32

Tino's POV

Tomorrow I want you to fuck me. Then I want you to mark me.

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCKING FUCK WAS MY STUPID ASS THINKING?

Did I actually say that to him while I was blissed out from an orgasm? Did I mean it? Hell yeah, I did. But did I think I would say it and then? Fuck no. Was I dumb?

'Yes, the dumbest.' The voice caught me off guard and I leaned up in the bed.

Koa was in the shower getting ready and I was waiting my turn. I had pretended to be asleep when he slipped out the bed.

'Damn, you forgot about me already?'

'Zay, what the actual fuck? What the fuck is going on right now?'

'Well, I missed you too, kid.'

'Nah, don't kid me. You've been MIA. I'm pissed at you.'

'I'm sorry, you're right. I shouldn't have left you. And there is no excuse as to why I went dormant. You deserve better.'

'What made you come back?'

'You did. I could feel your happiness not just with Koa, but in general. I can feel you getting better...without me. And yes, I am happy for you but I know you shouldn't have had to do that alone.'

'You're right I shouldn't have.'

'You don't have to forgive me now. I will spend the rest of our life making it up to you. I promise you I will not leave you again.'

'Alright Zay, no need to get all serious on me man. It's cool. I'm just happy you're back.'

'Me too.'

The shower stopped abruptly and the door swung open. The towel was still wrapped around his waist and he had a wild look on his face. He was still dripping wet, so he didn't even try to dry off.

"Your wolf is back." It wasn't a question, more of a statement. He leaned against the door and he huffed and puffed.

"Yeah, Zay I back," I said casually and shrugged my soldiers. He walked closer with still that wild expression on his face.

"Tino...your wolf is back." He said again, and I met his eyes. I knew that his lycan was probably leaping with joy, finally having his mate back.

"Yeah, I know Koa." He got down on his knees before me at the end of the bed. And held my hands in his, and the way he looked at me pulled a deep emotion out of me that I didn't realize I was feeling.

I started to feel overwhelmed with joy, and I didn't realize how empty I felt without Zay until now. I think I had gotten used to the numbness and the emptiness, but now that he is here...I feel like my whole self again.

"Valentino," Koa whispered as he lifted his hand and wiped my tears. I had no idea I had started crying and I had a smile on my face. "I'm so happy for you, dolcezza." I leaned my head onto his chest not caring that he was dripping wet and also not caring that I was crying like a baby.

My wolf was back. Zay was back.

And it felt like everything was falling into place.

*****

"Cristoff, you have the floor." My father spoke as I sat in the back of the meeting room with Koa.

I didn't want to come, but Koa somehow convinced me to come and have this be my last meeting. I was thankful when he suggested that he would take over these aspects for me. Every day the idea of becoming an alpha was less and less appealing. Whereas Koa did it effortlessly. But that's just the man he is.

If there was a way for me to lead the pack but also not at the same time I would do it. Easily.

Now I was here in the back, barely paying attention. Wishing I was anywhere else but here.

"There is a new leader, as you all know. Though it has nothing to do with killing Koa, moreso get him back." That made me perk up. "Alcander, he had taken the title from me and he wants you. Plain and simple."

"No fucking way," I muttered under my breath. Though Koa's hand squeezed my thigh to try and calm me down.

"Alcander is willing to go to war for you Koa. He is in love with you and he rejected his mate for you." Cristoff continued and started to rub salt into the wound.

"So that's all he wants? Is me? Seems too easy." Koa spoke up and leaned further back into the chairs we were in.

"That's all Koa. He just wants you. He wants you to reject your mate, and mate him."

"I'll fucking kill him." I gritted through my teeth feeling my anger rise in me.

"You mentioned an alpha that might be able to stop him?" Koa questioned as he continued to squeeze my thigh and make me relax.

"His name is Alpha Dieter, he has one of the biggest packs on the coast. His pack is one of the strongest on the coast and I would say I the country."

"Better than ours?" My father asked Cristoff.

"Yes, precisely. Dieter granted Alcander solace after he ran away and rejected his mate. Dieter let him in, trained him and Alcander got too comfortable. He tried to overthrow him and become the alpha. But Alcander didn't realize how strong Dieter is. Dieter is strong enough to beat a lycan. So much so, Alcander ran away and came back here, and in that time Koa came back and the rest is history."

"Is Dieter a werewolf?" I asked, which caught everyone by surprise, seeing as I stay silent in these meetings most days. Cristoff nodded and my eyes went wide. If Dieter can beat a lycan...especially in a challenge for the alpha title that is one strong-ass dude. I can't imagine how big of a guy he is.

"Alcander is terrified of Dieter, I don't know why. But he talked about him a lot. So if we can get him here, we could end all of this just by his presence."

Many thoughts filled my mind.

One, what the fuck did Dieter do to Alcander to make him so scared?

Two, what does this Dieter dude even look like?

And three, this Dieter dude must be taking some shit because there is no way a werewolf could beat a lycan...right?

"How far is Dieter? How long do you think it would take before he got here?" Koa asked.

"He's about 4 hours East. I'm sure if we explain the situation he can be here tonight and then have this resolved before the week ends." I let out a huge sigh of relief at the thought that this could be over.

"And you Cristoff? You no longer have any interest in Koa and his abilities?" My father questioned, and I was partly thankful that he did.

"No. That's the honest answer. I have new priorities. I shouldn't have even thought about that to begin with."

I wanted to believe him, and it seems Koa did. It was probably because Cristoff almost ruined Koa and I's mate bond. I almost lost him because of it. So for that reason, I will never like Cristoff. Even now, it's looking like we will be having Christmas and birthdays together for the rest of our lives.

The rest of the meeting went on about how they would get Dieter here and they made a plan. A plan that hopefully didn't resolve any bloodshed. And the fact that I am saying that just goes to show how much I have changed. A few months ago I was out killing rogues to mask my emotions and to hide my pain. And now I am in the arms of my mate. My mate had seen me at my worst and now I am wanting to show up with my best.

It's crazy what a few month's difference can make. A few day's difference can make.

Koa continued to rub on my thigh, though I wish he didn't. He was stirring me up inside, me and Zay. It had been way too long and we still haven't mated or marked each other. And now that fucking Alcander was in the situation, I needed to happen. Was it partly in jealousy? Possibly. But it was also the fact that I wanted to be committed to Koa.

I didn't want another situation where Koa would leave and I not go with him. Maybe in a weird selfish way, it's me scared he is going to abandon me again. I knew he wouldn't. I trust Koa. With my whole heart.

Maybe it was the mate pull pushing me to complete the bond, and I wonder if it was affecting Koa too.

'Or maybe you actually like your mate, and have feelings for him.' Zay spoke up and I held the urge to roll my eyes at him.

'Okay well, yeah. I've thought about that too.'

'Maybe tell him that. That you have feelings for him before you let him fuck you and mark you.' Zay said teasingly.

'Right, right, right. That's smart. Maybe I should do a whole romantic thing? With like food, and then I don't know, flowers? Something real special.'

'You mean...a date?'

I took a moment to think about it and he was right. It was a date. I mean Koa and I have gone places on our own, but I don't think it's been considered dates...nah. Definitely not.

'Yes, Zay a date. Should I plan something tonight then?'

'I think before you guys have something as serious and intense as mating and marking, it should be special. You both deserve something special.'

Well fuck. Where the hell do I start now?