The Price They Paid: Imprinted Mates Series

claw nicked the side of my neck. We rolled until he was on top of me, and I was gazing into the bluest eyes. I roared at him again demanding that he listen. A stubborn wolf, with hair so black that it almost appeared to be purple, stared down at me. He leaned down and shifted my head to the side before licking the wound on my neck. He hummed at the first lick, and I felt the heat from his body grow even hotter, almost scorching my skin.
I maneuvered my head back to stare into his eyes once again. “Seuss, come back to me.”
I stroked the hair of the wolf hoping to sate the beast and appeal to the man. “I’m yours and only yours.”
The wolf howled before shifting back into human form. I smiled but Seuss wasn’t happy. I should have expected that. My dress was high up on my hips exposing my heat to him.
“I could have killed you!” he roared.
“Yes.” I couldn’t deny that fact.
“I could have killed him,” he growled.
“Yes.”
“I still may …” He grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled it tight.
I held his gaze for as long as I could. Every moment of the fight ignited fire within us. I was melting for him where it mattered most. The moment that I closed my eyes and turned my head away from him, exposing the flesh that he had the right to take or leave, mark or not, was monumental. He sank his shaft deeply into me in one sweep of his hips claiming my body.
“Say it …” he growled into my ear.
I whined, dazed and confused. “Say what, Odysseus?”
I panted trying to figure out how the way that he gripped my hip, pounded me into the ground and held my head to immobilize me felt so damn good. Through the bond, I could feel what he did, and it was too much. I was warm, wet, and the hold that I had on him as he moved in and out of me was stronger than just physical. He was close, and I could feel his orgasm approaching. He tilted his hips and it felt as if he was spanking my clit.
“Say it!” he roared.
Focusing on anything was difficult when I was feeling double the pleasure. MINE! I felt it more than I heard it from him.
“Yours!” I screamed.
“FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
He ground out before releasing into me. The spike in emotion flooded my senses bringing me with him. Seuss kissed me thoroughly until he was satisfied that it, too, was fully claimed by him. I was dizzy with emotion as I laid there, tucked underneath Seuss. He covered me, keeping me warm, and his breathing on my neck was soothing. It took everything in me not to ask him to bite me. I wanted to wear the mark of his mate, but I knew that he didn’t want that. He licked the spot and I shivered in response. He was right there, and this was a dangerous dance. Don’t make me beg, Seuss. I projected the thought out into the world hoping that he’d hear it. I wasn’t that lucky, though. Seuss kissed my shoulder and rolled off me. He stood and helped me to my feet on shaky legs. He carried me to the wheelchair, placed me into it and wheeled me back to the house quietly. I was glad that he didn’t say anything because I’d rather suffer in silence as my heart broke into a million pieces. It was earth-shattering to know that the man that I’d love forever would never truly want me, though our souls would always call out for our entwined destiny.
That sobering thought accompanied me into the shower as I tried to scrub every bit of his scent and all the memories from my skin. I climbed into bed after taking a sleep potion from Alice for a migraine that I didn’t have. I needed to escape them and the feelings that I had to take care of myself for once because no one else would. For some reason that reminded me of something very important that I’d forgotten during my time here. I was only a mere guest here to help their Alpha.
Now that he was healed, they wouldn’t need me. I could go back home where it was just Ms. Sandy and me. The way it should be. She was the only family I had left, and that’s all I needed. This temporary feeling of belonging to something bigger and having a higher purpose came with helping the Alpha. That was all. Sleep was the solution, and tomorrow sounded like an appropriate time to pack up to head home to get grounded again. It was time to get back to reality. That was an official plan.

Justice
My heart ached as I descended the steps early the next morning. I knew leaving would be difficult, but something internally was roaring desperately for me not to go. I’d packed the few things I’d acquired into one of Seuss’ bags to make traveling easier plus a few of his t-shirts. Consider it payment. I rounded the corner to see Augusto leaning against the wall.
“Want to go for a walk?” He was way too comfortable in here.
“No, actually, I was on my way out.” I squinted my eyes at him trying to figure out how he’d gotten in.
“Yes, let’s walk.” Augusto turned and walked out of the house, and I sighed following him.
Once we were outside he turned toward me and examined me closer in the dawn’s light. “Why hasn’t he claimed you?”
“Eh …” I stuttered. What kind of question was that?! I wanted to yell at him for bringing my insecurities present. I wanted to kick him, hard!
“You are his mate, yes?” Augusto studied my features.
“I don’t know …” I hated to admit it to myself let alone another person. Especially Augusto. Why were we examining this again when I should be leaving? I shouldn’t be having