Chapter 9: The Mate Bond

Rain cried until she passed out from exhaustion. She fell into a deep sleep on one of the lounge chairs. When she opened her eyes, Tony was sitting on the ground beside her. He must have been there for a while because he was fast asleep. She slowly sat up and he opened his eyes, sitting up to look at her.

“Why are you here?” She asked sadly, exhaustion in her voice.

“I’m sorry Rain,” he apologized.

“You don’t owe me anything.” She said emotionless.

“It doesn’t change that I hurt you.” He told her sympathetically. Their eyes locked, but Rain forced herself to look away from him. She stood up and fixed her clothes.

“Just stay away from me. It’ll make it easier for the both of us,” she told him.

“You can’t hurt people I sleep with because you’re angry with me,” he told her.

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I please. Who’s going to stop me? You?” Rain said coldly and she could see fear in his eyes.

“I only fucked around with Mya because I wanted to forget you. I wasn’t thinking that my actions would hurt you,” he told her and stood up.

“But you did. I don’t know what you want me to say,” she told him.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he said and touched her face. Rain felt herself grow hot and his touch was soothing to her wolf. She wanted every part of him and she felt his need for her.

“How bad do you want me?” She whispered in his ear and she felt his heart racing against her breasts. That was when he kissed her deeply, their auras entwined with one another.

“Badly.” He told her and pulled off her top. Rain couldn’t believe what she was doing, but she didn’t want to stop. Once their clothes were stripped off and tossed to the floor, she climbed on top of him in the lounge chair. He entered her and Rain gasped. She was wet and ready for him. He sucked her nipples as she moved vigorously on top of him. When he thrust deep inside her she yelled out. She had never felt so alive fucking anyone before. She knew it was the mate bond. Maybe it had its perks after all. She didn’t want it to end, and it felt as if they were fucking for hours.

They both orgasmed multiple times, but neither of them said a word once they were done. Rain knew she was just another fuck to Tony.

“This doesn’t change anything. I want nothing from you” she told him and he looked at her in surprise.

“Be careful with Drew. He’s not who you think he is,” he told her. Rain smirked. They had just had this incredible sex, and he wanted to talk about his cousin. Rain couldn’t believe her fucking ears and felt insulted.

“I don’t even know him,” she laughed.

“He wants to be alpha. He’s challenged me formally.” Tony confessed.

“What does that have to do with me?” Rain asked.

“He told me he could tell we shared the mate bond. He wants to make you his Luna to weaken me. Those were his exact words. I will not give him my title. He will come to you with an offer to mark you. If he marks you, then there is a chance that you may survive. If you refuse his offer, then he will make sure you die with me.” Tony explained. Rain couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Drew was challenging Tony to a death match.

“When is this challenge taking place?” She asked.

“In 6 months. You should let him mark you Rain. You don’t deserve to die because of me. Think about it” he told her, kissed her forehead and left the room quickly without saying another word.

Rain walked back to her dorm alone, thinking about what Tony said to her. Not only had he given her the best sex of her life, he told her to let his cousin mark her so she wouldn’t get hurt during his challenge. She couldn’t understand if he was trying to protect her or get rid of her. Rain was confused, more confused than she’d ever been in her life. If she let Drew mark her before the challenge, Tony would surely lose the fight. If a mated wolf is marked by someone else while their mate is still living, it both weakens their mate and is excruciatingly painful. She couldn’t wrap her mind around the thought of weakening Tony just before a challenge. She knew she would be miserable if Tony was even hurt.

Not paying attention to where she was walking, Rain slammed into someone and fell backwards. She gasped as the person caught her, Rain looking up into Drew’s face. He was strong and he smiled sweetly at her, their faces close enough to kiss. He held her in that position for a moment, staring into her eyes.

“You should be more careful.” He said softly, helping her up.

“Thanks.” She said softly.

“You ok?” He asked her. Rain thought about it and she realized she was not all right for a change.

“Why are you challenging Tony?” She asked bluntly. She wanted to know the truth.

“Because I want to be Alpha. I have the right just as he does,” he explained.

“Why not just take the title? It’s a fight to the death and it’s unnecessary for either of you to go that route.”Rain explained.

“He accepted my challenge, Rain. He does not wish to hand over his inherited title. He said he’d rather die than submit to me. I noticed in training that you two are mated. The way he reacted when I showed interest in you was enough to confirm it. So, I want to give you an offer. Be my Luna and I’ll make sure you don’t die along with him,” Drew said and smiled mischievously. There was something sinister in his eyes and Rain knew she couldn’t and would never trust him.

