The relief that eased Jesse's tense body and his anxiety-ensnared, racing heart quickly withered when he and Ross got back to his room. Someone else was dead, another body was floating out in the ocean because of him, and the fact that he was glad that one of them was dead made him feel just as bad as the man who had killed them.

He sat on the edge of his bed, and when he looked down at his lap, he noticed the splatters of blood on his shirt. It made him feel sick; he wanted to tear his tainted clothes off, but he wouldn't do that in front of Ross.

"I didn't think you'd come back," the man said, making his way over once he'd made sure that the door was secure. "Maybe you're not such a wimp after all."

Jesse immediately scowled as anger and frustration shoved his guilt aside. "Why are you such an asshole?!" he blurted and stood up.

Ross stopped two feet from him and scoffed.

"Do you not give a shit that we just dumped those guys in the ocean? They could have families that'll never know what happened, they'll never be able to bury them or properly grieve them!"

"Why the fuck do you care?" he asked with a scoff. "It was them or us; I chose us."

"Well, you don't get to make decisions for me, especially not ones that involve killing people!"

"People who would have locked you up and probably sentenced you to die beside me, you mean?"

"You dragged me into this!" Jesse exclaimed, his scowl thickening. "I-I just wanted to get to DeiganLupus!"

Ross scoffed again and went over to the couch. "Chill out. It's not like the ship's blown up; you'll still get to your precious ceremony," he grumbled as he slumped down.

Jesse shook his head, resentment accompanying his aggravation. "Maybe I should've just let Sophie find that body. At least then I wouldn't have to look at you anymore."

The man laughed amusedly.

Gritting his teeth, Jesse snapped, "What?!"

"You wouldn't let them take me; you've gotta be smarter than that."

Jesse scoffed at him. "Smart? There's nothing smart about me not letting them take you!" he exclaimed. "You're an escaped murderer! The longer I'm stuck with you, the guiltier I look!" He started to feel anxious and overwhelmed, his breaths becoming harder to take. "Y-you broke into my room, you threatened the kill me, and for all I know, you could still kill me; the second we reach land, what's to stop you from tearing my heart out or chewing my head off?!"

Ross looked offended. "I'm not going to kill you."

"Really? How the hell am I supposed to believe that?! I should just...just tell someone before—"

The man burst out of his seat and grabbed Jesse's collar before he could even attempt to head for the door. Jesse whimpered and stared in horror, but Ross quickly lost his hostile glare and huffed irritably.

"I'm not going to kill you," he repeated calmly. "You helped me, and believe it or not, I believe in owing debts."

Jesse trembled nervously. "B-but you already saved me from that guard."

"And that pays for you not turning me in when the first guard came in here. Yeah, I had to kill him, but still, you didn't tell him I was here."

He wasn't sure whether he was convinced. He'd seen this man kill two people, and he knew that he'd killed over a hundred more. If Ross felt like he owed him a debt, then that was the only thing keeping Jesse alive, wasn't it? What would happen after this man inevitably killed someone else to save his ass?

But there it was again. That feeling. His wolf was urging him to believe that what Ross was telling him was the truth; it told him to trust the murderer in front of him. Jesse was terrified, though...at least he thought he was. His anxiety-ensnared heart was racing, but a strange feeling of uncertainty washed over him.

Ross could have killed him and hidden in any other room; he could have threatened and used any other person on board, but he'd stuck with Jesse—he hadn't killed him yet despite the fact that he'd yelled and likely annoyed the man. And he'd also killed that guard to save Jesse from a sentence for a crime he wasn't guilty of. Sure, he would have preferred that no one died, but Ross did it for him...right?

He did it because he owed him. The question still remained: what would happen once Ross had paid his debt?

Jesse swallowed the saliva which had been pooling in his mouth. "And...what happens after you've repaid the debt?"

An uncertain frown flickered across Ross' face. He loosened his grip on Jesse's collar and shrugged. "I think that's up to you."

"Why...would it be up to me? You're the one using me," he said unsurely.

"And you're the one who's still here despite being able to resist my Lure," he replied, looking Jesse up and down. "You could've run, you could've taken your chance to get away from me when you left with that stewardess. Yet...here you are."

He was right. Jesse had a good opportunity to get away—two, actually. He could have taken the risk and tried to clear his name, but instead, he came back to Ross...and the strangest part about it was that he didn't regret it. Of course, he was a little confused and unsettled, but he didn't feel as though he would have done anything differently.

His wolf beamed when Jesse admitted that to himself, and it grew even more contented when he began wondering whether he should start trusting Ross. He didn't want to be terrified all the time, and his wolf was so convinced that the murderer wouldn't harm him. Maybe...just for a moment, he'd listen to what his instincts were telling him.

"Why can I resist it?" he finally asked.

Ross shrugged.

