by Snow, Jenika
“Cason.”
I loved hearing her moan my name.
When I felt her pussy become wetter, more responsive, clenching around my length, I picked up my speed. My strokes were languid at first, but as I stared down at where we were connected, her thighs splayed open, I felt my control leave. I fucked her faster and harder.
Her breasts were beautiful, full, and tipped with rose-colored nipples. The tissue was tight, pointing straight up as if seeking my touch. I wanted to draw them into my mouth, suck on them until she came from the act alone. My imagination spurred me on, and I found myself pushing into her with faster, harder strokes. She didn’t tell me to stop. Instead, she urged me to give her more. Her breasts swayed with my thrusting, and her creamy skin became flushed. Already, her eyes were at half-mast.
“Mena,” I growled her name. “Watch me as I take you.”
When she opened her eyes and looked at me, I rewarded her and myself by fucking her harder, claiming her more powerfully.
“Touch yourself for me.” I wanted to see her get even more pleasure.
My mate.
So fucking beautiful.
I knew this was all new to her, but Mena brought her hands up to cup her breasts.
Fuck.
“Yeah, that’s right, baby.”
“Oh, God.” She opened her mouth and moaned. “I’m… going…” She closed her eyes. “I’m going to come soon.”
“Give it to me, Mena.”
“Yes,” she moaned and cupped her tits harder, rubbing her fingers over the tight nipples.
“I’m so close, baby.” I needed to hear her cry out my name, needed to feel her pussy clench around me hard, almost painfully, milking my shaft until I came inside her. Throwing my hips at her harder, faster, the wet, almost erotic and sloppy sounds of fucking her filled my head. Sweat made a slow trickle down my spine, down my temples. I slid my hand down her belly, over her curved hips, and ran my thumb along her swollen clit. Just that small touch had her back arching and her thighs clamping tightly around me as she came for me.
“Oh, God!”
I didn’t relent on rubbing her clit or pumping my cock into her. Her tender flesh rippled around my length, squeezing me, milking me. A groan ripped from me as my orgasm approached.
“Fuck. Mena!” I roared out. I rubbed her clit faster, adding a little more pressure as I pumped my cock into her once, twice, and stilled on the third stroke. “Dammit.” My voice was hoarse, my bear right on the edge, right at the surface. “Christ.” I came so hard I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. I couldn’t even see.
My canines elongated even farther, and I pulled back to stare at the column of her neck, followed the path to her shoulder, and felt my mouth water. “I need to mark you, Mena baby. I need that wound on you, those puncture marks so I can see it and know you’re mine.” I looked into her face. “So every fucking male knows you’re mine and stays away or they’ll be met with my wrath.”
She looked at me with big, blue eyes, licked her lips, and nodded. “Give it to me, Cason. I’ve never needed anything like I need your mark.”
My bear really broke free then. My body got bigger, my form wavering as I lost it. I leaned forward to claim my female. I opened my mouth wide, saliva pooling on my tongue and teeth as I stared at her alabaster skin. I pierced her shoulder, let my saliva mix with her blood, go into her veins. I heard her gasp, felt her dig her nails into my arms, pulling me closer. With my mouth still at her throat, I thrust in and out of her, growling. Only after I felt her pussy quiver around my shaft once more did I pull back.
I licked the small puncture wounds, tasted the metallic, sweet flavor of her blood coating my tongue. The world around me faded. Her nails still bit into my flesh, causing me to roar in approval.
I pulled back even more as she came once again. I watched her come, watched the eruption of euphoria cover her face. “Fuck. Yes.” I hissed those words under my breath, closed my eyes, and heaved in completion as I pumped my cum deep within her. I collapsed on top of her, making sure to brace my weight on my elbows.
Heavy pants came out of her and coasted against my neck.
“Damn, Mena. Fuck.”
“God. That was… Cason.”
Yeah, it sure as fuck was.
Kissing her temple, I pulled out of her with a groan of disappointment. I wanted to be inside her all night long.
I leaned back and enjoyed the sight of her lying there. She was in the center of my bed, her glorious nude body flushed, dots of perspiration covering her curvy form. Her eyes were closed, and I had to control myself not to bury my face between her thighs, lick her pussy until she came all over my mouth.
I could have sat there all night and just stared at her, told her to spread wider for me so I could stare at her pretty cunt, see how wet she still was for me, watch as my seed slipped out of her tight no-longer-virgin hole.
Does she know she could bring me to my very knees? Does Mena know I’ll do anything for her?
I moved next to her again, wrapped my arms around her body, and pulled her close. She smelled good, a mixture of her sweet scent and mine. The knowledge I’d given her my mark caused this possessive need in me, this living entity.
I lifted my hand, unable to stop myself from running my fingers over the underside of one of the firm, soft mounds of her breasts. A hum of approval left her; a growl of pleasure came from my chest. My cock was hard and aching to be inside her pussy once more.
She moved closer to me, her ass coming in contact with my dick. She hummed again. “I thought a man only had it in him once. Seems like you’re proving everyone wrong.”
The way she teased turned me on even more.
