Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 1245 - 156 : Mate Bond

Chapter 1245: Chapter 156 : Mate Bond

*Daphne*

I awoke wrapped securely in Rion’s arms, his muscular chest pressed against my back and his face nuzzled into my hair. His steady breaths tickled the nape of my neck. As an early morning breeze blew gently through the open balcony doors into our chambers, I smiled contentedly.

This was my favorite way to wake up—entangled with my beloved mate. After so many years together, I still relished the intimacy of skin against skin. I caressed Rion’s arms, which encircled my waist. He inhaled deeply and soon his lips found that sensitive spot below my ear that never failed to make me shiver.

I turned in his arms to face him. His hair was endearingly mussed and his gray eyes still heavy with sleep. But they lit up as he gazed at me. "Good morning."

"Is it still morning?" I teased. "We might have slept half the day away."

“That is retired life.”

A few years back, we’d decided it was time to turn Thorn Forest over to Lucian. He was a strong, charismatic Alpha and a good leader. It meant Rion and I had less responsibility, but also less to do.

“I forgot to tell you,” Rion said, reaching over to pick up an envelope on his bedside table. “An interesting invitation came in the mail for us today.”

Rion held out the envelope.

“I guess we’ve been at the palace too long if we are starting to receive mail here.”

Rion chuckled. “Read it. This might be the kind of thing you’re looking for.”

I opened the envelope and found a thick, cardstock invitation inside. It was embossed with silver letters inviting Rion and me to the annual Moon Ball for a pack we had close relations with.

I leaned back against his chest as we relaxed together.

"It’s been ages since we attended a formal party. And their lands are lovely this time of year."

Rion pressed a kiss into my hair. "You make a good case, my heart. But—” He reached around me to tap the invitation. "It is not exactly close, almost a day’s journey. Is a Moon Ball worth all that travel?"

I tilted my head to smile up at him, pouting playfully. "We could make a little holiday of it, take a few days and enjoy the fall scenery along the way, stay at that quaint inn with the big feather beds...."

Rion chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Ah, I see, an ulterior motive emerges! Well, when you put it that way....” His arms wrapped around me, and he nuzzled into my neck.

I grinned triumphantly and snuggled back against him. “Shall I RSVP us then?”

“I suppose... if my mate demands it.” He nipped at my earlobe.

I laughed brightly and wiggled in his embrace to meet his lips in a sweet kiss, the matter decided.

***

The Moon Ball gave me an excuse to dress up for the first time in years. I put on a black dress with off-the-shoulder short sleeves and beaded netting from the waist to the floor over the black satin skirt. When I met Rion in front of the palace, his eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

“You look stunning, my dear.” He kissed me on the cheek.

He didn’t look half bad himself, dressed in a fancy suit with his hair combed back.

We rode in the back of a limo. It was very snuggly, and we got to sit close. Rion put his arm around my waist.

“I heard from Lucian today. He says everything is going well with the pack and his new Luna is getting settled in,” Rion informed me.

“That’s wonderful! When do you think they’ll give us a grandbaby?”

He chuckled. “I think Ayla is more likely to first. Selena seems determined to be the last.”

“She’s doing her own thing and I’m proud of her for that. All our children are doing amazing things with their lives.”

Rion hugged me against him. “You’re right. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

“Have you heard from Jasper or Eva recently?”

“No.” Rion sighed. “I’m really glad they decided to travel and see the world after Aster and Tarik grew up and Lumina went to college, but I miss my sister.”

“I wish they’d check in more,” I admitted. “I worry they might be behaving recklessly.”

“I think Eva outgrew that a long time ago. Besides, they said it was their ‘permanent vacation.’ The goal seems to be to relax and avoid recklessness.”

The limo pulled up at the event location. It was already crowded with women dressed in stunning dresses and men in suits. It was mostly younger women dressed elaborately in colors and styles that stood out.

At our age, Rion and I dressed more modestly.

As soon as we got out of the limo, old friends of ours waved us over.

“Look who’s decided to join the ranks of the retired,” Alpha Jacob teased.

“Jacob, good to see you.” Rion shook his hand. “Where’s Annabell?”

“She’s around somewhere. You know her, catching up on the gossip.” Jacob winked at me.

I rolled my eyes. Annabell was his Luna, although they were both retired like us.

“So, what are retired people supposed to do at an event like this?” I asked, sticking close to Rion.

“Talk, drink, stand around.” Jacob shrugged.

Suddenly, Annabell appeared, rushing over. Her cheeks flushed, a strange smile on her face.

“You will never believe what I heard!”

Jacob grinned at us and pulled her close, keeping an arm around her waist. “Alright, what did you hear?”

