7, Thieves of Love đ
Yes. Definitely going to burn and suffer in whatever hell exists, Sona thought. Doesnât matter how many wolves I heal or how many I save or help birthâŚI canât repent for this. Her thoughts paused.* Do I even believe in the moon goddessâs hell? Technically it isnât even hers. At least I donât praise its owner. Screw the blood moon god.*
If she didnât, maybe she wouldnât have to feel so guilty.
Or maybe Conri and the rest of Valleytown would give her own hell.
Sona didnât break Ardenâs kiss so much as dolefully part with it. Her fingers brushed down his chest, down his torso, to the waistband of his pantsâŚ
His breath caught and he snatched her wrist. âYou know I want you.â
âItâs pretty evident,â she said just as raspy. âTake me, then.â
âAreâare you sure?â
âDo you want me to say no?â
âNo.â
âThen whatâre you waiting for?â
Ardenâs response to that was a strangled grouse. Before he grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the other end of the alley she managed to swipe the statue off the ground. They careened around the corner, ending up at the very edge of town; open field stretched to their left while they ran parallel to the backs of the buildings and the rest of the street.
Sona had no idea where Arden was taking her and she could barely keep up with his twice-as-long stride, but she was willing to put in the work. Suddenly he swerved into a small section of the field where the grasses werenât so highâa path carved all the way down to a large copse of trees that sheltered a stream, all of which were utilized by various occupations for provisionsâincluding herself for water or healing plants.
âOur first time is going to be on wet, rocky dirt?â she panted as they stumbled to a stop.
He was bent over, grimacing. Through gritted teeth he asked, âYou want to wait?â
No, she didnât want to, and he physically couldnât. Sona flung herself into his arms, locking her legs on his hips. He collapsed onto his knees and set her on her back. The shore was indeed wet, rocky dirt, and it dampened her hair and clothes. But who cared when Arden Roshan was looking at her like he wanted to completely devour her?
They didnât waste time kissing. Shirts were pulled up arms and over heads, tossed away. Pantsâthey only made it down to their ankles. Eyes snapped to what waited between their legs.
âSizable,â Sona panted in admiration. Comparing it to Conriâs would cross her mind later.
Arden paused, unsure of how to compliment. He tried anyway. âWet?â
She was extremely wet for him, yes; even if he was shy, she could still feel the dominant male pride at her bodyâs response. Her core was pulsating and her hips bucked as a desperate beg. âThanks. Make use of it.â
It was a little awkward, their minds so addled with a libido that it made them clumsy. A thought occurred to her. âYou have done this before right?â
âWhat, do you think Iâm a virgin?â
His cock twitched at her opening. âOf course.â
âWith whoâAh.â
A quick, hard thrust had him almost fully inside her. Light pain rippled up her spine, but the pleasure that immediately followed banished it. She clamped her lips together to cut off her yowlâassisted by Arden pressing his to them, slipping his tongue between. Now was the time for kissing. As he rolled his hips, plunging in and out quite efficiently if carnal and inelegant, Sonaâs hands skated over his back. His defined muscles worked and shuddered under her clawed touch. Every inch of him shivered and Sona grinned with her own satisfaction at her gradual undoing of the Alphaâs son.
In, out, in, outâup up upâcloser closer closer to the edge of bliss. Gods, she felt her climax sprinting toward her like a rabid werewolf. She was melting, flying, losing and finding herself, all wrapped in Ardenâs sweat-slicked body.
Her fingers knotted in his hair. âMore. More, Arden.â
He grunted in her ear that he was nibbling and pounded his cock all the way to its hilt. A roar ripped from his throat as a gasp burst from hers.
It sent them both hurtling off the edge into completion.
Arden went limp, nearly crushing her before rolling off onto his back beside her. He covered his face with his hand and panted as if heâd just run for his life. Sona swept her hair out of her eyes and stared up at the tree canopy in a blurry haze. Her mind felt fuzzy too, but also as sharp as a knife. She felt more awake than she had in weeks. Like she could breathe easier.
