~ Ethan ~

I slowly pushed Helena until she laid on her back while I was on top of her. I touched her neck and then went lower, but she shook her head.

"E-Ethan? W-what are you doing?"

That was when I stopped. Then, as if a flashlight lighted on me, I moved back a little and looked at Helena's swollen lips and disarrayed clothes in horror. But it wasn't as much as when I stared at the bite mark on her neck. Later, I immediately released Helena's body.

"What have I done?!" I held my head with both of my hands.

"Ethan?"

I immediately opened the cupboard, took a shirt, and wore it. Then I returned and scooped Helena into my arms. "You should go home now!"

"B-but, what did I do wrong?"

"Nothing!"

"But then, why do you want to get rid of me?" Helena bit her lower lip, and her tears fell one by one to her cheeks. "I know I'm inexperienced, but …." She couldn't continue her words.

I sighed. Regret always came later, but I couldn't undo what had happened. Then I hugged Helena. "Are you a virgin?"

Helena was too shy to answer. She lowered her head and didn't want to meet my eyes. But after a while, she sighed since I was staring at her and waiting for her answer.

"Yes …."

I smiled tenderly, then touched her lower lip with my finger. "Don't bite your lower lip again. It's mine. Only I'm allowed to bite it." Then I kissed her lips again, but softly this time.

Helena circled her hands on my neck. "Oh, Ethan …."

"I love that you are still a virgin. If things were different, I would take you here and now."

She blushed again. She was so pretty. Then I kissed Helena again until we were out of breath and should gasp for air.

"Never doubt that you are so precious to me, my lovely Helena. But the problem is me, not you."

"But why?"

"Why did I stop and not take you here and now?"

Helena nodded; her cheeks were red as if she were too shy to say a word.

"I truly want it, my enchantress one, but it will harm you."

"Oh!"

I took a deep breath. I could read Helena's mind now and be relieved that she concluded it wrongly. She thought I wouldn't want to take her virginity. "Let me fetch you home. I promise I will take care of you."

"Thank you."

Then I carried Helena in my arms again. After kissing her forehead, I brought her to my silver Lamborghini. Later, I placed Helena on the seat, entered the car, and switched it on. However, there was a movement outside, and I stopped.

"Please wait. I won't be long." I got out of the vehicle. A man walked toward me.

"Alpha, what are you doing?"

"Red, not a word!"

The man, Red Sutton, was my Beta and also my best friend. He looked at my car, at Helena precisely. After smelling Helena's fragrance from afar, Red grimaced. "A human? Are you mad?"

"Red, it's not your place to say that. I have marked her already. Helena is mine, my mate."

"But she's a human!"

"What can I say if our God chose her as my mate?"

"Are you sure that the Highest One chose the woman as your mate?"

"Yes. No doubt about that. Helena's intoxicating smells I recognized it after seeing her. I'm sure she's my mate. My wolf also confirmed it."

Red shook his head. "Is it possible? It's the first time I see a human as our mate." He glanced at me again. "She will be our Luna. Are you sure she's ready?"

"No, she needs more time. Don't tell her about Luna, mate, or even our pack."

Red squinted his eyes. "Don't tell me she didn't know you're a werewolf."

"She doesn't know about it."

"What?! You can't do this! She will be overwhelmed if she knows."

"There's no way back now."

"What do you mean?"

I closed my eyes for a while. When I opened them again, Red crossed his arms in front of his chest, waiting for me to explain further.

So, I told him, "I have marked her."

"But …."

"I won't claim her. I won't mate with her at all."

"It's impossible! After marking her, your urge will be so wild to have her completely."

"I know! I have already felt it. I only bedded her a few minutes ago." I shook my head. "Fortunately, I can stop."

"Are you sure it's the best?"

"I can't leave her if it is what you meant, Red."

"No, I don't ask you to do that. But for her sake, you're better off." Red tapped his upper arm. "It's unlike you at all. Usually, you're so calm and collected."