It was nice to see that after so many years, he still indulged her gossipy nature.

“Apparently, the Alpha heir of Drogomor has already settled on a Luna, but there’s some question about whether or not she’s a good fit.”

“Isn’t that how it always goes?” Rion asked. “Either the prospective Alpha or prospective Luna is always under so much scrutiny from the family.”

“Be real, Rion. The reason you were under so much scrutiny was because you kidnapped me. Believe it or not, not every relationship starts out that way.”

Rion chuckled.

Annabell shook her head. “Anyway, there’s hope that the Alpha heir will change his mind and choose better.”

“You know, as scintillating as this is, I’m retired and don’t have to worry about pack politics anymore. Rion, would you like to dance?” I held my hand out to him.

He grinned and grabbed my hand, twirling me against him. “I thought you’d never ask.”

We sashayed to the dance floor and held each other close, swept up in the music and each other’s arms. The full moon hung in the sky above the outside dance floor and colorful, sparkling dresses swirled around us.

I felt twenty years younger, in the arms of the man I loved, like we were dancing for the first time at the masquerade ball when we first met.

The slow song ended, and the music picked up. Rion and I got out of the way of the spry young dancers as they jumped around.

“I’m thirsty.” I fanned myself with my hand.

We headed to the punch table and Rion handed me a glass. He clinked his against mine.

“To retirement.” He winked at me.

“Bottoms up....”

The moment the punch touched my tongue, I reeled back, an explosion of sensation tackling my nervous system.

I groaned and panted as heat flared across my skin and my pulse raced. I looked at Rion. His eyes were wide, cheeks red. He stared at the glass of punch and then at me.

Our eyes met and the heat coursing through me became an undeniable, unavoidable pull toward him.

I gasped and closed the space between us, putting my arms around his neck. Rion let out a ragged breath. He put his hands on my hips, and my body flared with sensation again.

“What is going on?” he gasped.

“Our mate bond... it has to be.”

“But... how?”

“I don’t care how! Rion, for the first time ever all the feelings and connections of our mate bond are here.”

Rion smirked and licked his lips. He leaned in and kissed me.

My core tightened and I held back a moan as all those powerful sensations took over again. I rolled myself against Rion and felt the rising bulge in his pants.

“We need to get out of here,” I whispered against his lips.

“Uh-huh.”

Rion grabbed my hand and like sneaky teenagers, we slipped out of the party and ran into the nearby woods. I giggled giddily, my whole body feeling like new life and energy filled me. I gripped Rion’s hand, never wanting to lose contact.

Rion turned to me and grabbed my hips. He backed me up into a tree and kissed me hungrily, nipping at my lips.

I moaned and wrapped my arms around his neck, rolling my hips against his. The bulge in his pants was even larger and firmer now.

A thrill went through me and my core heated. I felt the need for him between my legs.

My entire body felt like it was on fire, completely consumed by passion and sensation of the mate bond.

Rion kissed my neck and my shoulder as he pulled my dress sleeves down my arm. I returned his affections, our passion growing. We removed each other’s clothes and I trembled with delicious anticipation.

Rion stroked me intimately, quickly bringing me to a gasping climax. My knees went weak, and I clung to him, burying my face in his neck as the waves of pleasure crashed through me. He supported me with his body until the shudders passed.

As I caught my breath, he gently laid me down among the clover and pine needles. I reached for him in return, caressing his body with wonder as if I truly saw my mate for the first time. I traced along the lines of his muscles, through the dark hair on his chest, over old scars marking battles won and lost.

When he entered me again, we moved together slowly, yet with building urgency as we each sought to bring the other the greatest pleasure. His hands roamed my body, tweaking my sensitive areas until I cried out.

We rolled over so I could ride him freely. My hair fell around us like a veil. His hips rose to meet my downward strokes. The sweet tension built again until with gasping, shuddering cries we found our peak together.

Exhausted and exhilarated, we lay entwined together on the forest floor. I breathed heavily, my hair clinging damply as we held each other close. My wolf was completely satisfied, having fully claimed her mate at long last.

Rion kissed my neck again and again, murmuring endearments. He brushed his nose along my shoulder then raised his head to gaze at me with wonder.

"That was...beyond anything I could have imagined," he admitted. "At our age, I didn’t think anything could surprise me anymore."

I turned in his arms and he held me close, my breasts against his naked chest. The mate bond was so strong and powerful, and I knew it wouldn’t take much to ignite that passion between us again. Already, my core warmed pleasantly as I pressed closer to Rion, entangling our legs.

He moaned lightly and kissed my lips. “Who knew that it would take almost a lifetime together for our connection to be completed?”

I agreed. But why now after all this time?