Arden made her feel alive.
They lie there naked and vulnerable. Sona never had to be in a position where she knew if sheâd be self-conscious or not. Anyone could walk down and find them; was she to care or not if they saw her with nothing but skin? She certainly didnât care if Arden saw any part of her. She wanted him to kiss and taste every part, though.
His fingers found hers and brought them to his lips in a gentle brush. âSona.â
She liked the way he said her name. âYes?â
âI donât know. Iâve forgotten most of my vocabulary.â
Her mouth curved into a wicked smile. âWhatâs still in it?â
âHmm,â he considered, turning his head toward her. The green of his eyes was more vivid than the valley greenery in summer. He was alive, too. ââLove.â âSex.â âVery good.ââ
She snorted, âSophisticated.â
ââSheepish,ââ Arden added. When she knit her brows, he explained, âThe only plan I had today was to buy you things and invite you to my motherâs birthday dinner tomorrow.â
Sona almost laughed at his innocence. She stole a kiss to his knuckles. âYouâre sweeter than a lovestruck pup, you know that? Of course Iâll go.â She paused, smile fading. âWill Conri be there?â
âNo. It broke her heart to make the decision, but heâs not invited.â Now there was sadness and regret in his voice. There was a rift between the family members that Sona couldnât understand. He lifted a shoulder that rustled the dirt. âItâs just one dinner.â
It wasnât just anything. But there was nothing any of them could do at this point. All they could do was support each other.
Sona sat upâand nearly fell back down. She felt so raw. âSore,â she downplayed when Arden moved to catch her.
Surprisingly cocky, he said, âNot bad?â
She smacked his arm lightly. âNot shy anymore, are you, puff-chested male?â
Making to stand, Ardenâs large hands snatched her waist and yanked her into his lap, and suddenly they were face-to-face. âThe next time I take you,â he said softly, âIâll take my time.â
They had to sneak back to their homes like the thieves they were. What did they steal? Each other, right under Conriâs oblivious nose.
Not before they cleaned off in the stream, not to just wash off each otherâs slick, but each otherâs scents to hide the fact not that they were together all day, but the fact that they were together.
It was a rosy evening by the time they stopped at the back of Goldhealer Shop. The streets were calm and mostly empty, especially in the alleys. Arden caught Sonaâs wrist before she could even touch the doorknob. She turned to say goodbye, but he pulled her flush against him and mashed his lips to hers.
âIâll see you tomorrow, Sona,â he murmured against her skin.
It hurt her to repeat the promise theyâd made at the stream. âNo one can know.â
Arden shook his head once, slow. âOur secret.â
It also hurt to see him leave into the shadows. She inhaled deep, and on the exhale, she expelled her anxiety. Now was the time to act. It was synonymous with lying.
Somehow it was easy. Everyone knew how close she and Arden were, so the casual chatting and teasing touches were platonic to his and Sonaâs families.
The Alpha and Lunaâs dining room was more of a hall, massive in size and height, the table long even to fit twelve werewolves. But tonight it only needed fiveâand a highchair for Raff.
Auryn brought the makings for Amarisâ fresh tea as a gift, which she was delighted byâthough she said Raffâs crayon drawings on crumpled paper was her favorite. Sona wasnât offended even when her present was a Goldwater-crafted teapot.
âUse it for after dinner,â the elegant female beamed, stroking the porcelainâs hand-painted design of a valley view. âYouâll brew your grandfatherâs tea?â
Sona had grown to see Amaris as a mother. Coming to Moonvalley at a young age without either parent, Amaris had treated her as one of her own from the first day. She kissed her cheek. âMy pleasure. Happy birthday, Luna.â
âAlright, stop romancing my mate, Sona,â Artem chuckled from the head of the table. âLetâs eat.â
Attendants emerged from the double doors to the attached kitchen bearing several dishes of meats, grains, alcohol, and greens. Werewolves were impartial to anything that wasnât meat, but those anythings were viewed as casual delicacies of a refined palate.
