by Gift .
I clutched my chest trying to breathe, and holding back the flood of tears looming, as the shadows devoured every last ash and left me in a seething mess of bloody urn shards, crumpled in a ball in the middle of the floor.
I wasn’t sure what hurt worse, the urn shards or my shattered heart.
Chapter 35
(Rayne)
With the lessening of my mark I was feeling a lot more confident in my abilities to resist Raphael should the time come, and I was sure it would. No way he was giving up that easily, he was very patient, and persistent to a T.
Raziel had gotten us all dressed up in matching attire and told me he had a surprise for me. I was excited but had no idea what to expect, I didn’t really know him after all. The short interactions I had with him growing up were more terrifying than anything else and left little room to get to know him.
So to even guess what he might be planning wasn’t something I even attempted. I figured I would just be along for the ride. We left his house hand in hand which was new to me as well, being openly affectionate. And also irritated my mark.
We didn't have a title, I wasn't sure what we were, but I knew how I felt and that was all that mattered to me. I followed him outside and around his property to the backyard.
There were multitudes of trails leading every which way. We followed one that was a little less traveled, more bushes and vines littered the trail, it was definitely more grown out. I could see the trail had been used but it seemed like it wasn’t often.
We walked for about 20 minutes through the winding path. Trees had started to appear on the sides of the path until we were completely covered in a walkway between the trees. Raziel kept looking over at me with anticipation in his golden eyes, making me smile everytime he did.
We finally came to a golden gate across the path. Raziel stopped us here, he took a single golden key out of his pants pocket and put it in the lock on the gate. With a click the lock opened and Raziel opened the gate and motioned for me to go inside.
I walked through the gate with him following me. He stopped to shut the gate and relocked it with the little golden key. He put the key back in his pocket and grabbed my hand much to the dismay of my mark which I had been learning to ignore.
“Are you ready?” He purred, “Yes” I said with anticipation. “I'm ALWAYS ready for anything he asks” Wynter smirked. I saw a smile creep up on his face as if he heard her.
He then grabbed my hand, mark burning, and led me through a tunnel which was covered with hanging vines and purple flowers. He pulled open the vines and we walked through. I stepped out into what could only be described as the most beautiful place I had ever seen. My eyes lit up in awe as I tried to take it all in.
I instantly felt as if I were in a fairy tale. There was a lake covering a vast amount of the area, and right in the middle of the lake was a mound with the largest willow tree I had ever seen in my life. The span of the branches were at least 50 feet in all directions.
The branches adorned with leaves and colored flowers hung in all different lengths, some even touching the surface of the water creating little ripples as they swayed in the breeze.
The tree was covered in what looked like glitter? It was twinkling and shining in the sunlight. I noticed that glittery substance was actually in the water too, floating on top of the lake.
In the lake there were giant lily pads floating around with huge tulips on each one, some open, some closed. They were all different shades of blues, magentas, and purples. Around the edges of the lake were vast forests that looked as if they went for miles.
There were shrubbery lining trails and paths everywhere I looked. I could see patches of colored mushrooms at the bases of the trees and randomly within the shrubbery.
There were tiny cottage looking things scattered throughout the shrubbery as well and within the tree branches. Flowers of all different types and colors were adorning every piece of ground that wasn't covered in a beautiful bluish purple looking grass.
Everything was covered in that glittery substance and the whole place was sparkling and shining. It was so breathtaking I could barely take it all in. I was completely in awe, I honestly never wanted to leave this place, whatever it was.
As we walked in a little further I could see small creatures flitting around, in and out of the bushes and around the tree. Were those? “OMG” Wynter shouted, “Fairies?!” I exclaimed turning to Raziel. His smile was the biggest I have ever seen it, by the look on his face I could tell he was pleased with my reaction.
“Yes, darling.” He purred. “But, I thought they were extinct? How are they here?” I exclaimed. I had always heard the stories of the Fae, they used to frequent the world living in trees and shrubbery. Mostly found in forests and hidden grottos.
They were considered extinct after they were being hunted for their fairy dust which was rumored to grant any wish and could heal even the most terminal ailment. I had always wanted to find them which is why I was so apt to explore as a child.
I thought the more places I could see, the more chances I could see a real fairy. I never did, but always looked. How did he know? Raziel started talking, telling me the story of how this place came to be. I listened intently, hanging on his every word.
