my head. My heart lurching at the weird demand I've made to myself. Ares doesn't seem to notice, his eyes tracing over my sudsy form, a tongue tracing over his lips. I scold myself for such a brash thought, but then the idea of my mark laying against his skin sends a flush of pleasure through me. The child within me is taunting me, the wolf that has been temporarily gifted to me singing with his. Do it, Veronica. Claim him. I run the soap down my legs and work it onto my inner thighs. Ares releases a growl when I turn from him for just a moment. I shift back into his sights, "Come and get me, Alpha. If you're going to growl."

"Are you challenging me, little one?"

"If it gets me wrapped around you, I'll say whatever you want." Bold, Veronica. More so than normal. The mate bond between us zaps with pleasure, a complete bliss settling over us.

He strips himself quickly then steps into the shower. Ares lets me stay in the warmth of the water filling up the chiller side of the large bathing space. I lay my palms against his chest letting my thumbs run over his tattoos, "Dangerous game you're playing Veronica."

"Say my name again."

"Place your hands against the wall, Veronica." He grabs my hips turning my ass towards him. My ass is bright red from the warmth of the shower, his hand landing perfectly to add too it with a nice smack, "Do as I say." I eagerly place my hands against the shower. My heart races in excitement. It's addicting knowing that no matter how much we push each other, how psychotic I drive him, I'll be the one pleasured in the shower.

His fingers work into my dripping core, my moans filling the space with weird gurgles. The shower water is running over my face at an awkward angle keeping me from opening my eyes. He isn't merciful working his way with me until I'm slick between the legs from more than just the shower. His cock is hard and pressed against my leg, his teeth coming forward to nibble my ear. I curl my ass back into him, begging, no pleading for him to take me. Claim me.

Claim him. Claim him now. He's yours.

A surprise yelp slips between my lips, but soon melds into moans of delicious thankfulness, "Ares!"

"Let me hear you, Veronica. Let me hear how much you love me." He's returned with mewls of happiness. I thank him for fucking me, thank him for bending me over and having his way. His hand wraps through my soaking hair keeping me on rhythm with my pain kink working in tandem.

"Mark you." The words slip my lips before I have time to try process the offer I'm making. It's an in the moment decision and in the moment, it feels like the best one to make.

"Beg me."

"Ares please." I can't keep myself together while the pleasure builds in-between my thighs, "Let me mark you. Let me claim you."

He growls, my own growl vibrating through my chest. Without hesitation he turns me. I wrap one leg around his waist, my back going against my cold wall. A hiss leaves me, Ares dipping down to capture the mark laying against my skin, "Claim me, Veronica. I've always been yours."

My teeth elongate. How in the hell? However, the logic of it all leaves my brain as soon as his neck's scent breaks over my nose. I lay my tongue on his soft skin, his dick filling me up nicely while I find my spot. As soon as my teeth trace over his nick, Ares's body shudders, his own movements becoming a stutter. I line my teeth against him, and with one more moan of bliss I sink my teeth into his skin letting the copper fill my mouth. I expected to gag, hate the taste, but it's a sweet elixir that I drink is heavenly. Ares swells within me his knot stretching me and filling me up. Loud groans fill my ears, his body locking into one place while I keep my teeth in him. It felt natural. He never explained how to mark him, but in the moment, I knew exactly how to do it. Some mate bond, and some magic. When the tether is sealed between us, I pull back. The teeth that grew for him sink back into my gums, the high leaving as well. A different high replaces it quick, an orgasm rocking through me.

"Now I'm yours little wolf, till the end of days."

We remove from each other, and I cover my mouth wiping off the blood that had dripped down my chin. "I can't believe I did that."

"And just in time for the Lunar Ball tomorrow, love." Ares chuckles at his own joke. I pull away from the space and step into the warm bathroom followed with the slow wrapping of myself in a towel. He shuts off the water following me promptly, "You seem distressed. I know it's a lot, it's okay to be overwhelmed. The next few days your body will be going through major adjustments. I'll have a healer get you set up for bed rest and medications."

"Bed rest? Medications?"

"After the Lunar Ball it'll be imperative that you stay well rested through your change into a more wolf being. Especially with our pup growing within you. The medication is to help settle your stomach, as morning sickness and new wolf sickness do not go hand in hand."

"I'm going to become like you."

"As indicated by the mark. But you won't have a wolf of your own. Just the human perks like aging, strength, healing, scent, and hearing. A few other things as well, but nothing too important to discuss right now." I walk slowly into the bedroom and plop onto the bed. "No need to worry about the what ifs. You have plenty of time to train and prepare yourself for our pup. And remember, it's a wolf as well. It can handle a little... wolf love now and then."

"You can read my thoughts again."

"The bond being completed gives me a few more things than before. I can sense your emotions in much greater detail, scent the health of the pup, and I'm more in tune with your health throughout your body. Just as I can scent the potential puking you are going through."

He's not wrong. This whole situation makes me want to fall over a toilet and let out my guts, "Great. I love to hear it."

"Let me get you some food. After, I'll give you some time to think. Jessica should be coming up with dresses she's picked out for you as possibilities for tomorrow. But to inform, she is still pissed with you about keeping your pregnancy from her."

"She acts like I learned any sooner than she did." I roll my eyes. Ares looks to want to say something but shrugs it off walking his way to the closest door. He dresses quickly, then exits with a sad smile.

"I'll be back soon with food, love. Be safe... and... well, know I'm here if you need anything."

"Thanks, Ares. You really are pretty amazing." I throw the compliment at him in sincerity. He takes it with the largest grin I have ever seen come over his beautiful face.

"I love you, Veronica."

"And I love you, Ares. Surprisingly, I think more than I did half an hour ago."