BITE {Discontinued}

Neither of them fell back asleep. They just stayed wrapped around each other until the sun replaced the moon in the sky. Guadalupe could feel everyone’s emotions now, and as overwhelming as it is, the strong sense of happiness and belonging she felt somehow made it all more bearable. The only thing that really bothered her at the moment was that she couldn’t feel Jamie.

He was there when the connection fully snapped into place, but before she realized it, he was gone, and part of her felt horrible. She knew how he felt about her, and once upon a time, she felt the same way about him too; but now with Nox and Hades, she doesn’t feel the way he does anymore.

In another life, Guadalupe would have been over the moon with happiness to love and be loved by Jamie; but now all she was was heartbroken, because she can’t love him the way he loves her. It’s bad enough with one person, but she has two men who have, by weird and otherworldly forces she has practically no knowledge about, captured her heart and soul and staked their claim, both literally and figuratively.

It was all-consuming, and it scared her more than she wanted to admit. She abandoned her life and her family to be with these strange men; left behind everything that she knew just because they looked at her like she put the stars in the sky and brought plants to life.

And as Nox lightly brushed his fingers through her hair and chastely kissed her temple, Guadalupe quickly realized that she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Why the hell are there panties at the entrance of this place?” Hades’ voice echoed through the cave, and Guadalupe shot up and out of the bed. “Hades!” she shouted gleefully, as she sprinted towards him, throwing her arms around his shoulders and wrapping her legs around his waist. He easily caught her, giving her a smile that made her heart flutter.

“My question was answered quicker than I thought. Why are you naked, draga mea?" He gently squeezed her as he walked deeper into the cave and away from view of any passersby. "Uhm..." Her eyes shifted away, but she pointed to Nox's bite on her shoulder.

For a split second, he paused, then squeezed her again, but it was a little less gentle than last time. Hades did not say anything for a moment, and Guadalupe started to feel sad. "Are you feeling okay?" he asked, carefully placing her down on the bed. Guadalupe nodded and smiled as she felt Nox draw closer.

Another smile, more forced, made its way onto his face. Guadalupe grabbed both his hands, squeezing them between her marginally smaller ones. "Is everything alright in your kingdom?" Nox asked as he settled beside her in all his naked glory. Hades didn't even look at him. "Yeah, it was a quick situation that could have honestly been dealt with without me."

Nox hummed as a response, and an awkward silence descended upon them. Guadalupe could feel Hades' brewing anger starkly against Nox's post-mating bliss, and she was slowly becoming distressed. Thankfully, her empty stomach made itself known.

"Ah shit, we haven't eaten yet, and it's probably long past breakfast. I'll ask one of the kitchen staff to make you something." Nox quickly shot up and moved to the other side of the bed, throwing open a wardrobe that Guadalupe hadn't noticed before.

He pulled out a few items and threw them towards the bed. "Put this on, bella." Guadalupe picked up the article of clothing and saw that it was another Slipknot sweater. "How many of these do you even have?" she questioned as she pulled it over her head. Her head got through just in time to see Nox shrug.

"They were my uncle's. I got all his stuff after he passed." He pulled his own sweater over his head, and as she was about to ask "Which uncle?", a memory flashed behind her eyes and the question died down.

She knew exactly who he was talking about; she remembered him from Nox's memories. His uncle Romano; once the Beta of the pack. But then...

"Bella, don't look so sad. It was a long time ago." Guadalupe snapped out of her reverie and found that she was magically fully clothed. She turned her head to Hades, who playfully raised an eyebrow at her. She poked her tongue out at him then looked back at Nox. "I know, but I just wish I could have met him."

Nox gave her a melancholic smile. "Me too. He would have loved you."

The trio walked out of the cave and towards the main house in blissful silence, politely ignoring the stares and whispers. She could still feel the stark difference in emotions between Nox and Hades, but she was too scared to ask Hades what was wrong. Not that she was afraid of him, but afraid of the answer he might give.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, two figures came barreling towards her. Luna Marisol got to her first, sweeping her into a suffocating hug. "Welcome, mija." Guadalupe couldn't stop the grin that split her face. "Thank you mama."

The older woman let go first, and Violetta took her place. "Hey big sis!" Guadalupe laughed and hugged Violetta tighter, much in the same way that her heart was constricting in her chest. "Hey you little menace." Violetta pulled away and smiled. "Don't you forget it!"

"Move out the way." A short scream escaped Violetta as she was violently shoved away, making room for Keon. The two friends embraced amidst the laughter, no words passing between them, and pulled away with bright smiles. "Where's Jamie?" Guadalupe asked, and Keon's smile waivered. "He disappeared last night."

