*Warning: This chapter may be mature for younger audiences.*

  “Is this him? The famous Captain Dax?” Enoch raised his eyebrow at the exasperated knight dressed in light black armor and sweating nervously.

  Aura sucked in a breath. She had not expected Dax to follow her out here. There were so many things that had not been discussed. Did he even know anything about beast shifters? Will he still want her after he gets his answers? Why was she doubting herself so much? He told her two days ago that he would face whatever comes to be with her. Dax even believes that she is still the same “wild woman” that he met in the valley a couple of months ago. ‘Have confidence in yourself, Aura!’ She nagged herself internally. “Yes, this is Captain Dax Shalltear.” Aura gestured to Dax. “Dax, this is Alpha Enoch of my birth clan.”

  Dax extended his hand to the orc that Aura called Alpha Enoch. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

  Enoch raised his eyebrow at Aura and turned back to Dax, shaking his hand. “Sure, Captain.”

  Dax could see the hesitation on Enoch’s face. He didn’t understand why this man would have any issues with him unless Enoch didn’t approve of Aura and Dax’s relationship. Could that be why this man was so distant? Or did Enoch just think Dax was rude for interrupting their conversation?

  “I can see you both have some things to discuss. I will take my leave. Just think about what I said, Aura,” Enoch said as he left the awkwardly tense air that Dax had created.

  Aura gave Enoch a nod and a small smile as he left. Dax and Aura stood in silence until Enoch’s footsteps faded. The sun was high in the sky making it about midday as a light breeze blew through the forest. There were stray clouds moving in toward the village. Aura could see the signs of rain rolling in, looking at the dark clouds in the distance. Her exhaustion was weighing on her. She wobbled a bit trying to keep herself steady, waiting for Dax to begin his questions. When her eyes finally met his eyes, all she could see was overwhelming concern in his beaming blue eyes. Her heart melted. What was going through his mind?

  “Go ahead, Dax. Ask whatever is on your mind,” She urged.

  Dax looked at the woman he loved. Her blue dress was wrinkled and splattered with stains from the herbs that she had been working with. Strands of her back and silver hair hung in her face, and her braid was barely woven together. She had a little green smudge above her right eye while her golden eyes were dull with exhaustion. This woman was going to work herself to death! She had been through too much over the last week and a half, moving from one battle to another. Frustration and anger filled his mind over her current state.

  “Why don’t you take care of yourself?” He asked, bluntly.

  She raised an eyebrow at his tone. “What do you mean?”

  “Aura, you have gone from battle to battle with no rest or reprieve for almost two weeks. Instead of resting at all last night like your body and mind are craving to, you spent the night making herbal medicines. I admire your incredible heart, but you need care too! It was only two days ago that you curled up into a ball forming being shell-shocked from torture. I came to check on you when the head medic told me that you had just delivered medicine. Now, I hear that you only have twenty years to live. What the hell, Aura!” Dax argued.

  Aura huffed at his rant. Did he think that she wanted to be sleep-deprived? She didn’t have the energy to argue with him at this point. There was so much she needed to explain. She had a new role to fulfill in Queen Galadriel’s court, a new identity as the legendary werewolf, a lot recovering to do mentally and physically after what Shadow had done to her, and Dax still needed to understand what choosing her would mean for him. Aura wished she could skip past all of it and just land his arms. She wanted to feel the comfort and safety his presence brought to her. A sudden realization came over Aura at that moment. Dax had become her chosen mate like others before her. She felt drawn to her future mate and her mind decided that he would be her future mate. Aura was no longer mateless. Happiness washed over her although her expression had not changed. “Dax, please calm down. I will explain everything, okay?” The man in front of her claimed to love her and wanted to spend his life with her. She wanted her chosen mate just as much. He cared about every detail of her life and supported her most of the time. The stupid, charming knight had made his way into her heart.

  “You can be infuriating,” he exhaled, leaning back against a tree. “But that’s one of the reasons that I love you.”

  He said it again like it was the easiest thing to say, which made Aura blush. “And you are stupid all the time,” she fired back. “But, you can be stupidly charming, too.” She gave him a sly smile.

  Dax saw a change in her golden eyes. The exhaustion had subsided and new mischievous energy had taken its place. His wild woman was surfacing although her body could barely stay standing a moment before. He was both infuriated and amused by her. How did spark such a combination when he was overwhelmed with concern only a minute ago? HE could barely stay still watching her smirk at him. What he did next proved she was right. He was stupid for not letting her rest when she needed it, but the magnetic pull between them called him to fill the space between them. In a breath, he stood right in front of her. He had missed the warmth of body against his. Her smirk increased his desire to taste her luscious lips once more. “You are infuriating and dangerous, wild woman.” He whispered slowly in her ear.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Shivers ran down her spine at his words. She made his body feel hot as she gently rested her hands on his chest. Looking up at him, she could see desire, admiration, and love floating across his face. His pink delicious lips called to her as she rose up on her tiptoes to kiss him. Dax was stunned but immediately responded to her hunger. Warmth filled them as Aura’s blue dress rubbed against Dax’s black, leather armor, creating friction as their lips moved in sync. Dax’s tongue brushed against her lips, requesting entrance to deepen their kiss. Aura granted him access instantly, and his arms wrapped around her hips, pulling her closer. The kiss was heated, loving, passionate, wanting, and assuring all at once, and overall satisfying.

