ALL NOVEL Chapter 374: Natural instinct
«Sorry,» Samantha whispered, realising she had really done it again.
Not only that she didn't know what she did or how, but she also had no clue how to redo or stop herself from repeating it. Just like usual, it was out of her control.
Her hair fell forward when she bowed her head, and it covered her face with shadows. She tried hiding her eyes, sitting there naked and shameful.
«We can be even...» Renato started, carefully threading with his words. «We can be even if you let me do the same.»
They couldn't be even; how? He had betrayed her before knowing her. He had used her for his Alpha's purposes. However, he couldn't resist the temptation and asked her to be his.
He knew she was going to accept it, that she would fall into the trap just like that. And he didn't feel guilty; not even a tiny bit.
«Really?» she asked, crawling back to him. «You know how?»
«It's pretty natural to know how,» he pointed out, but he regretted it immediately. It was pointless to remind her, over and over again, how she was different from any other wolf he had met before.
«Show me,» Samantha said. «I also want to learn.»
«I don't mind you losing control like this, though. It's amusing,» he chuckled, circling her body with his arms. «Shall we get dressed, though?»
Samantha nodded, turning in every direction and trying to remember where they had come from. They had run a lot, mostly in circles. The bikes weren't too far, just a few minutes of walk.
They found their clothes and wore them. Samantha turned to Renato, waiting for the explanations. She had done what he asked - getting dressed - so he had to tell her everything now.
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«When you want someone so much that you get territorial, marking them becomes an instinct,» Renato said. «But it should be an instinct you can govern.»
«So, you also want to do that to me, right?»
«Yes. All the time... But I somehow manage to refrain. I don't want to do anything without asking you first.»
«Uh, I see... You're better than me.»
«So, do you want it? Are you sure you agree to carry my scent with you for a while?»
She nodded, reaching out to his hand. Not only did she owe him that, but she also didn't mind. Everyone already knew they were together, so it wouldn't be much of a shock... Right?
Also, she had no right to complain after marking her mate for the second time.
«When you want someone so much, your instinct drives you to use your scent to leave a trace,» he says. «Humans have their ways... Like love bites. But we wolves heal from those. Our way of marking out territory is with scents. Do you feel my aura around you?»
Samantha nodded, even though she barely could tell. She was still confused, but her wolf instinct guided her towards that energy.
She wasn't good at feeling powers, not even other Alphas'. She had done it many times but always in delicate moments. Her everyday life was void of all the turbulence other wolves might experience. Yet, all of a sudden, she was aware.
There was a stranger's energy surrounding her, but it felt so familiar at the same time.
Her first instinct was to protect herself, to push him away. However, after a moment of battling, she let him do it. Her eyes met Renato's, and she lost focus. His energy wrapped her into a warm cocoon, and she giggled when she felt it crawl under her skin, leaving a permanent sign. So, that was it.
She felt vulnerable, but it wasn't bad because she also felt protected. From what, she couldn't tell. But she also didn't care.
When the pressure over her disappeared, she felt different. As if she had lost a part of her... or gained another part she didn't know she needed.
«Now, everyone will know that you're mine,» Renato said, pulling her even closer. He sank his face between her neck and shoulder, inhaling their entangled scents. It felt so good to know she couldn't get rid of him no matter how much she tried. For a few days at least.
He had used all his focus and patience not to overdo it. The mark would last at most a week, and then he had to ask her if she wanted to do it again.
It had been a great temptation, but he had resisted. It was an investment: renouncing something in the name of a future gain.
«It's weird,» Samantha sighed. «I'm not unhappy to hear this...»
«It's not weird.»
«To me, it should be. I never thought I would meet my mate... Let alone develop a secret affair and lose my pack. I thought I would die alone... and look at this! We're together, living under the same roof and sharing our crappy fate.»
«I don't think it's that bad,» he said. «Our fate, I mean. It will improve soon, I'm certain. Also, together it's easier to share good and bad. We're stronger like this.»
«I hate to admit it. Also...»
«Yes?»
She sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder.
«I understand why you tricked me. Even though you were wrong, you did it for your pack. In that sense, you're a better wolf than me. I betrayed my pack while you hurt your true mate for them.»
«That's not something I'm proud of.»
«I know... But all you want to do is protect your people. And, after meeting them, I can't hate you for that. I don't want them to suffer either. They're innocent, and they don't deserve to pay the price of their Alpha's choices.»
«Especially because they don't know.»
«No?»
«Most of the others don't know what has been done, Samantha.»
«They don't know about the reasons for the war... And about all the rest either, right?»
«No.»
«I think it's time they do,» Samantha replied. «It's time someone tells them!»
Renato nodded at her words. She was right: it was time.