“Why me?” She said in almost a whisper. He smiled at her and lifted up her chin so their eyes met.

“Because you’re the strongest female candidate at Shadow Academy of course. I mean, it also helps that you’re beautiful. I want you and I intend on having you” he told her. She smacked his hand away and back away from him. His ego was suffocating, and all she wanted to do want get away from him.

“I’ll never be yours.” She said with certainty.

“Then die with him. Why the fuck do I care. If I can’t have you then no one will have you.” He said cruelly and walked away. Rain realized that Drew was a heartless asshole. No wonder Tony said he’d rather die than give him his Alpha title. She watched him walked away until he disappeared around the corner, never looking back in her direction. She took a deep breath and then she turned and went toward the male dorms. She remembered which room was Tony’s and Eric’s, so she banged on the door.

Eric opened the door in surprise, staring at Rain.

“What are you doing here?” Eric asked.

“I need to speak with Tony,”she insisted.

“Who is it Eric?” Tony asked and Eric stepped back, Tony sitting on his bed shirtless. Rain felt her body grow hot at the sight of him. He was so fucking sexy it drove her mad. She began reminiscing about the amazing sex they had not long ago.

“I need to talk to you. Now,” she said and he got up.

“Get out,” Tony told Eric and Eric frowned.

“I thought I told you to stay away from her,” Eric said angrily.

“Or you’ll what? I’m pretty sure I told you to get the fuck out. I will no longer be roommates with you. Consider yourself reassigned.” Tony told him.

“Alpha Leo is not going to be pleased.”Eric advised him.

“Don’t fucking care. Leave.” Tony told him. Eric shook his head, sighed, and left the room as instructed. He couldn’t go against an Alpha’s order.

After Eric left, Rain closed the door behind her. They both stood there for a long moment staring at one another.

“What do you want Rain?” Tony asked, but Rain could hear the sadness in his voice.

“I ran into Drew. He asked me to be his Luna just as you said.” Rain explained.

“You came here to tell me something I already knew would happen?” He asked.

“Why are you always such an ass to me?! What did I ever do to you?!”Rain screamed at him.

“You did nothing wrong Rain.”He told her.

“Then what is it?! You have sex with me and then tell me to let another man mark me? I don’t get it,” she said, tears in her eyes.

“You’re different, and beautiful, and strong, and I actually started caring about you. That’s why!” He yelled at her and Rain felt her heart skip beats.

“What?” She said in shock. Did she actually just hear him say that he was starting to care for her? He walked up close to her and kissed her lips. Their kiss was deep and Rain could feel his emotions. He really cared for her, a feeling he had never shared with any other woman. He wanted her safe and not because of their mate bond. He wanted her safe because he loved everything about her.

“Let him mark you. Please. I don’t think I could handle it if anything happened to you,” he confessed, whispering in her ear. She realized that she was his only weakness, but he didn’t realize that he was becoming hers as well.

“Then win the challenge. I want you to mark me. Only you.”She told him in his ear and he kissed her neck.

“You could die if I do,” he said to her.

“Then don’t die.”She said and they began kissing softly. It was seconds before they stripped off their clothing and fell to his bed, Tony pushing himself inside her. They didn’t just fuck this time, it was more passionate. Each time he thrust in her, Rain felt her orgasm building up. She wanted all of him and he took in all of her. Her nails dug into his back as he thrusted deeper into her. His teeth elongated and he bit her shoulder, Rain screaming out his name as she orgasmed. Then she did what she felt was natural, she bit him back to seal their mark. Rain felt a rush of power instantly, both of them orgasming violently. In that moment, they felt each other’s intense feelings. They had multiple rounds of sex, buried in emotional bliss. It wasn’t just the mate bond or sexual attraction drawing them together. It was love.

Rain and Tony kept their relationship a secret over the next several months. They didn’t want to draw attention to themselves or inform anyone that they sealed their mate bond by marking one another. Rain needed someone to talk to about her life, so Tony agreed that he approved of her speaking with Kylie. Rain told Kylie everything, including that she was falling in love with Tony. She anticipated the day of the challenge. She knew she was determined to make sure Tony became Alpha. Not only did his life depend on him winning, her life was in jeopardy as well.