  Thunder crashed overhead, causing them to finally break apart to breathe. Aura was filled with heat as she huffed trying to catch her breath. This was all new for her, but he was her mate and her forever. “Dax, that was amazing,” she admitted breathlessly. He smiled at her. “I love you too, Dax.”

  He beamed with excitement at her. She said it back! She loves him. She felt this insane force between them as well. Aura loves him! He slammed his lips onto hers. He couldn’t wait to continue what they had started. Her lips were responsive to his. He loved her so much, and he did his best to tell her through this kiss. Another clap of thunder roared overhead, echoing their passion and excitement. Lightning flashed around them, but they didn't budge. Aura found his lips addicting and his tongue was dancing with hers as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Dax’s hands slid down her curves and picked her up to bring her closer. She wrapped her legs around his waist and hardly noticed when they started moving. Dax headed out of the forest toward his little cottage on the edge of the village. Aura didn’t stop her assault on his lips on the way to the cottage. Dax creatively found ways to watch where he was going while a few people were shocked at their display of affection. The brown wooden cottage with a green door was finally in his sights as Aura tried to catch her breath against his chest. He let her down once he opened the door, and rain poured down, trapping them inside.

  Aura kept her eyes on Dax as soon as the door closed. Her wolf desire to mark and mated Dax was growing inside her. She needed to explain this part to him quickly because she was missing his touch on her skin greatly. “I need to explain something.” She blurted out.

  Dax closed the distance and gently brushed his fingers down her arm. “Are you sure you want to do this now?” He questioned. Was she having regrets? Did she want to slow down?

  “Relax. We are going to finish this,” she gestured between them. “You need something about my kind first. He nodded and brought her into a loose hug. “Beast shifters have mates instead of husbands and wives. We feel a magnetic pull towards another person, and if we like them, then our soul chooses them as our soul mate. It’s like instantly getting married, but you will only ever want to be with your mate. Some matings don’t work out, but it’s uncommon. When we choose our mates, we are filled with the desire to finish mating and marking them. Marking is where I would bite you right here,” She ran her fingers over the soft spot at the bottom of his neck where it meets his shoulder. “And everyone would know you are mine. It also comes with a few other things, but I can explain that later.” She said, anxiously.

  Dax thought over what she said for a moment. “Does this mean I am your mate?”

  “Yes,” she smiled at him.

  “And you want to mark me and bed, right now?” He said with a slight blush.

  “Tremendously so. I am holding back as much as I can right now. I want this because I love you, and I want you forever.” Aura admitted with her cheeks turning bright red. “Oh, and it will hurt for a bit if I mark you, but not long.”

  He wasn’t a fan of getting bitten, but he accepted her for who she was wholehearted. Dax would do this for her. His need for her touch was growing but wanted all of her in every way if they did this. “Marry me.”

  “Marry you?” She repeated, thinking about his meaning. He nodded. He wanted her to be his wife if was going to mark him as her forever. “Ok. I will marry you.”

  “Then, mark me, Aura. I accept you, completely.” He sealed his answer with a kiss.

  The heat burned inside Aura to continue. She snaked arms around his neck as he picked her up again. Her legs wrapped around him as he lightly pressed her against the wall. He pulled away for a moment leaving the dance their mouths had been engaged in. “Can you be in your natural form?” Dax asked. Aura smiled and shifted in his arms, tearing her clothes to shreds. Her silver and black fur were amazing to Dax. He felt her soft, scarred skin under his fingers and leaned down to kiss her more. She was beautiful to him. No matter what form she was in. Aura began discarding his armor to the floor. Minutes passed until he was only in his tunic, black pants, and boots. He carried her toward the bedroom.

  In the bedroom, they were both bare. Dax spent time leaving feather-like kisses across Aura’s skin while sitting on the edge of the bed. He brushed through her fur and kissed her neck down toward her chest. Little moans escaped her mouth as he made her way to his chest. He focused on her chest, causing a symphony of sound to erupt from her lips. Every touch he gave her made him fill with heat and become hard. Aura’s skin was addictive to touch and taste to Dax. Aura climbed onto Dax’s lap as she greedily kissed his chest and neck. His scent of fresh-cut timber and baked bread filled her nose. It was mouth-watering for her. She kissed the gape of his neck where her mark would go. Her fangs elongated and grazed his skin. His sweet sounded response made her begin to suck on the marking spot. His hands ran along her sides and squeezed her lips, encouraging her to continue. She kissed the spot once more and bit down, feeling his sweet blood fill her mouth as she bit down further. Dax held her tightly, trying not to think of the fire-like pain on his neck when she bit down deeper, and pleasurable tingles erupted over his skin. He moaned in pleasure.

  “Aura…” he groaned as she released her bite.

  Tingles erupted over skin as well from his touch. Moans flutter out of her mouth as he traces his fingers down her back. They locked themselves in a kiss as Dax moved them further back on the bed. Everything felt hot and comforting between them. They were both lost in pleasure and touch when they finally broke apart to breathe. “That is one hell of a perk from you marking me.” He grinned.

  Aura kissed her fresh mark on his neck and waves of pleasure erupted through Dax’s body. He groaned involuntarily. “That’s another perk,” she whispered into his neck.

  “Are you ready for this?” He asked, happily.

  “More than anything!” Aura beamed at him.

  “Good, my infuriating wild woman.” He answered, kissing her neck once more.

  Aura felt his hard length beneath her. “Don’t keep me waiting, my stupidly charming knight.”