Chapter 5 The Alpha King

(Hilda)

Without a word, my rescuer opened his arms, and I collapsed into them. The moment his arms wrapped around me, the dam inside me broke. I sobbed into his chest, my body shaking with the force of my anguish. He held me tightly, his hand gently stroking my hair, whispering soothing words that I couldn’t quite hear over the roar of my emotions. 

I tilted my head up, my eyes meeting his. There was a moment of hesitation, a flicker of uncertainty, and then I pressed my lips to his. The kiss was gentle at first, tentative, as if we were both testing the waters. But the need, the desperation, quickly overtook us. I kissed him harder, my hands gripping his shirt, pulling him closer. 

He responded in kind, his lips moving against mine with an intensity that left me breathless. His hands roamed my back, tracing the curve of my spine, igniting a fire within me. I moaned into his mouth, the sound swallowed by his kiss. Every touch, every caress, felt like a promise, a reassurance that I wasn’t alone, that I was wanted. 

I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was the mate bond, that unbreakable connection that drew us together. Maybe it was the sheer exhaustion, both physical and emotional, that left me vulnerable and raw. Or maybe it was the overwhelming sadness, the sense of loss that gnawed at my heart. 

Whatever it was, I found myself seeking comfort in his arms, in the warmth of his body, in the softness of his lips. 

We stumbled backwards, our lips never parting, until my back hit the bed. He pressed against me, his body firm and solid, a grounding force. I wrapped my legs around his waist, needing to feel every inch of him. His hands gripped my thighs, lifting me higher, aligning our bodies in a way that made me gasp. 

I bit his lip, a frantic, desperate gesture. He groaned, the sound reverberating through me, stoking the flames of my desire. I needed him, needed this, needed to lose myself in him. He seemed to understand, his hands sliding under my shirt, his fingers trailing fire across my skin. I shivered at the sensation, my body arching into his touch. 

We broke apart only long enough to tear at each other’s clothes, our movements frantic and uncoordinated. There was no time for finesse, no time for caution. We were a tangle of limbs and breathless moans, our need for each other eclipsing everything else. When we were finally free of the barriers between us, he pressed against me, his skin hot and smooth against mine. 

I could feel his arousal, hard and insistent against my thigh. I reached between us, wrapping my hand around him. His eyes darkened with desire, and he thrust into my hand, his movements desperate and needy. I guided him to my entrance, my own need a burning ache. 

He entered me in one swift motion, and I cried out, the sensation a mix of pain and pleasure. He paused, giving me a moment to adjust, his eyes searching mine for any sign of discomfort. But all I felt was a deep, burning need. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. 

He began to thrust, slow and steady at first, then faster, harder, as our desperation took over. Each movement drove us higher, the friction, the connection, pushing us towards the edge. I clung to him, my nails digging into his back, my breath ragged. 

Our bodies moved together, a perfect, primal rhythm. I could feel the tension building, a coiled spring ready to snap. His lips found mine again, and we kissed with a fierce intensity, our tongues tangling, our breaths mingling. 

The climax hit us both like a tidal wave, crashing over us, sweeping us away. I cried out, my body convulsing with the force of my release. He followed moments later, a guttural moan escaping his lips as he spilled into me. We clung to each other, riding the waves of pleasure, our bodies trembling, our hearts pounding in unison. 

As the aftershocks faded, we collapsed on the bed, our breaths slowly evening out. He held me closer, his hand gently stroking my hair, his lips pressing soft kisses to my forehead. I felt a sense of peace, of belonging, that I hadn’t felt in so long. 

Maybe it was the mate bond, maybe it was the sorrow, or maybe it was simply the need for comfort. Whatever it was, in his arms, I found a solace that I thought I had lost forever. And I drifted off to sleep, cradled in his embrace. 

As the dawn began to break, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the canopy, reality slowly crept back into my consciousness. The warmth of his body against mine, the steady rise and fall of his chest, it all brought a sense of a comfort I hadn’t felt in so long. 

But along with the comfort came a flood of thoughts and doubts. The events of the past days crashed over me, and I remembered why I was here, lost in the forest, seeking solace in the arms of a stranger. 

Panic gripped me, and I removed myself from his embrace as gently and quietly as I could. My heart pounded as I stood, looking down at him. I didn’t even know his name. 

I took a tentative step backward, then another, and turned to run. But before I could take more than a few steps, a strong hand grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. I gasped, twisting around to face him. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying firmness that made it clear he wasn’t going to let me go so easily. 

“Let me go,” I said, my voice trembling. “I need to leave.” 

“It’s not going to be that easy,” he said, his grip tightening slightly. “You can’t just run away.” 

“Why not?” I snapped, frustration and fear bubbling to the surface. “Why do you care? Who are you to stop me?” 

He released my wrist but took a step closer, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. 

“I’m the Alpha King Arlo,” he said, his voice steady and commanding. “And you, whether you like it or not, are my mate.”