"I know. It was just the moment when I smelled Helena's fragrance; I immediately recognized her as my mate and couldn't control myself. I want her around me, to protect and have her."

"But if you are around her, it may lead to you mate her …."

I closed my eyes again. "You're right. I'll take Helena home. Then I will take my distance. But I need your help."

Red stood straight. "Name it."

"I want you to monitor and guard her. She is your Luna, after all. If I cannot be around her, at least I'll feel better with you guarding her."

"Don't worry, Alpha. Your word is my command."

"Thank you, Red. I know I can count on you."

"Always, my Alpha King."

Then I nodded and walked back to the car. Red also left.

Helena watched what had happened. But then, she screamed, "Argh! What's wrong?"

I frowned. "Helena?"

"It hurts!"

"Where?"

Helena placed her hand on her chest. "Here. I feel burnt. Help!"

I immediately unbuckled the seat belt and ran to Helena's side. Next, I opened the door and brought her outside. Then, I sat on the ground with Helena on my lap.

"Ethan! I can't bear it anymore." Helena's sweat poured heavily onto her forehead and neck.

Then I stood and ran back to the villa with Helena in my arms. I opened my room and laid her on my bed. Hastily, I opened her dress. The bite mark was burning. There was a new red mark too on her cleavage.

I touched the mark with my pointed finger, and Helena gasped. Then I stared at her. "Does it hurt here?"

~ Helena ~

I gasped. The ache was no more. What happened to me? Realizing that Ethan was waiting for me to answer his question, I said, "Strange, when you touch it, the ache is gone."

Ethan removed his finger. "Thank goodness. Maybe you should rest more. Go to sleep. After dinner, I will bring you home."

The relief lived shortly. I screamed since the pain came again, "Ethan, argh! It hurts!"

Ethan grabbed my body and held me in his arms. He kissed the mark. "Does it still hurt?"

"No …."

"How about this?" He touched my cleavage with his finger again.

"The ache is gone." I glanced at Ethan. It was the first time a man touched me intimately. My face was hot. "What happened to me?"

Ethan sighed. "I think I know what happened." He opened my bra and panties and started touching me.

"E-Ethan?" What was he doing to me? But I didn't want him to stop. It was amazing. I felt burning inside, and his touches torched the flame bigger.

"Trust me, mate. I won't hurt you."

"I-I trust you." However, I trembled since it was my first time with a man. Would it hurt, like a lot of people said?

Then Ethan kissed my lips again. I moaned, and the fire rose within my chest and spread to my body, especially my lower private part. I closed my thighs to ease the burning, but it worsened. "Ethan …."

"Yes, darling, hold on. I will help you." He caressed my neck, right on the bite mark, then kissed and licked it. "Do you like it?"

It was ticklish, but it was also burning my desire higher. "Uh-huh. It's good."

"How about this?" Ethan grabbed my mound and massaged it.

"Oh! It's…." I was sure my face was crimson right now.

"Do you like it?"

"Yes …." It felt good.

Ethan smiled. "Then I think you will love this." He sucked the top, and I screamed.

"Ethan!

He didn't stop and kept sucking it. I was panting. It was like a rush of fire invading my body. So I grabbed Ethan's shoulders and scratched them with my nails.

Ethan stopped and looked into my eyes. "Do you want me to stop?"

I said nothing; I couldn't! But then I grabbed Ethan's head and directed it to my other mound. I wanted him to do the same as before.

Ethan lifted his head and then grinned. "Yes, madam. I know you will love it." Next, he gave the same sensual torture to my left peak. He sucked it hard and toyed with it using his tongue.

I grabbed Ethan's head and stroked his hair. "Ethan … don't stop …."

"I won't." He caressed the first mound while he kept sucking the second. Then, the fire spread to my other orb and my lower body.

I squealed. It was so good but tortured me too. I wanted Ethan to end the torture, but I moved restlessly when he stopped.

