Chapter 22

I reach the kitchen, a mile away from being able to notice anything, or anyone around me. By memory, I locate the fridge and take out a piece of ham. Closing my eyes, I lean against the counter and eat the cold meat, a million miles away.

"I'll cook you something if you want." The voice barely registers through my head, as if they're far away.

Do I choose Hardin, is that why he keeps seeing into my head?

"Katalayha!" A thundering voice echoes through my skull, immediately snapping me out of my day dreaming state of mind.

I blink, focusing on the frowning male.

"What?" I ask cluelessly, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Do you want some food?" He repeats, grey eyes slightly narrowed as if he's suspicious of me.

"Oh, no thank you, I'm fine." I say, my shoulders falling slightly.

Instead of leaving the kitchen like he usually would, Hardin remains. His eyes never leave me, like he can't figure something out. I'm used to that stare from him.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I ask with a sigh.

"Am I not allowed to look at you?" He retorts, arching his eyebrow as he approaches me from across the vast space.

I cross my arms almost stubbornly, perhaps to conceal my irritation a little more. I wonder if he feels it too?

"Not if I don't want to be looked at." I say right back.

Hardins hard expression fades, a slight smirk cracking on his beautiful face as he finally stands toe to toe with me. The scent of his faint cologne, the slight mint mixed with earth, it's almost intoxicating. If I wasn't so cold towards intimacy with him, I might have taken him upstairs.

"Mm...so your skin doesn't feel sensitive?" Hardin questions, his tone amused more than anything. Like he sees right through my attitude.

"I'm a wolf, it's always sensitive." I flash a tight lipped smile.

Hardins silver eyes glisten with playfulness. Something that I see so rarely from him, even more so from myself. My answer doesn't anger him, it seems to feed his silent chuckle.

"I'm heading to the city for a few things." Hardin states, still remaining as close as ever.

"Mm." I sound, not responding out of spite. Why do I care if he gets to go out?

"You're more than welcome to join me, if you don't mind being alone with me, that is?" Hardin says, that same half smirk on his face that only grows as I glare at him. What is he trying to say? Presume even?

"I'll come, but only because I haven't left this house in months." I state firmly, scowling at Hardin as I push him away.

Why is he so close? Why does he have to smell so good?

"The car is this way." Hardin muses behind me.

"You almost bit my head off the last time I smelt of another male, I'm going to cover up." I call over my shoulder, hurrying up the steps to our room.

Yes, our. I finally said it.

Fishing out a plain black tee from the closet, I pull it over my head and tuck the front into my skinny jeans. Given that I've never been given the freedom to dress up or even look nice, my appearance isn't that colourful or pretty.

"Is that mine?" Hardin asks with slight surprise as I come back down the steps.

"It is." I state simply, heading past him.

"It looks better on you." I hear him saying, the warmth of his gaze on my body doesn't miss my attention.

"Thank you." I grin, glad that he can't see my smug face right now.

At least he can't complain about me smelling of another male, I'll stink of him, and him alone. That's like every Alphas dream come true, they thrive on their chosen mate smelling like them, it's empowering. I mean, as a wolf I get it. We're territorial, more than most will admit.

Hardins matte black Range Rover is of course sparkling clean inside and out, smelling of only him, which I find relaxing. Inside it's spacious, but maybe that's because I'm so small compared to him and this car.

"Seatbelt." Hardin says as we set off.

"It'll take a little more than a crash to kill me." I say, rolling my eyes at his ridiculousness.

"Superiority doesn't equal to immortality." Hardin retorts sharply.

"Fine." I grumble, pulling my seatbelt over me and clicking it in, simply to shut his whining up.

As Hardin drives I stare out of the window, watching the greens and browns pass by like a never ending movie. It makes me wonder how much land he has, and how far in the mansion is, usually it's in the centre of pack land which is why I'm so curious as to how large this land is.

We were in the car about three quarters of an hour or so before the woods began to thin, meaning we're coming close to civilisation. Hardin is driving at around forty MPH, down a long path that leads through the woods, free of large objects or giant dips.

No wonder I was warned against trying to run. I thought, almost bitter.

"How old are you?" I ask randomly, realising that I don't actually know. What if he's like, ancient?

"Twenty three." He says, not taking his eyes off the road.

