🐾

The female's bathroom, no, bathing grounds was apparently not grand enough for the Alpha's woman, Dwanye's word not mine.

Which was why he promptly led me to the Alpha's bathing grounds, not without a few boyish smirks strewn my way.

The path veered a little further away from the compound into a secluded part of the forest that I knew had natural warm springs and an abundance of wildlife that inhabited the creeks.

The urge to pee was temporarily forgotten as my breath got lodged in my throat.

As the sun slowly made an appearance up in the sky, it casted an angelic glow over the forest. The view was simply amazing.

Hues of pink and indigo rained over the trees and broke through the large mass of leaves that beautified the soft earth with colorful spots.

Tall bushes that reached my arm glided against my body as if attuned to my movements. Its wispy ends had little, furry white balls on the top which brushed smoothly against my skin.

Tiny little fireflies buzzed about the air without a care in the world and the soft coos of birds lifted my soul.

''This is amazing,'' I breathed out loud.

This was like heaven. Never had I experience such beauty but then I was always in awe of this world. Each time I thought I had seen something amazing, I didn't have to look far to see something much more.

So taken in was I by the beauty of my surroundings that I didn't notice when Dwanye stopped. I abruptly bumped into him and hit my nose on his very firm back.

''Ouch,'' I rubbed the offending area and gave him a hard glare.

Dwanye quickly turned and placed his large palms on my hips to steady me while he expressed his apologies. One look at my face had the idiot immediately bursting out into laughter.

My irritation was completely forgotten at the sound of his laughter. Sure he has made a couple of short chuckles here and there, but I have never heard him laugh out loud.

Like ever.

This was a real, full-blown laughter.

His head was thrown back as he laughed without a care in the world. The sound of it warmed my heart and pride gushed through me that I was able to make him laugh this way.

He looked so serene and gorgeous and-

''Your nose looks like that of a baboon's hide,''

Aaannd the moment was ruined.

I couldn't help it, the glare was instantaneous and I gave it to him with full force.

''Thank you for pointing out the fact that I was ugly and comparing my features with that of an animal's ass!'' I shot back mockingly and proceeded to walk past him.

I never got far before a large hand wrapped itself around my waist and turned me around till I was face-to-face with the red-haired devil.

Dwanye gazed down at me with all seriousness. ''I will not have you doubting yourself because you are the most beautiful creature ever to be created. Your beauty takes my breath each and every day and I am sorry for the words I uttered earlier,''

I was speechless, not because Dwanye apologized to me, but because he praised me with so much intensity and his words were said with such sincerity that I couldn't help but believe.

My momentary upset immediately vanished and how could it not when I have a man like Dwanye.

A smile graced my face. It was so wide that my cheeks were actually beginning to hurt but I didn't care because I was stupidly happy right now.

Dwanye's confused gaze looked me over as if trying to find out if anything was wrong.

''Why do you smile in such manner? Did I say something that upset or pleased you? Is this reaction typical of females when they get praises from their males?'' He asked in a panicked rush.

I didn't know what possessed me to do what I did at that moment, but I couldn't resist it any longer.

I pulled him towards me and ended his nervous ramblings with a kiss.

I kissed him.

And nothing could prepare me for what I experienced next.

The joining of the flesh elicited a blossom of warmth all over my body and as I continued the movement, increased with a burning intensity that it took my breath away.

I realized that Dwanye still hasn't responded to my kiss and I inwardly caused myself for my forwardness. He was probably shocked.

I was about to draw out from the kiss when almost immediately, he grabbed me closer, one hand placed at the back of my head and the other at the small of my back, and delved his tongue into mine.

He thoroughly and slowly explored each part of my mouth like it was something he had been meaning to do and boy did it feel good.

A pleasureable growl rumbled in his chest when I ran my hands through his locks as our movements became synchronized. The warmth that coursed through my body became too much to handle that my knees buckled out in sensory overload.

I regretfully had to pull out not because I was weak in the knees, but because I needed to breathe.

Curse you oxygen!

Dwanye instantly carried me in his arms when I couldn't stand well with my wobbly knees.

I opened my eyes and met the happy ones of his. He looked so content, happy and proud of himself.

''If I knew kissing you would be this way, I would have kissed you from the moment I saw you because I constantly need one of those kisses to shatter my world.''

And my heart melted right there.

🐾

We had finally got to his bathing grounds after much distraction because Dwanye wanted to steal more kisses for himself.

I didn't give into him of course because I wanted to tease him, that and I was mentally preparing myself on how I will tell him of my past.

The Alpha's bathing area was unsurprisingly beautiful.

It was located deep inside a small cave with several large pools of water, each twice the size of an average swimming pool.

On the ceiling of the cave had a wide hole with jagged, pointy endings. Natural sunlight streamed through and reflected its rays on the pools of water.

The sight was breathtaking.

The water gave off a crystalline color so vivid that it became the source of light in the almost dark cave. Blue waters shimmered beautifully with strings of silver that reflected on the cave walls.

I giddily made my way to one of the several pools, which happened to be the biggest one, and stepped into it.

As I glided into the ethereal blue waters, I dipped my head into it and stayed below for a moment before I faced reality.

I was scared that Dwanye would not look at me the same way when I finally tell him my story.

I was scared that he would not longer gaze at me with warmth and adoration in his eyes.

I was scared to lose him.

For the past few weeks, he has been the anchor that rooted me back when I felt like drowning. He gave me a sense of normalcy and for the first time in a long time, I finally found a sense of purpose.

Which was about to be stripped away from me in a few moments.

I felt the air currents shift around me with the sound of something dropping into the water.

Dwanye had entered the water.

Okay, enough stalling already. Just get out of the water, Tara.

I took in a nervous breath, well as much breath I could take in without inhaling water into my lungs, and came up.

I felt his gaze on my face but I couldn't bring myself to look at him. Instead, I busied myself and followed the traces of water as it dribbled down his thick, manly chest.

''My Rose,'' he softly called out.

To say I was nervous would be an understatement. My heart had suddenly plummeted somewhere down my stomach and my chest constricted so tight I found it hard to breathe.

My body shook all over in little spasms that was certainly not related to the chill of the water. I tried to open my mouth and speak but found it hard to no matter how hard I tried.

It was so frustrating that I couldn't even form out the words I wanted to say to him, so much so that tears rushed my eyes, much to my dismay.

Arms of comfort wrapped themselves around my body and cradled my form protectively into his.

I instinctively buried my head into his neck and greedily inhaled his scent into my lungs. Dwanye reciprocated my actions with a kiss to the forehead.

He never said a word, it was like he understood what I felt and the deep turmoil in my mind. He knew I needed to pull myself together for what I was about to do. 

The arms around me was proof that he would patiently wait for as long as I needed to tell him my problems and even if I didn't, he would still be here for me until I was ready.

Rough hands well inundated with the harshness of war gently brushed my skin and the sound of his sturdy heartbeat calmed my frayed nerves.

I wanted to stay here forever protected in his warm embrace and comforting touch because I knew that nothing could get to me as long I was in his arms.

I honestly didn't deserve him.

I slowly removed myself from his embrace and took in a deep breath before I finally gazed up at him.

''It all began with death.''