(18+) Marking Each Other

••• Arabella’s POV ••• “Bella…” Shawn’s soft, pleading voice was heard after everything was settled. “Let’s go home,” Max stirred me toward the door, ignoring Shawn’s attempt to talk to me. I glanced briefly at Shawn, who had a guilty expression before going away with Max and Rosa. There was nothing I wanted to say to Shawn, nor was there anything I wanted to hear from him. Even though he had helped me, he had also made his choice to betray and use me, and now we had nothing to do with each other anymore. Furthermore, Max was my second-chance mate, and I had to give all my attention to him instead of to my ex-mate. Rosa, Max, and I got into the car with Beta Jaxon as the driver and returned to the Silentmane Canines Pack. It was already afternoon when we reached the pack’s main house. Max and Beta Jaxon went to the kitchen to ask the Omegas to prepare a feast while Rosa and I sat on the living room couch. “Rosa…” I wanted to tell her about what had happened. “Yeah, Ari? You know you can tell me anything, especially if it involves magic,” she replied, seemingly knowing what I wanted to ask her. “Ummm… When Iris and Max said that we are fated mates…” I hesitated to tell her, fearing her answers would be what I dreaded and crushed the hope in my heart. “Go on,” she said as she sprawled lazily on the couch. “Iris and I guessed Max and Cyrus could smell the mate’s scent, and they knew it came from me,” I began saying. “But…” “But you couldn’t smell it?” Rosa asked lazily. “No,” I shook my head. “I could smell it, but it was very faint, and I didn't know it belonged to Max.” “You don't have to worry about it, Ari,” Rosa waved her hand, brushing the subject off as if it were normal. “It’s because Max’s curse hasn't been lifted yet,” she explained. “Are you sure it’s not a part of Lina’s black magic?” I asked her with worry. “Maybe she cast a spell to make us think we are fated mates?” Rosa looked at me with amusement, which made me blush in embarrassment. “Ari…” she called my name softly and held my hand. “What they didn't want to happen most is for Max not to find his fated mate. So I don't think they’ll play that kind of trick.” “Are you sure?” I asked her again. I didn't know why, but I felt very insecure about my relationship with Max, especially after learning that we were fated mates. “Ari, not everyone is like Shawn,” Rosa sighed. “From what I can see, Max seems to love you. I know for sure that you are his only woman. He had never allowed any woman to come near him except for you. He’s very good to you.” “He is,” Iris chimed in happily. “I know there must be something between us, especially after I felt heartbroken when I thought he had betrayed us.” “Trust Max, okay, Ari?” Rosa patted my hand. I nodded and let out a sigh of relief as I realized my fear was actually groundless. So Max and I… We were really fated mates! “You seem like you don't believe it,” Iris giggled as she could feel my disbelief of finding a second-chance mate. “It’s just… It’s hard for werewolves to find their fated mates, but I rejected one and was given another chance.” How could I not be in a state of disbelief then? “Maybe the Moon Goddess thinks you need someone to depend on, so she gave you a ruthless yet capable and loving Alpha.” Iris teased. At that moment, Max and Beta Jaxon came into the living room. “What are you guys talking about?” Beta Jaxon asked Rosa in a relaxed manner. Rosa rolled her eyes at him, thinking he was a busybody, and answered, “Girl stuff.” “Let’s go to the dining room,” Max pulled me upward. “Dinner is ready.” Dinner was sumptuous and lively, without mentioning black magic, Lina or Abigail. Beta Jaxon and Rosa mostly teased Max and me for finally sensing that we were fated mates. “Who would have a contractual marriage with their fated mates?” Beta Jaxon laughed. “And to think they actually asked me to create fake mating marks when they could just mark each other!” Rosa joined Jaxon in teasing us. To hear about our journey was actually quite funny. Maybe it was within the Moon Goddess’ plans that I found out about Shawn and Abigail’s betrayal during my birthday and then stumbled upon Max, who needed a mate to break his curse. “Rosa, you should stay with us until we’ve dealt with Lina and her master,” I suggested once we had finished our dinner. “Alright,” she agreed readily. Jaxon literally jumped from his seat and pulled Rosa away in excitement. “Come, let me show you the guest rooms. You can choose one that suits you.” I shared a look with Max, and we both shook our heads helplessly. Jaxon was acting like the host, disregarding me and Max who were still sitting in the dining room. “He’s lucky he’s my best friend and Beta,” Max murmured, making me giggle. If Jaxon weren't Max’s most trusted friend, he would’ve been punished and thrown into the dungeon for being too casual and treating the pack’s main house as his own without consulting his Alpha and Luna. Max pulled me into his arms and asked gently, “Tired?” I nodded and leaned against him. “Let’s go to our room,” he said, picking me up and striding toward our bedroom. I could get used to being spoilt like this… We took a quick shower and lay on the bed, and I could feel the strong lust emanating from our bodies as we looked at each other. Max softly growled and flipped over, hovering above me. His head lowered, and his lips touched the fake mating mark on the crook of my neck, nibbling it. I stroked the back of his head and couldn't hold back my moans. He kissed my breasts, pinching and tweaking my nipples, caressing every inch of my body. His cock slid over my clit, slowly approaching my entrance, but then he stopped. He sat up, leaned against the headboard, pulled me toward him, and made me kneel over his erection with my legs on each side of his thighs. “Ride me, Arra…” he husked out; his desire for me in his eyes was so intense it was enough to make me wetter. Even though I had no experience riding a man, I wasn't that naive. I had done research and knew what to do… more or less. I nodded and reached down, aligning the tip of his rock-hard cock against my entrance, and began lowering myself, taking him inch by inch. His hands gripped my waist, his eyes were closed, and he looked like he was in pain because of how slow I was moving my hips to accommodate him. Once half of his cock was inside me, and I felt I was stretched enough to take all of him in, I bobbed up and slammed right back down, crying out from the pain as he filled me to the brim, and tears welled up in my eyes. Why did it hurt more when I did it myself… His eyes flew open, and he worriedly asked, “Shit, Arra. Are you in pain? Did you hurt yourself?” I took a deep breath, circled my hands around his nape, kissing him passionately, not wanting him to worry, and began moving my hips up and down, riding him like he wanted me to. Soon, I felt the familiar tightening in my core, and he knew I was close, too. One of his hands moved my head sideways gently, kept it in place, and I felt his canines gracing the spot where he would mark me. As I toppled over the edge, his canines sank deep into the crook of my neck, making me let out another painful scream. His canines retracted, and he licked the spot he had just marked, sealing the mating Mark completely. I leaned against him, spent and panting, when I felt one of his arms snaked around my waist and the other pressing my face against his neck. He lifted my body slightly and began pounding me with an excitement and possessive fervor that quickly brought him to his climax. I opened my mouth and let my canines pierce his flesh, marking him just as he had done to me before. He groaned, and his hips jerked as he spilled his seeds inside me. We spent the next few minutes holding each other and gathering our breaths, but I felt uncomfortable in my heart. From what I heard, when we were marked, it would feel pleasure after the initial pain. But why did I only feel pain? Max caressed the mark on my neck and frowned when he saw it. “Max?” The uncomfortable feeling in my heart grew stronger as I quickly checked the mark on his neck. My heart sank when I saw the only mark he had was the fake mark. “Max… What… What happened? Why didn't our mark show?” I asked with fear and doubt. Were we not fated mates? He kept frowning as if deep in thought, but then his expression smoothened, and he laid down, pulling me together. “There shouldn't be a problem. But… Let’s ask Rosa about it tomorrow,” he tried to comfort me, which didn't really work because my mind was already filled with doubts and suspicions once again.