The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite
CHAPTER 93

Ryan

Staring down at her magnificent body bathed in the moonlight, I felt a surge of emotions, a mix of desire and tenderness that was overwhelming. She was beautiful, a vision of perfection that took my breath away. I leaned towards her and when our mouths met, it felt like fireworks exploding in my chest. My body pressed against hers, eager and hungry for more.

"Lyra..." I said, asking a question only she could answer.

Her emerald eyes met mine in an unwavering gaze. Her hips shifted slightly and her nipples that were wet with my spit grew harder before my eyes. "I'm ready." That was all I need to hear.

Carefully, I positioned myself between her legs, ready to take the next step. With a firm thrust, I entered her, breaking through her barrier. Her sharp intake of breath and the crescent imprints of her nails on my back told me of her pain. As much as I wanted to replace it by pleasure, I forced myself to stay still, allowing her time to adjust to the new sensation.

"I'm okay," she assured me, her hands pulling me closer.

I began to move, each thrust sending waves of pleasure coursing through my body.

As I continued to move inside her, our bodies became one in an intricate dance, swaying to the rhythm of our combined heartbeats. Lyra's nails dug into my back, her breathing becoming more ragged with each thrust. I knew she was getting closer, and I couldn't hold back any longer.

Gritting my teeth, I fought against the primal urge to claim her as mine in the most primal way possible.

My mark. The one I'd give to my lifelong mate.

I resisted. This was about her, not me. I wanted her first time to be special, something she'd remember with fondness. Not shame if the Moon Goddess chose another she-wolf to win the Luna Trials.

"Ryan," she moaned my name like a prayer, her hips bucking against mine. Encouraged by her response, I picked up the pace, driving into her with a renewed vigor. Her walls clenched around me in response, and I knew she was close. "That's it, Lyra," I growled in her ear, my own control slipping. "Come for me."

With a loud cry, her body tensed beneath me as her climax washed over her. The walls of her sex squeezed and squeezed again, pushing me over the edge. With one last mighty thrust, I let go inside of her, our release mingling together in a crescendo of bliss.

We lay there panting for air, our hearts hammering against each other's chests. Slowly, our breathing evened out, but the connection remained.

A bitter sweet cord that I prayed the Mood Goddess wouldn't cut, but that she saw fit to keep intact.

***

Lyra

I trembled, my body still sensitive and reeling from my earth-shattering climax. Aftershocks came in rolling waves as Ryan's warmth lingered inside me, making me long for more. His movements had been gentle yet powerful, his breathing labored against my neck. I hadn't known what it was like to be so desired.

As he slowly pulled out of me, a small whimper escaped my lips, wishing he could stay forever. He kissed my shoulder, carefully avoiding promises both of us knew he couldn't keep.

The scent of our lovemaking lingered in the air, mixing with the earthy smell of our surroundings. I took a deep breath as I grabbed my clothes and put them on, not meeting his eyes. We dressed in silence; the weight of our separation hanging like an axe over our necks.

This might be the last time we saw each other for a long time weeks, perhaps forever if I didn't win the trials. Already I felt lonely without him. How I would get through the remaining weeks and two more Luna Trials was anyone's guess. We walked side by side towards the paths that led us in different directions, our footsteps echoing in the quiet forest. At the fork in the trail, we paused.

Ryan reached out to caress my cheek gently before stepping back respectfully. A tear slipped down my cheek as I watched him disappear into the undergrowth. I stood there for a moment longer until I couldn't hear his steps or feel him nearby before continuing on my own journey, tears falling fast.

***

The week went by so fast, my head spun. In no time at all, another Luna Trial was staring me down.

Standing in the clearing by the Quad, I was a bundle of nerves. The cool morning air, usually refreshing, did nothing to chase away the exhaustion from my sleepless night. Loneliness gnawed at me. Every she-wolf had a cheering section, a source of encouragement. Not me. Killian, my usual rock, was down South for a friend's mating ceremony. He wouldn't be back until tomorrow, leaving me to face this trial alone. Shelia Timber, voted sunniest Luna Trial announcer (NOT!) stepped forward, her sour expression unchanged.

"Today's trial will test your team skills as a Luna never works alone," she said, giving me the side-eye. "It will be a strategic game. Not only will he have to out think the competition, you will have to look deep inside yourselves."

Shelia's voice droned on about the rules, but all I could catch were fragments. Basically, capture the other team's "tokens" and you win, straight to finals. Lose, and you face weeks of more trials until the final ten are left. Not exactly comforting. Things weren't looking any better when they split us into teams. We were supposed to be five groups of four, but as soon as two she-wolves realized they were stuck with me, they quit outright.

Talk about a confidence booster.

"We don't want a wolfless female leading us," one of them deadpanned.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment, growing even hotter when Brittany's taunting voice cut through the crowd.

"Hey Lyra, why don't you call your Second? Oh wait, you don't have one!"

Laughter erupted from the sidelines. I caught a glimpse of Sally ducking her head before she ran from the field.

Shelia waited until the laughter died down to unveil the game arena - a misty, moonlit forest with ancient ruins scattered throughout.

"Wista, The Witch of Woods, has enchanted this arena especially for the Luna Trials," Shelia explained. "Each team's flag is hidden within their base. Your objective is to capture the enemy flags while protecting your own."

I huddled with my remaining two teammates, twins with brilliant red hair and matching freckles.

Starting with already two members down put us at a huge disadvantage. If my team was to win, I had to pull out all the stops.

"Okay, here's the plan," I said. "One of you will guard our flag, while the other and I will split up to scout and raid the enemy bases."

"Whatever you need us to do," the twins said in unison.

"Okay," I said, nervousness and excitement warring in my belly. "Let's do this."