Just twenty three? I mean, is he done growing yet? He's already large enough in all departments, surely he won't keep getting bigger? My mind swirls with slight worry, mainly because if Hardin wants to mate at some point, he might be bigger and I don't think I'd survive that.

Is it normal to worry that your husband might literally split you in half?

"Do you have any siblings?" I wonder out loud, also realising that I have no clue about his family.

Come to think of it, I don't know anything about him. I suppose I haven't exactly been open enough to actually let myself care, or even be curious.

"I had a brother, and a sister." He admits, his tone neutral but I immediately felt off.

Had.

"Are they..." I trail off, not wanting to say the word in fear of upsetting him. This subject is touchy, even I know that.

"Yes." Is all he says, the dangerous edge in his deep voice immediately tells me that now isn't the time for this conversation. Perhaps there will never be a time to talk about such a thing.

"I'm sorry." I say, glancing down at my hands with a slight frown.

I know what it's like to loose someone that you love. Knowing that Hardin has felt that too, makes me feel a little more comfortable, as strange as it is. Part of me considers telling him, but at the risk of it getting out, I couldn't. My mental block is there for a reason.

"As am I." Hardin murmurs, giving no more words.

I didn't take offence from his response, I know he didn't mean anything by it towards me. Perhaps he feels guilty for their deaths? How did they die? What about his parents?

"Everyone says that they have no idea why you chose me, they say any other Alpha in the world would have chosen an omega over me, because two Alphas just don't work, it's not natural." I say softly.

Turning my head towards him, I calmly watch his reaction. The way he ever so slightly tenses, like he didn't expect me to bring the subject up again.

"So why did you? The Alpha that knows better than most. Why do you want me, Hardin?" I ask quietly, the need to know so strong that I couldn't keep my mouth shut any longer.

Why is it a secret? Is it a power thing for him, so that all of his pups will be Alphas?

"You made me strong, why?" I press.

"You were already strong." Hardin states with firmness.

Naturally, I roll my eyes, even if I feel like he is being honest with me right now. I didn't want that answer, and he knows it.

"I wasn't-"

"You were, you just couldn't see it." Hardin cuts me off.

"Let's agree to disagree." I sigh, knowing this conversation is going nowhere.

I want to know why he forced me to marry him, why he mated and marked me knowing that I am first born.

"Perhaps I chose you because I'm greedy, and selfish." Hardin mutters.

My eyes snap to him in disbelief. Of all the answers he could have given, he chooses one that isn't remotely true?

"Maybe It was for power, so that all pups you birth will be Alphas, practically pure bloods." Hardin continues.

His words being my thoughts only minutes ago. But if it was true, he wouldn't say it with such resentment in his voice.

"Greed...power...status...pups...there are endless reasons to explain why I chose you, why I made you mine, why no other wolf will ever lay a hand on you as long as I live." Hardin growls out the words like they're poison.

My skin crawls slightly, noticing his white knuckles as he grips the wheel. His own words angering him so.

"If not those reasons, then what?" I whisper, completely confused.

"Guilt." He mutters.

My heart twists immediately, and I advert my eyes to the window as my entire body turns cold. He chose me out of pity?

"For the first five seconds, until I looked at you...really looked at you." I could hear the frown in his voice, the underlying curiosity that he still feels towards me.

I didn't look at him, I couldn't. Knowing that he pitied me, feels worse than the thought of him choosing me out of greed.

"I wanted to help you, and somewhere in doing so...I selfishly made you mine. I was wrong to take your free will, it makes me no better than your parents." He states with bitterness.

This time I did look at him, because as pissed I am by his answer, I'm grateful. My anger fades fast, hearing the self-anger in his voice, the guilt for going about it the way he had.

"Hardin...you didn't help me." I say with a frown. His eyes dull with my words, knowing them to be true.

"You saved me." I finish, placing my hand on his forearm to get him to look at me.

Driving or not, I know he won't crash.

"You're nothing like my parents, unlike them you can admit your mistakes, you feel remorse and guilt, and the fact that you can finally be honest with me...it means more to me than you know." I softly say, squeezing his arm slightly.

Am I a little annoyed that he didn't just say sooner? Yes.

But I understand why he didn't want to tell me, he didn't want me to dislike him more than I already did. He chose not to lie, and instead to simply not say, which when I think about it, does make me feel a little better. Hardin doesn't lie, I've known that for a while.

