16 - FIRST TIME

ROSA'S POV

As I walked through the quiet garden, I muttered to myself continuously.

"You'll be fine, Rosa. You'll be fine. You're in a better place now." I was in a better place right? Or was I just trying to convince myself that I was? It had been three weeks since I arrived at the blood moon pack with Andrew, and it was safe to say that I had become even lonlier. Atleast, I had priestess Ivana in my pack, but here, it seemed like I was all alone. The maids here in the pack house were either the least bit friendly, or they were just more concerned about their work. The pack members were either still trying to warm up to me, or they just didn't want to relate with me. Or with my mate's family, if I was being honest.

I wondered why, because Andrew was the heir Alpha, and his parents were the current Luna and Alpha. Why would their pack members not relate so much with them? Since I came here, I could count the number of pack members that had visited the pack house. The pack house was mostly filled with the soldiers and maids. Sometimes, the council chiefs also dropped by.

I was still lost in my thoughts, when I heard someone clear their throat behind me. Quickly turning around, I saw the face of a familiar.

"Hello." He muttered, a small smile on his face.

"Hi." I waved awkwardly. I had spotted him around the pack house a couple of times, and I knew he was related to my mate somehow.

"We haven't really had the opportunity of a proper introduction, seeing as you're yet to be officially introduced to the pack, as Andrew's mate." The words left his mouth, before he realized it. I'm sure it was clearly shown on my face, that I wasn't really happy about what he mentioned. It made me feel like there was something wrong.

I expected that a couple of days after our arrival to the blood moon pack, Andrew would introduce me to the pack as his mate, but he didn't do so. Infact, my brief introduction to his parents; Alpha Dean and Luna Marion, had been very weird and a bit embarrassing.

After Andrew had introduced me to them, on the night we arrived his pack, Alpha Dean had just asked who my parents were. I felt it was a bit forward, seeing as he hadn't shown the slightest bit of interest or surprise about the fact that I was his son's mate. Nonetheless, I meekly replied, telling him the name of my father. He let out a low humourless chuckle, saying that my father's name didn't ring a bell. I was already feeling embarrassed, and the feeling only intensified when he finally gave a slight nod of acknowledgement, before walking away with his wife, who didn't even behave like she had seen me.

Andrew only let out a nervous chuckle, telling me that they were probably in a sour mood. It seemed to be that even 3 weeks after that night, they remained in their sour mood.

"My name is Denver." The man pulled me out of my train of thoughts once again. "Andrew's cousin. Alpha Dean is my uncle." He explained, making me nod in understanding.

"It's so nice to meet you, Denver." I shook his outstretched hand, finding myself smiling. I was genuinely happy to get acquainted with a close family relative of my mate. "My name is Rosa...."

"Rosaline." He cut me short, his smile mirroring mine. "I know." He nodded.

"Okay." My smile had fast turned awkward. Silence ensued between us for a moment, before he broke it.

"I hear your mate and his parents are to return today." He informed, and I released a low sigh. It was so funny how he was my mate, but I somehow didn't know about when he was returning home.

Apparently, three days ago, Andrew and his parents had traveled to the royal moon pack for the wedding of his younger sister; Audrey Chadwick.

Audrey was mated to the crown prince of the kingdom, which simply meant she was going to be coronated the Luna Queen in a month's time. I wasn't surprised about her luck. Somehow, she was born with so much strength and abilities and now, she was mated to the future Alpha King.

"I wonder why you didn't follow them for the wedding." Denver said, and I shrugged.

"I felt like staying back." I replied, hoping my lie was believable enough. If anything, I had hoped to accompany Andrew and his parents for Audrey's wedding, but somehow, he had talked me out of it.

Infact if I was being sincere, he made me get to know a side of his sister, that caused me to dislike her. I mean, I had always adored her. I never had the opportunity to see her face to face, but she was the dream girl that every young she-wolf hoped to be. She was strong, had so many insane abilities, and was rumoured to be a great beauty. I wished I didn't hear all the heartbreaking and terrible things Andrew had to say about her. And I was sure he wasn't lying, because I could still tell he cared about her, regardless of everything she had done to him.

