The stairs wound around a few times before ending at the second floor. A wide, brightly lit hallway stretched out before us, lined with multiple rooms. Through the large windows on either side of the corridor, I could see fitness rooms with foam flooring.
We made our way to the only unoccupied room-or mostly unoccupied. A man I had never seen before stood in the center. He was around sixty, but in impeccable shape. His t-shirt barely concealed his muscular form. His short-cropped hair was grey with a hint of white.
“Welcome, girls,” his raspy voice boomed, startling me.
He turned to greet us, and my breath caught. His angular face looked familiar, and his eyes-an intense blue almost white-mirrored one of mine and Sebastian’s eyes.
“Are we… are we related?” I frowned, seeing a slightly altered version of Sebastian’s face.
“Quick on the draw,” he laughed, a booming sound unlike the Sebastian I knew. “Sure are. I’m your grandfather’s brother.”
“My grandfather?” I nodded, momentarily at a loss for words. Surprise took away my filter, and I found myself speaking without thinking. “Williams says he was a prick.”
He paused, looking me in the eyes before answering. “Mm, yeah, he was a prick.” He nodded, cracking a wide smile. “The humor in our family seems to skip a generation or two.”
“It skipped Sebastian, didn’t it?” I asked dryly, unable to keep a straight face as the man erupted in laughter.
“Oh, I wish I would’ve met you sooner. The name’s Chad,” he smiled as his laughter died down. “So, I hear you need some training. Thought you white wolves were supposed to be all-powerful?”
“I wouldn’t say all-powerful,” I shrugged. “Besides, learning to fight never hurt anyone.”
“Right you are,” he nodded, walking to the front of the room. “Alright, get to stretching and we’ll start in ten.”
“I take it back. Learning to fight has hurt people-mostly me,” I groaned, lying flat on the foam floor.
The sports bra and leggings I wore were damp with sweat, and I swore there was a puddle around my shaking body. Kat lay beside me, her head propped up on her hand.
“I didn’t take you for a quitter, Luna,” she cooed, flashing me a grin.
“Oh, I’m not quitting,” I shook my head. “Complain? Very much so.”
“I admit, you’ve got it bad,” she nodded. “Werewolves start training at a super young age. Your human life has made you totally out of shape.”
“Don’t remind me,” I groaned, refusing to move from my comfortable spot on the mat.
The muscles in my legs throbbed and ached, as did the rest of my body. We had trained for nearly three hours, then Chad sent us downstairs to lift some weights. We met back up on the second floor to discuss tomorrow’s plan.
The only consolation of today’s training was that my lack of coordination seemed to be completely remedied. I no longer stumbled over my own feet and could block a punch fairly well after a few failed attempts. I had to give it to Kat; she had a mean punch.
“Oh, hello, Alpha,” Kat’s voice was full of suppressed laughter.
“I see training went well,” Ethan’s laugh had me jumping to my feet, smoothing down my messy hair.
Ethan wore a plain black t-shirt that clung to every delicious dip and groove of his body. The sight made my mouth water, and for that brief moment, I had all sorts of unsavory thoughts.
My tongue ran across my lower lip as I wondered if he might let me trace the muscles on his body with something other than my fingers. Judging from the sparkle in his eye, he’d be more than happy to let me do as I pleased.
“Well, I’ll see you two ladies tomorrow, bright and early,” Chad chuckled, patting me on the back. “It was nice finally meetin’ you, Sophia.”
“It was nice meeting you too, Chad,” I smiled back at him, feeling that familiar clench in my heart as his emotions registered within me.
Chad was genuinely happy to meet me, and I could already feel the fondness he held for me. I continued to find it incredible that the moment I left my human life behind, I had finally found my family. Ethan, Kieran, Kat, even the twins’ parents-they were my family.
Chad left with a final wave, and I looked towards my mate’s dazzling smile.
“I’ve got to say, I like this look,” Ethan purred, pulling me into his arms. He buried his face in the crook of my sweaty neck and inhaled. “Mm, you smell good.”
“I smell like sweat,” I snorted, looking up at him with a raised eyebrow.
“I think you smell delicious,” he smirked, rolling his plush lower lip between his teeth. He inched closer, and my heart sped up in response. “I wonder if you taste as good as you smell.”
