True Wolf (Bennett Pack #3)

10. Nessah

CHAPTER TEN

NESSAH

T he entire time Zion was gone, I paced his living room. At least a dozen times, I moved to the door, reached out to open it, but then went back to pacing. I couldn’t leave. I had every opportunity to do so but couldn’t do it.

Mostly because my wolf asserted her displeasure with the thought of us running but also because as complicated as things currently were, being here in Zion’s apartment provided a sense of belonging I hadn’t experienced since being cast away from my family and pack months ago.

But he’s going to find out and he won’t want you…

Being rejected by my family and Rolf was painful but being rejected by Zion would kill me. I could already feel the potential for how he could destroy me if I didn’t get the hell out of here. Once again I was being forced to accept that I wasn’t whole, that I wasn’t enough…

My thoughts drifted back to that night. The one that changed the trajectory of my life.

I smiled as I stood in the illuminated circle before our pack. Rolf was at my side, his massive hand firmly latched securely to mine. To our right were my parents and my sister. To our left were his parents and his brother.

We had all been waiting on this day. Sula, the pack elder, always blessed chosen bonds by providing her visions of what the couple’s future would be. She was a wolf witch hybrid blessed with the power of visions and prophecy.

Sula was respected and her visions had all come true so no one ever challenged her. Not once had she gotten it wrong. So while she stood before us—eyes closed, arms outstretched with an aura glowing around her—we all waited for the outcome. I was optimistic about what she would say. However, the minute she opened her eyes, my stomach sank.

Her midnight orbs locked on me. The first thing I witnessed was confusion followed by sadness. My hand slipped from Rolf’s and I stumbled backwards, knowing whatever she saw wasn’t good. I sensed the devastation before she even opened her mouth but it was confirmed when she asked to speak to Rolf and me privately. This wasn’t how things worked. The blessing was offered in front of the entire pack, but she wanted to speak with us privately.

“Just tell me. Say it,” I demanded.

“I can’t bless this union. Nessah will never bear children for you which means your legacy will end, Rolf.”

The look in Rolf’s eyes after she assured him there was no mistake with what she prophesied crushed me. I saw the things he didn’t want to say…we were done.

“You can’t have children?”

I blinked out of the memory with the sound of the door slamming shut, clearing my vision only to find Zion’s very handsome face twisted into a scowl. His eyes, a piercing mix of amber and gold rimmed in red, blazed with a heated glare that could cut through steel. He had my bags. I assumed he or Lazar had removed them from my car and now Zion had everything I owned in his possession until he dropped them to the floor as if to make a point.

You’re not leaving.

Every muscle in his body was coiled with agitation. He stood imposing and unnaturally still, yet an undercurrent of restless energy was evident in the way his fingers flexed and curled into his palm.

Regardless of who he was, my wolf moved to the surface, preparing to stand in our defense. Her dominance clawing its way to the surface had me rolling my shoulders back and lifting my chin.

“No, and you don’t have the right to be angry. I demanded to leave. You’re the one who insisted I stay.”

The muscles around his eyes loosened some. “I’m not angry. I’m confused. None of what’s happening is making sense, Nessah.”

My stomach twisted when he said my name. My wolf whimpered but I refused to show how affected we both were so I steadied myself and masked my emotions.

“It doesn’t have to make sense. I don’t owe you anything. I’m leaving.”

Before I could complete my first step, Zion landed his, blocking the path I’d chosen. “You’re not leaving.”

“Oh yes I am and you can’t stop me. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want me to…” I shouted with frustration laced in my tone. I shoved Zion as hard as I could to no avail. He didn’t budge so I huffed and stepped around him, trying to control my heartbreak and anger.

His muscles tensed and his jaw clenched tighter. Zion stood firmly in my path. “You’re mine,” he replied, his voice low and unwavering. The heat of our standoff pulsed between us as a battle of wills. My wolf growled and paced and so did his. I could feel him.

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” I pleaded, this time softer, but still defiant.

He shook his head and determination flickered in his eyes. “You belong here. With me .”

I opened my mouth to object but our standoff reached its climax. With a swift, powerful movement, he lifted me over his shoulder effortlessly, carried me to a bedroom, and dropped me onto the mattress.

As he pinned me down on the bed, he hovered above me, blazing eyes mixed with anger, lust, and something deeper…fear of losing me.

“You think you can just walk away?” he growled, his breath warm against my skin. “I won’t let you.”

The air around us shifted when his eyes fastened to mine. At that moment, I realized he wouldn’t just fight for me, he would fight with me, if that was what it took to keep me here.

“This won’t…” My argument was weak but it didn’t matter because my protest was cut off by his mouth crashing against mine.

Our clothes came off in a frenzy of jerks, tears, and ripped fabric, then I felt the stretch and arch from him sliding into me. My pussy screamed with approval. It hurt because he was so thick and long but I was so damn wet that there was very little resistance.

“Mine, Nessah. You. Are. Mine.” Zion’s eyes glowed with intensity and passion. He was angry but the lust and need to have and keep me was just as overwhelming.

He thrust into me over and over again, eyes locked on mine. I could barely breathe because of how deep he landed. The position challenged my lungs.

“Do you want to reject me?”

“No…”

I didn’t, but I had to. He sensed my thoughts because his brows slammed in and the muscles in his jaw strained.

“ Are you going to reject me?”

Oh God…

I kept quiet and he fucked me harder. “Answer me, Nessah.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head to respond but that wasn’t good enough.

“Don’t fucking hide. Look at me.”

My lids slowly peeled open and those blazes of amber were waiting. “Are you going to reject me?”

“No…”

He smiled, arrogantly. Assured, like he already knew the answer.

“But nothing’s changed,” I reiterated.

He growled and kissed my neck. Then I felt the warmth of his tongue. “Everything’s changed, Nessah. Do you want me to prove it?”

The scrape of his teeth caused my pussy to pulse so hard it felt like the equivalent of an orgasm. He sensed my pleasure because Zion lifted his head and narrowed his eyes above a cocky grin.

“Let me mark you, Nessah.”

“No…”

He fucked me harder. “Yes.”

“N-no…” I yelled in desperation. He couldn’t. I wouldn’t survive. Zion pulled back and landed so deep that my body shattered and exploded. I lost sight of everything around me. My body tensed, jolted, and I lifted.

A few seconds later, Zion roared through his own orgasm and I panicked, praying he didn’t bite me. When my mind settled and I felt the warmth of his tongue again, I freed one of my hands, which were still trapped above my head, and brushed my finger across the curve between my shoulder and neck.

My eyes flickered up to his. They were stormy and angry. “I won’t do it until you’re ready.” He dipped his head and brushed his lips over mine and asserted, “But I assure you, Nessah. I’m going to fucking mark you.”

He lifted off me, taking his warmth, then the bathroom door slammed.