novelraw Yours, Always:
Yours, Always:
[POV: Hayden]
I woke slowly, warmth spreading through every limb, my body still deliciously heavy from last night's wild storm. Turning my head, my heart stilled at the beautiful sight of Aria sleeping soundly by my side.
The gentle rise and fall of her perfect chest, her bare skin dotted with the bright loving marks, sent a wave of deep satisfaction through me.
She was breathtaking.
I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face as memories from last night flooded back—her voice whispering my name, the desperate plea in her eyes, her unrestrained passion that had swept me completely off guard.
Her boldness had captivated me, leaving me breathless and utterly hers.
Carefully, I propped myself up on one elbow, gazing down at her. Aria's soft skin was marked just as mine—bites and darkening hickeys scattered lovingly across her neck and collarbones, breasts and stomach, hips and inner thighs.
Each one a sweet reminder of our fierce night.
But the one that made my pulse quicken, the one that filled me with fierce pride, was my mark.
Right at the curve of her graceful neck, clearly visible against her pale skin—a claiming bite, proof that she was mine in every way. Forever.
Something stirred deep within me as I stared at it.
The possessiveness, the pride, and above all, the tenderness I felt toward her in this moment overwhelmed me.
How had I been so fortunate to earn such a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself? Aria was perfect, far beyond what I had ever imagined or deserved.
She stirred gently beside me, her eyelids fluttering before slowly opening. Sleepy eyes met mine, and a soft smile tugged at her lips.
“Good morning, my Luna,” I whispered, brushing my fingertips lightly over her cheek.
She blushed faintly, eyes glimmering shyly as she shifted closer to me. “Morning.”
"Feeling alright?” Unable to hold back my teasing, I grinned slyly. “You were quite… active last night. More than I expected."
Aria's eyes widened instantly, her cheeks flushing a vivid shade of pink. "Hayden!"
“Aria!” I mimicked playfully, gently tracing one of the love bites on her shoulder with my fingertips. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you before. Bold. Dominating.”
“Oh, please,” she muttered, her face quickly turning a deeper shade of red.
I chuckled, amused by her immediate embarrassment. She buried her face shyly in the crook of my neck, hiding from my teasing gaze. My chest tightened at her sweetness.
"What happened to the fierce woman who demanded I give her everything I had?" I teased, brushing my lips softly over her shoulder, tasting the warm, smooth skin beneath my mouth. "Don't tell me you're embarrassed now."
"Stop," she whispered with a playful groan, her voice muffled against my skin.
I smiled wider, kissing along her neck softly, feeling her pulse quicken beneath my lips.
“It was refreshing. And very memorable.”
She peeked up at me, eyes narrowed in playful suspicion. “What exactly do you mean by ‘memorable’?”
“I mean…” I whispered slowly, enjoying the way she shivered beneath my touch. “Do you recall begging me to mark you? And not just to mark you, Aria, but to—”
Her eyes snapped fully open in shock, panic and embarrassment flooding her expression. “Hayden—!”
"Do you remember how you begged me?" I teased gently, my voice a low, seductive murmur against her ear. "How you pleaded with me to fill you completely? How you whispered to me how badly you wanted to be the mother of my children?"
At that, Aria jerked back sharply, her face flaming scarlet as she stared at me in shock.
“I— I said what?” Her eyes were wide, and she covered her face with her hands, clearly mortified.
“You heard me,” I teased gently, pressing another soft kiss to the tip of her nose. “You were quite insistent, actually.”
She stared at me, eyes huge with embarrassment, her cheeks impossibly redder.
"Did you… Did you really?"
I paused for dramatic effect, letting the tension stretch, watching her squirm slightly beneath my gaze.
Then, unable to resist any longer, I gave her a slow, wicked smile.
"Of course I did," I admitted casually, pulling her back gently into my arms. "How could I possibly refuse my Luna anything she desires?"
She groaned again, still hiding her flushed face against my chest. "Hayden…”
“You really don’t remember?” I asked softly, brushing my lips over hers. “You said you wanted my children, Aria. And, for the record, I’m entirely on board. In fact, nothing would make me happier than having several little versions of you running around this place, filling our lives with chaos.”
She blinked, processing my words slowly, her expression softening from embarrassment to shy delight. A hesitant smile spread across her lips, her eyes sparkling gently with affection.
"You really… You want that? With me?"
“Absolutely,” I answered without hesitation, sincerity filling my voice. “I want everything with you. Our life, our pack, our family.”
A shy smile slowly spread across her lips, her eyes sparkling softly, though she tried to maintain her stern expression.
She poked my chest playfully, tilting her head in mock intimidation.
"You better be careful with what you wish for," she warned softly, her smile turning mischievous. "If that's the case, you'll probably be waking up to a child's screams in the middle of the night by the end of the year."
I threw my head back, laughing openly at her playful threat, my heart swelling at the warmth in her voice.
Pulling her even tighter against my chest, I teased gently, "Is that supposed to intimidate me, Aria? Because it sounds an awful lot like encouragement."
She laughed softly, her expression finally relaxing into open happiness. "Maybe it’s both."