A heavy shudder rolled through me as Ethan’s tongue darted out and flicked against my earlobe. The moment his tongue touched my skin, his emotions burst forth, breaking free from the dam that had held them at bay.
“Well, I think that’s my cue to leave,” Kat cleared her throat. Somehow, she managed to keep a straight face, but she couldn’t hide the devious glint in her eyes. Just as she opened the door to leave, she called out behind her, “Oh, just in case you were wondering, that door over there leads to a very large and spacious lounge. See ya tomorrow, Sophia!”
“She’s not one for subtlety, is she?” Ethan snorted, but the dark and heavy emotions radiating from him had not ceased in the slightest.
They were tendrils of thick desire that curled around my legs and caressed my thighs. They threatened to drag me deep into their depths, and I found myself losing the motivation to fight them. The soreness in my limbs was all but forgotten as I stood wrapped in Ethan’s arms.
“Maybe-maybe we should go back to the house,” I suggested breathlessly, swallowing thickly when Ethan’s lips twitched into a smirk.
“I thought you were sore, doll?” he cooed, giving me a devious grin that made my insides flutter. “You looked a little worse for wear back there on the floor.”
My legs clenched involuntarily, and a searing warmth spread down to my core. I looked up at Ethan through hooded eyes, keeping my voice low and alluring.
“I can handle whatever you throw at me, Ethan,” I purred, letting my fingers toy with the edges of his shirt.
My words and touches had their intended effect as my back thudded against the mirrored wall. His hot breath fanned across my face, and my head fell back as his lips trailed along my jawline. Dazzling sparks danced along my skin, making my core clench painfully.
Ethan’s intense desire mixed with my own until I couldn’t separate our emotions. All I knew was that I wanted him, every glorious inch of him, until not only were our emotions merged, but we were as well. The ache I felt started in my core, but only grew as his lips trailed lower and his kisses grew more heated.
“By the time I’m done with you, I’ll have to carry you from the building, doll,” he chuckled low in my ear, his fingers dancing along my exposed stomach. “I’ve got to say, this outfit makes me think all sorts of things.”
“Does it?” I gasped as his fingers grazed against my groin, adding the slightest amount of pressure.
“Mm, fuck the house. I don’t have the patience to wait that long. I’d end up taking you in the car. I say we check out that lounge,” he growled deeply, undoubtedly smelling the wetness pooling between my legs.
His large hands wrapped around my waist and lifted me into the air. I wrapped my legs around his broad waist and toyed with the short edges of his hair.
“The lounge?” I squeaked, eyes wide with surprise.
We were going to do it here? In this gym full of people? Would they be able to hear what was going on-or worse, smell it?
“You worry too much, doll,” he chuckled against my neck. “Kieran and I are their Alphas. Even if they knew what was going on, no one would dare stop us.”
“But won’t they hear it?” I swallowed, unable to voice the other concern. The idea of a gym full of people scenting my arousal was too much to bear, regardless of Ethan and Kieran’s status.
“Depends. How loud do you plan to be?” Ethan smirked, his eyes flickering dangerously.
Kat had been right; there was a door in the training room that led to a lounge. It was a decent-sized room with a couple of couches and a small kitchen. Tall coolers held an abundance of drinks, smoothies, and protein shakes.
Ethan kicked the door shut behind him and flicked the lock. He carried me over to the couch and sat down. As I straddled his lap, I could feel the rough outline of his hardness through his pants and whimpered at the feel of it against me.
Without hesitation, Ethan tore the sports bra from my body and tossed it aside. A low moan escaped my lips as he buried his face in my chest, taking one of my hardened nipples into his mouth. Each flick of his tongue and scrape of his teeth made my breathing grow heavier.
I grabbed the hem of his shirt, watching with heated interest as he pulled it off. Hard abs and smooth skin met my eyes, arousing me further.
“Fuck, Sophia,” he groaned against my skin, his fingers digging into my hips. “You taste so good.”
I wasn’t sure what fueled this desperate need, but I knew what I wanted next. I placed my hands on his shoulders and shoved him back against the couch.
“I want to taste you,” I told him, running my tongue along the hollow of his neck.
His skin tasted of male musk, mixed with his rich scent. Both taste and smell flooded my senses, more addicting than anything I had ever experienced before.
