Chapter 11

Berlin

My skin tingled from my head to my toes, my hairs standing upon end as I woke to strong arms around my waist, holding me possessively against a warm, broad chest. By the steady rise and fall of Osias's chest against my back, I could tell that he was still sleeping deeply, so I opted to do the same.

Right as I settled down once more, melting into Osias's tight embrace and succumbing to the heavy weight of my eyelids, memories of last night hit me like a freight train. Although I was still reeling from my encounter with Max, Osias making love to me last night wiped the slate clean as I finally accepted the truth.

Max couldn't come back. He was gone.

I grieved him, and my heart burned at the thought how he must have felt as the demon stole his soul. But if I knew one thing about him, it's that he would want me to move on. He would want me to be happy with this second chance that was given to me from the Goddess.

It's been over six months since his passing. I would never forget the love we shared, but I knew that it was time for me to move on.

I wiggled in Osias's embrace, snuggling in even closer to the large man. Casey whimpered happily in our mind as even more sparks zapped across my skin from the contact.  I crossed my ankles, feeling my face heat up at the vivid images of last night's actions that flashed across my mind, just the mere thought causing me to whine as I felt slick leak from my hole and drip down my leg.

And when he slipped inside of me...

Oh God.

I slapped my hands over my mouth to hold back a squeal, recalling how incredibly full I felt last night, even before Osias was knotted deep inside of me.

"Mmm... Ber? Are you alright?" came Osias's deep, husky and incredibly sexy morning voice from behind me as he stirred, one arm lifting to run through his unruly locks as he slowly began to wake up. I shifted once again against him, burying my face into his arm that laid underneath me in order to hide the blush that was becoming worse by the second. However, my action only served to make matters worse, as a moment later I felt something - a rather large something - lower down wake up as well, pressing gently against my sore bum. This time I let out an audible squeak, causing Osias's sinfully muscular body to shake with soft chuckles behind me.

"My bad, sweetheart. Morning wood." he stated nonchalantly, shifting his body away from me in order to stretch his arms above his head. I whined at the loss of contact, a dull burn flowing through my system before I turned to face him and scooted closer once again, laying my head down onto his chest and closing my eyes with a soft sound of contentment. I sighed as the blazing fire in the pit of my stomach died down to a spicy, semi-pleasurable simmer. The touch of his skin was both a soothing medicine as well as a temptation, although I attempted to ignore the latter with my throbbing bum a reminder of what could happen if I tempted the beast again.

"We should get up. There's a couple of things to get done today." he began, stroking my cheeks gently and glancing at the slowly ticking clock on the far wall. "Is your heat dying down yet?"

I nodded in response, burying my face in his broad chest as if I were attempting to use him as a shield to block out the rest of the world. It was concerning, how much comfort I found in those big arms of his now that we were fully mated.

Fully mated...

The thought sent a nervous tremor through my body, my cupid's bow trembling with both desire and apprehension, a pair that never mixed together well.

"A little..." I breathed out, my hand trailing up towards the mark that I knew stood out against my pale skin above my shoulder even though I was not currently able to see it.

"Good. I guess I pounded most of it out of you last night, hm?" I made a sound of indignation at his vulgar words, my cheeks growing impossibly hotter. I looked up at my mate, meeting his eyes as they glittered with mischief, a sleepy smile spread across his smile. He was definitely teasing me purposely, knowing that I would be overcome with embarrassment at replaying last night's memories.

"H-hey!" I yelped out in surprise as large hands suddenly yanked me to the side, pressing me into the mattress before arms snaked tightly around my wast. Osias' black locks brushed against my chin when he rested his own on my chest, looking up at me with a playful expression. My cheeks flared as I looked down at him, slightly stunned by his childish actions which contradicted the 'don't mess with me or I'll kill you and your family' aura that he usually emitted.

"Let's shower together, hm? I'll wash your back." Osias hummed matter-of-factly, his lips pursing as he pressed a soft kiss to my collarbone. He couldn't slip his intentions past me though, immediately catching the smooth sway in his voice, indicating that he was expecting a bit more than just washing up. He looked like a begging puppy as he stared up at me expectantly. I could've sworn I even saw his bum wiggle like a pup in anticipation of my answer.

"Y-you can't fuck me right now, Osi. It still... it still hurts..." I covered my face as I replied, embarrassed at my confession. Casey objected to my statement, mewling aggrievedly at the idea of not being connected in such an intimate way with our mate. I covered my bum with my hand a second later, almost to shield it away from my obviously horny, dominant mate. An angry growl ripped through his throat when I covered myself, causing me to jump in surprise at his sudden change in expression

"I hurt you? Why didn't you fucking tell me?" he grunted out furiously, pulling back and pressing a hand to his forehead in frustration. Slightly taken aback at his fury, I scooted away from his intimidating body, my head hanging low in shame at his scolding as I ignored the rush of flames that licked my skin. Although I may be his mate, it did not change the fact that I am an Omega. We were engineered for submission, and submit I did.