How could she have wanted to take his Alpha position away from him, simply because she felt she was stronger than he was, and better to become Alpha?

The saddest part of it all, was the fact that his parents had been in support of Audrey. Thankfully, she had found her mate before she could materialize her plans of stealing Andrew's birthright.

How much more heartbreaking would it have been, to watch your younger sister steal your position as Alpha, and have your parents support her all the way? According to him, their parents had made Audrey the favourite child right from time, because she had so much more abilities than Andrew did. It made me feel so sorry for him, because it reminded me of how badly I was treated in my own pack. Atleast, Andrew was not weak like I was. He just wasn't as strong as his sister.

"Oh?" Denver gave me a questioning look. "I would have thought you wouldn't want to miss out on the opportunity to meet your mate's only sister. She is a great person." He added.

"You speak so fondly of her." I noted.

"Yes. She is my cousin. My bestfriend, if we are being honest." He released a soft sigh.

"One would wonder why you are missing from your bestfriend's wedding." I muttered, gauging his reaction. He seemed to have gone tongue tied for a moment, before looking back at me.

"Something quite..... heartbreaking, happened between us before she left for the royal moon pack." He said with apparent distaste.

"Is a little misunderstanding enough to miss out on a day as important to her, as her wedding?" At my words, he slightly shook his head in disagreement.

"It isn't." He muttered, brushing through his hair with his fingers, and releasing yet another sigh. It was so clear that whatever issues he and Audrey may have had, weighed so much on him. "It isn't, Rosa. But you just wouldn't understand."

"You called me 'Rosa'?" I found myself asking, a small smile playing on my lips. He was the first person referring to me in such an informal manner, since I got here. It made me feel a sense of.... belonging.

"I figured that is the short for your name?" He asked unsure. All I could do, was let my smile widen.

"Of course." I nodded.

"Great!" He scratched his jaw. "You should meet my mate one of these days. You seem like you both would flow really well."

"Of course! I would be happy to."

"So, when would...." He was still talking, when a familiar voice interrupted us.

"Denver." We both turned to see Andrew walking towards us. My heartbeat accelerated in glee. He was back!

"Hello love." Andrew covered the distance between us, and engulfed me in a warm hug. "Did you miss me?" He pulled away from me, and I nodded shyly.

"I did." I twisted my fingers in shy delight. "Did you...." I was still speaking when he swiftly turned to Denver. I was about asking if he missed me too.

"Audrey extends her greetings." He conveyed to Denver, who's eyes lit up immediately. "I also gave her your letter."

"Did she give you a reply for me?" He asked hopefully.

"I doubt she even had the time to go through it, until we left the palace." Andrew shrugged. Denver didn't want to show it much, but I was so sure Andrew's response displeased him.

"How is she, and the crown prince?" He asked Andrew, who let out a humourless chuckle.

"She looked fine to me, certainly still actively scheming against him." Andrew had said, before glancing at me. I could tell he didn't mean to say that in my presence, but had somehow let it slip out. "She's good." He nodded at Denver, who had clearly gotten whatever message my mate had just passed across to him.

I didn't really understand the meaning behind Andrew's words, but I still let my mind wander. What did he mean by Audrey actively scheming against him? By 'him', did he refer to the crown prince? Audrey's mate?

Was Audrey doing something to hurt her mate? That left a bad feeling in my heart.

"Well, a lot happened at the wedding." Andrew said, changing the subject. "It turns out that Alpha Ryan of the coldmoon pack has finally been released from isolation."

"For real?" Denver looked up in surprise. I was shocked. If I thought right, then Alpha Ryan was the coldhearted Alpha who killed his mate 5 years ago. I didn't know how I felt about the news of his release.

"Yeah." Andrew nodded. "He made his first appearance at Audrey's wedding. Seemed as cold as ever." He said, pulling Denver along with him.

They both walked in the opposite direction, leaving me to myself. The fact that my mind was occupied with thoughts of the coldmoon pack's Alpha, didn't let me dwell much on the fact that Andrew had just returned, and didn't think it was cool to spend some time with me.

*****

*****

I had just stepped out of the bathroom in my towel, to see Andrew laying in bed, bare chested. My breath hitched at the sight and he gave a sly smile, as if knowing how much seeing him that way affected me.

