CHAPTER 39: THE AFTERMATH
CHAPTER 39: THE AFTERMATH
Alana’s POV
I couldn’t tell about Axel since the high of our marking process plunged me into a long, long sleep faster than I could have said moonlight.
But when the sun slid through the tiny opening in the curtains and my eyes fluttered awake, I found his’ staring at me intently.
One would think that by now I would have been very familiar with the feeling I got whenever Axel’s deep blue eyes were scanning my body but that was far from the case.
Whenever he looked at me like that? Caging me with his eyes? Sizing and accessing me down to my soul, I somehow remained glued to the spot under his scrutiny.
“Luna, you look good enough to eat this morning.” His lips barely moved, but his low and predatory voice reverberated in the air.
I swallowed and let my eyes dart away from him to anywhere other than his face.
“Don’t be shy.”
“I’m not,” I blurted out the lie with far less confidence than I intended to.
“I can feel it, Alana. Whatever you feel, I feel.” His lips tilted into a lopsided grin.
“Oh.”
His long, straight, thick fingers reached out and grazed the spot where his teeth drank from me last night, letting a visible shiver run through me. He cupped the back of my neck and pulled me closer to him, his other hand snaking around my waist and grabbing skin from under my shirt.
“You smell so good, baby…” he wearily dragged the words to exaggerate his point, making me as stiff as ice.
A raspy knock on the door and an annoyed grunt from Axel caused his thick fingers which were now squeezing my thighs to retract.
As a relieved sigh escaped my parted lips, I felt a pang in my chest as he took one, two, and three steps away from me.
I’ve never wanted him closer to me than I did now.
I made out Tyler’s voice from the other side of the door but not what he was saying.
“Handle it.” Axel’s partially annoyed voice commanded.
More talk before Axel slammed the door shut and walked back to me.
A part of me was happy that he was back and my basest instincts were pushing me to make him continue what he started.
The other part noticed the crease on his forehead which could only mean one thing —he had “Alpha duties” to handle.—
“What is it?” I asked as my eyes darted from the mark on his neck to his full lips and his ocean-blue eyes.
His eyes. They’ve never been prettier. Now, they were just the shade of the purest parts of the ocean. Radiant and giving off a natural glow.
The crinkles around his eyes only made him more handsome and I wanted to jump his bones right there and then, even with Tyler still on the other side of the thin wall.
“I have to go,” he said with a sigh. “I’ll be back before dinner. Will you be okay in Coral’s company?”
“Yes.” What I intended to say was no. No. No. I won’t. I want you here. But I nodded my head as I said the word. What was wrong with me?
He only gave me a small smile. Maybe he knew what I really wanted. Seeing as we could grope each other's thoughts and feelings.
Giving me one last peek at his heavenly abs, his perfectly chiseled ass, and his cut-out V line, he threw on a pair of jeans twice my size and a plain white shirt and left the room barefooted.
As I moved to the dresser and sat in front of the mirror, my hand simultaneously moved up to the spot on my neck that had now bonded me to Axel for life and I repeatedly ran my thumb over it. NôvelDrama.Org content rights.
It didn’t look so bad from the reflection in the mirror. It resembled a fading tattoo and from what I’d heard, there’ll be a permanent scar but it’ll be almost invisible by the twenty-fourth hour after the marking.
Axel was mine, and I was his. Forever.
What Axel had said to me when we first met kept looping in my head. — Now should be a good time to tell you that you’re not leaving my sight. Forever. —
Warmth spread through me and I couldn’t hold back the smile that lifted my chin.
Another knock on my door drew me from my well of thoughts and stumbling to the door.
Today just wasn’t the day for privacy, was it?
“Hey, Coral, how’re you doing?”
“No way!” She screamed and fisted a handful of her long green hair as she let herself into the room.
“Yes, I’m fine too, thank you so much for asking.” I laughed at whatever her show was for even if I already knew.
“You finally let him mark you. Well, congratulations, Alana. It was about damn time.”
My hand nervously went over the spot and to the back of my neck before mumbling a “thanks.”
“I came up to call you for breakfast. And see if you were okay after the party yesterday. You left quite early. But seeing you now, I can tell you were more than okay,” she grinned widely, pronouncing her deep green eyes.
“Thanks, Coral, I’ll be down in a minute. I’ll just change and take a quick shower.”
“If you ask me, you don’t need a shower. You glow, girl.” She winked and left the room.
And I did glow. I looked in the mirror. My eyes were extra bright today with a very tiny gold rimming the edges of my pupils. Even if I hadn’t showered, my hair was shiny as though I had my hair care day as Coral called it.
I parted my hair into two halves, braided them down, and threw on a light floral gown before heading to the dining.
“What’s for breakfast?” I asked Coral and plopped down on the island.
“Here you’ll need this.” She passed me a cup of coffee before returning to slicing fresh strawberries onto a plate.
“Thanks, Coral.”
“We’re having waffles. My favorite.”
I had gradually become accustomed to the endless list of foods that we could have, thanks to Axel and Coral.
Axel. Axel. Axel.
I just wanted him here. And all I could think of as Coral’s hands were slicing strawberries was Axel’s hands working my body like that.
How his eyes would glint with desire for me. The thought made heat spread from my cheeks to my thigh. My entire body started to overheat and I couldn’t help but squirm and squeeze my legs together.
“Alana,” Coral called out slowly with caution.
I looked up with my eyes brimming with hot tears and a silent plea. Something was happening to me. Was this an aftermath of Axel marking me?
“What’s wrong with me? My body feels like it’s on fire.”
Her eyes glazed over for a brief second before she returned her attention to me, settling the knife down on the island far from me as though I would hurt her or myself with it.
“The delay in you and Axel marking each other must have sped up the process. You should head up to your room. You’re mated but it’s still risky to be in public…unchaperoned.”
“What are you talking about?” My confusion was slowly turning into anger.
“You’re going into heat, Alana.”
“What…”
Before I could finish my statement, the door to the living room barged open, and the only man I’ve ever wanted to see this badly stood in front of it, heaving heavily. The look of desire that I so wanted to see was plastered unapologetically on his face.
“Axel,” I called out with bated breath.
“Alana.”
“This is going to be hell for the rest of us unmated werewolves. How exciting,” Coral deadpanned.