Chapter 680 – Hidden Desires of the Werewolf King Novel

Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel

And there it was… she opened her eyes slowly and blinked a few times and then her deep brown eyes settled on him.

Mental images from last night flashed in Cornelia’s mind, reminding her of what transpired in that room between James and her, explaining their naked bodies and the soreness in her midsection.

The effect of the last night’s ceremony wore off, but Cornelia could feel that the connection between her and James solidified. She wondered if he somehow matured overnight, or if she was imagining it.

Cornelia forced herself not to look away. What was done was done and she couldn’t take it back, and even if she could, she wouldn’t. It was natural to be with a soulmate and she didn’t want him to think that she felt bad about the sex, or about the marking, or about this intimacy that was new, because none of that was forced.

From the moment she felt the pull, Cornelia wanted to be with James, and now that he marked her, he confirmed that he wanted the same. It was not just empty words and promises, it was marking, and that was forever. The person she loved, loved her back, and she was happy. It was that simple, and she didn’t want to complicate things.

James’ insides jolted when her lips lifted into a smile. Was she smiling at him? Or maybe she just had a good dream and once she remembers what happened she will slap him?

“Good morning, Jay”, she said lazily and moved closer to him.

James wanted to pinch himself. It’s not that Cornelia came closer to snuggle, but she hugged him and buried her face in his chest!

Was he dreaming?

But if that was a dream, where did all that happiness come from? Was it possible that those were her emotions, and he could sense them through their strengthened mate bond?

James’ arms wrapped around Cornelia, and he buried his face into her hair, taking deep breaths to fill his system with the sweet scent of berries; each inhale was a confirmation that this was real, it was happening, Cornelia was awake, and she was not cursing him or pushing him away!

“How are you feeling, Cora?”, he asked cautiously.

“Are you asking about my neck?”

“I am asking about all of you. Are you in pain? Is there any discomfort? Do you want me to bring some food or…?”

“Just hold me, Jay”, she interrupted whatever he was about to ask next.

“Cora?”, he didn’t want to bring up the topic which plagued his mind while she was sleeping, but he had to get it out there. “Are you blaming me for what I did last night?” He wanted to make sure that she won’t hate him for marking her.

Cornelia lifted her head to look at him. “What YOU did? How much I remember, I was a willing participant.” James went to the length of cutting his hand on a glass so that he snaps out of his lustful daze, and then he asked for her permission. “Why would I blame you?”

James’ heart cracked as it was unable to contain all the emotions that swelled within him. Cornelia’s eyes were full of understanding and love, and no one ever looked at him that way. The acceptance and approval were things he craved for as a child, and he labeled them as not important while he was growing up, but now that he was getting those from his mate, he had to admit that they were important. They were everything.

James swallowed the pinch that formed in the back of his throat. He won’t cry. “Don’t worry about it. I was just overthinking things.”

“I love your mind, James”, Cornelia said, and the fact that she used his full name meant that she was serious. “But please, don’t overthink it in the direction where I think badly of you. You are my other half and whatever I feel toward you, I feel towards myself as well. And I love myself.”

“Does that mean you love me?”

Cornelia’s eyes shifted uncomfortably. She told him last night that she loved him, more than once, and that was in the throes of passion, and now it was embarrassing.

“I told you already”, she said.

“Say it again, Cora”, James insisted.

Cornelia puffed her cheeks in protest. “Why don’t you say it?”

“I love you, Cora. You are my most important person now, and you always will be”, James said without missing a beat.

“I… I…”, she inhaled forcibly. “Feel the same.”

James couldn’t believe this. “Why are you not saying it? Are you shy now? After everything we did last night?”

Cornelia looked at him stubbornly. “It doesn’t matter what we did last night. It was the first time for me to do such things, so please don’t tease me or take it lightly.”

She didn’t say more than that, but James heard the rest of her words that were left unspoken. It was not the first time for him. He wanted to assure her that it was equally important to him, maybe more, but going that way could backfire, and he needed to tread carefully. He didn’t want to spoil this morning; not now when he confirmed that she didn’t blame him for what happened last night. She accepted that he claimed her and marked her, and that meant she accepted him as her mate.

—

James kissed Cornelia softly, and he loved that she responded not only with her lips but by the way her body leaned into his.

His cock lurched painfully to remind him that they were awake and waiting, but James wanted to say a few things before things turned heated.