Jesse didn't believe that he didn't know. "Why can I resist it?" he asked again.

"I don't know," he grumbled.

He'd never learned how to tell if someone was lying, but Jesse felt as if Ross was holding back, like he was hiding something. And the answer...seemed as if it was right on the tip of Jesse's tongue. It was as if he knew...but couldn't find the exact words. Was it because he was a Redwood? Was it because he was the child of two powerful Alphas?

Or was it because his wolf was focused so intensely on the pull coming from Ross that his powers had no effect?

"Why did you help me?" Ross suddenly asked.

His words sent a shiver down Jesse's spine, making him freeze. Once again, he felt the answer inside him, but he didn't have the words to speak it. However, his wolf urged him to try. "I just...I don't know."

Ross edged a little nearer and stared into his eyes. "Don't give me that," he murmured. "Tell me."

Jesse tensed up. He felt intimidated, but for some reason...he liked it. "W-well...I had this...feeling, I suppose," he said nervously, turning his head to the side, looking away from his daunting gaze.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"What feeling?" he questioned, his low, silvery voice laced with curiosity.

He glanced at Ross, and when he caught a glimpse of his dark eyes, trepidation spiralled through him, and he started backing off.

But Ross followed, mirroring his steps, stalking him like a hunter on the prowl.

"I-I don't...know how to explain it," Jesse insisted, and when his back hit the wall, he winced in shock and looked up at Ross, who stood mere inches from him, staring with his soulless eyes.

"Try," he said, but it was more like a command.

And Jesse obeyed. "Like...a call," he started, his voice shaking in response to his trembling body and racing heart. "I just...had to keep you from getting caught. Like...an instinct, maybe."

"To protect me?" Ross asked, edging his face a little nearer to Jesse's.

He nodded stiffly, locking eyes with him.

Ross' sights examined Jesse's face for a moment; it looked like he was contemplating, asking himself what he wanted to do or say next. He slowly brought his hand to Jesse's chin, and as he lightly dragged his thumb over Jesse's bottom lip, he stared into his eyes again as if he was waiting for approval.

Jesse's wolf approved. It pleaded with him, and just as he had before, he gave in. As Ross drew nearer, Jesse felt his breath hitch in anticipation. The mere proximity of this man sent electric pulses racing through his veins, igniting a fire within him that he couldn't contain. When Ross' lips brushed against his own, it was as if time stood still, and Jesse surrendered himself to the intoxicating sensation.

The softness of the man's kiss sent waves of desire crashing over Jesse, awakening a hunger he never knew existed. It was a moment of profound connection as if their souls had been searching for each other across the vast expanse of time, finally reuniting in a passionate embrace.

He let Ross place his hands on either side of his waist; every touch, every kiss was like a revelation, unlocking a depth of longing that had been buried deep within Jesse's heart for far too long. In that fleeting moment, it felt as though the universe had aligned just for them, granting them the chance to fulfil desires that had been simmering beneath the surface for two decades.

Jesse slowly opened his mouth, inviting Ross to intensify their kiss, and as their tongues met, Jesse melted into the man's embrace, their bodies pressed together in a heated frenzy of desire. It was a culmination of years of yearning, a release of pent-up emotions that threatened to consume them both.

In that moment, nothing else mattered but the raw, primal connection between them. It was a union of souls, a merging of two beings who had longed for each other in ways they never thought possible. And as they surrendered themselves to the passion that burned between them, Jesse knew that this was only the beginning of an exhilarating journey they would embark on together.

Ross pulled him away from the wall, and Jesse yielded willingly, his body aflame with desire. Their tongues eagerly entwined, and with each step towards the bed, Jesse felt the heat between them intensify, a magnetic pull drawing them closer together.

As Ross guided him onto the mattress, Jesse followed without hesitation, surrendering himself to the intoxicating sensation of their bodies intertwining. With a soft shuffle, he nestled against the pillows, his pulse quickening with anticipation.

Ross hovered over him, his hands braced on either side of Jesse, his gaze smouldering with desire. When their lips met once more, Jesse's heart thundered in his chest, a symphony of longing echoing in his ears. It was a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced, a potent mixture of need and longing that left him breathless.

In Ross' embrace, Jesse felt a desperation distinct from anything he had felt before. Every touch, every caress was like a revelation, a reminder that no other man would make him feel this way. Not James, and not any of the men who came before.

Ross' breathy exhales sent shivers down Jesse's spine, his hands tracing tantalizing paths over his body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. In that moment, there was no past, no future, only the searing intensity of their connection. With each touch, each kiss, Jesse felt himself unravelling, losing himself in the exquisite pleasure of Ross' intimidating yet attentive embrace.

As they surrendered to the ecstasy that enveloped them, Jesse's wolf told him that he'd at last found the thing he'd been searching for all his life, and the word reverberated inside his head.