"I took your life from you." Hardin scoffs.

He wants me to be angry with him, so that he doesn't feel worse. I realise. My ability to read people does come in handy, usually he's so difficult to understand.

"As much as I'm enjoying your honesty right now, I really need you to stop talking because it almost sounds like you're backing out of this and I don't want that to happen." I state, my tone abrupt.

Hardin furrows his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Why?" Is all he asks. The same thing I've been asking myself for a while.

I couldn't help but smile.

"Because I choose you."

"Is this your new way of teasing me? If so-"

"No, I mean it, Hardin." I cut him off, dead serious as I smile at him, flashing my pearly whites.

Immediately he swings the car to the side of the road, stomping on the brakes and turning off the engine. Before I get the chance to open my mouth and speak, Hardin slams his door and rounds the car in a flash.

Unclipping my belt, my door swings open just as I turn. Hardins large hands grab me, yanking me from the car. I yelp in surprise as he presses me against the side of the Range Rover, suddenly feeling tiny in front of him.

Hardin cages me in with his thick, lean biceps. His scent suffocating me, infusing my bloodstream with pure intoxication.

"You smell good." I mutter, inhaling silently, slowly.

My eyes meet his darkening grey ones, I notice his clenched jaw, his tense shoulders. Never in my life have I been with someone, it's only ever been Hardin and I've never been willing. But right now, I don't want to push him away.

"We go at my pace." I whisper, placing my hand on his hard warm chest. Suddenly clothes feel like walls between us.

Hardins eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn't refuse me. Naturally all male alphas are dominant with their she-wolf, as much as they may love one another the woman doesn't have much of a say. With Hardin and I, it's different. He has to respect my authority as much as I do his, he has to learn to bend the rules when it comes to me.

"Don't you want to wait until we get home?" Hardin mutters, for my benefit and comfort I assume.

I flash a half smile. "If we wait, I'll make some excuse not to and then we'll be right back at the beginning. You once said something about a leap of faith?"

Already pulling the black tee over my head I ball it in my hands and glance up at Hardin under my lashes, slightly uncertain on where we're supposed to do this.

As if hearing my thoughts, Hardin gently takes the fabric from my hands and opens the door to the back seats in his car. It's a large car, but I'm almost certain Hardin won't fit in the back.

"Are you sure? What if it gets...messy?" I awkwardly word, my cheeks flushing slightly.

Hardins short yet deep round of laughter shocks me, my eyes widen as I gape up at him like a fish. It's surprisingly not frightened, in fact, it's beautiful.

Am I really going to do this? My first time willingly and I'm choosing the most romantic place on earth, the back of his car? I'm very classy.

"Having doubts?" Hardin asks knowingly, seeing me glance into the car silently.

Biting my bottom lip, I decide to throw caution to the wind for once in my life. What was that Hardin once said to me...the person most in control, is the one who can give up control? Something like that, right now I need those words.

"Maybe, come on." I say, climbing into the back of the car like it's no big deal.

Sliding across to the end seat, I watch Hardin as he gets in, closing the door behind him. His large body takes up a lot of room, making me feel like an ant in the shadow of a huge house. Somehow, I like it, him being so colossal.

Kicking off my ankle boots, I hold Hardin's unblinking gaze and slowly climb over his thick muscular thighs. Straddling him, I immediately feel my skin warm as my heart begins to race, being so close to him, knowing what's about to happen, I'm not sure If I'm panicking, or if I'm excited.

~ WARNING - SEXUAL CONTENT AHEAD. SKIP TO NEXT CHAPTER IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 ~

Glancing down between the small gap of our bodies, I reach for his navy cotton tee and slide my hand underneath. I hold my breath unintentionally as my fingers lightly stroke over soft, hard abs, the close proximity having my heart flipping dangerously.

The second I touched Hardin, even slightly, I felt his entire body shudder. He's just as sensitive as I am, bite or no bite. I realise, almost grinning at the thought of being able to seduce him back.

Moving my hands, I take Hardins slightly tense ones and place them on my ass. Hardin is keeping his word, staying at my pace even if I know that my slightest touches are driving him nuts. Wanting him to know the torture of being turned on whilst having some kind of restraint, I press my lips lightly against the side of his throat.