Fuck, I’d go all night with her, come over and over again. I had a lifetime worth of orgasms to give her, my balls filled with so much seed that all I wanted to do—all I would do—was pump it into her until she was filled with my cum, until she was pregnant because of it.
I pulled her closer to me, my cock rock-hard, my need insatiable. But right now, I’d let her rest, sleep.
But after she was rested… all bets were off. Her pussy would be sore, swollen, and covered in my cum.
“No going back, little bear. No going back ever. You’re mine.”
Chapter Ten
Mena
I felt the surge of power move through me, the mark on the side of my neck tingling, an exhilarating sensation consuming every single part of my body.
My cells, DNA, and bones. The very marrow deep inside them.
I looked over at Cason, my mate already shifted into his bear form. His dark eyes watched me, penetrated me, giving me encouragement even though he said nothing, didn’t even move. He was patient as he waited for me to do this in my own time. On my own terms.
My hands were shaking, my knees threatening to give out. I never felt such strength before, my inner animal pushing forward, making herself known, telling me she was going to finally take control for the first time in my life.
But it wouldn’t be for the last.
I could practically hear Cason’s voice in my head, urging me that I could do this, that I had the strength, the power. I inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, closing my eyes and finally submitting, surrendering.
I let all my walls and boundaries down, just let my bear rise up, finally push forward, and gain supremacy. The feeling of her, of shifting for the very first time, wasn’t painful, but it was a little uncomfortable. The feel of my skin stretching and ripping, of my skin being replaced by fur, of my muscles getting bigger, my bones breaking and realigning… it was all strange and exciting.
But as the discomfort faded, all I felt was pleasure. It wasn’t sexual, more like contentment, like I had found exactly what I’d been missing. Letting my bear free, finding my mate. It all felt so… freeing.
And it was when I opened my eyes, looking at my surroundings for the first time as a bear, that I knew nothing else in this world would compare to being in my animal form with my mate
. Nothing else would compare until I had my family, my children, this perfect life I’d always had but had never known was mine.
Cason came up to me and started nuzzling my face with his head, the scent of him turning me on. He licked me, his tongue moving along my cheek, dampening my fur, and a low, happy sound left me.
More pleasure slammed into me.
And then he nudged me softly, urging me to go, to run. And I did just that, feeling the ground beneath my paws, the dirt digging under my claws. He was close by, close enough that I knew he’d never leave my side, that he’d never be too far.
And neither would I.
We were made for each other. In all senses of the word.
* * *
Damon
I had to get out of there, away from my brothers and their mates, away from the feeling of being an outcast, as if I’d never find what I was missing, as if I’d forever live my life on the outside looking in.
It was this constant hollowness inside me, this hole that would never be filled until I found her.
My mate.
She was out there somewhere, but for all I knew, she could’ve been on a different continent.
I felt distant, detached. I was getting older, my life continuing to move forward even though I felt like I was being pushed back, further and further until I’d never catch up.
I continued on the trail through the woods that my brothers and myself had made years ago. We didn’t need hiking paths, not when our bears trampled through everything. The only thing they were mindful of was being free. But we’d thought of the future, of our mates and children, of family walks and picnics.
And all of my brothers had that now.
All of them but me.
I lifted my hand and rubbed my palm over the center of my chest, right over my heart, right where the hole was, where there was this painful reminder. All I wanted was to find my mate, to feel my happiness. All I wanted was that realization that I wasn’t actually alone in life.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, staying in my human form even though my bear wanted out, wanted to run free and get rid of some of this aggression and frustration.
I liked leisurely walking as a human, taking in the sights and smells, feeling the sun warm my skin. It was the little things I appreciated, that I didn’t take for granted.
I was at the edge of our property, the lake not too far from where I was right now. The path had since ended, my boots crunching along the rocky, uneven forest terrain.
It was another ten-minute walk before I found myself getting closer to the lake. I inhaled deeply, smelling the scent of the fish in the water, the birds up in the trees.
I heard the sound of a masculine voice, of water splashing. I didn’t know why I followed that noise, stopped and looked at where I saw the man wading in the water. The man was facing off to the side, an area where the trees obscured my view. He was laughing, splashing water in that direction. I moved to the side so I could get a better look at who he spoke to, not sure why I gave a fuck.
I should’ve kept walking, minded my own business. But the first thing I saw was the fall of damp, long dark hair. The first thing I felt was how my heart lurched in my chest when she turned around and started swimming toward the shore, laughing as the man continued to splash her.
The sound of her voice was the sweetest thing I’d ever heard.
And when she climbed out of the lake, the water dripping down her lean yet curvy body, I felt my cock instantly harden. It pressed against the fly of my jeans, demanding to get out. My canines lengthened, my nails turning into claws. My grizzly pushed forward, my skin stretching, my muscles thickening.
My mate.
Mine.
She was there, just down on the bank, close enough that I could smell the scent of lemons and gardenia surrounding her. Everything happened in slow motion, time standing still as everything fell into place.
The man crawled out of the lake, his focus trained on her. I inhaled deeply, the wind coming up from the water. A low growl left me. I smelled desire from him. For her.