"Calm down. I won't leave you unsatisfied, my lady."

He kept teasing me with his tongue and fingers. Then somehow, my body tensed. I was afraid that something terrible would happen to me. But then, after a while, I came to my release. It was amazing! My body was exhausted, but I wanted to hum joyfully.

He smiled. "How are your feelings right now?"

"I'm good, more than good …." My voice was hoarse because of too much screaming. "I feel sleepy." I closed my eyes, too tired to even open them.

"Good. Sleep then, my mate."

He picked a blanket, covered my nakedness, and kissed my forehead.

Feeling Ethan go away from me, there was a pang of loss I couldn't explain. It was cold and lonely. So, I called him, "Ethan?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Can you stay here with me?"

Ethan sighed. He sat beside me, then grabbed my hand and held it. "Yes. Sleep now. I'll accompany you."

It was the reassurance I needed. Having Ethan's warm hand hold mine, I drifted to sleep only after a few minutes.

***

~ Ethan ~

Helena's breath was calm. Finally, she was asleep. I went to the bathroom, showered with icy water, and let out a long sigh. Helena's state of burning was because I had marked her. In the werewolves' world, usually, the ritual must follow the sequence: marking, then mating. However, with my situation, I couldn't ultimately mate Helena. What we could do was only outercourse. It satisfied the demand after the marking but did not genuinely satisfy the mating process.

I cursed silently under the heavy, cold shower. My lack of control caused suffering for Helena. Typically, it was only she-wolves who would experience things like Helena did. However, Helena was a human. So why did she experience stuff like that too?

I shook my head again. "Yeah, I know I screwed up! But I couldn't undo what had happened. I have marked her. So, I will care for her for the rest of my life, even without mating her."

After a few minutes in the cold shower, it helped release the tension in my body. The wolf inside me kept urging me to take Helena and mate her ultimately, but I knew I couldn't do it. I didn't want to regret it for the rest of my life, just like what happened to Lynnette.

I sighed and shook my head. "No more! I won't be responsible for more guilt because of my foolishness!"

Then I turned off the shower, dried my body, and wore my clothes again. I walked back to my room, but Helena was still asleep. She was smiling in her sleep, and I couldn't stop myself. I approached her and kissed her lips tenderly.

"You are my lovely mate. I will protect you with all my strength, even from myself." I caressed Helena's hair.

I let out a long sigh since her fragrance filled my nose as if calling me to claim her. Next, I picked Helena's scattered underwear and dress on the floor, folded and placed them on the table next to the bed. Then I left the room with long steps.

~ Helena ~

I awoke after maybe a few hours of sleeping. I blinked my eyes and then sat on the bed. When the blanket dropped, I just realized of my nakedness. So, I gasped, and my face blushed immediately. I wrapped my body with the blanket while patting my hot cheeks.

"Oh, that's what having sex is. Now I know. No wonder everyone was telling me how incredible the experiences were," I mumbled. But then I frowned. It felt like something was wrong. Why didn't Ethan undress? Why was it only me? Since I didn't have any experience before, it confused me greatly.

Before I could think further, the door was knocked. I gasped and tightened my grip on the blanket that wrapped my body. Then, a young woman came with a lovely smile on her face.

"Luna Helena, our Alpha King told me you may need my help. I'm Ernie Wright. You can call me Ernie. I'm your maid."

"M-my maid?"

"Yes, Luna. Please don't hesitate to tell me whenever you need me." Then Ernie stared at my clothes on the table. "Do you need me to help you dress up?"

I gasped. My face was hot now. Oh, it was so embarrassing! "No, no need. I can do it myself."

"Oh! But I'm your maid, Luna. Oh, I know! You must be hungry. How about I prepare warm water for you to take a bath? Then I'll take your meals." Ernie stared at me with a hopeful look.

I almost shook my head but later changed my mind. "Alright. Thank you."