Immediately Hardin grunts. I grin, placing my hands back under his shirt while my mouth tastes his neck. His skin tasting sweeter on my tongue as I reach the joint between his neck and shoulder, the flesh highly sensitive to my touch. The second I scrape my teeth along the skin, I felt the hardness within his jeans straining between our clothes.

The air shifts instantly, becoming hot, heavy with the smell of lust.

Unfastening my bra, I take it off and throw it aside. Hardins burning gaze drinks up my bare flesh, his hands immediately scaling up my body to my boobs, enjoying every dip and curve on his way up.

Hardins hot mouth surrounds my nipple suddenly, instantly making me flinch, I gasp in surprise. He licks the sensitive bud, his tongue flicking against it teasingly, before he takes it in his mouth and nips me ever so softly. My body jolts, and my breathing begins to change as he switches to my other nipple, back and forth.

Working my hands between us, I undo my jeans and push them down, struggling slightly in the cramped space. It definitely feels smaller suddenly.

Hardin helps me remove them, tossing them in the front of the car as I start pulling his shirt off. Like my jeans, he tosses his clothes in the front, confidently sitting in just his briefs while I straddle him in only my panties.

Suddenly I feel bare, the feeling of his flesh against mine is strange, it's inviting, comforting, and warm.

In a flash I kiss him, hard, my hands feeling his body, really taking him in for the first time. Hardins hands tease my body, tickling over my sensitive spots whilst avoiding the goal. He has the advantage, given that he's done this with me before, I just never returned the gesture.

"Hardin." I whisper against his lips, my skin burning, my body haywire with adrenaline.

I felt him grin against my lips, and that made me smile even if I'm frustrated with his teasing. Returning the favour, I shift my position slightly and lower myself, pressing my core against the rock solid cock restrained by fabric. I tried not to make a sound, although my breathing gave away my desire as hunger burns within me. I could feel him, his thickness, his want for this, for me.

It turned me on more.

As if knowing that I want more, Hardins mouth presses against the base of my throat. My skin prickles as his mouth wonders to the bite, the slow rocking of my hips becoming faster. Harder, I grind against him, my skin on fire as pleasure dances over my skin, his teeth bite on the mark, and I immediately cry out in surprise as sheer ecstasy hits me.

Hardin guides my hips against him, riding out my orgasm. My legs tremble slightly, and I whimper as I suddenly become hyper sensitive to the grinding.

"Hardin." I breath, pressing my hands against his chest as my entire body feels the jolt of uncomfortable pleasure stimulating through my clit.

"So fucking sensitive." He growls huskily against my throat, the first words he's spoken since we got in the car.

My stomach clenches as I hear his hunger, I want more.

"We do this my way." I breathe, reminding him of the deal.

I know how he likes to be in control during mating, the dominance turns him on more. Giving that up, even just this once, is going to be torture for him.

"Mm." He sounds in agreement, growling lowly as he devours my throat, one hand fondling my nipple and the other slipping into my panties.

My eyes close on their own, my faint gasp for breath echoing as I feel his large rough finger running up and down my slit. He ensures he's fully lubricated before attempting to slip his finger into me, knowing how small I am. The intrusion of something within me feels different to the other times, I didn't tense up and reject the feeling, instead I find myself whimpering and rocking my hips against his hand.

The action has him groaning with satisfaction, his finger moving faster, sliding in and out with ease. I could hear the sound of my wetness and I'd be lying if I said it didn't make my skin boil with the need to be fucked.

Breathing heavily, I abruptly reach down and begin taking off my panties. Hardin slips his finger out of me and helps me remove them, before removing his own briefs, I push them down his legs with my feet, my eyes flickering from Hardins engorged cock, to his blood red eyes. Every part of him needs this, after so long without mating I'm surprised he hasn't got blue balls.

Instead of putting himself inside me, Hardin grips my waist and pushes me down, grinding my bare pussy against his cock.

"Oh...god." I groan, my hands gripping his hair as he moves my hips faster against him.

Whimpering like a bitch in heat, I press myself against his cock and glide back and forth, lathering him up so it doesn't hurt more than necessary. I'm grateful that Hardin chose not to just shove it in me, I wouldn't have even thought about getting it slick first.

Feeling my body heating up rapidly, I quickly bring my hips to a stop.