Raff was only interested in chopped-up chicken slices without dressing.
Plates loaded up and small talk initiated, Sona watched the night pass with a steady happiness swelling in her chest. All the wolves she loved in one place all enjoying a fine meal and each otherâs company. These were the times that reminded Sona of what a good life she lived. She almost forgot that sheâd just had an affair with her mate that wasnât invited.
Attendants also took finished plates. Sona was recounting to Amaris some of the more ridiculous injuries sheâd had to attend to when someone took the Lunaâs dish.
Vallea.
Sona met the she-wolfâs gaze. The world froze for just a fraction of a second.
âOh, Vallea,â Amaris said, âtake Sona with you to the kitchen, help Sona start the tea.â
Sona caught Ardenâs secret look. She shook her head imperceptibly. Itâs fine.
Even the kitchen was grand. Attendants and cooks were busy doing whatever; Sona kept her eyes only on Vallea as she was led to the stove. They worked in silence for a minute or so before Sonaâs petty thoughts escaped her mouth, quiet but just loud enough for the staff to hear.
âI hear youâve become close with Conri.â
Vallea didnât hesitate to sneer back, âJealous?â
Just as sheâd guessedâmaybe feared. There was something between them. She didnât scent him on her, though.
Sona snorted. âGoddess no. Iâm just glad someoneâs kept that bastardâs bed warm.â
Some of the staff tittered. Vallea whirled and glared in the corner of Sonaâs vision. She felt irritation flare off the femaleâs skin, even heard her teeth grate together.
Was I supposed to do something else, you scheming bitch?
âAre you obsessed with him, Vallea?â Sona wondered casually, making the tea without hindrance. âIâve been meaning to ask you for some time, just to make sure. Alsoâwhy? I know heâs beautiful and strongââ
âI bet you wish you could at least stop his and Artemâs arguing,â Vallea interrupted, getting far too close into Sonaâs personal space.
If she hoped to rattle her, she was failing. If Conri still loved his mate, he wouldâve made a real effort to keep her, and Sona refused to come crawling back to beg him for his love. After last night with Ardenâher heart skipped a beat every time she remembered his touchâshe realized sheâd already moved on.
Two weeks and an affair to undo twelve years of her and Conriâs relationship.
âOf course I do,â was all Sona said. That much was still true. She didnât want strife between anyone.
The teapot screamed, startling Vallea away. Sona placed the pot in the center of a tray with dainty cups surrounding it. âIâll take this myself. Iâll pour the Lunaâs.â
Leaving Vallea fuming, Sona carried the platter into the hall. âFreshly brewed,â she announced to perked attention. She set a cup in front of each wolf, pouring the tea with the satisfying sounds of falling water into porcelain. For Raff she gave him a wooden cup with water. âWait a moment until it cools,â she warned everyone.
âCareful not to burn your tongue,â Vallea scolded her Luna lightly from nearby Amarisâ chair.
âYes,â Artem said as Sona finally sat. âLetâs say a few words for my mateâs birthday, hm?â
âHm!â Amaris agreed.
But that was not the amused kind of hm. It was one of pain and surprise.
The cup slipped from Amarisâs hands and shattered on the table. Sona heard the sizzle of the tea on her skin where it splashed. She gasped and choked, rasping out a wordless noise of desperation.
Artem and Arden bolted from their chairs.
âAmaris!â
âMother!â
Sona jolted to her feet as Amaris staggered to her feetâand started to fall.
Right into Valleaâs arms as the attendant dropped to her knees. The Luna was spasming, coughing violently.
Someone suddenly grabbed Sonaâs hand. Her gaze found Aurynâs. Saw him mouth a word, but she was drawn back to Valleaâs strangled cry that echoed through the hall,
âSona poisoned the Luna!â