Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Chapter 6

~Johnathon POV~

“Do you really need to go by yourself Timber? Is it going to be safe?” I tried pleading with Timber. “Please let me send some guards with you.” I tried once more. I am not comfortable with her going on this journey without someone for protection.

“How exactly are they going to protect me?” raising an eyebrow at me before continuing her argument. “You know very well my energy will protect me better than any guard you send with me.” she stated rather plainly in hopes to get out of my insistence for someone to go with her. “Besides, Elder Selene may not see me if I’m with an entourage.” smirking a little now as she gets back to packing.

“But it will make me feel better knowing you are not alone. They can watch your back.” trying one more plea before Bane got involved.

I know I can trust her to handle herself but that’s not the point. She’s my Luna and that’s enough to drive my wolf and I crazy thinking about something happening to her again. I could command her… but that would show her that I do not really think she’s my equal but my inferior. I don’t want her to ever feel that way about us.

‘I don’t like this man. Don’t let mate go alone.’ Bane howled as he paced at the forefront of my mind.

‘I’m trying Bane.’ feeling frustrated at the situation.

‘Try harder! Mate needs protecting! Can’t lose mate!’ pacing, whining and being the most annoying pain in the ass ever. Losing our first mate almost killed us. NOw? We are even more possessive over Timber and fearful of losing her like we did her. Look at us… big Alpha’s scared over a woman. Good grief.

“I’ll only be gone a short while and then I’ll be right back.” Timber stated plainly as she finished packing a small bag for the journey ahead of her. “I’ll be fine. Promise.” walking over to me as she placed a small kiss on my pouty lips. Wrapping my arms around her waist pulling her against me holding her place by intertwining my finger behind her back.

“I know you can handle yourself Timber. But what if something happens to you on the way there or back? I won’t be able to handle it. It will kill me and Bane ” I said as I started nuzzling her neck inhaling deeply her intoxicating strawberry and cream scent. I could tell my breath lingering on her mark was doing something to her as she shivered in my arms.

“Bane will go crazy without you and Karin to keep him in check.” that grabbed her attention as she pulled back slightly.

‘No I will not! You will! Big dummy… whatever.’ Bane huffed hard then retreated to the back of my mind, but not so far back that I couldn’t tell he was still paying attention. Bane didn’t like that I just called him out. I mentally laughed at his brooding.

“I won’t. And if something does happen, you can always be there with a blink of an eye. Remember? You have teleportation abilities?” she sighed before wrapping her arms around my neck playing with the hair resting at the nape. The smile on her face was mocking me. Before she whispered, “My big” she kissed my cheek just on the corner of my mouth. “strong” then my jawline. “protective” further moving her kiss assault to my neck “Alpha puppy.” before stopping at my mark, sucking and licking it as she finished speaking.

Looking up into my eyes, I kiss her with great passion. Pouring my heart, soul, and desire into it reminding her how much I really love her.

How much I want her.

How much I need her.

I want her to remember how she is my lifeline and without her everything and everyone would crumble around me.

“I’ve got to go. Tairon is a few day's journey one way… and that’s if I am lucky enough to find the portal first go around.” I give her concerned eyes with pouty lips.

“I’ll be careful. I promise.” Timber kissed me once more before turning from my grip grabbing her small bag and walking out of the room. She didn’t make it out the door before grabbing her from behind tightly resting my chin on her shoulder.

“Please stay with me for a little longer. I need you. Then you can go with no one holding you back.” my voice gruff and husky in her ear as Bane finally came through.

Pulling her closer to my chest, I could feel her body react to mine as she could feel the growing need for her on her back. Her head fell back resting on my chest as I inhaled deeply. Tingles and electricity move across my mouth as I plant little kisses up her shoulder to her jawline and back down again. A small whimper leaves her the same time a small growl escapes my throat. Telling me she needed me too.

I turn her around slowly while lifting her shirt from her body leaving her standing there only in a bra. Blue energy starts to infiltrate in the room as I continue my sensual assault to her body.

Making us one… I lift her up, her legs wrap around my waist like a puzzle fitting together while I carry her to our bed laying her down underneath me. I continued to pepper kisses up her body from her chest to her mouth and back down again. Popping one of her beautifully full breasts in my mouth teasing it with my tongue. Massaging one breast with a free hand and running the other up her leg.

Barely opening her eyes she noticed the energy was not just coming from her anymore… but from me too. Pressing harder on her as I continued my invasion on her exposed skin earning another breathy moan. Undoing my pants and ripping hers off, we connected and became one person once again allowing our energies to overtake our senses and bodies.

~Timber POV~

I left early the next morning after being with Johnathon. Karin and Bane took over at one point and it was a night to remember for sure. We needed strength for the unknown ahead and my body begged for it since the journey would be a long one to Tairon. We had to find the portal during the day because it disappears overnight. A protection thing I guess.

I shifted so Karin could be let out and she ran hard and fast the most of the way. The path was not easy as it had not been laid out straight or free from obstacles. The paths we ran across were heavily laden with sharp rocks and stones. The mountainous terrain was definitely not meant for anyone to pass through.

‘Karin? Are you ok?’ I asked, sensing her distress from the uneven path.

‘I’m fine. Just gotta keep going.’ she huffed out before suppressing another whimper as her paws hit another calloused bump in the ground.

We continued this way for a while longer with me just hanging out in the background hoping for the portal to come into sight soon. Many times Karin would whimper in pain as the rigid terrain continued its torture on her delicate paws.

‘Karin, please… let’s rest for a bit and I will walk for a while. Let your paws heal. Ok?’ she grunted in disapproval. Then out of nowhere she nodded in agreement. Karin shook her fur out then shifted back finding lodging in the back of mind. Curling up in a corner I could hear her whimper and soft snores at the same time.

Only once shifted back, I found my own feet coverings were no good to protect me from the relentlessly unyielding surface. It was as if their only purpose was to create disintegration, in which… it did well on anything trying to cross its path.

Even the trees seemed larger and fuller, not allowing for much sunlight to pass through at times during the day. A heavy rain would fall creating a painful cold to integrate itself into my body. Straight to my bones. I came near a stream or water form of some sort and eagerly stopped briefly to drink as dehydration was starting to consume me. The provisions I had brought were not lasting as long as I hoped they would have. We were tiring fast.

Karin and I had to share the travels shifting back and forth more as the air started to thin the closer I got up the higher mountainous region. It was beginning to become too much for me…. and her. Even Karin’s warmest coat was no match for its persistent unwanted invasion.

‘Karin? You still there?’ even through mind linking the audible exhaustion was starting to take over as the chill of the air beat on us.

‘I’m here.’ I could hear her barely whisper out from my chattering teeth.

‘I’m so tired Karin. Can you shift?’ hoping for her to relieve my human discomfort. But all she did was hum in the back of my mind as if too weak to help me further. She was using up so much strength just to keep healing my constant bruises and cuts and to provide warmth from the torturous winds we encountered the higher up we went..

‘Maybe if I sit for a moment and rest. Yes. Rest will be helpful. Goddess, where is that portal?’ I thought to myself. I didn’t want to link Johnathon… not now that I knew I was so close.

I stopped one last time to catch my breath as I sat under an enormous shadowing tree. Its large branches hung overhead providing a mild sense of comfort. The only grassy area underneath it was soft and welcoming and I finally was able to lay down for a moment. I need the rest, even if just for a minute.

Just... a small… short... moment. Karin hummed in the back of my mind acknowledging as she also nodded her agreement.

Once I heard her fall into a deep slumber I stopped struggling to keep my eyes open.

I closed my eyes.

Then in one long blink…

They never reopened.