Chapter 27: I've Known All Along

Ravyn POV

His recent behavior suddenly made all the sense in the world. His possessiveness. Attacking Daxius, or trying to, in the Great Hall. His aggression. 

"Whatever happened to 'I don't want a fated mate'?"

"YOU happened," he said in a sexy purr that made her knees turn to water. "You, Ravyn Rolfe. You were determined to show me what a fool I was to ignore the will of the Moon Goddess and thousands of years of tradition that has worked, all because I was scared of feeling pain again. In any case, I need a Luna–"

"What will Bram say?" she asked breathlessly.

"I don't care." He grimaced. "That sounds bad, doesn't it?"

"Yes." She really tried to sound stern.

But the truth was that right now she didn't much care what Lilia thought, either.

He rubbed his hand over his chin. "Let me explain. Bram is a grown man and I know how much he misses his mother. But will it get any easier for him if I take a mate in two years? Five years? Ten?"

"Or twenty-five?" Her voice was soft. 

"It's a lot harder when Daxius isn't actually dead," he said dryly. 

"Yes … and that's why I need to find out if what he's telling me is the truth, so that he and I can at least be friends and Lilia can forgive him." She looked into his soulful eyes, relishing the warmth of his arms around her.

How long had it been since she'd allowed herself to just feel a man's touch and his body against hers? Jude had an incredible body. Every part of him was muscular and powerful. He was lean and slender, but she rather liked that. 

He growled, low. "When you look at me that way, with bedroom eyes, it makes me want to mark you right now."

He leaned in and she angled her neck away. "I haven't said I'll be your fated mate yet–since you've just realized I am."

He took a deep breath, and a guilty look flitted across his face. 

"Jude? What's that look for?"

Jude wrapped his arms around her. "My wolf has known ever since that night when you caught me sleepwalking that you are my fated mate … my dream was of YOU, not Emer. I didn't know it until Wildefell."

"By the Twelve Sacred Sites, Jude!" She stared at him, bewildered. "You've been keeping this from me all this time?"

She should feel more ire than she did. She should feel betrayed.

But how could she? On his own and with the persistence and guidance of his wolf, Jude had been moving toward the very decision she wanted him to make. Granted, she never thought he'd choose her! And hadn't she kept Wise Woman Eirika's words from him?

He admitted his deception matter-of-factly. "Yes, but what happened with Queen Ylavi and Daxius changed everything, as you know. I didn't think you were ready to hear about us being fated mates."

Ravyn sighed. "You're probably right. But being able to finally tell Daxius everything that I've felt all this time … I can't express what that meant. How that changed my outlook."

He held her tightly. "Have I told you how proud I am of you that you said all of that and that you said what was in your heart without hesitation?"

She reached up and slapped him lightly. "And have I told you how idiotic it was for you to attack Daxius and anger Dane?"

"Dane agreed with me on principle," he growled. 

"Yes, but he's the Alpha of this pack and he makes the rules."

His voice was a soft purr. "And you just slapped me … that almost felt like a mating overture."

"Hah! That wasn't a real slap."

"No, but THIS is real."

She gasped as his teeth grazed her neck. She had no idea it could feel so erotic. "JUDE!"

"Your scent is intoxicating," he whispered, nibbling on her neck and shoulder. "The taste of your skin is delicious to me. I can't wait to claim you."

"I … oooh … I haven't said yes yet."

"I know. That's why I'm doing everything I can to persuade you." 

He continued to nibble, and every time his teeth lightly nipped her skin, little sparks of heat made her dizzy. Was this what Lilia felt?

"It's … oooh … about more than this, Jude. If we mate, I'll be your Luna. That's … oooh … a huge responsibility."

"It's the same thing in many ways as being Pack Mother–you've been the Queen Mother for years. I know that Dane has appointed you as regent if he and Lilia are injured or ill. You'd be Luna of the pack."

She blushed. Of course, Dane would tell Jude that. And his nibbling and now licking her skin was making her feel light-headed. Pleasantly so. "Dane kept that quiet. I'm not a shifter."

He laughed seductively. "Tell that to the Evenhiders. And neither is your daughter."

"She's Dane's mate." Goddess Brigid, could she come up with anything better?

"And you're going to be mine. Aren't you?"

Her heart couldn't disagree, but if they took this step, there was no going back. She wouldn't want to. "You seem certain of that."

The nibbling and licking made her blood roar and she couldn't make out what he was saying, but she could guess from the sensual music of his voice.

He wanted her–and it was no dream this time. Even more, he cared about her. She knew that about Jude. Her head might doubt it, but her heart was absolutely sure. 

"... what you chose for me."

Her head fell back as he kissed and nipped her shoulders, his sensual mouth like fine crushed velvet on her skin. "I'm sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you."

She heard the wicked grin in his voice. "I said that the women you chose for me are very similar to you. Accomplished, strong, intelligent, loyal. But they had one glaring flaw, even if Queen Ylavi and Lady Yelna had been nicer. They weren't you."

"You mean I don't expect people to jump when I snap my fingers?"

He chuckled, his breath warm. "Only family. And the pack. And, of course, me. Not that I mind. Emer was the same way."

And when he said Emer's name, he said it without the pain she'd become used to hearing. 

When she tried to think of Daxius, she couldn't.

She could barely breathe, and thinking became difficult, especially when Jude surrounded her with his body. 

* * * * *

Jude POV

He felt Ravyn's soft, yielding form and counted himself the luckiest shifter in the world. 

"I have a confession to make too," she murmured.

"Oh?"

He kissed the side of her neck, savoring the clean taste of her and the slow seduction. He meant to take his time claiming her, even if his wolf was jumping up and down wanting him to hurry. It amused him that his wolf could still feel impatient after the pups were fully grown. And that he lusted after Ravyn and respected the h*ll out of her at the same time. 

"Eirika told me before we left for Wildefell that I was your fated mate."

Devious, sly, wonderful Wise Woman. She'd pointed him to Ravyn all along and the realization finally penetrated his thick skull.

Rather than feeling offended, he wickedly seized the opportunity. "Why, Ravyn, after lecturing me about holding back, you've been keeping secrets. I think you'll pay a penalty for that."

"Unfair, when you did it first–and you ignored your wolf."

Arcturus howled with laughter at that one, saying that their mate was sassy.

Jude was already devising delightful ways to "punish" Ravyn for holding out on him. Her curvy, lush body was driving him wild with desire, and now that they both knew where they stood, he wouldn't hold back from what they both wanted, needed, and lusted for. 

He trailed kisses everywhere. "So I did, and MY penalty is to drive you mad with pleasure."

"Right here, right now?"

He growled. "NO. Even though we shifters aren't like many humans or elves when it comes to sex, I do want to look Dane in the eye and avoid teasing from Patch and the others."

She turned playful. "No avoiding that."

"I can try. And besides, the pups might come in, and they'll want their grandmother as they always do. I'm taking you upstairs as soon as you've agreed to be my mate."

"And they'll want their grandfather."

The words just slipped out of her mouth so easily. 

It sealed her fate, if that wasn't decided already.

With a growl, he swept her off her feet and kissed her until she was breathless. His mouth ate hers greedily, capturing her lips over and over again. He was done waiting. And from the way she kissed him back, so was she.

"MATE," he growled against her lips.

"Yes," she breathed.

A tiny sound broke through the song of desire their bodies were singing, and they both turned to see an unwelcome, and inevitable, sight.

Lilia leaned against the doorway for support and her face was full of betrayal and shock. Even though Ravyn said she'd discussed their budding romance with her daughter, Lilia looked anything but accepting.

Claiming Ravyn would have to wait.