"Hey." He muttered.

"Hey." I shyly responded. Quickly making my way to the closet, I picked out the new set of night wears that one of the maids had delivered to me yesterday. Andrew had really been nice enough to get me some new dresses when we got to his pack. I was grateful because I didn't have to shamefully wear my tattered clothes, walking about the pack house.

I was still trying to put on my night wear, when I felt him behind me. His scent overpowered my senses, and I found myself sniffing satisfactorily. His fingers trailed across the skin of my neck, making me hold my breath. My heartbeat accelerated, not in a good way. I was scared, and the feeling was quite heightened.

Before he left for his sister's wedding, we had made out twice. The second time we did was the night before he left for the wedding. He had tried to go further than kissing, and noticed I was not quite comfortable. He made me feel really safe by telling he was willing to give me time, and wait as long as I needed, before we consummated our relationship. I just hoped he was still so considerate.

He left dry kisses on my neck, making his way down to my shoulders. Shivers ran down my spine, and my heartbeat accelerated.

"Relax, Rosaline. You are going to like this, I promise." Wait... he was promising I would like what?

"B... bu...but I..." I stuttered, holding my towel tightly. My night wear had fallen off my hand in the process.

"But nothing." He sighed, stopping his advances and taking a step back. Scared I may have irritated him, I turned to face him.

"I'm sorry." I muttered, my head bowed lowly.

"We are mates, Rosa. I would never hurt you. I just want to be one with you, but it seems you do not want the same."

"Of course, I do!" I rushed out, truly worried my behavior was pushing him away. If anything, I hoped to build a more solid and closer relationship than we had now. He was my mate, and all I really had.

"Let me take our bonding process to another level. Or don't you want to know what it feels like to be more bonded with me?" He asked, caressing my cheek.

"I do." I found myself nodding in agreement.

"Then...." He pulled my hand that tightly held my towel. "...let go." Slowly but eventually, my towel fell to the floor, exposing my body. This was the first time I was letting anyone see me so..... intimately. He seemed quite taken back by the number of scars I had on my stomach and my back extensively. I mean, he had always seen the few scars on my arm, but had probably not been prepared for this. I worried if he thought I looked horrible. I had hoped he would say something soothing to me, but he didn't. Instead, he just kissed me with such haste I couldn't really explain, leading me to the bed. I fell on my butt and lowered the rest of my body to the bed, still feeling a bit self conscious.

He hovered above me, and resumed kissing me. He kisses gave me the tingles, but at some point, I began to felt tired. I needed little space to breathe.

All so suddenly, he pulled his lips away from mine, and his hands touched my thighs, gently spreading them apart. I laid there in anticipation, as he settled in between my thighs. I had never been in such an erotic position with anyone before, and I couldn't help but blush in that moment.

Without warning, I felt his member seeking entrance into the most intimate part of my body.

At first, it was uncomfortable. I hoped the feeling would get better eventually, but it didn't. If anything, the pain of his intrusion intensified. Tears stung my eyes, and he grunted out a muffled "sorry."

Soon enough, I felt full with his member, and the pain had began to dull. I was thinking the discomfort was over, until he started sliding in and out of me. It was a mix of pain and slight pleasure. It felt nice, but not as much as I had expected.

"You feel so good." He whispered, and I looked up at his face. He had this lost expression, which made a little smile make its way to my face. I was happy I pleased him. I had been worried I wouldn't satisfy him.

He kept pounding into me, and I held onto him tightly, realizing he liked it when I did.

After a short while of sliding in and out of me, I began to enjoy the pleasure of the friction between his cock and my pussy. Just when I was getting in the mood, he let out a loud grunt and I felt something warm splutter inside me. He slumped onto my body and after a while, he fell to the other side of the bed. Tiredly pulling me closer to himself, I willingly moved into his warm arms. Before I could tell what was happening, his breathing had become shallow, indicating that he had slept off.

The rest of the night, a lot of thoughts ran through my mind. Did I enjoy it? I guess I did towards the end. Maybe I didn't enjoy it as much as he promised I would, because I let my fear distract me from the exercise. Hopefully, I would enjoy it better next time we did it. Hopefully.