I felt like the world disappeared the instant Arissa’s question left her lips. Was she really willing to hear me out about something as serious as my feelings? My defiant, cautious, and crazy woman was sitting here wanting confirmation of how I felt.

"Are you sure you want to hear this?" I asked slowly, squeezing her fingertips that brushed against mine. "You aren't going to attempt to run away from me, are you?"

For a second, Arissa didn't speak. Instead, she just stared at me trying to convey something that she clearly couldn't put into words.

"I've ran away from many things.” She sighed, giving a rueful smile. "But I think... I think it is about time I stopped doing that.”

That was truly all I needed to hear from her. Reaching out, I wrapped her in my arms and pulled her closely against me. I could feel her body shivering ever so slightly as her warmth seeped into my numb and hollow soul.

"You aren't just trying to fuck with me, right?" I asked, pulling away just enough to meet her gaze. "Guess you'll have to see.”

I let a chuckle escape me. Leave it to her to remain stubborn til the end.

"Now, are you going to answer my question?"

Nodding, I tried to gather all the courage I had. The best thing I could do right now was tell her how I felt about her. I wanted to make sure she knew exactly how much she had come to mean to me. Especially since tomorrow wasn't promised to either of us.

"Do you want to take a guess before I answer?"

Even though I knew that she wouldn't want to play along, I couldn't help but try to fuck with her just a bit.

"You think I am a pain in the ass, but you find me endearing.” She responded, sending a fit of laughter through the both of us.

"Something like that." I agreed. "However, you forgot a few things.”

"Then how about you say them already, old man?"

Narrowing my gaze, I lowered my head and bit down on Arissa’s collarbone, earning myself a pleasure-filled moan.

"Maybe I can answer later." I growled, feeling my dick throb in my pants.

"You get nothing until you answer.”

Letting out a breath, I reached out and gently grabbed Arissa’s chin, making sure that her eyes didn't dare drift away from me while I spoke.

"Did you know," I began, deciding to just jump in. "I've never really let anyone in. The only person that truly understood me or even earned my care was my mother." Images of my mother's face began to dance across my eyelids. I was sure that if she were alive, she would absolutely love Arissa. "From the moment I lost her, my world turned dark and cold. All that I really cared about was doing what was expected of me. Whether it was fighting or leading, I strived to be the best of the best.” Stopping my words, I looked at Arissa to try to gauge her reaction. Her eyes remained blank and her lips pressed into a thin line. Whatever she was thinking or feeling, she made sure that it couldn't be detected. Taking that as my cue to continue, I started speaking once again.

"When I first saw you, something in me changed. However, for the longest time, I simply told myself that it was your resistance that made me more intrigued. But the more time spent with you, the more you got under my skin."

"Like a bad rash." Arissa giggled, causing me to shoot her a glare. "Sorry, sorry. I'll stay quiet.” Continuing to glare, I waited to see if she would speak again. When she didn't, I braced myself for what I would say next.

"I think it was probably after you finally stopped resisting that I realized just how I felt.” I continued. "Arissa Armondi, daughter of Caleb Armondi, if I can be so bold, I do believe that I am in love with you."

There, the words were out there for her to know and process. Even if I could tell her that she was my mate, I doubted she would believe it until the new moon a week later. Then, both our wolves would be able to properly acknowledge one another. I could be patient until then. This right here was enough.

"You just said..." Arissa stammered, her beautiful blue eyes growing wide. "Did you just say that...” Letting out a small shaky breath, she let a small unsure smile begin to play across her lips.

"That's right.” I confirmed, leaning in and kissing her cheek. "I love you, Arissa."

I didn't expect what she did next.

As I sat there, allowing her to fully process what I said, she turned her body so she was straddling me. Tilting her head to the side, she presented me with the spot on her neck that was meant for her mate.

"What are you doing?" I asked, eyeing her in uncertainty.

"What does it look like?" She asked quietly. "I've already marked you, right? Isn't it only proper that you mark me too?"

"You're asking me to mark you?"

Wave after wave of joy rushed through me as Arissa’s words raced through my head. Not only was she not rejecting me, but she was showing me that she also felt the same in the purest of forms. "Are you sure about this?" I asked, still unsure if she was thinking straight. "You know how serious marking one another is.”

Letting out a huff of frustration, she kissed the spot where she had marked me.

"Do you really think that I would do something so rash for the hell of it?"

In a way, she was right. Even if she was unpredictable and, at times, bat shit crazy, she never made serious decisions lightly. If anything, she thought them through and debated them longer and harder than anyone else.

Deciding that I shouldn't push her to change her mind, I let my canines extend as my arms snaked around her waist.

"I'm asking once more." I garbled around my now protruding teeth. "Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure about anything in my life." Arissa confirmed, with a true smile. "Don’t make me ask you to do it again.”

Nodding, I pressed my teeth against her soft flesh and let them sink in. It was only when I tasted blood, that I pulled them out and examined the spot I had just bit.

A silver line was beginning to race across her skin, twisting and shaping into an intricate design that represented the Fredrickson family. This was the permanent indication that Arissa was now mine, forever and always.

Unable to endure any longer, I wrapped my hands in her silky hair and pulled her mouth to mine, slamming them together hard enough to draw blood

Still in a daze from being marked, Arissa didn't fight. Instead, she let a soft moan escape as her hands clutched at my back in desperation to pull me closer.

"I want you.” She breathed, pulling her mouth away from mine just enough to get the words out. "Please."

The sound of her asking me to fuck her drove me wild, and of course, I couldn't resist.

Lifting her up, I placed her on the bed so I could stand and rip my clothes off. As I did so, she did the same until we were both completely naked.

Letting my eyes drift across her skin, I took in her breasts that were rising and falling from the strength of her breaths. Then I looked further down until I rested on her dripping vagina.

Fuck, she looked amazing, and tonight I would have her in every way.

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