Chapter 16 – Too Far


    “Please, touch me, <i>I </i><b>pray</b><b>.</b>“–Jess C. <b>Scott</b>


    (Content Warning: Mild sexual content)


    Onyx


    …Do it again.


    Goddess, <b>my </b><b>mate </b>is going to be the death of me. The striking beauty with the power to send me to my knees. I waste no time capturing her lips into mine, coaxing her tongue <b>to </b>savor her sweet taste of ripe strawberries. I plunge deeper into the pool of desire Artemis has the power to create.


    For years, I’ve wondered <b>what </b>it would be like to <b>k*ss </b>my mate; if I’ll ever get the chance. Throughout the times my human <b>was </b>with another, I’ve rejected the possibility of another she–wolf stealing my first k*ss. I protected it like a lifeline. That <b>honor </b>is reserved for my destined partner, and no one could ever take that <b>away</b>.


    It was a <b>dream</b>. Having my love’s perfect body fit into mine like a puzzle piece, our warmth intertwining like strands of a braid, and my eyes staring into the depths of her soul. Artemis is a beautiful soul; made of pure light. In them, I see the moon itself; bright as a diamond–me oozing with divine feminine energy.


    I still <b>can’t </b>believe I’m k*ssing her. All <b>those </b>years of waiting led up to this moment. The tear that escapes my eye is a testament to the faith I’ve held with a vice grip for years.


    My mate. My powerful, gorgeous, yful mate. My destined partner.


    Pulling her closer, I <b>k*ss </b>her harder, swirling up the sweetness that got impossibly sweeter. The more I k*ss her, the more lightheaded I became. My hands slowly ascend from her <b>hips </b>to the dips of her waist. My thumbs rub soft circles on her stomach over the shirt fabric. The gentle breeze of the night picks up the scent of her arousal, surrounding me in sharinity. It’s as if the air itself wishes for me to lose control.


    And I’m trying hard not to. Thest thing I want is for my mate to run away from me because I was too


    rough.


    Artemis <b>presses </b>her pelvis against my bulge, driving my inner beast wild with indomitable lust. The heat trapped between our bodies grew stronger, like the Inferno of a bonfire. She is the me and I’m the <b>moth</b>, hopelessly drawn to the maic pull she’s not aware of. Does she know what she does to me? Does she know that I’ll proudly eat out of her palm if it meant her happiness?


    I’m falling for her so hard and it scares me. My little mate doesn’t know the power she holds.


    My lips traverse to her wless neck, licking and suckling at the <b>spot </b>she would’ve borne my mark. Artemis tilts her <b>head </b>to the side, offering me more of her supple skin. Her taste is as addictive as a drug, giving me <b>a </b>high I’ve never experienced before. Her soft moans echo near my ear and I knew from this day forward, I’H never get that sound out of my head. My pants grew tighter, my desire red higher, and my resolve crumbles.


    “Onyx…” My angel moans. Goddess<b>, </b>I want to hear more. I suck on that special spot harder and I’m rewarded with <b>a </b>shriek. Her <b>hands</b>, soft as her fur, grip at my dark tresses, tugging lightly. With thebined sensations, my growls erupt like a volcano, vibrating her flesh <b>under </b>my lips <b>and </b><b>tongue</b>. Her <b>body </b>jolts


    against mine.


    1/4


    1 need her.


    I want her.


    I will make her mine.


    My canines elongate as they scrape against her neck, ripping a gasp from her throat. My instincts tell me to mark her–to remind the world to <b>know </b>that she belongs to me. Artemis is the only one I want–no she–wolf can ever match <b>her</b>. Not in beauty. Not in skill. And not in the battle to im my heart.


    “Onyx.” Her hands quickly move from my head to chest. “H–Hey, we need to stop this.”


    No! No, no! I can’t stop now! I can’t lose <b>her </b>again! I don’t want her to separate from me anymore! The haze of desire suddenly shifts to urgency. I <b>want </b>the love of my life! Please…<b>that’s </b>all I ask.