“Last night was fantastic. I have no intention of taking it lightly. If there is Heaven, I was in it, and it was thanks to you. There are so many things I want to do with you, Cora, and we have our lifetimes to do it. Our journey together only started so there is no need to rush, but let’s not drag things either because there are certain points we need to address before we can relax.” James made a dramatic pause before continuing. “You are the best thing that happened to me, Cora. I am ecstatic that you accepted me as your mate. I promise to treat you well. You won’t regret this.”

He was thinking about them while she was sleeping, and he had to get it out of his system. He didn’t want to allow for the possibility of Cornelia misunderstanding him and putting a distance between them.

Cornelia was looking at James with her eyes open wide. She didn’t expect this confession, and James was not done talking.

“I can’t stay here, not now. I hope you will come with me to the Red Moon pack because I can’t imagine being away from you. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and by the time we need to go there, I will have a plan for how I will accomplish that. The only thing I need to know is that you are willing to take this risk for me. For us.”

Cornelia released a long breath. He was serious and the topic was serious, but she was having difficulty focusing because they were naked in bed, and she could feel his erection on her stomach.

How could he talk so steadily while he was aroused?

Cornelia wanted to assure him that they were on the same page. She could see his insecurity and it was killing her from the inside because she caused it.

“I don’t want us to be apart either. However, putting ourselves in a dangerous situation because of our feelings is not justified. Let’s assume we find a way for your people to not notice my presence or changes in your behavior when you start disappearing so that you can be with me. No matter how skilled we are or what tricks we use, eventually, someone will notice. Then what?”

He knew that Cornelia had a point. So far, James spent his time studying and training, and if he suddenly starts going somewhere, people will notice. However, his mentor (aka George) was there, and James already planned to use George for openings to spend time with Cornelia. And also… “This won’t last longer than two years.” His eighteenth birthday was a hard stop. “Before that, we will live somewhere else, wherever you want. I don’t plan for us to stay in the Red Moon pack long, but bailing out now is not an option.”

Cornelia nodded in understanding. James told her that if he doesn’t return home soon, his father will use that against Dayson and there was a big chance for a war to start.

“So, what’s your plan?”, Cornelia asked.

“I’m still thinking about it.”, James admitted. Waiting for his eighteenth birthday in the Red Moon pack would be suicidal. He needed to make his exit before that. “As a last resort, I could stage my death in a way that won’t implicate others. But I hope to find a more elegant solution.”

There was also the scenario of George issuing an Alpha challenge to Alpha Edward, and James had confidence that would end with Alpha Edward’s loss. However, that whole play was outside of James’ control and even if it happens, no one could predict what members of the Red Moon pack would do without their Alpha, but one thing was certain: it would be chaotic.

“If you need my help, I’m available.”, Cornelia said, surprising him with this offer. “How much I understood, your kind is not aware of witches and magic. Maybe I can do something to make your disappearance more believable.”

James didn’t want to implicate her into his messy life. It was his mess and he wanted to deal with it. “I will keep that in mind.”

“I am serious”, Cornelia said sternly. Did he think she wouldn’t notice he was brushing her off? “We are mates, two halves of a whole, and that whole means good and bad things. Don’t keep me out. If I’m facing a problem, would it be OK if I exclude you?”

James smiled at her foolishly. She was serious. Seriously hot and he wanted to devour her.

“I won’t exclude you, Cora”, James said while pushing her on her back with his body.

He hovered above her, his deep blue eyes staring into her brown ones as he spoke, “Going forward, you will always know exactly where I am and what I’m up to. I can’t plan for your assistance because I’m not aware of the extent of what you can do, so I will rely on you to volunteer your services when applicable and I will be happy to accept your help as long as it doesn’t put you in danger. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes”, she responded happily.

James’ eyes moved to the left side of her neck and he smiled at the sight of his mark that was forming there. It looked like a bruise, but he knew that in a few days, it will be a unique pattern to symbolize that Cornelia was his.

“You are wearing my mark now, Cora”, he said. His voice was deeper by an octave and it made Cornelia feel butterflies in her stomach that went crazy when his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that left her breathless.

“You are mine”, he growled.

“Yours”, she confirmed.

James smirked in approval and moved to kiss the spot where his mark was forming. He enjoyed the way Cornelia’s body trembled under him.

James heard stories about how the mark is a sensitive spot, almost like an erogenous zone if touched by a mate.

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