The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 107

Chapter 107

TESSA POV

The world has turned upside down. That can be the only explanation. From arriving here to somehow standing next to the Alpha and iny tate, the entire back honouring me?

Just the standing part is a miracle.

It’s not even the stuff of dreams, they never ventured that far. Back home, at best I hoped I wouldn’t fail archery once I got to Ravenbow. That was it. To fit in. Maybe some new friends.

My ears buzz from the bells. Alpha Remy is beaming proudly, resplendent in a simple white suit. Looking down over the squeamishly high balcony I spot my makeshift, peculiar little family.

Staring down at the crowd, I can’t help but make a mental list of the people I’ve got to talk to. Allette, Kai, Silas.

The men from my archery skills test, clapping broadly and nodding. Is the judgement truly over? I spot Vigo on the edge of the crowd. I want to tell him this doesn’t mean he was the best at scent tracing after all. I hope we shall always compete.

If I can still shift? Perhaps my wolf’s healing ability is limited to only one major miracle. Then I’d have to concede and see if the silvery giant is capable of smiling.

“Everything okay?” Maxim mutters out of the side of this mouth. I nod quickly. Now isn’t the time to unleash any doubts. Not with all these people watching.

Lifting his huge arm, Remy silences the bells again. The blade competition is to be rescheduled for tomorrow so Ravenbow can continue to celebrate.

The cheers rise up once more. With a gentle tap on my back, Remy indicates we can step back from the balcony, back into the throne room and we gratefully follow.

“So, Warden Pagano, what would you like your duties to be?”

“Archery presumably?” one Warden pipes up, holding two clipboards. Oh wow, is one of those going to be for me? I cannot be given a clipboard right now, Maxim will die laughing.

“Maybe give her a few days to think about it?” another says, nodding like a kindly grandfather.

I can feel the invisible weight of expectation. But I want more of those damming kisses from Maxim. I want to grab him and run for the hills.

“Actually, I don’t think I have it in me to train people as hard as Ravenbow requires.”

“Ah, you think we need to change what we do?” Remy checks, his forehead furrowing.

“No. Not at all. It’s designed to bring out the best. Create the strongest,” allowing myself a look at my handsome mate. “But I think maybe I could be more of an ear. Someone like Briggs, maybe after his injury could have done with someone to talk to?The people who get cut, we don’t need more resentment out there in the districts?”

I don’t say it, but even the Alpha’s sister could have done with someone impartial to talk to.

“Let’s talk about that. Very interesting idea.” Alpha Remy murmurs moving to pull out a chair from his huge meeting table.

I look at Maxim and my darling is stricken. I want to laugh but instead quickly raise my hand and add. “But if I could have a night to think about it properly?”

“Of course. You should enjoy your recovery! Remy nods.

With bows, thanks and handshakes Maxim and I finally leave the throne room. His hand grips mine tightly, sprinting down the stairs, my pulse races.

Chapter 107

“That, was close,” he grimaces.

“The chair!”

“Love your idea by the way.”

A giddy, silly excitement charges through us both leaving us chuckling like fools as we rush down the spiral stone staircase and break out onto the packhouse gravel.

Except the crowd hasn’t dispersed yet. Everyone wants to talk, to congratulate me. To ask me with an almost disturbing amount of interest in their eyes how it felt to almost die. Did I know my legs were being crushed?

Then some asked Maxim how his face feels. It’s constant. Without realising I’m taking tiny steps closer to him, turning him into my shield. Maxims jaw is clenching tighter by the second and I start to wish we’d stayed in the tower.

“I feel…my feet,” taking a few staggering steps backwards. “They’re hurting a bit.”

“Everyone back!” Maxim declares, turning his back on a dozen people to face me, his face creased up, amber gaze fluttering from head to toe, “I’m so sorry, I knew it was too much. I’m taking you back inside-” sweeping me up in his arms with ease.

“Will you be at the tournament?” At dinner?” people ask.

“Tomorrow. Maybe!” he snaps without a care, before striding down the path. Not towards the packhouse. But to Block E.

Tucking my face into his jet black shirt, I feel giddy and bright. As soon as we are almost alone I whisper. “You know my feet are fine don’t you?”

I squeal as he breaks into a sprint with me in his arms, bouncing down the track with a look of pure deviance in his golden eyes. He purposely jumps over a discarded arrow shaft, only to grip me tighter on the bumpy landing. “Maxim!”

When I resist and kick a little he shakes his head. “I’m not putting you down. You’re all mine now.” and get a look so deliciously roguish that every inch of me tingles.

Just before he opens the door to our room, I grab his face to mine for a soft kiss. His voice is low and controlled. “You have any idea how much I’ve missed you?”

“Maybe, sixty–one days worth of missing me?”

“You counted too? I fucking love you so much,” he barks, kissing me once more before the door swings open. I can’t wait to be thrown on the bed, sink into pillows and succumb to every little whim my mates pleasure.

Only, the room is empty. Stark and bare. Maxim tuts and rolls his eyes. “Fuck. I told Remy to move all our things, it’s all downstairs in some other room.” He looks genuinely crestfallen.

But I’m not.

“Quick, before someone else tries to talk to us,” straining in his arms and reaching for the door myself. With a triumphant grin I swing it closed and for once, leave Maxim looking surprised. But only for a second.

He carries me straight into the bathroom, perching me on the basin counter whilst he slowly moves the drapes of white and gray material away from my body.

From where I sit I can see a full length mirror. The back of Maxim and my own face reflected back at me. I’m flushed with desire, long hair already a bed of crazy curls with my mate towering and proud between my legs, toying with the material between his fingers.

Dressed entirely in black, sleeves rolled up he watches me blatantly devouring the sight of him.

“Don’t need this,” removing the shawl across my shoulders.

“These seem very unnecessary,” pushing down the sleeveless, wide straps of the dress, the top, curving crest of my cleavage visible.

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Chapter 107

Taking my knees and widening my legs, the soft dress material spreads with equal ease. “This I like,” and I’m forced to shut my eyes when both his hands trace up my thighs.

Each glancing touch is a threat of what is to come. And I want it so badly I don’t think I’m above begging.

“What…what about your clothes?”

I get a raised, amused eyebrow. But no undressing. One finger strokes the outside of my bare pussy and I feel my core tightening. His realisation I have zero underwear on sees a shuddering tremor run down his body, his pants tented. I blurt out, “Maxim, please. Please.”

With one finger, he slowly explores me. It’s not fair, I’m trembling, wanting more. I want to be painfully full of him. To feel everything, but right now my pussy clenches around nothing, just releasing undeniable, damp arousal, that he spreads, in tiny, head–spinning circles around my clit.

Hungrily, I reach for his shirt. With a devilish grin he makes my hands jerk, timing his ministrations to when I try to undo a button. With my wardens uniform sleeves halfway down I’m restricted when I want to reach up by his neck. So I shrug my arms out and push the dress down, my chest completely

bared.

“Tess,” he growls, eyes raking over my hard nipples. “I don’t know how gentle…this might be testing me a little too much.”

I unfasten his belt, dropping it to the floor with a satisfying clunk.

“But Maxim, I want it.”

Those words seal my fate.