“This colony is protected by magic, no one can get in without the key. The gate is hidden by magic, so I am the only one who can find it. About 300 years ago, I found a small colony of Fairies on the outskirts of a town that had just been eradicated by a neighboring wolf pack. I stumbled upon it by accident. The Fae were all but extinct at this point and I knew if I had just left them there that they too, would meet an untimely demise. I knew I could protect them and if that's all I could do, well that was better than nothing. I spoke to them in hopes that they would trust me. It took time and coaxing but they finally agreed to come with me. I had in the meantime been preparing this grotto, in hopes that they would agree someday and make this their new home. I agreed to protect them and let them thrive. They took my once small grotto and over the past 300 years turned it into this magical place.”
I took another look around, I couldn't believe that this started 300 years ago with a small group of Fae. I took his face in my hands, ignored my annoying mark burning and looked deep into his eyes. “You are a wonderful person, you know that?” I said, as I kissed his lips softly.
My mark started on fire at this point and I didn’t even care. He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist, deepening our kiss. This place was so magical, it was like you could feel the magic radiating off everything, every bush, every tree, every Fairy. It made the moment that much more magical. He set me down gently, his hand intertwined in mine and led me to the side of the lake where a gold bench was placed against some shrubbery.
We sat down, he snapped and produced us 2 gold drinks. He handed mine to me and he put his arm around me. I leaned into him placing my legs across his, sipping my drink and just enjoying my view. This really gave me a perspective into another side of Raziel.
Underneath his fiery but collected composure he truly cared about others. Preserving a whole species? It's just unheard of. My entire life my mother taught me to be afraid of Reavers just to find out that I am one!
She told me they were ruthless killers, not to be tested or trifled with. She told me that if a Reaver ever requested something from me, no matter what it was I was to oblige or lose my life.
I grew up terrified of Reavers, especially of Raziel through my brief interactions with him. I had first handedly witnessed him being ruthless and a murderer. I know all species have their moments, but I couldn't deny that a lot of what I thought about Raziel wasn’t based on fact.
We sat together for who knows how long, just chatting and drinking gold drinks together. We laughed together, talked about all kinds of things and got to know each other. Honestly, it was probably the best time I've had in a long long time, years even.
Before I knew it the sun was setting, and we were in the perfect spot
to watch it go down. I wondered if he had planned it this way, but I wasn’t complaining. I was perfectly content watching as the sky changed to beautiful colors of orange, pink, purple and of course gold.
We had just gotten up to leave when I felt the venom wash over me, Alpha Drakes mind link. I shuddered as his voice infiltrated my mind. “Rayne, you are still part of this pack, I expect to see you at training tomorrow morning.” and then he closed the link.
Chapter 36
Part of me thought Alpha Drake sounded, sad maybe? I couldn't really place it, it wasn’t his usual venom and I wondered what might be up but didn’t think about it too hard.
He was right, I was still part of the pack for a few more weeks until I turned 21 so I had an obligation. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, darling” Raziel purred as he flashed me a perfect cocky smile.
“You could just stay here with me forever, why don’t you just move in? I'm sorry, that might be fast, but the offer stands” He smirked.
“You know I would love nothing more than to spend every day for the rest of my life with you. But I do have an obligation to my pack, only for a few more weeks and then I'm done. But for now, I do have pack duty, and I can't let my pack down.”
I said as I looked up at him. Only a few more weeks, and I would be free of my pack obligations. I would find out who my mate bond had chosen for me, and I would definitely not be Luna of the Obsidian pack.
My life was going to change drastically in a few weeks, and I was preparing for it everyday. I had put a lot of thought into what I would do if my mate wasn’t Raziel.
Honestly, the chances were very slim that it would be. I had been thinking alot about how I would reject my intended mate, and choose Raziel instead. I had practiced the lines in the mirror, trying to stay strong and hopefully be able to fight the mate bond.
I had dreamt of this day, hoping that it would be a quick and easy process. Something I was able to do with conviction and certainty that I wasn't making the wrong choice. To say my nerves were shot over it, was an extreme understatement.
We left the grotto much to my dismay, and headed back to the house. Raziel didn't tell me he was a master cook. We got inside and into his kitchen and he just started grabbing literally everything from the cupboards. Throwing food in pans and cooking like he was a top chef.
He cooked top sirloin steak, with garlic asparagus, and mashed potatoes. I took one bite and knew I had to keep him around. It was literally the best thing I had ever eaten. "Well I definitely have to keep you, this is amazing!" I exclaimed.
"Anything for you, darling." He purred. "Where did you learn to cook so well? I asked. "When you've been around as long as I have, you learn a thing or two." He said with a wink. He just kept amazing me.
Once we were done eating, Raziel Snapped and produced me a gold sports bra and gold shorts to sleep in. I didn't really have anything at his house and hadn't been home in 2 nights so I appreciated the gesture.