    Just one <b>bite</b><b>…</b>


    “Hey! Onyx!” Artemis shouts more powerfully this time. Using a sliver of her strength, she strikes my chest with both fists. That’s enough to knock the haze from my mind, plunging my focus back into reality. The lust disappears, <b>leaving </b>a void of emptiness. Getting a hold of myself<b>, </b><b>I </b>scramble away from my angel, wide–eyed. Her gaze upon <b>me </b>is full of concern <b>and </b>sadness.


    It all hit me at <b>once</b>. I was a <b>hair </b>strand close to marking Artemis against her wishes because I wanted her so badly and was terrified of losing her again.


    “Oh, Goddess…” I <b>mutter</b>, sping my hands over my mouth. “Artemis, I’m so sorry…”


    “N–No…don’t be.” Her voice is a mere whisper. If I was a full human, I wouldn’t have heard it. “We took things


    too far…” My eyes spot the reddening hickey on her neck that matched the small, mysterious, red bruise <i>on </i>the other side. A part of me should feel ted, but I’m wracked with guilt.


    My beast nearly <b>won</b>. “I’m sorry…” I repeat. “I…I almost…”


    “I know.” Artemis’s bronze skin is flush <b>with </b><b>desire </b>and adrenaline<b>, </b>her lips are swollen, <b>and </b>I can see her dted pupils with the gentle blue ring around them. Her chest heaves with her shallow breaths. I had to control the urge to k*ss her again. “We almost crossed the line here.”


    “Are…you upset with me?” I maintain a three–feet distance from her, not trusting myself to remain civil. What’s stopping me from losing control again? I nearly doomed my mate into an unhappy life. I acted selfishly and could’ve ruined everything.


    “No…I’m upset with myself.” That caught my attention. “I lost control. You made me feel so good, Onyx, but for a split second, I forgot that I’m not in my body. This is Kiya’s and she wouldn’t have wanted this.”


    I shut my eyes to steady my breathing, my <b>mind </b>still swimming. “Our beastly instincts were unforgiving tonight. With the run, our banter, and having you so close…I almost lost control too.”


    “I’m worried she’ll be mad at me.” She reveals.


    “Why? Kiya loves you more than life <b>itself</b>, Artemis.”


    “Onyx, we got pretty intimate with each other. Just because I liked it, doesn’t mean she <b>will </b><b>too</b>. I felt everything in a <b>vessel </b>that doesn’t belong to me. I’m her wolf. I <b>share </b>her body, but I don’t have the right to


    Chapter 16–Ton Far


    do whatever I please with it. She’d never forgive me for toying with it.”


    Artemis closes the distance between us, taking myrge hands into hers. Her lovely sapphires look into mine<b>, </b>swimming with worry. “Do you understand? There’s a reason for this, and it’s not my ce to tell.”


    She <b>sparked </b>up my curiosity, but I won’t push her. Sighing, I <b>nod </b>curtly. “Yes, I do. I don’t think Neron would appreciateing into control with a…” I cough. “Um. Hard on. I can picture his face as red as a tomato with smokeing out of his ears.”


    She chuckles. “Seriously, if you two didn’t share a body, I’m convinced he’d strangle you.”


    “Not if I strangle him first.” We both share a briefugh. “Artemis, if you’re worried about how Kiya might <b>react</b>, talk to her. Exin what happened and don’t wait. The longer you <b>wait</b>, the worse the oue might <b>be</b>.”


    A spark of realization twinkles in her <b>eyes</b>, casting to <b>the </b>side nervously. Something’s on her mind and it’s bothering her to the point she releases my hands and taps her fingers against her thighs. She’s anxious. It rolls off her in waves. “Yeah…I know.” Artemis <b>scans </b>the surrounding area before looking back at me. “Do you have time tomorrow for us to talk? There’s something we need to tell you.”


    I <b>nod</b>. “I can make time, or really, Neron can make time. Is it something I should be worried about?”


