Natalya watched Constantin put on his shirt in their walk-in closet. They took a very long heated shower. The bathroom was filled with steam by the time they stepped out. She could feel herself already blushing. Honestly, she had always been a very upfront and straightforward kind of woman but under her mate's gaze she couldn't help the speechlessness that seems to fall into place.
His back muscles stretching and defining as he pulled on his shirt even that small action was enough to have her squeeze her thighs tightly. Although, she had to admit, they had to stop soon with their uncontrollable urges because she was sore between her legs. Again, that blush deepened and she could feel her ears heat up.
He turned back to look at her and immediately his facial expression softened. A smile graced his gorgeous face before he walked over to sit next to her. He took hold of her hands and pulled her into his lap where he nuzzled her neck.
"Peeking at your mate while he gets dressed? A dangerous game you play, Natalya," He whispered. "That look in your eyes is enough to have me want to rip the clothes on you up and have my way with you in bed again."
She immediately shook her head and stood up, giving them at least an arm's length distance.
"I think it is best if we take a break from our exercises." She pointed out.
He laughed but didn't disagree.
Did he knew she was sore? She tried to walk without wincing in pain.
She slowly walked over to the sofa that was far enough away from the bed and sat down. He sat there staring at her with an arched eyebrow. She adjusted herself on the seat. She really did prefer to be back in his arms but that will only lead to things they needed to take a break from.
Newly mated couples seem to be attached to each other at the hips almost as if they were both still in heat. At this rate, Natalya had to admit they did look like they never gotten over the heat. She will surely end up pregnant if he continues to pounce on her each opportunity he gets.
"Natalya..." He spoke up again after a moment of them staring at each other. The smile on his lips disappeared and a look of seriousness took over.
But before Natalya could answer him, there was a knock at the bedroom door. They both looked towards the door before Natalya asked who was behind the door.
"It's me, Maksim." Natalya walked over to the door and opened to see her brother standing with Yulian. They both looked very grim.
"What's wrong?" She asked immediately.
"Is Constantin with you?" Maksim asked and she nodded in response.
"Alpha Viktor has issued a challenge." Maksim spoke in a serious undertone.
Natalya didn't understand. Did Alpha Viktor want her land? Why would he go this far to just obtain land that was like his? A piece of land was just land unless the person who takes care of it could make it grow into a prosperous piece of land. That much was simple for all Alphas. They were raised to know that they were the makers of the land that they owned.
"The challenge isn't for you, Natalya. It is for Alpha Constantin." Yulian seemed to know where her thoughts were trailing after because he answered her question.
"Do you understand what this means?" Maksim asked her. His right hand now settled on her shoulder to keep her steady in case she goes angry and rips Alpha Viktor's throat out.
"It means he means to fight for my place beside my mate. He wants to mate with her and by eliminating me it will break the bond." Constantin replied from behind the door. They looked to see him closely behind them.
"Breaking the bond of true mates is very dangerous. You both could die from it or if one of you survives it one of you could develop insanity. Even if Alpha Viktor marks you it won't replace the bond you have already created with your true mate. He is playing on dangerous grounds but I believe he is doing it in hopes that both of you don't make it out alive." Yulian remarked, his hands fisted at his side.
"If that is the case then why didn't he challenge me?" Natalya angrily questioned. Just the thought of losing Constantin was unbearable.
"I know my cousin. You are too strong for him. Alpha Maksim and Nikolai are the ones who trained you and they have led a very successful pack. He knew that if anything you would have inherited their skills and he wouldn't have stand a chance." Constantin sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
Natalya didn't care about the challenge. All she wanted to do was kill the man who thinks he could take her mate away. If anything happened to Constantin, she will not be mated to the killer of her mate. No. She will kill him regardless.
"I can do it," Constantin answered as he looked up at Maksim and Yulian. "I am not an unexperienced fighter. I have fought for a very long time. It runs in my blood. When will he arrive?"
"In a few hours. Border patrols are warned already on their arrival." Maksim replied.
After Maksim and Yulian left, Constantin watched his mate pace the floor back and forth. He can see the frustration welling up inside of her. The pain she was feeling again. She was afraid of losing him again. The quiet mumbles coming from her only confirmed how oblivious she was to him standing before her.
If today was going to be his last day with his mate, just the thought had his stomach curled in knots. He was pain just as much as she was. He needed to tell her something before it was too late.
"Natalya." He walked up to her and took hold of her elbow. She looked up at him immediately from the touch of their skin.
"Constantin, I can't lose you." Her voice broke and she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her face buried in his chest.
"I know. I can't lose you too."
"Why are there these stupid laws anyways? If I could do something I would rip his throat out before he could even touch our land." Her voice was muffled in his chest.
The corner of his lip lifted, "I want to tell you something."
She looked up at him with her arms still wrapped around his waist.
"What is it?" She asked.
He cupped her cheeks and brought his forehead down to hers.
"I lived a life filled with darkness. I was tortured until I broke down. I promised myself not to cry in front of Viktor but even I couldn't stop the painful tears. He will whip and beat me. My bones will break and heal only to break again. I was in constant pain.
When he cut my throat, there was a small part of me that was happy and I wanted to let go. I thought it would be better than living in his dungeon and being tortured every single day. However, ever since I laid eyes on you in the arena I knew I have finally seen light. Even if I tried pushing it away, I couldn't ignore the hope that started to light up inside of me. I was hopeful for the first time that my life might change and that I could be happy." Constantin explained what was in his heart.
Even talking to her, he could feel the hope in his chest. There was no doubt about the first time they met that he had already fallen in love with her. His mate. His heart. The woman with violet eyes that gave him hope and warmth.
He leaned in to kiss her lips, unable to resist the temptation. The feel of her soft willingly lips touching his was heaven. He sighed and pulled her close to his chest. He didn't want to lose her.
"There was a part of me that refuse to believe something so good could come to me so easily after a life so long in darkness but now I know that it could happen. You are finally mine. I give myself to you, Natalya. Every single part of me is yours. I will not leave anything out. You are my heart. The only thing that keeps my heart beating."
He pulled her back and she slowly dropped her arms from his side. He took his time memorizing her small beautiful face. Her eyes soft with so much care and compassion.
He lifted his hands into the air and signed, I love you. I love you from the start and I will love you till the end.
She inhaled sharply and tears begin to well up in her eyes. A sob left her lips before she threw herself back into his arms.
"You say that you lived your life in darkness and that I am your light but I don't think you understand how much you were my light. The moment I saw you, I also felt that hope. I knew I couldn't lose you again. I love you too, Constantin. I love you so much that I can't bear the thought of losing you. I won't survive this time, Constantin. If you are gone, I will follow." She declared through her sobs.
He chuckled and tightened his arms around his dear mate, "Well then, that means that I will have to win for the both of us. I can't have you dying on me. I need you alive as you are my heart."
Author's Note:
Hello All,
I think we are nearing the closure of Natalya and Constantin. I can see a few chapters left only. I am hoping to push out a chapter a day. Right now I am on spring break so you get me for one week. I can't wait to complete their ending.
Leila Vy