"You weren't hurting me last night! I promise! It's just that you're really... um..." I gulped audibly, whispering my next words as I stared down at my fingers, twiddling with them to avoid meeting his eyes as I recalled the sight of his massive member. "B-b-big..."

A loud guffaw caused me to snap my head up, my eyes meeting Osias' bright blue ones which sparkled with amusement. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the rough baritone of his voice didn't send a tremor of desire right through me. If I were standing, I bet that I would have been reduced to a mere puddle of goo on the floor from the heavenly sound.

"Come on, beautiful. Let's get cleaned up." Osias stood before reaching across the bed to gather me up effortlessly in his arms. My own automatically wrapped around his neck, ignoring the dull throb in my bottom and the grains of sand that still clung to my skin and hair as he so gallantly carried me into the en-suite bathroom.

The bathroom itself was magnificent. From the white quartz countertops, bright silver faucets and shower with what looked like a million spouts, to the magnificently fluffy towels and robe that sat, folded to perfection in the built-in shelves. My toes curled in excitement at the thought of one day having a bubble bath in this tranquil room before we left. I'd have to ask Osias about that.

Cool air blew gently across my skin as I was set down in front of the glass shower door. Shivering involuntarily, I watched quietly as Osias adjusted the knobs in the shower, testing the water that spilled from multiple shower heads until he was satisfied with the temperature.

I inspected the details of the decor in the room once more as I stood waiting, scanning my eyes along to find hidden gems among the distracting shine of the fixtures. My eyes didn't get far however, as they were halted by what I saw looking back at me in the mirror. My eyes widened in shock as I took in the sight of my small body in the reflection.

What the...

It looked as is if I was mauled by some kind of wild animal, opposed to being fucked nearly senseless by my mate. My blonde hair was strewn everywhere, sticking out at odd angles, and my usually flawless skin was marred by countless purple hickeys.

My arched eyebrows scrunched together as I debated on whether or not to be angry at Osias for nearly destroying my fragile body last night, but all anger disappeared a moment later, right as I spotted the two dots on the bottom of my neck. I could easily see Osias's initials - O.A. - written in an elegant cursive script in what looked like white ink across the bite in order to seal the mating mark. Frozen in place, I stared at the beautiful piece of art on my skin, unable to stop the flutter of butterflies that took refuge in my tummy as my fingers drifted across the area gently.

"All done."

Osias turned around with a sly smirk on his handsome face, reaching out his calloused hand to grasp mine and tenderly pull me into the luxurious glass shower stall.

I just sent up a little prayer to the Goddess, begging her to save my poor hips from whatever was to come.

❦

We stepped out of our room, finally dressed after the shower. I - embarrassingly - needed Osias's help to put on some articles of clothing due to the burning ache that permeated every inch of my body, but he honestly wasn't much help considering he kept groping my butt every chance he got.

I began to mentally prepare for the Walk of Shame - or should we say, Crawl of Shame, as despite my desperate prayers my poor hips were screaming at me with every step I took. I opted for the comfy look, which included a pair of comfortable adidas shorts and one of Osias's crewneck sweaters, which practically swallowed my body whole but left a large area for my mating mark to be shown off where it slipped over my shoulder. Osias was quite happy with the idea of me wearing his clothes drenched with his masculine scent, as he said - and I quote - "It gets my baby-maker going."

Once we were in the shower, Osias took no time at all to seduce me, sliding his rough hands along my body in ways that he knew would rile me up. My begging of him to be gentle on me fell on deaf ears as I was twisted in positions against that glass wall that would surpass any professional acrobat. Although my hips and swollen entrance protested earnestly, my mind and heart disagreed as I was thoroughly fucked and sated, pleasure ripping though my body like a tidal wave with every one of his deep thrusts.

I had to admit, he knew how to find that sweet spot inside of me.

The shower lasted about an hour and a half, much longer than the both of us expected, so we had to skip breakfast. Even so, Osias came out of that shower grinning like an idiot and full of energy as he supported my exhausted body with his own.

"Are you sure that you don't want me to just carry you?" asked Osias for the umpteenth time as we walked through the doors of the Alpha Wing and out into the main area of the vacation house. Well, he walked and I hobbled, barely able to keep my knees stable enough to hold up my own body weight.

I simply shook my head and focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Call me stubborn, but I had to keep at least a little shard of my dignity.

Osias had a few meetings to attend today even though we were technically on vacation, and since I was soon to be showcased as the Luna of the pack, I was technically obliged to attend them as well. I sulked inwardly at that bit of information, as I was excited to go to the ocean with my three friends today. Jealousy banged in my stomach as I peered over the railing to see pack members in bathing suits, laughing on their way to the beach as they walked out of the front door. I could only hope that at least the meetings would be a bit more interesting than the torturous ones that I was put through with Max.

They usually ended with me fast asleep in a chair or playing games on his phone as I tried to tune out the arguments that took place during meetings. I didn't even know why they called them meetings, when really they were almost like a game of prey-and-predator, with one side demanding something from the other, mostly ending up with heated arguments and threats of violence.