Panting, I raise myself up on slightly jerky legs, Hardin helps position his cock into place as I slowly lower myself. The second he begins entering me, I hold my breath, the instant stretching it slightly painful. Slowly, I rock myself back and forth, taking him in little by little whilst keeping myself distracted. It helps to ease the pain, moving slowly.

His cock glistens with my wetness, after a few minutes I manage to bury myself completely onto his cock without any pain. Feeling completely fucking stretched, yet satisfyingly full, I rest my head against Hardins shoulder, my hand tangling into his hair while the other grips his forearm for support.

Hardins hand travels from my jaw, all the way down my chest to my stomach, finally arriving at my pussy that slowly swallows his impressive cock. Hardin groans deeply in the back of his throat, he grips my flesh almost painfully, before releasing me as slapping my ass so hard that I felt the jolt in my pussy. The sting somehow fed my hunger for him.

"Fuck." I whisper, groaning with joy as I impale myself on him, riding him slowly, at a pace that isn't rushed or just about sex.

No, this is more.

"God, your pussy is so fucking tight." Hardin hisses, growling deeply in delight.

His blood red eyes never leave me, he watches me, every sound, every moan, every breath, every whimper, he watches it all. He relishes in the fact that I'm actually taking part without any doubt, he likes that.

Even as my legs begin to ache, I rock myself against him, bouncing slowly on his hard cock with my own steady rhythm. Time seems to fly by, and although it feels like minutes, it isn't. Two orgasms later and Hardin cums, the feeling of him releasing inside of me is strange, but it somehow subdues the desire.

Clammy, breathing heavily and slightly aching, I finally rest against his chest. Silently, I'm glad that he came when he did, because I might have just tapped out if he'd have taken much longer. I'm not used to sex, or being on top, sue me.

Hardin kisses my head adoringly, I smile a little and open my eyes, raising my head I press my lips against his deeply. I felt Hardin slowly lifting me off of his shaft, the second he's out It feels all weird down there. The fact that certain things are leaking back out is absolutely humiliating.

"Oh my god." Is all I could say, covering my face as my cheeks flush.

Hardin only shushes me, seeing nothing wrong as he uses his own briefs to clean me up, before wiping away the mess on the seat. Still, as normal as it is, it's still embarrassing.

Usually Hardin has a very high sex drive, meaning he can go multiple rounds before tiring. The fact that he isn't pushing for more, and he's happy with what I'm willing to offer, makes me happy.

Sliding my bra back on, I search for my panties but find them nowhere. What the hell?

"Looking for these?" Hardin asks.

Glancing up, I see his grin before I see the lacy black Brazilian panties hanging from his index finger. My cheeks flush slightly.

"Yeah." I reach for them, but Hardin stuffs them into his Jean pocket.

I stare at him with my mouth wide open in surprise. Is he serious right now?

"I can't walk around commando." I hiss.

Hardins eyes twinkle, and he hands me the black tee of his that I'd borrowed. Huffing, I hurriedly put on the huge cotton top, not mentioning my panties again because I know there's no hope of me getting them back.

"We can-..." Hardin goes silent as his phone rings.

Reaching into the front, I grab it and hand it to him. Hardin remains seated in the back, watching me as he answers the phone to whoever it is.

"Yes?" He questions.

Not listening to his conversation, I sit opposite him and slowly stretch my legs out, purposely putting my feet in his lap. Hardin watches me, frowning slightly as he only half concentrates on whoever he's talking to.

Grinning, I drag my foot up the inside of his muscular thigh, pressing my toes against the semi-hard bulge in his dark jeans. His instant glare amuses me, even if I know I'll probably regret teasing him at some point.

I couldn't help myself.

His conversation is short, not allowing me much time to piss him off more.

"Lucky you're already dressed." Hardin threatens.

Laughing quietly, I ignore his words and jump out of the car, getting back in the front. Hardin joins me, fully dressed this time.

"Can we reschedule going into the city? I kind of want to shower." I say, my cheeks flushing slightly.

"I like the way you think." Hardin smirks.

Even though I know he's teasing, my cheeks turn bright red. There's no way I'm going to be able to show my face in front of anyone without flushing, like I've done something wrong with mating with Hardin.

God, you're acting like a teenager. I thought with a groan. Well, I mean, I'm eighteen so I suppose it kind of makes sense.