Song: "Only You" by Jurrivh
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After taking Aubree home, showering with her, and joining her on the bed in their room, they mated.
It was a slow and passionate unfurling of the love they harbored within their ruhi—their hearts and souls.
She was a rose in full bloom, and Stone caressed every inch of her soft silky flesh, unable to tear himself away.
He'd never mated with this much care, this much tenderness, as he relished in every curve and dip in her delicate body. He wanted all of her. Every precious inch of her skin, every brush of her fingertips against his flesh, every pounding beat of her heart, every breath of air that entered her lungs, and every moment of life that burned in her soul.
She was exquisite. Life, love, and beauty, and so much more. A gift that he could not refuse, and one that required his complete and utter devotion, protection, and utmost care and gentleness.
She was his, and he was hers. Their declarations set him free now that she had seen his beast and accepted it. Accepted him. All of him. Despite her fears, she opened her heart to him and he let her into his—truly this time.
After discarding several used condoms, they fell asleep.
Without marking her, the matebond remained unsealed. Stone still could not hear her thoughts, but that hardly mattered. A feeling akin to completeness filled him as he drifted off to sleep with her in his arms and her head resting against his chest.
He slipped away a few hours before dawn to hunt. He hadn't eaten anything since lunchtime, and Gwen woke him up, mentally demanding food. She hunkered down in the safe room in the basement, where Gavin had put her to keep her safe while he guarded the vicinity of the pack house.
When he returned about half an hour later with fresh meat, Aubree was awake and eating eggs with toast on the counter in the kitchen since the table had been destroyed the night before.
As he entered, completely naked, a blush warmed her cheeks as he approached and slipped his hand around the small of her back.
She'll get used to it—to his nakedness, anyway.
Dressed in that little white spaghetti-strapped nightie he saw her wearing in the first dream they shared together, she raised her large doe eyes to his as he bent down to give her a chaste kiss.
As he drew away, she eyed the pair of rabbits he clutched in his other hand. "For Gwen?"
He nodded.
Ignoring her half-eaten plate of food, she reached out for the rabbits. "Let me give them to her."
Tears prickled his eyes and he blinked them away as he pressed his forehead to hers and inhaled her warm, heavenly scent.
He mentally informed Gwen that he would be down shortly with her breakfast. Wanting to see Gwen's reaction, he omitted the fact that Aubree would be the one to give it to her.
His clipped tone worried Gwen, and she asked him if everything was okay.
Having kept his mind locked from the others since facing Aubree in his beast, no one knew what had transpired between them. He wanted to keep it that way until they came home.
Taking Gwen's meal down the stairs to the basement, Aubree followed him to the hidden safe room—a room dug twenty feet away from the house that had two entrances and exits, one connected by a narrow tunnel to the house and another that led out into the forest a hundred yards away.
He followed her in and when Aubree climbed out, Gwen's emotions crashed over him as Aubree approached her with the rabbits.
[Papa?] Gwen's wolf whimpered when he opened his mind to her as he climbed out of the tunnel and into the safe room.
Gwen's huge wolf was lying on a makeshift bed of blankets and pillows in the small room, taking up half of the floor space by the sheer size of her body alone.
[Yes, Schatzi?] he asked as he joined Aubree's side as she crouched down on her knees next to Gwen.
"It's okay, Gwen," Aubree said as she took Gwen's huge paw in her hands and held it as she gazed down in Gwen's brown eyes as they filled with tears. "No one has to hide anymore."
Stone brushed his fingers behind Gwen's ear as joyful whines and whimpers vibrated up Gwen's throat as she closed her eyes and tears dripped down the corners.
[I'm so happy for you,] she said as she began to huff, so overcome with emotions that she could hardly breathe. [So happy.]
He kissed the top of Gwen's head and promised to bring her upstairs after she'd eaten.
When Gavin, Alistair, Gunner, and Hector returned at dawn after a long, bloody night, they stopped and stared in the doorway as they took in the sight of Aubree sitting on the corner of the couch with Gwen lying on her back next to her, petting Gwen's wolf head on her lap with Gwen's feet hanging off the armrest at the other end.