I could only guess what the 'meetings' with Osias were like, as I could tell that he had a short fuse and a lot more muscle to make much more effective threats than Max.

I pushed the thought out of my head as soon as the idea of my ex-mate entered my head. I didn't have time to cry again today. Instead, I focused on the task before me, which was getting to the meeting room without falling flat on my face.

I clung to Osias like he was a life-jacket, not because of my Heat - which was sated for the time being - but just to walk in a pseudo-normal fashion down the hallway. A red hot blush clung to my cheeks as pack members that walked by us acknowledged our presence, pausing to take a quick sniff in the air before exclaiming with 'congratulations' as they realized that we completed our mating. It was simply mortifying for me, although Osias hummed with happiness and grinned at the fact that his pack acknowledged our bond.

Despite the fact that he was acting especially cocky around everyone today, no doubt because of our consummation, Osias made sure to handle me with the utmost care, walking at a pace to accommodate both the shortness of my legs and the lag because of my pain. After all, he did cause the latter.

Upon finally reaching the meeting room, I was met with the sight of Osias's assistant I'd met on the plane ride, as well as Ortiz and two other unfamiliar faces outside of the large doors. I smiled at Ortiz, giving him a small wave before flinching as he responded with a scowl, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall and tapped his foot impatiently.

Okay then. I guess he's a grump too. I made a mental note to stay out of his way, although I was slightly soothed by the fact that he lacked the sinuous muscles that bulged from my mate's large frame, making him look a bit less intimidating. Regardless, my Omega instincts still told me to be very wary of him.

"Mother, father." Osias acknowledged the beautiful but unfamiliar man and woman at the doors, although his tone was anything but welcoming. I immediately stiffened.

No way could I meet Osias's parents like this, barely able to walk and dressed like I was on my way to a middle school slumber party. So, I did the next best thing. Fighting past the pain in my lower regions, I dove behind my mate, clutching the back of his shirt as I willed myself to disappear behind him.

"Oh, he's adorable Osias! What a sweet face he has!" cooed a female voice as I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the situation to just go away. If I just closed my eyes tight enough, maybe they wouldn't see me.

I felt Osias's body rumble as he growled, fists clenching.

"He's mine." He spoke with malice dripping off of his tongue, his eyes flashing bright gold as his wolf attempted to tear to the surface. It was apparent that he didn't have had such a great relationship with his parents. "And he is now your Luna. I expect you to treat him as such. Including you, father."

He almost spit the last word off of his tongue, his muscles tightened underneath his skin and his arm reached behind him to pull me firmly against his side. I hid my face once more, wanting to disappear into him. I could only assume that his protective instincts were on overdrive right now, and mixed with his Alpha instincts, the result was deadly.

Osias turned towards the door of the room, not giving his parents a second glance as he suddenly picked me up into his arms princess style, ignoring my protests as I pressed against his chest. He promptly sat down in a dark, leather seat at the head of a long conference table in the meeting room, settling me gently into his waiting lap before caging me in his arms protectively.

I resisted the tempting urge to pout as everyone else filed into the room, taking seats as far away from Osias as possible as he shot them intimidating glares that left even me quivering.

I felt his fingers tangle through my hair, stroking it gently. It seemed to help him calm down, his hasty breaths becoming less harsh. I was finally able to breathe a breath of relief as I buried my face into his neck, my mating mark visible to all in the room. I knew that it pleased Osias because just as the first client walked into the room, his fingers brushed against it with tender care, shooting a dagger of pleasure straight to my groin as I panted breathlessly against his shirt.

"Sleep, love. After these meetings are over, we will eat and have a bit of time to relax." Osias whispered softly in my ear before turning his attention to the guest in the room. It was the Alpha of a nearby pack who came to 'just settle some business', or so Osias put it.

The pang in my stomach urging me to fill it with something kept me awake at first, although I was eventually able drifted off, drowning out the argumentative conversations around me. As I'd assumed, the meetings were viciously boring, and even louder than what I was used to as Osias threatened everyone that spoke.

At some point, I'm pretty sure Osias set me on the small couch which sat in the corner of the room so that he could more effectively intimidate his clients, as when I was brought back to the present a few hours later, I found myself laying on the comfortable material while Osias roused me gently with a soft shake to my shoulder.

I rubbed my eyes at the subtle intrusion, glancing up at Osias's handsome face as I came to. He sported a mischievous smirk while he stared at me with what looked to be adoration in his bright blue eyes. It was mesmerizing.

"What?" I smiled up at him, wrapping my arms around his neck as he helped me up off of the fluffy couch. I winced at the slight pain in my hips, although I noticed that it was not as acute as before.

"Time to get some food in you. Unless you'd like something else in you instead... Yeah, I could arrange that." he teased, pinching my bum and leading me back to the Alpha Wing of the vacation home. I hit his arm with a gentle force, giggling harder as I thought of the paralleling playful bickering of my Dad and Papa.

Maybe, just maybe, I'd get to be happy one day, just like them.