Fight Like Hell

"Guys," Alpha Zayne boomed, cheerful and proud, "Please allow me to introduce you all to my destined mate and Luna and your soon-to-be Luna...Aubrianne Ivanov. Aubrianne, this is everyone... here we have my father, Zachary...And Zayne made the rounds introducing all that were present.

His eyes twinkled as he smiled from ear to ear, the air around him calm and relaxed as he moved from person to person.

His father had held her hand and kissed the back of her palm, his eyes glittering with something as he gazed upon his son's mate, the wheels in his head turning only because of his son's mate's alluring aura.

Aubrianne met a few of the men that fought by Zayne's side on these missions, and Aubrianne thanked them for having her mate's back. She believed that because he had them, he was alive today.

And as such, she had the chance to meet him.

Aubrianne felt a wave of emotion while thanking the men who, time and again, fought alongside her mate.

She was grateful for the mere fact that he was not alone in this battle.

And the same way Zayne was attached to her, she now clung to his waist possessively.

Nevertheless, soon the greetings were over, and the crew that arrived, along with Zachary Sylvie and David, headed into the community house and to the dining room.

A meal was prepared for them to enjoy, then their rooms would be assigned, and a tour was planned around the facilities.

Tonight a bonfire was also planned. Zayne arranged to have a feast so the rest of his community would have the chance to meet his mate and their Luna.

Settling into the dining room, Zayne at the head, Aubrianne on his right, the seat on his left empty as Mekhi had not returned.

Aubrianne felt it for Mekhi as she imagined herself in that situation. Goddess knowing her mate was with someone else, touching that person the way he'd handled her, and experiencing what she had experienced???

Another storm of possessiveness wreaked havoc on her being.

Nope, she could not begin to fathom his torment, nor did she want to. Soon she had settled herself at her mate's soothing touch to her hands that she was clutching for dear life on her lap.

Zayne gently squeezed her hand, sensing her inner struggle, and Aubrianne instantly calmed herself.

She quietly took out her phone and attempted to get Jada, but a hint of doubt that she would get on to Jada still lingered in her mind.

Wondering if they were still traveling and if her phone might still be off, but Aubrianne would still try. She had to.

Yip, as suspected, Jada's phone went straight to voicemail. She sighed and put her phone away.

Aubrianne's day flew after she ate. As a matter of fact, the next two days passed by quickly.

That day, everything went smoothly. They were shown to their rooms, and she was staying with her mate. Zayne had taken Aubrianne to his room at the community home.

Then he took her to his true home. She would always be with him.

As Aubrianne stepped through the doors of Zayne's home, his scent engulfed her in a warm, sweet hug. Wrapping her in its cocoon.

Doing sweet things to her insides.

Aubrianne glanced around. Very cozy, and she loved the wooden-colored theme of the flooring and moldings, the gorgeous mantle, and the fireplace.

Plush couch sets, a mahogany coffee table, and a beautiful antique chandelier hung above in the living area, mirroring the one in the dining area. The kitchen was of the same theme, with rich cream-colored walls.

A fancy wooden staircase leading up snaked up the wall, and intricate patterns adorned the rails.

And her mate's scent was even more pungent when they got to his bedroom. Aubrianne basked in the aroma. She let it take over her senses.

Zayne had given her a quick tour and asked if she was comfortable as he thought it was not Thornton's manor, and Aubrianne told him she loved it; this is a fantastic home for their family, she randomly thought.

And they had chit-chatted casually about their time apart.

When they got closer to the bed, Aubrianne shoved Zayne down and jumped on him, straddling him without wasting time, using her speed to propel them.

She hastily removed her top, then dipped and kissed him when Zayne gently held and pulled her away. "Baby, please, Goddess...I cannot believe I am about to do this..."

"Then don't," Aubrianne eagerly urged and did not wait. Nothing was keeping them back now. They were alone. And surely they can get in a quickie before the ground tour.

Aubrianne simply could not wait, the need to have her mate right this instant overtook every part of her, and she went in again for the kiss when Zayne held her again, "Aubrianne." He spoke, his voice now gruff and strained.

Goddess, he missed her so much and could not wait for her sweet heat to wrap around him like a glove. He could not wait to drink her juices.

He was already experiencing the sweetest sensations of her being in his arms, so close he wanted to ravish her, but he couldn't.

Zayne planned the Luna ceremony tomorrow night and wanted to mark and mate her after the ceremony. He thought it was perfect to go the traditional route for the people and their beliefs.

However, that meant he had to wait another night to mark her. Now that she was free to be marked and nothing detrimental kept him back, Zayne did not think he was that strong to refrain from marking and claiming her during the deed.

Thus taking away the very steps he wanted her and his people to experience.

"Baby, please wait. I planned on mating and marking you tomorrow after the Luna ceremony." Zayne started to reason.

"Ok, well, that has nothing to do with now. We can still make sweet love." She purred at the ending, then her eyebrows pinched and eyes curious as she realized her mate was not budging.

"Baby, I don't think I am strong enough to keep myself from marking you now that things have changed," Zayne spoke up, his voice trying to sound as sure as possible and not waver in his stance.

"Then mark me now." Aubrianne was getting frustrated, she just wanted her mate, and this did not make sense to her. Why can't he mate her and mark her now, and then they still do the ceremony tomorrow?

But before Zayne could explain, they were interrupted; the others were ready for the tour, and he was excited to show Aubrianne around his community.

Plus, he welcomed the distraction from needing to ravish his mate.

"To be continued," he said while getting up, "Come, it's time for the tour of the grounds." He offered her his hand. Taking it, Aubrianne allowed him to pull her up, then she grabbed her top and put it back on.

Now, during said tour, Zayne had wondered if he was making a big deal out of this. He simply wanted to do it the traditional way. The ceremony was always first.

Plus, this was not just about them. It was about Zayne's people also bringing back the traditions they used to uphold and strengthening their beliefs. It was important that he did this for them and himself.

It is believed that communities strive because of the Goddess's blessings upon the Alpha and the Luna, who follow the way of life for their kind.

And he truly wanted that blessing for his mate and his people. For the Alpha and Luna, it was meant to be this way, and due to circumstances, they had already gotten this far. Why not see it through?

After surviving, he wanted to do this since he met her. It was just one more night to do this right. Doing things the way they were meant to be. With the woman he loved. His mate and Luna.

But then again, he saw the need in his mate's eyes surely mirroring his own; should he wait? And if he did not, could he be sure he would not give in to his primal nature and mark her?

The topic had plagued Zayne all evening when he realized it did matter.

He thought, even though he just wanted her to be his mate and Luna, so be it if she wanted to jump his bones now..., but Goddess, what if he could not control himself?

How could he deny her? But Goddess, he cannot mark her. He would have to fight like hell or get her to listen to reason. Surely she would understand...