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I leave Aldon to rest whilst I go back out to the pack house. This time, I actually remember to ask the Alpha for some spare clothes for Aldon.

I tell him that I came across the wounded vampire in the woods. The moment the Alpha finds out the vampire is my mate, he suddenly becomes a whole lot more welcoming.

He has no problem with Aldon staying in my house, he just doesn't want me bringing my mate into the main territory. I understand why, vampires make shifters nervous unless they know them well.

It will take time, and Aldon and I being fully mated, for them to accept him. But they will, eventually.

When I come back, Aldon has managed to sit up on the sofa. He looks up as I enter and smiles.

'Good, you're back,' he says gruffly. 'I didn't like you out of my sight. It puts me on edge.'

His comment makes me laugh lightly. I hand him the clothes.

'I'm not sure it's a good idea to move you yet, I'd give it another couple of hours. But I can help you put the top on, if you want?' I offer.

He smirks at me.

'Are you sure you don't want me to keep it off?'

My cheeks warm at his teasing.

'No, no, it's quite alright,' I stutter quickly, making him chuckle.

With my help, we get the t-shirt over his head and down his chest, without catching any of his wounds.

He winces and leans back against the sofa, briefly closing his eyes.

Aldon looks at me and pats the space next to me.

'Tell me about you,' he requests.

I sit down next to him and look down at my hands.

'What do you want to know?' I ask quietly.

He lifts my face, holding my chin gently.

'Tell me everything, my love.' He smiles. 'Tell me why a beautiful woman like you, is living alone in the woods with eleven cats.'

I let out a laugh. 'Twelve. Twelve cats.'

He smirks at my correction. 'Tell me why.'

I take a deep breath.

'I'm a healer. My parents were shifters, but I was born without the ability to shift. They learned of my abilities when I was ten and I became the pack healer. I made and sold potions, treated injuries, that kind of thing.'

Aldon listens intently as I tell him about the most significant moment in my life.

'My parents died when I was fourteen. There was an attack and they died protecting our pack. I wasn't able to save them. I became obsessed, making more potions than ever and healing anyone I came across. I was trying to make up the sin of not being able to save my own parents.'

I pause for a moment to compose myself. My eyes are burning and my voice sounds thick. I take a few breaths and then continue.

'When I turned sixteen, I made a mistake. A group of very shady men came to my house and demanded I heal their friend. I knew that something was up with the group, they wouldn't tell me what happened and they all wanted to get out of there straight away. I healed their friend and felt relieved when they left.'

Aldon, sensing my upset, reaches over and takes my hand. He squeezes it and gives me a reassuring smile.

'The man I healed, was part of a make-shift pack that had rather low views on women. They believed that female shifters are below males and must be put in their place. The man I healed, had assaulted a witch and she had attacked him in return. She was not pleased when she found out that I had healed him, instead of letting him die.

'It didn't matter to her that I couldn't have known his true nature. The man, now healed, attacked her younger sister. The witch was furious. She killed him and came after me. She put a curse on me.'

Aldon looks confused. 'A curse? What kind of curse?'

I'm so grateful that, out of everyone who has seen me for the last ten years, Aldon never got to see me in my cursed form.

'An ageing curse. She cursed me to look hundred years old. To have the anger she was feeling, expressed as wrinkles on my skin. I've looked like an ancient woman for ten years.'

I smile at him. 'The cure? Finding my mate.'

Aldon looks surprised, but gradually, he smiles.

'So...I cured your curse?'

I chuckle. 'Yes, you did.'

He blows out a loud exhale. 'Wow. That's...shit. I was not expecting that.'

I shrug. 'It means I've lived a relatively secluded life the past ten years. I don't like people staring at me.'

His eyes soften. 'I can understand that. However, you might have to get used to it, because love, you're stunning.'

I blush up to my temples at that comment.

'What about you? Why did I find you half-dead in the forest?' I ask him, wanting a change of subject.

Aldon grimaces.

'I'm a vampire hunter, if you haven't figured that out already. I hunt vampires who threaten to expose our species. I came across a particularly rowdy bunch and they were stronger than I thought.'

His looks at me, his eyes full of affection and sincerity.

'Thank you. You saved my life.'

I shrug. 'It was nothing, really.'

'Well, it's a big deal to me. Thank you.'

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I add some more salve to Aldon's wounds and we talk for the rest of the afternoon. When the evening comes, he feels strong enough to stand.

I let him use my bathroom and he takes a shower. When he comes out, he's only wearing the trousers that I gave him. His chest is bare again. Only this time, the wounds are mere silver scars.

'That balm worked a treat,' he comments happily.

I smile, pleased with my work. 'Yes, you look...' I trail off, unable to find a word that accurately encompasses his deliciousness.

He smirks and takes a step towards me. I swallow hard and look up to maintain eye contact.

'I look what, mate?' He asks lowly.

I open my mouth and quickly close it again, finding myself at a loss for words.

Aldon brushes his fingers over my cheek. 'You are so completely perfect, Meera,' he mumbles.

'I- thank you,' I respond quietly.

He chuckles at my shyness.

'Tell me, this curse, has it affected your love life?'

The question catches me off guard and I can feel my cheeks heating, again.

