Alari's pov
My breathing was heavy, tiny shivers running down my spine to where Damien and I were intimately connected.
I could feel sweat rolling off of our bodies and into the blankets, the aftershocks of my orgasm dying down.
“I love you so much” I linked him, knowing my voice was too hoarse to speak, not that I had the energy.
“I love you so much” he repeated, making my already speeding heart skip a beat.
He pulled out of me, drawing a moan from my chest and plopped beside me, his hand playing with my hair as he heaved.
I rolled onto my stomach, squeezing myself at his side and looked at him.
He turned his gaze from the ceiling to meet mine, smiling lovingly at me.
“Now that you've given me a taste of you, the Goddess will have to rip me off of you” he said and I laughed, playfully slapping his arm.
But if we were being honest, I'd hate the Goddess for ripping him off of me. This was a pleasure I didn't know I could go a day without feeling.
“So, tell me Alpha” I said, moving onto his chest, still looking into his eyes.
“How was sex with a virgin? Hope I didn't disappoint” I said with a little smirk.
“It was everything I'd hope sex would be” he said, lifting his head to peck my lips.
It took a moment for his words to fully register and when they did, I could help tilt my head to the side as I looked at him differently.
“You mean this was your first time?” I asked, unable to conceal the shock.
“I'm saying, you are my first… and last” he said, a gentle smile on his face. A smile that said he was more than happy that I was his first.
“You waited for me?” The question bubbled out as a heavyness filed my chest.
Urg, why did this make me want to cry?!
“The bond is too sacred to defile. I wanted to feel all my firsts with the woman I'd spend forever with” he said, his hand stroking my cheek.
“Even your first kiss?” I asked and he nodded.
“All my firsts” he said and I felt a new sensation well up in my heart, a warmth that overtook my entire body.
Knowing we shared all our first made me the happiest, I was glad he'd waited.
“You're perfect for me, why are you so perfect?!” I exclaimed, hitting his chest.
He laughed, the sound warming my loins. “I was made for you silly” he said, looking at me with amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Come on, let's get you cleaned up my love” he said, rolling us over so he was on top and kissed me.
He got off the bed and went to the bathroom while I gathered the strength to follow, only for him to return minutes later.
He gently picked me up, taking me to the bathroom and set me into the bathtub that was filled with water and joined me.
He sat behind me, rolling my hair into a messy bun, even though half of it was already wet.
He took a sponge and put a generous amount of that jasmine scented shower gel and moved it gently on my back.
He pulled me flush against him and washed my front, taking his time on my nipples, teasing them to hardness before moving lower.
I moaned and threw my head back when the sponge made contact with my tender lips, moving so enticingly slow.
But he stopped, kissing my neck as he finished washing my body.
I took the sponge once he was done and treated him to the same tenderness, loving how his dick twitched when I moved my hands over him.
We stayed glued to each other when I was done, loving the warm water and beautiful scent of my mate and jazmine in the bathroom.
It didn't last forever though and we got out when the water started getting cold. We dried each off and returned to the bedroom to get dressed, Damien taking advantage of my naked self walking in front of him.
Slapping my ass as I walked.
I found a light blue summer dress to wear, one of the three dresses I own, well, used to own since Damien bought me more clothes than I could ever wear and quickly put it on.
Damien put on a pair of boxers and went to pull the sheets off the bed, making me notice the red stain on them.
I put on fresh ones as he got dressed, putting on a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt that hugged him just right, making me wish he'd stay like that all the damn time.
“Mate is very sexy” Sapphira purred like a cat and I had to agree, he looked better in casual than he did in formal.
“Let's go eat, and I want you to meet someone” he said, smiling as he took my hand and led me outside.
“Who am I meeting” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“A woman that raised me after my parents were killed. Taught me how to be a good Alpha and King” he said, the smile on his face telling of the kind of love he had for her.
“I'm sorry to hear about your parents” I said, squeezing his hand and he stopped to kiss my forehead before we continued on.
I caught the scent of meat and spices and my mouth watered and I realised as the smell got stronger that we were headed towards the kitchen.
I knew my assumption was right when the open plan kitchen came into view and I noticed two women in there, one on the stove and the other fixing plates on the counter.
“Smells heavenly in here” Damien said with a moan and the woman cooking laughed without turning around.
The other one threw a look over her shoulder but quickly turned around when she noticed us, maybe just me because her gaze stayed firmly on me.
She was tall and lean, looked like a warrior. Her hair cut on the sides and curled on top, light brown eyes and a flawless face with beautiful brown skin. She looked around her early forties or could be older, you never know with shifters.