I went into the bathroom, took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, changed and then climbed into Raziels bed. He took me into his arms burying his face into the side of my neck, he took a deep breath inhaling my scent. I could feel the peace rolling off him, like he was right where he was supposed to be.
His fangs elongated and I felt him brush them against my neck. My body reacted on it’s own to his advance, my nipples hardening and arousal making its way in between my legs. He pulled me around so I was facing him and he looked deep into my eyes, tracing my jawline and lower lip with his thumb.
My mark was burning out of control at his touch, reminding me of just who I belonged to. Our lips met softly, he wrapped his hand through my hair and pulled me deeper into the kiss, his tongue touching my lips, begging to let in. I opened my mouth and let our tongues explore each other, this waking my primal instincts.
My mark was angry, burning like a fire had been lit underneath it, but I didn’t care. All I knew is I wanted more. Raziel then pulled away and positioned himself on top of me, he ripped my sports bra off and started kissing at my neck, making his way down to my breasts.
He took his time with each one, sucking on my nipples and biting them softly but hard at the same time. Then he kept going, making his way down stopping to kiss my belly button and rip my shorts from my body with a guttural growl.
I was completely aroused at this point, Wynter enjoying every minute as well regardless of the insistent burning of my mark. It was like a reminder that I shouldn't be doing what I'm doing and that made me want to do it even more.
He kept descending making his way onto my inner thighs, he was so close to my clit I could feel his hot breath on my lower lips. I gasped a little when I felt it, “Do you want it?” He said seductively, every word breathing right where I definitely wanted it.
“I want to hear you say it, you know the drill, darling” He purred. “I want it” I gasped letting out a little moan, “Please” I said under my breath, locking eyes with him, I bit my lip seductively. I could see passion and lust flash in his eyes.
He held my hips down so I couldn’t move and he buried his face in between my thighs making me arch my back in response. I let out a moan and it seemed to fuel his desire, he went at it even harder, his tongue exploring every inch of me.
I wrapped my hand into his golden blonde hair and put my other hand on the bed trying to stabilize myself a little. Every movement of his tongue had my body writhing with pleasure.
I was about to climax when he stopped for a sec, "Don't come til I'll tell you to." He commanded. And then he went back at it, I was so close, my moans were getting louder, it was harder to keep quiet at this point. I was trying as hard as I could to wait until I was told to come, but it was becoming seemingly difficult.
Just when I thought I wasn't going to be able to stop it Raziel stopped, "Come for me Rayne" he purred, and then kept going. "Yes, Raziel" I gasped and within seconds I was at my climax. My orgasm tore through me like a fucking tornado.
Raziel put his fingers on my clit continuing the stimulation and with elongated fangs he bit right into my inner thigh. My mark exploded under my skin throwing me into a mixture of pleasure and pain. With the sensations enhanced from his bite I wasn't able to keep quiet at all.
My screams of pleasure echoed through the room. He let me ride the entire orgasm out before he stopped drinking, he quickly healed my thigh, and buried his face back between my legs, causing me to gasp as the sensation was almost too much. He was only there for a few more seconds before he stopped, his stubble glistening with my fluids.
My spasms hadn't even fully stilled before he made his way back to eye level with me and he smashed his lips into mine, the taste of my own fluids mixed with his was intoxicating, and I didn't even care, we were in complete bliss at that moment.
He pulled away, and looked deep Into my eyes. "Good girl" he said with a cocky grin as he took a piece of my hair in his hand, feeling it and playing with it. He looked at me as if I were the most beautiful thing in the world and at that moment I felt as if I were.
He pulled me into his arms giving me a sense of security. "Rayne" Raziel whispered in my ear. "Yes?" I whispered back. "I want you to know that whatever happens when you turn 21, whoever you end up mated to, I'm going to be here for you." He whispered.
I smiled at his words, realizing now just how much my birthday looming was affecting him too. "I know, I just want you to know that I choose you. No matter who my mate is. I choose you." I said softly, but with a seriousness in my tone.
He smiled and pulled me in tighter, as we drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 37
My eyes fluttered open to my alarm going off at 6am, time to get ready for pack training. I turned to face Raziel and just took a minute to admire his beauty. He looked so peaceful just laying there with his golden blonde hair a mess and not a worry in the world, his chest rising and falling slowly as he slept.
I got up carefully and planned to head to my house to get ready, when I re
alized that Raziel had already laid out a set of clothes for me to wear to training. A black sports bra, gold shorts and gold combat boots. He knew exactly what my style was and I couldn't help but feel butterflies at the fact that he paid so much attention to what I wore.