    “Logically, yes. But it’s been a night and I’m ready for sleep.” Her concern melts to reveal her dazzling smile, albeit small. “Thank you for running with me tonight, Onyx. I <b>had </b><b>fun</b>. Um…even the k*ss.”


    “I did too.” I smile back. I’ll never stop gazing at her beauty. Leaning in, I nt a soft k*ss on her forehead. K*ssing Artemis on the lips didn’t seem right after tonight, no matter how much I wanted to. “And I need a


    cold shower.”


    Artemis snorts. “<b>Same</b>.” She took the lead first, walking back to the pack house. I follow behind her<b>, </b><b>still </b>smiling. Abruptly, I felt it. The smile disappears. Something bizarre. As if eyes are gazing into my backside. Sniffing, I observe my surroundings.


    Trees. Grass, Logs. Rocks. Insects. The <b>Moon</b>.


    Nothing is out of ce, yet the feeling persists. And I don’t like it. Something looms in the shadows, ready to strike. There’s no way I’m paranoid, even if I <b>can’t </b>see a <b>damn </b>thing.


    Already feeling protective of Artemis, I jog up to her and hurry us both into the <b>pack </b>house. With a final k*ss to her forehead, we depart to our respective floors. Once in my room, I strip out of my clothes and hop in the shower, conveniently ignoring my soldier standing in half salute. The shower water is at the coldest temperature <b>I </b>can handle. It delivered a <b>shock </b>once it hits <b>my </b><b>back</b>.


    I suppose <b>I </b>should let my human know what transpired. Dropping the mental wall between us, his connection came flooding in.


    “How did it go? Did you <b>have </b>fun with Artemis?”


    “Yep<i>. </i>Not to mention the fact that we’ve ended the night making <b>out </b>and damn near dry–humping.”


    <b>Neron </b>coughs and sputters in shock. “WHAT?! You both <b>did </b>what?!”


    “You heard me. Or must I repeat it?”


    “No, I heard you the first time! I can’t believe you both did that!”N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    “Jealous?” I ask smugly. His anger towards me <bbusts </b>and I couldn’t help butugh. “Colm down, Neron. We didn’t go too far, and we both recognized that it shouldn’t happen again. It’s not fair to you or to Kiya for us to abuse our control over your bodies for our selfish needs.”


    “Ah. Well, I’m d you stopped, Onyx. I doubt it <b>was </b>easy. I’d give anything to k*ss Kiya again.”


    “Mim. I almost marked her. The beast nearly took over. I could’ve ruined everything, Neron! But Artemis <b>was </b>more upset with herself than with me. She was worried Klyn would hate her.”


    “Why? Those two are super close. I can’t imagine Kiya angry at her.”


    “I agree, but she was <b>so </b>worried. Scared, even. She alluded to something, <b>but </b>I can’t figure out what. I suppose she’ll wait for the right moment to tell us, if ever.”


    “I understand. We shouldn’t rush things. But it sounds like you had a good time.” I can hear the smile in his voice. “I’m happy for you, Onyx. You’ve spent little time with her <b>since </b>her arrival.”


    “I learned a lot about her tonight, and I’m d I got the chance to. I never felt so alive and it’s because she ran by my side.” I figured I had enough of the cold water, so I shut it off with the turn of the knob. “Speaking of, do you have free time tomorrow?”


    “I should. Why?”


    “Artemis wants to <b>speak </b>with us. I’m <b>sure </b>Klyn does too. It sounds urgent.”


    “Got it. I’ll call Kiya into my office tomorrow morning before she trains the pups. Again Onyx, I’m happy that you’re happy.”


    “Thanks for letting me borrow your body for the night.”


    <b>“</b>Anytime!”


    Walking out of the bathroom with a towel hanging low around my waist, I rummage through the closet to pull out a pair of ck pajama pants<b>, </b>knowing full well Neron has something against shirts.


    I was ready to relinquish control and allow Neron back until I <b>heard </b>a scream.


    Coming from the third floor. And it wasn’t any <b>scream</b>.


    It was Kiya’s.