Lower and lower I trailed, savoring every raspy sound that emerged from Ethan’s parted lips. I ran my tongue over the hard muscles of his stomach, stopping at the waistband of his pants.
My mouth watered when his rigid cock sprung free. Ethan kicked his pants to the side and fixed me with a dark, consuming look. His hands clenched the couch tightly, as though it took all his willpower to let me have this moment; to not simply devour me entirely.
I eyed his swollen head and thick veins with arousal and awe, wanting desperately to taste the glistening bead of pre-cum that had sprouted. My tongue darted out to taste the liquid, and my groan echoed Ethan’s.
“You’re killing me, Sophia,” he groaned, his eyes never leaving mine. “You look so fucking-”
His words were cut off as I took his length into my mouth. A hiss of pleasure left his lips as I struggled to take his entire length. I wasn’t sure how long I had been on my knees, but I mourned the manly taste of him when he pulled me to my feet. My leggings hit the floor in a heap. Ethan pulled me back onto his lap and lined himself up with my entrance. I could feel the restraint in his touch, how he wanted nothing more than to plunge into me. Instead, he let me take control. I slid down his length slowly, whimpering as I stretched to accommodate him.
There was nothing like this feeling-nothing that compared. Even the delicious sparks themselves couldn’t compare to the feeling of being utterly full, consumed by my mate’s and their blistering emotions.
“That’s it. Ride my cock, make it yours,” he grunted, giving my hips a hard squeeze.
Though I felt my movements were still somewhat awkward, Ethan didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. If anything, he spurred me on with his roaming fingers and heated kisses. His lips devoured every inch of skin within reach. With each rotation of my hips, my orgasm began to build.
I could feel Ethan growing even harder inside me, and gasped when he hooked his arms beneath my legs. I placed my hands on the couch for support, nearly screaming in bliss when he slammed into me.
“Fuck me, Ethan,” I whimpered, my voice rising with each rough thrust.
“You fucking love it hard, don’t you, little doll?” Ethan grunted, thrusting his hips up and down in rapid succession.
His eyes darted between my reddened face, my bouncing breasts, and my glistening core, as though he couldn’t decide what to focus on. The sound of flesh against flesh filled the room, and I no longer cared who heard. I couldn’t think of anything else, nothing besides the man stretching me to my absolute limit-the man who brought both pleasure and pain, ratcheting my orgasm even higher.
“Yes!” I moaned, my head falling back. “It feels so good, Ethan!”
“Look at me,” he snarled, capturing my gaze as he repeatedly slammed into my tight flesh. “I want to watch your face when your tight little pussy spasms around me.”
His words alone elicited a scream from my throat, sending earth-shattering pleasure coursing through my body. Even my vision blurred as my orgasm barreled through me in tall waves. I could feel my own juices running down his cock and watched as his dark eyes traveled to my core.
“Oh, fuck,” he snarled, watching the effects of my orgasm leak down his length.
In one swift movement, he pulled out of me. Thick streams of come spurted onto my stomach. I whimpered at the heat of it and watched as his eyes rolled back and his limbs stiffened. Both Ethan and Kieran were incredibly beautiful, but there was something different about watching them orgasm. Seeing their guard down as absolute pleasure rolled through them was not only something I’d never grow tired of but something I craved without relief.
“Fuck,” he hissed, taking my head in his hands. His chest moved up and down rapidly, his breath coming out in heavy pants. “I love you, doll. I love you so much.”
If I had thought the powerful orgasm I just experienced was incredible, I had experienced nothing yet. Hearing those words come from Ethan’s mouth, knowing he had been the one to say them first-confirmed everything for me. I could feel it now, that emotion I had no name for-the emotion I had never once experienced for myself.
It was love.
Love was warm, but not blisteringly hot like desire or lust. It was warmth and comfort wrapped into one, coupled with protectiveness and rolled in absolute awe.
Love was an emotion that had no beginning or end, no limits to how much a person could feel. It was an endless chasm that brought nothing but peace and happiness to those lucky enough to fall into it. Now that I had finally felt that emotion for myself, I couldn’t comprehend how I had gone so long without its warm embrace. I had been denying myself, unable to admit how I truly felt about Ethan and Kieran, but that was long over.
“I love you too, Ethan. More than anything in this world.”