"No, thank you, Luna. It's truly a great honor for me to be your maid."

I immediately wore my dress again when Ernie prepared my bathwater. But when she returned to the room, my face was still hot, and I didn't want to look at Ernie.

"Luna, don't be ashamed. Mating is natural for us, especially after Alpha Ethan marked you."

"Marked? What do you mean? Also, why do you call me ‘Luna'?"

Ernie gaped, then she closed her mouth. She smiled a little though it looked like she forced it. "Uh, well, you see, Luna is a term for our leader's spouse. Marked is a term in our community when we are very attracted to our mate, uh, spouse."

I nodded. "Oh, I see."

Ernie exhaled and chatted quickly. "Yes, Luna. Since our Alpha King allows me to be your maid, please don't hesitate to ask me anything. It's truly an honor for me to serve you."

"But I don't get used to being served by others."

Ernie looked at the floor. "I know I'm still too young, but eighteen is an adult already in our community. I'm strong too, Luna. Please, give me a chance."

I approached Ernie and shook my head. "I don't look down on you, Ernie. It's strange to be served for things I can do by myself." I smiled reassuringly and placed my hand on Ernie's sagged shoulders because Ernie squeezed both her hands and bit her lower lip. "Yet I thank you for being so nice to me."

Ernie raised her head and stared at me with a hopeful look again. "So, you will let me serve you, right?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you, Luna! You won't regret it! I'll be the best maid ever!" She grinned. Her eyes shone.

"I believe you."

"Let me help you to undress. After that, I'll take your meals."

I sighed, but then I nodded again. "Okay."

We walked to the bathroom. Later, Ernie removed my dress, then my underwear. When I remembered what had happened before, I felt hot again. I was sure that my face was crimson right now.

Ernie giggled. "Luna, don't be shy. It's normal for our Alpha to mate with you." When she looked at my neck, Ernie grinned. "See? Our Alpha King has marked you too."

Feeling so exposed, I immediately went inside the bathtub. But since my curiosity won, I finally asked, "Uh, I wonder how you know that Ethan has marked me?"

Ernie knelt beside me and touched the bite mark. "Our Alpha King has marked you here."

"Oh, biting my neck is his way to mark me?"

"Yes, Luna." Then Ernie giggled again. "Luna, if you have already had p—" She coughed "—baby, would you let me help you take care of them too? I always love babies."

I blushed again because of such a straightforward question. "Uh, yes, Ernie." I placed my hand on my stomach and wondered if I was pregnant already. It scared and excited me at the same time. Was I ready to be a mother?

"Do you want me to rinse your hair, Luna?"

"Alright."

Ernie immediately poured shampoo and rubbed my hair and head with the shampoo. It was rose shampoo too. She giggled again. "Our Alpha seems different today, Luna."

"Oh? Why?" I closed her eyes, enjoying Ernie's massages on my head.

"He looks calmer than before. Also, when he mentioned you, his eyes were shining. I wonder if our Alpha King is in love with you."

I sighed. "No, we just met. I don't think Ethan will have feelings for me so fast."

"No, Luna. It's possible, especially since he has already marked you."

"What do you mean?"

"You know, Luna, marking for our people is special. In a way, it can be seen as mating too. But, while mating is more to the physical joining of your bodies together, marking is like soul joining between you two."

"Oh!" Then I remembered the pain in my chest after the marking. "So, the pain I felt after the marking, is it because of that?"

"Yes, Luna. Usually, marking is immediately followed by mating. However, if the couple postpones the mating, the pain will arise until he mates with her."

I blushed when I heard that. Yet I wanted to know more, so I asked again, "Uh, Ernie, I still don't understand something."

"Ask me, Luna. I'll answer if I know about it."

"When we did it … uh, I mean when Ethan and I were mating, why was it only me undressed? Is it normal?"

Ernie gasped. She coughed again. "Uh, it's … well, uh …."