'Well, yes. Of course.'

Aldon smirks. 'So, it's been ten years since...have you ever been with a man?'

Okay. I'm officially the colour of a ripe tomato. Fantastic.

'Yes. Once. A long time ago.'

He smiles at that and runs his thumb over my bottom lip.

'Has waiting ten years made you miss it? Or do you feel as though you can live without physical intimacy now?'

What a question!

'Um,' I stumble over my words. 'I-I guess, I miss it.'

Aldon leans in close, surrounding me with his deliciously masculine scent.

'Will you allow me to show you what you've been missing?' He asks huskily. His voice is thick with desire. The rasp of it makes me press my thighs together.

'Uh, don't you want to sit down? You should really be resting...'

Aldon chuckles. 'Oh, love, I am perfectly fine. Thank you for your concern, but you should know what good shape I am in, considering you're the one that healed me and all.'

I can't meet his eyes. I'm too overwhelmed with feelings.

It's been years since I've felt like this, since I've flirted with someone. It's overwhelming that, the first person who makes me feel like this in ten years, is also my mate. My body is practically shaking with desire. I can barely stand up.

I lean back against the wall for support and Aldon smirks wickedly. He places his hands on the wall on either side of my head, trapping me in.

'I am thirty-three years old in my body, my love. But I was turned eighty-six years ago. I have waited a long time to find you and now that I have, I can't quite bring myself to behave appropriately. I'm having an awful hard time controlling myself.'

My eyes widen as he confesses his age. Most vampires live long lives, I shouldn't be surprised. I don't blame him for not being able to hold back. That's a long time to wait for one's chosen.

'Answer me this, love. Can I kiss you?'

I know instantly that I will say yes. I want nothing more than his mouth on mine, his body pressed to me, my hands in his hair...

'Yes,' I whisper.

Aldon doesn't hesitate as he closes the distance between our lips. He pins me back against the wall, his mouth doing wicked things to mine.

His fingers bury themselves in my hair, holding me exactly where he wants me. His tongue plunges into my mouth, caressing mine like he's fucking me.

I hold on tightly to his arms, struggling to keep myself upright. As the kiss deepens, I slide my hands up his arms and into his hair.

His hands simultaneously move lower, sliding over my curves appreciatively. I tug on his hair and he grunts into the kissing, pressing his muscular body against my soft one.

He grabs my thigh and lifts my leg up to wrap around his waist. This gives him access to between my legs. He grinds against me as our tongues collide. I squirm against him, enjoying the friction.

He breaks the kiss, only to continue kissing down my face and along my neck. I turn my head to one side, silently giving him permission to continue. His chest rumbles with satisfaction and he grazes his sharp incisors along my neck.

I shiver with pleasure and excitement builds in my stomach. I want him to mark me.

As if sensing my desires, Aldon ever so slightly pierces my skin. It's enough to send desire bolting through me.

He hurriedly lifts the skirt of my dress. His hands find my underwear and push it to one side. I can barely catch my breath before he pushes a finger inside of me. I gasp as his thick finger enters me, stretching me.

He slowly pumps his finger in and out, all the whilst kissing and sucking my neck. I writhe against his body, wanting more.

He adds a second feeling and my body shakes with need. As he moves his fingers in and out of me, his lips find the right spot again.

This time, he sinks his fangs into me fully.

He drinks only a tiny bit of my blood, I barely notice. His main goal is to mark me. He bites harder and his incisors sink deeper. The response from my body is instantaneous.

My eyes nearly roll back in my head as pleasure fills me. I clench down around his fingers and he carries me through the orgasm, his hand never slowing.

When the pleasure finally stops and I come down from my high, Aldon removes his fingers and retracts his teeth. He pulls back to look at me. He runs his tongue over one of his incisors, licking my blood away.

'Delicious,' he comments. He reaches up and runs his thumb over his mark, making me shudder. 'You look beautiful with my mark.'

My hands go for his trousers. I pull them down and he lets me. Neither of us is patient enough to make it to the bed.

Aldon merely hikes my skirt higher and lifts both of my legs. I wrap them around his waist and the blunt tip of his cock nudges at my entrance.

He meets my eyes, silently asking if I want to continue. I nod eagerly and with one thrust, he surges into me.

We both moan at the joining.

Aldon doesn't take it slowly. He fucks me against the wall without restraint. I hold onto one of the rafters above my head and wrap my other arm around his shoulders.

His fingers dig into my thighs as he thrusts his hips upwards, rutting into me. The wall seems to shake with the force of his pounding.

It doesn't take long for the pleasure to build again. Aldon senses that I'm close and re-marks me, sinking his teeth into my neck once more.

My pussy clamps down around him and I cry out his name, throwing my head back. He growls against my skin and then stills, releasing himself inside me as he reaches his climax.

We don't move for a moment, gripping onto one another. Aldon retracts his teeth and rests his forehead against mine.

'You know, before, I was out hunting my kind. I was always on the move and I never had a true home,' he admits lowly.

I stroke his hair back from his face and pull him for a kiss.

'You do now.'

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Aw the soppy romantic in me can't help myself! Really excited about the next story...it'll only be a two-parter. L x