Page 2 of Claiming Aya

She’s lost to the mate bond, and I fucking love it. I don’t care who hears us. The entire Academy can come running. Only Mother Fate knows how many nights I’ve lain awake wondering how she’d kiss and what sounds she’d make for me.

I close in slow and give her every chance to stop me, but she doesn’t try. When my lips brush hers, my dragon crows over her next puppy whimper. I growl back at her until she comes undone. Her wolf is wide awake now. Aya fists my shirt and drags my mouth harder onto hers.

I take control and dominate the kiss. I stay respectful and keep my hands on her arms and shoulders. I cup her face even though fire is crawling up the back of my throat. Her cheeks burn hot against my fingers. She tastes even sweeter than she smells.

I pull back far enough to talk. “The stars aligned perfectly for this moment. Orion stands witness in the night sky, and Venus blesses our union with her light.”

Aya blinks up at me in a daze. “What…?”

Instead of explaining myself, I kiss her deeper and stroke my tongue along hers until her knees give and she slumps into me. Her eyes are glazed over by the time I come up for air. She’s drunk on my kisses.

I nip her cheek. “You’ll get used to my love language.”

Footsteps stop outside. Aya and I stiffen at the same time. When the door creaks open, I catch their scent. It’s Torin, the wolf shifter alpha, and his pregnant mate, Nala. They stumble into the janitor’s closet wrapped around each other. I guess I’m not the only one who wants privacy tonight.

Aya looks from me to them, then hides her face in my shirt. Her scent flares hot. I tip her chin back up and put a finger to her lips. I go back to kissing her. No audience is going to stop me now that I have my mate in my arms.

A mop bucket clatters to the floor. This time when Aya shoves me, I stumble. I reach for her, but she yanks her skirt straight and bolts out of the closet without a word.

After she’s gone, I lean against the wall and lick the taste of her off my lips. My dragon rumbles his approval. The rest of me wants to chase Aya to her dorm and drag her back. I ball my fists at my sides instead.

I grin at Torin and Nala while they gape at me. “She can feel the mate bond. Finally, she can feel it. You know how long I’ve waited for her to reach this moment.”

He clamps a hand on the back of my neck. “Come on, Ezra.” His scent is more amused than mad as he steers me out. “The janitor’s room? Really?”

“You were just about to bring your mate in there,” I protest.

“Shut up.” He tightens his grip and marches me down the corridor. “We’re going to see your father right now.”

I don’t bother fighting him. After years of poems and patience, I’ve finally kissed my mate. He can take me anywhere he likes. I’m not sorry, and my dragon isn’t either.

Star maps from tonight’s lesson still glow on the walls of my father’s classroom. Tyrion is at his desk. Worry sharpens his scent under the chalk dust and old parchment. He closes his bright blue eyes when he sees us. He’s been expecting this.

Torin releases my neck. “We have a problem,” he announces. “Aya’s wolf can feel the mate bond.”

My father winces. “I thought we had more time.”

“Apparently not.” Torin glances at him, then at the door. “I need to get back to Nala. I can’t leave her wobbling around the Academy this pregnant.”

I roll my eyes. “You both need to calm down. Her wolf can feel the mate bond. It’s not like she’s going into her first heat.”

My father sags back in his chair. “Oh, thank Mother Fate,” Torin mutters as he rubs his forehead.

“But when she does,” I continue, “I cannot wait.”

My father stares at me, and Torin drops his hand. “Wait,” he says. “What?”

I shrug. “I’ve been waiting years for this. When she goes into her first heat, I’ll be ready.”

“You’re still too young,” Torin warns. “Don’t claim her right away. There are rules to this.”

I hardly hear him. All I can think about is her mouth on mine. “I am the future alpha of Ash Clan. I’ll get everything ready for her. I only needed for her to feel the mate bond.”

My father pinches the bridge of his nose. Torin shoots him a look. He’s your son. You deal with this. “I’m going back to Nala. Good luck.” He walks out.

Tyrion waits until Torin’s footsteps are gone from the hall. He rises from his chair with disappointment heavy in his scent. My dragon shrinks back from it.

“Sit down,” he says. “We are going to discuss this.”