Stone sat on the plush recliner next to her, hiding a smirk behind his hand as he watched their reactions, keeping his mind locked from the bombardment of questions he knew they were dying to ask.
Aubree looked up and smiled at them and their shocked expressions. "Hey, guys. Welcome home."
"Knuddelmuddel!" Alistair rushed across the space and pounced on Aubree, wrapping her into his arms from behind the couch before ruffling Gwen's head.
"I knew you could do it," Gavin said as he joined his uncle's side and grinned down at Aubree as he leaned over the back of the couch.
Gunner walked up to the space between Aubree and Stone and crouched down on one knee with his head bent toward Aubree. "Forgive me, Luna."
Aubree's brows knotted together as she looked from Gunner to Stone and back. "For what?"
"I opposed your union in the beginning because you are human," Gunner said, his head still bowed. "As a human, I subjected you to the rules of our race in accordance with the Lycan Code. I believed you to be inferior. I believed you to be incapable of accepting our wolves. I believed you to break under pressure when given a challenge. I feared for your safety and believed it was best that Stone avoid you and reject your bond. I was wrong. You have proved me wrong and the bond you and Alpha share cannot be questioned. Even I feel it."
Stone knew where he was coming from, and understood the remorse he had for carrying those prejudices as Stone felt the same at one point. He put his hand on Gunner's shoulder and allowed his emotions to pass through the touch.
Gunner touched Stone's hand but kept his head down. [I need to relieve my conscience.]
"It's okay, Gunner," Aubree said. "I understand."
He shook his head. "I have endured much in my life. Losing my own mate, I understood what Stone went through when we lost Adelaide. When we found you, I could not comprehend it. I could not accept it. Did not want to accept it. It was too dangerous for you to be put in this position. I was wrong. You are the heart. And I will lay down my life to ensure the safety and well-being of your own."
Aubree put her hand on Gunner's other shoulder and he lifted his eyes to meet hers. "I hope it doesn't come down to life and death, but you have my forgiveness if that's what you want. You can stop mentally beating yourself up now."
"Thank you, Luna," he said as he tilted his head in submission, exposing his neck at her.
"I never doubted you, Aubree." Hector strolled casually across the room. The corners of his lips quirked up. "And in addition to a successful night, I say we all celebrate before we get some much-needed rest. What say you, Alpha?"
Stone rubbed his eyes. "Seeing as everyone is exhausted, I'd say the celebrations will have to be minimal, or brief at best."
"Nonsense," Alistair quipped. "We will build a giant bonfire and roast venison until our bellies are swollen with food! Then, we will snort catnip—"
"No catnip," Stone interrupted.
"Aw, come on! It made you so mellow last time, you—"
"No."
"But you need to relax, or else—"
"No."
Aubree's laughter interrupted them and was the ticket Alistair had been fishing for. He grinned down at Aubree as the others all relaxed, the tension dissipating.
While last night's battle had been a victory for them and the werewolves, Carina wasn't found among the casualties and neither was Dan. Everyone in the room was exhausted but now they had their Luna and she was ready for it.
Pride and love surged through Stone as he watched Aubree interact with his pack—his family. The only beings in the world he trusted with his life. The only beings in the world who loved and accepted him for who he was—regardless of all the mistakes he had made. The only beings in the world to stand by him when he was cast out of Schwartzwald for murder.
Aubree would find out everything eventually. It was only a matter of time.
---- AUTHOR'S NOTE ----
END OF PART II.
There's an R-rated scene in "Heart of Stone: R-Rated Scenes" book for those interested. There is also a scene in the "Heart of Stone: Bonus Biscuits" book of bloopers, out-takes, and randomness of Stone buying condoms. Hilarious. Plus, Alistair and Gunner will be in it, so you know it's going to be good! XD
Still lots to come in Part III!
*Copyright Jo Lee Hunt (Joflower) 2016*