Xander Pov

My mate was the most gorgeous.

My tongue ravaged those succulent lips yet I couldn't get enough. Her moans made me want to eat her whole. The fire in me was enough to burn our little mate nest.

" Xander..." She moaned my name, the sound setting fireworks in my head.

" Keep calling my name, sugary," I voiced out in between the kisses.

I wasn't going to rush her. It wasn't going to be like last night. I wanted to savour every scent of my mate and taste every part of her. I want to know every part of her body.

Her face. Her everything.

I broke away from the kiss, making her look at me in confusion. The hunger in her eyes made me want to ravage her, but I needed to take it slowly.

" I want to see you, sugary. I want to know every part of my mate," I whispered in her ear, drawing in her alluring scent.

She stiffened.

Not out of excitement, but something else. I could feel her hidden fear, embarrassment and deep-rooted resentment. Not towards me but someone else.

" Elise, what's wrong?" I called her name, trying to tear off those emotions. I squinted, remembering that these emotions started when I told her I wanted to see her.

I looked up at her. She was looking everywhere else except in my eyes. She clutched tightly to the wedding gown, as if she couldn't bring herself to take it off.

" I- can we do it like last night?" She asked, her eyes down while her fist clenched even tighter.

" Like last night?" I asked, squinting. Was she ashamed of getting naked or was it something else?

" We-we could wait till it's nightfall-"

Skye howled in my head, urging me to do something. " Something is wrong. I can sense it," Skye insisted.

Yes. Something was definitely not right about Elise. I needed to do some research as soon as possible.

" Look at me, sugary," I crooned softly, inhaling her scent while raising her chin.

She bit hard on her lips before looking up at me, her eyes fighting off stubborn tears. I could tell she was hurt, but how?

" I- they- my body-" she stuttered incoherently.

My mind ran to her words during the coronation. She said she had endured worse. Did those bastards maltreat her?

I couldn't control my anger anymore. I wanted to rip off the wedding dress to see what those bastards did to her but I was scared of scaring her. She had suffered enough. I don't want her to lose her self-esteem too. I was going to wait until she showed herself to me.

Nevertheless, I wasn't going to wait to teach those bastards a lesson.

" It's okay, sugary. You are mine. Now and always. We can always do this until you are comfortable. I am always here," I comforted her.

Those piercing hazel eyes gazed at me and a flicker of surprise reflected as fast as it disappeared. She pursed her lips for a few seconds, then let out a sigh. It was as if she were contemplating something.

" What-what about the marking ritual? If you don't mark me now, they won't accept me as Luna. We need to come out for the declaration," her voice sounded dejected and helpless.

I flicked her nose, smiling at her cute expression. " Sugary, are you worried about us?"

"Xander, please," Elise whispered, her eyes pleading with mine. "I need time. I'm not ready for...for the mark."

I knew what she was worried about. She still couldn't trust me to open up to me. It's not that she wasn't ready to accept the true mating mark, the bite that would bind us together for life. But she was still hiding something.

But then, the pack wouldn't accept her as their Luna without the mating mark. They would see her as unclaimed, unworthy. I couldn't bear the thought of our pack rejecting her, not when I knew she was meant to stand by my side.

She bit her lips. " I don't want Amma and the rest of the people-"

Watching her bite her lips while looking all cute, I was finding it hard to control myself. My mate was so innocent that she didn't know how affected I was by her just by her expression.

" Then let's not give them a reason to doubt or reject you, shall we?" I asked, smiling.

She looked confused.

I smiled reassuringly at her, signalling for her to sit down on the bed. A plan formed in my mind, and I sent a mindlink to Garrett, my Gamma and best friend.

" Get me something in less than thirty minutes," I instructed. I recounted what I needed, and I could hear Garrett's heavy sigh.

" Dude, take it easy on that little girl. She can't handle your wildness. It might be her first-"

" Shut the fuck up and do as I say. Be discreet or your head would be used as Amma's drinking jar!" I warned as I recounted, cutting off the mindlink.

I definitely knew her the first time. I was her first and definitely would be her last. What the hell was Garrett thinking in that head of his?

I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and understanding as I gazed at Elise. I hope the plan works.

" What's your plan?" Elise asked, still looking worried. " We could do it...If it were difficult. They would be here soon-"

I sat close to her on the spacious rose-filled bed," You don't need to trouble yourself, Sugary. Remember what I promised you? I will always be there for you. But I want ALL OF YOU, WILLINGLY."

She nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. Well, even if we can't get intimate, it doesn't mean I can't kiss her. With that thought, I drew her to myself as my mouth covered hers.

As if she was waiting for it too, she hungrily responded. Her soft hands played around my back while she pressed her soft molds on my chest. I kissed her, passionately while feeling frustrated at the distraction of the wedding gown.

Poor me! This girl was killing me softly.

"Elise, I love you..." I said in between our moans, my voice low and gentle.

Elise's eyes widened slightly as she looked at me. I was ready to do whatever it took to satisfy her. Still engrossed in kissing her when I heard a soft knock on the back door. I feel thankful for that because I don't know how long I would have held myself back from going further.

However, Elise's next words froze me. “ Jason…”

As Elise's lips whispered that name, a spark of jealousy ignited within me, its flames licking at my insides like a wildfire.

My grip on her hand tightened involuntarily, as if I could physically restrain the memories of that stupid Jason from seeping into our present. Hearing his name on her lips was different.

It was intimate, like a secret shared between them.

My eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, I felt like I was staring at a stranger, a woman who still held onto the ghosts of her past. And then, our gazes met, and I saw something there that made my heart stumble.

A flicker of longing, perhaps, or a hint of unresolved emotions.

My chest tightened, and I felt a growl building in the back of my throat, as I wondered if she rejected our intimacy because of him.

Did she still love him?