Chapter 44

☆ ☆ Beta Morgana ☆ ☆

I dozed off, daydreaming about what Darius meant and listening to him hum the melody. The loudspeaker calling the first-class passengers to board disrupted my peace. I sat up and fixed my hair quickly. I grabbed our tickets, and Darius grabbed our luggage. This flight was fully booked, and I was thankful for the extra room that first class provided. 

I chuckled, trying to imagine Darius in the middle seat of the economy section; his large frame would have engulfed a third of the seats on either side of him. He put our bags in the overhead bin. Darius gave me the window seat, and he took the aisle one. It was a kind gesture, but I already knew his ulterior motive: to keep me all to himself.

This flight would be closer to two hours, and we should arrive around 4:00 p.m., give or take. I nuzzled into his chest and ran my fingers through a tuft of curly black hair peeking out from the collar of his shirt. He relaxed alongside me, and shortly after the plane took off, we fell asleep for a short nap.

We were awoken by the pilot's voice and the ding of the fasten seatbelt sign tuning on. Darius cracked his neck and rubbed at his shoulders. Joining the mile-high club earlier really took it out of me, and with a full stomach, there was no way I wouldn't have succumbed to sleep, especially while resting against Darius's firm chest and listening to his rhythmic heartbeat.

I stretched, yawned, and came to life. I looked out the window to see what lay ahead. Winter wasn't as noticeable here; the grounds weren't covered in snow like back home. The trees were truly the only indicator that it was even wintertime. They had succumbed to colder weather, and the majority of them had lost their leaves, save for a few evergreens sporadically throughout the mountainous landscape. 

I couldn't wait to be back on the ground; first-class seating was more comfortable, but I longed to move freely and be around fewer people; funny coming from a pack animal, but normal humans were different, obnoxious, and smelly. Werewolves didn't use perfumes or colognes; our natural pheromones were all we needed to attract our mates and to know one another.

There was no need to flaunt our assets or peacock our way into someone's life; we all knew that the moon goddess would determine our mates, and it was just a matter of time before we walked into each other's lives. I could admit that I thought that was bull shit after being single for so long, but now that I had Darius, I understood. 

My head throbbed from the overwhelming smells in the plane, but we would be free soon. I'm sure that Darius would need some time to decompress as well. We trudged down the hall in the line behind the six people meandering off the plane from the first-class section. I was thankful to stretch my legs and that Darius was willing to carry our bags. We went to the car rental desks and stood in line for Avis.

I dug through my bag and pulled out the paperwork regarding our rental information: a premium SUV, pick up at 4:30 p.m. for four days and drop off by 4:30 p.m. on the fourth day. The line moved relatively quickly. When we got to the front desk, the receptionist smiled at Darius flirtatiously, and I narrowed my eyes at her.

She continued more professionally, confirming the information in the system. Then, she handed him the keys, saying, "Here you are, Mr. Malek." I was relieved when we got our rental; my head was already feeling better, and being away from the stuffy plane helped immensely. The SUV was spacious, and after Darius put our luggage in the back, we got in, and Darius cranked the vehicle.

The engine roared to life, and he quickly connected his phone to the SUV's Bluetooth. I recognized the melody instantly. It was the song that he had been humming earlier. It was beautiful, a mix between folk and southern rock. The chorus stuck with me, and I found myself humming along as he drove to our hotel.

The song ended, but I asked him to play it again. The tune would always bring me comfort, and I would think about how safe I felt in his arms. We arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn, our hotel for the next few nights; I couldn't wait to fall into bed with my mate. First, I would wash away all the scents from today's travel. 

I took the key card for our room, and Darius went back to grab our luggage from the car and jot down the license plate for parking at the hotel. When I got up to our room on the fourth floor, I left the door ajar and went to the bathroom. It was pristine white with a fairly spacious shower and a clear glass door. I went ahead and turned the shower on before walking around the room. 

We were in a corner suite with a beautiful large bay window in the sectioned living room. A grey couch and two vibrant red ottomans were posted in front of a medium-sized television. There was a kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and a small table for two. 

There was a small desk next to the king-sized bed. A massive canvas hung above the desk, vibrant blues, pinks, and yellows swirling together with watercolor paint. Smaller, similar pieces of art hung above the bed. I heard the door close and turned to see Darius. I took my bag from him and put it on a red chair in the corner between the small living room and the bed. 

I grabbed a pair of panties from my bag before I gave Darius a quick peck on the cheek and told him I needed a quick shower. I quickly undressed and stepped in. The water was nice and cool; I preferred it that way. I used the complimentary soap and shampoo and was thankful for its mild scent. I felt rejuvenated after my brisk shower.

I used the towel to dry off my body before putting on my underwear. I ran the towel through my hair to collect most of the water before letting it air dry. I walked out to find Darius sitting on the couch with his feet kicked up on one of the red ottomans he was watching the end of a hockey game.

I came up behind him and hugged my arms around his shoulders. "Who are you rooting for?", I asked. He chuckled, "Always the Bruins." I didn't know much about hockey, but he seemed to be a big fan. Alpha Gray also enjoyed the sport but rooted for the Red Wings. I inquired, "Who are they up against?" He stroked one of my arms, "The Golden Knights, but it shouldn't be an issue; we have a better track record."

I sat on the couch beside him and threw my legs over his lap. I was still only in my underwear, and it didn't take him long to notice. He grinned deviously, "How do you expect me to watch a game with you teasing me like that." I leaned forward, giving him a good view of my breasts, "I was thinking that maybe I could convince you to join me in bed again."

He stood up, sliding out from under my legs, and grabbed me by the hand, "How could I say no when you look like that?." I blushed, "I figured as much." He led me to the bed and gently laid me down. He removed his shirt, and I focused on his rippling muscles. I sat up and helped him undo his belt, pulling it through the loops.

I watched him as he stepped out of his pants, and he joined me on the bed, collapsing his weight on me; I embraced him, running my fingers through his curly black hair. He nuzzled his face between my breasts, and his 5 o'clock shadow tickled my skin. I intertwined my legs with his. The heat emitted between our bodies comforted me, and I felt so safe.

I took the time to thank the moon goddess for my mate as I watched his head rise and fall with each breath I took. I guess he felt my eyes lingering on him because he shifted and met my gaze. I loved looking into his vibrant green eyes; they reminded me of the forest when spring was in full bloom. 

I stole the chorus from the song he shared with me earlier: "We ain't leaving this room. 'Til someone needs medical help or the magnolias bloom." He responded in kind, "It's cold in this house, and I ain't going out to chop wood. So cover me up and know you're enough to use me for good." 

He kissed me passionately, and we melted into one another once again. I wished the lyrics were accurate for us, I wanted nothing more than to stay locked up alone in a room with him. We had a mission to do, though, and the entire werewolf race was depending on us to find out if Kara and the vampires were at the Biltmore Estate.