Chapter 51: Chapter 51

X E N O S

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Despite all the other scents emitted into the air by the various plants, their scent stood out. I heard her breathing, her quick little steps on the narrow path that led through the garden, and then her frantic heartbeat as she stopped just a few meters from me.

I didn't look down at her, just leaned my head back against the tree trunk and peered through the dense undergrowth of the treetops toward the ceiling of the glass dome. "You asked me once if I could come here with you, remember?"

The tip of the branch I was straddling groaned and twisted down, then swung up again. Soft tapping of bare feet dancing on the thick branch, then I saw out of the corner of my eye how she sat down in front of me.

I closed my eyes "It was the morning you allowed a visit to your father."

"I know," came her simple reply.

I nodded. "Then I'm sure you still know what I said to you."

"It wasn't you."

The bark creaked as my claws dug deep into it. My jaw ground. "Yes, that's right. But I should have prevented it.” I forced myself to open my eyes and look at her. Red, swollen eyes with dark circles underneath and that bloody blue bruise on her chin that was slowly turning dark purple. "I should have been stronger, pushed her back and not fucking pushed you away."

"No, “I” should have pushed her back," she said softly, her voice hoarse from her screams. Another thing I should have prevented. “I should have realized it wasn't you. Should have trusted you enough to know better. To know that you would never have willingly hurt me in any way. It would be my job-"

"And how could you have done that?" I growled, frustration sunk deep in my bones. I kept seeing her pounding on her skull with her little fists, banging her head against the wall over and over again. What had I done? "Anyway, I gave you plenty of reasons not to believe it."

"“Psst."“ She put a finger to my lips. "You said what's on your mind, now it's my turn." She pulled her finger back, but slid so close that our knees touched. “You know, for a long time I didn't know what protecting meant. I was only five when my “Saehva” died. And from then on there was nobody to protect me.” she began to tell. “My father was the last person who would care about me and he refused everyone else. From then on I had to be the best warrior in my tribe. The best warrior, the best strategist, the best sprinter and the best powerbinder. If someone warned me about something, it meant I wasn't strong enough. If my father spared me from something that meant I failed wasn't good enough, didn't fight hard enough for it - let him down. And then when you didn't want to take me with you, didn't want to talk to me about royal duties, there—” She struggled to breathe, shuddering. "Thinking that I wasn't good enough for you broke me."

How could someone hurt my arya so deeply? How could you make her feel like she wasn't good enough? She was perfect. So shit perfect I couldn't do without her.

I groaned and wanted to hit something.

'But now I know what it means. I know what happened to your brother back then, I know that you only wanted to spare me from her because you care about me.” She put her hands on my thighs and clutched my pants. "I understand your need, understand that you have to protect me, but you can't shut me out, we're a team." She looked at me pleadingly. "No more secrets, no more lies."

I dared not breathe, could only stare at her. Was she trying to forgive me? "No secrets, no lies."

“Honesty, equality. We include each other in the decisions and do not make them for the other.”

I dug my claws even deeper into the tree so as not to grab them. In order not to prove to her right away what I thought of her running away. What did I think of her terrorizing herself so much and allowing her father to reach her so deeply. She allowed her to believe her father's words.

"Swear to me."

“Quiet Xenos, calm”. “Honesty and equality. I swear it to you."

She nodded. "In order."

"In order?"

Now she smiled, albeit tremblingly. "“Aee”, all right." I could see how hard she was trying to believe me, how much she wished I didn't mess it up this time. “You've been so understanding with me, now it's my turn. After all, that's what mates do for each other, isn't it?'

Could you fall in love with someone again? And then even more than before? If so, then that just happened. "Come to me, baby." I pulled her to me, wrapped my arms around her and buried my nose in her hair. I inhaled her sweet smell. Oh heavens, I had missed her so much. 'I won't screw it up this time. I will fix it."

She started to slide out of my arms. I quickly tightened my hug. "Stay."

The kiss on my cheek was so unexpected and I had to pull myself to keep from pulling her head back to me and kissing her.

“I'm not going away. I want to show you something.' she said, and then held out her hand for me to take. "Come along."

I followed her out through the dome, beyond the training field and into the forest.

"How did you actually get up the tree?" she asked me as we walked side by side through the dense pine forest.

I put my hand in front of her and then stretched out my claws. "Why do you keep forgetting I'm a werewolf, “kitty”."

Arya chuckled and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. "Right, “claws”." She rolled her eyes.

Squeezing her hand, I ran my thumb over her silky smooth skin and felt her shudder. My wolf calmed down minimally - at least something that was still the same. The rest would follow, I swore and my wolf growled in agreement. Arya was one of us. I would do anything, move mountains, if I had to, to make her see it the same way.

When she then stretched out her hand and the invisible veil parted, I smiled. "So that's where you're taking me."

"Hm." A small grin tugged at her lips, then she stepped through the enchantment barrage that hid the gigantic waterfall from everyone's eyes and pulled me behind her.

"I've always wondered what would happen if you went swimming here," she said as we crossed the flower meadow.

Pink cherry blossom petals danced in the air behind us and I plucked one from her hair like I had done then.