Damien led me to a chair and sat me down then went to the woman at the stove. He stood beside her, looking into her pot and smiled before kissing her forehead.
“Hello sweetheart” she said, looking at him with a sweet smile, then turned to me, having caught me at the corner of her eye.
She had fair skin, a few wrinkles on her face that were clearly from smiling and crystal blue eyes. She was a bit shorter than the other woman and her brown hair had a few streaks of silver. She also looked to be in her forties and she was curvey.
“Margie, I'd like you to meet my beautiful mate” Damien said, making the woman gasp, her eyes tearing up as her gaze soften.
“Oh Demy” she cooed as she rushed towards me, gently putting her hands on my cheeks.
“Hello my darling” she said, kissing my cheek and instead of finding it creepy that a stranger was so affectionate towards me, I found her endearing.
“Hello ma'am” I said with a smile and she waved her hand, dismissing the formalities.
“Margaret, call me Margaret” she said, taking a good look at me.
“What is your name sweet one?” She asked.
“Alari” I said, her smile too contagious to not reciprocate.
“Beautiful, just like you. The Kings of this Kingdom and their elven beauties” she laughed, stepping back to admire me.
“She looks Familiar” the other woman said, tilting her head to side trying to connect the dots.
Margaret gasp again, this time bringing her hands to her lips. Her gaze quickly shifted from me to Damien and back.
“Margie, Alari is the daughter of the late King and Queen. She's the true heir to this Kingdom” he said, making her eyes widen.
“I don't believe it” the other woman said, taking a step forward.
“You look just like her, Queen Lyla” Margaret said, taking my cheek again.
“She was hidden, far from here because of all the danger the knowledge of her existence would bring” Damien said, making her nod rapidly.
“And now it's your job to protect her, promise me you will” she said, looking at him.
“With my life” he said, smiling at me.
“Good, good. Turn off the stove before my stew burns” she said, her gentle gaze still on me.
They dished up the food and we all sat to eat, Margaret still dazed by my presence.
“How did you survive this whole time?” Margaret asked and I looked at Damien, who nodded.
“Silverlake pack, that's where my parents and I lived” I said, making both women frown.
“Parents?” The other woman asked and I nodded before it hit me.
“I guess they're my adoptive parents” I said, the words leaving a strange feeling in my heart.
Yes I knew they weren't my biological parents, I've always known this but they're my mom and dad.
“You guys remember the royal healer and his wife?” Damien asked and Margaret’s eyes went wide yet again.
“I said it! We felt the King die and then hours later, the Queen followed as well but we never heard of their child! It was around the time the healer and his wife disappeared. I knew they had to have known something” the other woman said banging the table.
“And I always called you crazy” Margaret laughed.
“I'm sorry my love” she said kissing the other woman on the lips, making my eyes widen now.
“We're eating” Damien groaned and the other woman laughed.
“I will kiss my mate whenever” she said, kissing Margaret again. I had no idea such matings existed and I really had to ask what her name was, I couldn't keep calling her the other woman, it sounded so wrong.
“You know my parents?” I asked, redirecting my thoughts .
“Everyone knows your parents, and I'm pretty sure they are the only witches this Kingdom ever trusted” Margaret said.
“Valerian was such a great healer” the other woman said, “does he still heal, I could use his services on days the King decides to kill his warriors” she said, stretching her back for emphasis.
“Cassandra don't lie in front of my mate” Damien said shaking his head.
Cassandra, that's her name! And I didn't even have to ask.
They asked a few more questions and I gladly answered, loving their energy. And I couldn't help but smile at how carefree Damien was around them.
He was like a boy with his parents and I was happy that he had such loving people in his life.
I helped wash the dishes after eating, even though Margaret insisted that it was alright but I wasn't used to others cleaning up after me.
We left them after and went on our way and I wondered where Damien was taking me.
“Where are we going?” I asked when we passed the staircase that would take us to our room.
“Outside, everyone else is out enjoying some air” he said and I nodded, a little embarrassed that I hadn't even thought of them since we got back.
The sweet scent of flowers filled my senses the second we stepped onto the terrace.
“There you are, I almost went searching” mom said as we sat down.
“I'm fine mother” I said with a laugh, amused by her protective nature.
She had this thing of wanting to know where I was at all times, and after hearing about my real parents, I understand.
“Besides, Damien wouldn't let anything happen to me, I'm forever safe” I said, making her nod with a smile.
“But I do still need to know where you are” she said with that stern look of hers.
“Yes ma'am” I said and moved my gaze to Pearl's heated one.
“What's up?” I asked cautiously.
“I don't know, it's just.. you look… different. You're glowing” she said, her eyes inspecting me thoroughly.