Her shoulders slumped at the words. Keon gently squeezed her arm. "I'm sure he's alright." She nodded, wanting to agree with him, but knowing that it was probably far from true. "Please be okay, Jamie. I still need you."

After a late breakfast and a much needed shower, Guadalupe found herself laying in the grass and staring at clouds with her head in Hades' lap. Nox had hastily gone off to deal with something and conspicuously told Hades to keep her company. Then he disappeared with Keon and Luna Marisol.

For four hours now, she wondered just what was wrong. "Hades?" she called out, and he hummed in acknowledgement. "What do you think is wrong?"

She felt Hades lean back. "Maybe something territorial. You know how dogs get." Guadalupe smacked his chest as he snickered. "Be nice." She chastised, and Hades leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry."

She sat up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and straddling his waist. "Talk to me. I don't know anything about you." His hands slipped around her waist, drawing her closer. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything." Guadalupe replied, laying her head on his shoulder. Her ear vibrated as he chuckled. "Draga mea, I'm almost 2100 years old; we'd be here for quite a while." Guadalupe's head whipped up and she stared at Hades wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

"You're WHAT?" Her reaction sent Hades into a fit of laughter. Frustrated, Guadalupe smacked his shoulder as he chortled. "This isn't funny!" she whined, struggling to keep it together. His response was to laugh louder.

Defeated, Guadalupe gave into the contagious laughter. It was a few more moments before Hades sobered up, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. "You were joking, right?" Guadalupe asked warily, and Hades shook his head. "No, I am serious. I'll be 2100 within a month."

Immediate existential dread washed over Guadalupe. "That's... that's an awfully long time." She mumbled, trying to wrap her head around how much history he must have lived through.

"It is." Cold fingers brushed against her face, but she didn't flinch away. "It's been awfully lonely." Her heart sank to her toes at the thought that had crossed her mind. The words she wanted to speak formed a lump in her throat that was so hard to swallow.

But, "You must have had your fair share.", trickled out. Hades stiffened beneath her. For what felt like forever, he didn't say a word, and Guadalupe could feel her heart breaking.

She knew how irrational it was to be upset. He is 2100 years old for heaven's sake. He many not be entirely human, but he is a man, and they do have needs. So what if another person has had him before? So what if they've kissed him, touched him, laid with him? It doesn't matter anymore.

What matters now is tha-- it's bothering her. The insecurities started welling up inside of her, and Hades snapped her out of it by grabbing her by the nape of her neck and planting a bruising kiss on her mouth.

She responded in kind, and he nicked her bottom lip before pulling away. "I haven't had a share at all, actually." Hades finally said, and Guadalupe felt tension leave her shoulders.

"M--but-- for so long?" she stammered out, and he pulled her impossibly closer. "When I was around 1200, my grandmother had given my entire family a premonition of their future. She told my parents that they would have another child when the least expected it, and my older sister would have everything she could ever want."

Hades breathed deeply, and Guadalupe placed a hand on his chest, where his heart would be. "To me, she said "the love of your life waits for you, but you must learn patience." Obviously, I didn't take that too well. When I wanted something, I wanted it right away, and to hear that you were guaranteed to find your soulmate but you'd have to wait? I was devastated."

Guadalupe couldn't help but smile at the image of Hades, dressed lavishly and pouting at the notion of not getting what he wanted. A spoilt little aristocrat.

His cool fingers brushed against her cheek, and she found herself leaning towards his hand. "I am not one to back down from a challenge, so I took the premonition as such. And I waited; and I learnt things..." His voice dropped, and her breath hitched in her throat.

"By what? Reading?" she asked jokingly, and Hades smiled. "Yes. And observing." Guadalupe's eyebrows shot up. "O--ob-- you'd watch people?" she stammered again, and mentally kicked herself for the habit she thought she was long rid of.

Hades hummed, trailing his fingers across her lips, leaving a trail of fireworks in his wake. "Almost 900 years of it. You learn a lot in that time, draga mea."

Aiko finally raised her head. "You're gonna get your shit rocked again." She chuckled, and Guadalupe gulped.

"I want to take you to my kingdom draga mea. And I want to make you scream for me." Guadalupe was breathless as she stared into his eyes. The conviction, the promise -- it made her wet all over again. If she spoke, the words would be more crude than she would like, and she started to notice more wolves observing them.

So she settled for a nod, and it was all the approval Hades needed. He rose to his feet, keeping Guadalupe's legs wrapped around his waist, and began walking.

Last night, it was between Aiko and Zev and they just used their human bodies since Aiko couldn't shift yet. This time, it's between her and Hades and part of her was consumed with nerves.

"There is no need to be nervous draga mea. I will go as slowly as you need me to." Hades whispered in her ear, and her heart somersaulted in her chest. "Promise?"

"I promise."