But from her… from her, I only scented distance. Good, she didn’t want him. If she had, that would cause complications. Hell, him wanting her already caused problems.
And then as I watched him reach out, trying to push a strand of hair off her shoulder, every territorial and possessive instinct in my body rose up. I was jealous, fierce in that moment. No other male would touch her. No other male would even think about having her.
She was mine.
And that’s all I thought about as I charged forward, about to make my claim known.
Epilogue One
Mena
One year later
“You ready for all this?” Bethany, Zakari’s mate, said and stepped up behind me, smiling, the genuine happiness that came from her making me feel relaxed.
The mirror in front of me was full length, and as I stared at myself, at my reflection of the woman in this white wedding dress, flowers in my hair, my cheeks pink with my glow of happiness, I couldn’t help but smile.
I was getting married to my mate, actually about to tie the knot with a big, bad bear shifter. Nothing had felt more right, nothing as good as when I had first found my mate.
“Ready?” I whispered to myself. I wiped a stray tear out from under my eye and thought to myself that I was finally finding my happily ever after.
My heart was thundering a mile a minute, sweat beading between my breasts, down my spine. My hands were shaking, but I’d never felt better, never felt happier.
I just wanted to make it official with the male I loved. I just wanted to be the wife to this incredible man.
“You’re going to do great,” India said. “Take a deep breath so you don’t pass out, okay?”
I nodded.
I faced the four women. “Thank you for being here for me, for everything.”
They all came up to embraced me, giving me words of encouragement, making me feel like I actually belonged.
I took a step back and inhaled deeply. “I’m ready,” I whispered, tightened my hold on the small bouquet of wildflowers in my hand, and grinned, turning around. Bethany—Asher’s mate, Ainsley—Oli’s mate, India, and Maddix’s mate, Allison, all stood in front of me, smiling, their happiness increasing mine.
The children ran around, giggling and singing.
I felt tears start to form in my eyes, tears of joy and excitement, of feeling finally complete.
I stepped outside and made my way toward where the wedding was being held, our closest family and friends gathered around our very intimate ceremony, the woods our backdrop, the wildflowers and massive trees picturesque.
I saw Cason standing there, watching me, the love he had for me reflected back tenfold.
I closed my eyes and felt a tear slide down my cheek, laughing softly at how ridiculously happy I was.
The wedding music played and I started making my way toward Cason, my father holding onto my arm, the forest floor beneath my feet my aisle.
When I was in front of Cason, he immediately cupped my cheeks and wiped the tears of joy away.
“I hope these are tears of happiness?”
I nodded and grinned. “Always.”
“I love you, little bear.” He leaned forward and kissed me softly even though we probably should have waited until our vows were said. The guests chuckled softly.
As we said our vows, the words we’d written for each other from the heart, facing each other, I saw my future staring back at me. Cason grabbed my hand and slipped the ring on it. I cried harder now, my happiness and love for this shifter taking control.
“This is it, my little bear girl.” He ran his fingers over the mark on my neck, and I felt it tingle and warm. “Never gonna let you go,” he muttered to himself.
“Good,” I whispered.
And just like that, my reality was right in my hands.
Epilogue Two
Mena
Eighteen months later
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I could see how happy my mother and father were as they grabbed covered dishes off the breakfast island and brought them over to the massive oak table Cason had made just this past summer. It was big enough to seat everybody, my parents, his brothers and their mates, and any future children we’d have. I thought that as I placed a hand on my belly, the growing bump having this flutter of excitement filling me.
I’d gotten pregnant on my honeymoon, something that was special and exciting and had a perpetual grin on my face, because this was our future. The part of our forever.
I looked down at my left hand, at my ring finger. I had to take my wedding ring off given the fact that my fingers were starting to swell, and the truth was I hated not being able to wear it. It didn’t matter that I didn’t need a ring or piece of paper to know Cason was mine the same as I was his, but I liked the symbolism of it all, loved having the weight on my finger—as well as the mark on my neck—to show everyone that I was taken.
This baby, our baby, growing inside me was altering me, changing us for the better. I felt strong arms wrap around me, sliding over my arms and covering my hands that were on my bump. I rested my head back against Cason’s chest, closing my eyes briefly as I just absorbed the love he had for me. I could feel it as if it were a living entity, washing over me, surrounding me. It gave me power, made me relaxed and content, confident in everything that was around me.
Just then, I felt a little kick, a strong push in my belly. Cason chuckled softly and kissed the side of my neck, right over the mark he’d given me. I tilted my head to the side to give him better access, loving his lips on that mark. Hell, who was I kidding? I loved his lips on any part of my body.
“He’s feisty tonight, yeah?”
I turned in his arms and rose on my toes to wrap my hands around his neck. He leaned down so he could kiss me back. I needed his mouth on me desperately. But the kiss wasn’t anything sexual. It was soft and sweet, showing each other how we felt in a physical manifestation. “I think he’s going to be wild like his father,” I said against his mouth, grinning, hearing Cason chuckle again.