She looked up at me and for a moment I had the feeling that she was going to reach up and kiss me, but she averted her gaze and looked at the glistening surface of the pool at our feet. "You think you can feel the magic? Or is it all a big hoax what the legends say?” she teased me.

I released my hand from hers only to pull her against my waist. I needed to feel her, need to feel her warm skin on mine. I bent down and bit her ear. "We'd have to test it to be able to answer that question."

"Then let's try it," she replied breathlessly, then proceeded to slide out of my arms and pull off her dress.

I froze as the red silk dropped to the floor. The fruit of losing her had put all my senses on high alert and put aside hot physical desire, but now, looking at her naked... That tight ass, those sexy breasts, nipples already standing up hard, was the hottest sight that I had ever seen. The raw hunger was suddenly back and with it my hard member, which made a leap. “Oh damn.”

It took all of my self-control to keep from slamming down on her, pulling her to me and sliding into her with a jerk. My voice was more of a moan as I ground out, "Arya, what are you doing..."

The rest got stuck in my throat as it has already popped off and entered gracefully through the surface of the water. She appeared and smiled seductively at me. "Come on, what are you waiting for? It is worth it!"

What idiot would say no to that? I certainly don't. I quickly pulled my pants down and dived under. I swam briskly through the crystal blue waters, the magic of which made everything in my body tingle, not missing a chance to see her sexy body underwater, and then surfaced a few meters in front of her. We stayed far enough from the waterfall that the current didn't sweep us away and only light waves sloshed towards us. I slowly swam closer to her, my voice dark with excitement as I said, “If you're not sure, Arya, jump out of the water and lock yourself in our room in the manor. I won't be able to hold back.' I meant that in all seriousness. My wolf was so hungry

With her back to the edge of the pool, she kept her head above water and said, "Who says I'm asking you to do that?"

I stopped in front of her, far enough away that her sweet smell and hot skin didn't drive me insane and I was able to hold myself back. “I've been waiting Arya, long. Didn't want to rush you, but my wolf is urging me to. I want it. And it's been too long.” As the wave swept over us, her breasts peeked out briefly and my cock throbbed. I gritted my teeth while already imagining myself hugging her, spreading her legs and taking her in all sorts of ways until she was all mine. Licked, sucked, and bit down. "I haven't touched anyone but you since I met you a year ago."

Her breathing was rapid and irregular.

Same as mine.

"You think ..."

'Yes, no more sex. No one else could quench my longing, and with every other touch, my wolf would have wanted to go for her throat.” And I didn't mean a certain bite that I planned to take with her. I stifled a groan and couldn't help but approach her. Had to feel her skin, had to smell her. “I did it myself, thinking of you. Every time.” My voice became more and more wolfish. “Our time together, our sex, didn't satisfy it either. He only increased the desire in me.”

She gasped for breath. "I'm ready."

I growled, wanting only to let my wolf take the lead, but forced myself to say it, "There's no going back after this. You can't just leave me and run away. I won't let you go."

A determined look settled into her brown eyes. “I'll run no more, not from you or from us. “By Gaia Wille”, I will fight to my last breath to ensure that my past does not dictate our future.” Her tone dripped with determination, and her knit brows and the steep crease between them said the same thing. “I will fight for you because you are worth it. You're worth it all."

My heart contracted. "So my girl wants to fight for me?"

She pressed her lips together and nodded firmly. ““Aee! “Whatever gets in our way, I will put it aside. I will kill anyone who dares to jeopardize our future."

“Control yourself”, I mentally growled at myself as I was on the verge of freaking out. "What about her trust in me?"

She swayed briefly and I wanted to rip my heart out of my chest and put it in her hands. She should understand that I would do anything for her, anything. But then she uttered words that I no longer dared to hope for. “I will trust you again. No matter how long it takes me, I'll trust you again. I shall forget “Seetohu” and everything he taught me."

My chest burned and I shook my head. that was my girl "You don't have to fight for me, you already have me." My hand broke the surface of the water and gently pushed a sticky strand of hair away from her face. Oh god, if she had left me... I really didn't know how I would have ever gotten over it. "My soul is already yours, Arya, solely and entirely yours."

Her eyes shone wet and she snuggled into my hand, which I had placed on her cheeks. “I always thought you couldn't choose your family. You were born into it, period. Only today did I realize that this is not true. You may not be able to choose your blood relationship, but family is more than that. Family is here.” She put a hand over her heart. ““Aee”, my tribe was my family. I thought my “Seetohu” was my family. But not anymore. My “Seetohu” doesn't love me as one should love family.” Something changed in her gaze, and instead of sadness, there was quiet acceptance. Acceptance and pure willpower. ““Aee”, I am no longer his “Ahivi”, I am no longer “First Arrow”. But I am your “Nalii”. I am your wife. and you are my man Her hand clenched into a fist over her heart and I felt warm. "We are Family. And you don't leave family in the lurch.”

She then put her hand over mine and looked up at me with a look so heartbreaking I couldn't take it anymore. I lowered my hand and grabbed her neck, then pressed my mouth to hers. Immediately afterwards I grabbed her waist with my other hand and pulled her to me.

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