Mate?

Ross leaned into Jesse's ear as he stroked his fingers down his body. "Can I taste you?" he murmured, gently dragging his fingers over Jesse's crotch.

This time, Jesse didn't feel hesitant. He knew that he could trust this man. "Yes," he breathed, succumbing to the anticipation.

The man kissed Jesse's neck as he unbuckled his belt, and once he pulled it from around his waist, Ross began kissing his lips again while easing his hand into his trousers.

Jesse let out a quiet, content wince when Ross' finger brushed over his t-dick; Ross started stroking it, guiding his finger around its tip as Jesse closed his eyes and turned his head to the side, breathing deeply. He shivered when Ross kissed his neck, and desperation quickly overwhelmed him. He wanted this man so badly; he wanted to feel every inch of him, and he wanted to give himself to him.

So he did. He eagerly pulled off his own trousers, and Ross made his way down to his crotch. The man didn't hesitate, nor did he ask questions; he dragged his warm, wet tongue over Jesse's t-dick, making Jesse moan quietly in content. Ross didn't stop there, though; he twirled his tongue around his tip, sending spiralling waves of pleasure through his taut body, and when he started gently sucking it, Jesse became overwhelmed. He arched his back upwards a little, gripping the blankets beneath him, and as he whined pleasurably, Ross hummed in satisfaction.

With a delighted groan, Ross then eased his tongue inside. Jesse winced and moaned, unable to contain himself as the pleasure ensnared him tightly. As Ross' tongue explored every inch of it, Jesse's pussy felt hotter, wetter, desperate to be sated, eager to feel the hard girth of the man he felt so drawn to, so connected with.

Jesse obediently widened his legs, inviting Ross' tongue in deeper, but he could feel the man's thirst, his desire. He groaned as Ross' hands traversed his body, and when he began lifting his shirt, Jesse eagerly pulled it off.

That was when Ross started undressing. Jesse suddenly felt nervous, laying there, waiting, totally vulnerable. He expected to see a conflicted expression appear on Ross' face when he looked down at Jesse's chest, but all he could see on his face was longing and a dark, dangerous hunger.

Ross seductively dragged his tongue up Jesse's shivering body, and when he reached the scars on his chest, the man gently kissed the left one before kissing his way up to his face. He stared down at Jesse's nervous face, gazing into his eyes; he stroked Jesse's t-dick with his finger for a moment, and then he let go, grabbed his own thick, hard dick, and rubbed its tip against Jesse's.

"Can I fuck you?" he asked.

Jesse winced pleasurably, feeling Ross' warm pre-cum ooze onto his sensitive tip. He wanted it—he needed it—so he nodded.

Ross huffed excitedly. He started kissing Jesse again, but when he pressed his tip against Jesse's slit, he stopped and asked him, "Is...this okay? Or do you prefer it in your ass?"

He was admittedly grateful that Ross asked. No one else ever did, they just assumed. "No, this is fine," he answered as he reached down, gripped Ross' shaft, and guided it inside himself.

With a pleased groan, Ross slowly eased his dick into Jesse's pussy. Each inch made Jesse arch his back upwards a little more, making him tighten his grip on the blankets. Overwhelming anticipation and pleasure enthralled him as Ross entered his body, and once the last of his length was buried inside, they both moaned contently.

Ross guided his face to Jesse's neck and nuzzled it as he began gently thrusting, each plunge sending a swirling wave of delight through Jesse. He let go of the blanket with his right hand and gripped a fistful of Ross' black hair, and when he wrapped his legs around the man's waist, Ross began thrusting harder.

"Fuck," he breathed against Jesse's neck. He snatched Jesse's left wrist and pinned it above his head, groaning quietly as his thrusts became more aggressive. And then he leaned into Jesse's ear and growled, "You're mine."

Jesse relaxed his body as much as he could, surrendering to Ross' dominance. "Yes," he whined meekly, tensing as the man's deep, hard thrusts began to overwhelm him.

Ross only grew more aggressive, thrusting harder and harder as Jesse's pleased moans became delighted whines. Ross' growls turned into content cries; his muscular body tensed against Jesse's, and he breathed onto his neck.

Jesse approached his peak. His overwhelmed body ached for release, falling deeper and deeper into his desperation's tight hold, and when Ross thrusted forward one last time, burying his dick as deeply into Jesse as he could, they both moaned loudly in sheer delight. Jesse climaxed harder than he ever had before, and when he felt Ross' dick throbbing inside him, he whined contently and dragged his hand down from the man's head, stroking his fingers along his back.

Ross affectionately nuzzled the side of Jesse's face. "You belong to me now," he whispered possessively.

He was right. Jesse did belong to him. In union with his satisfied wolf, Jesse accepted his fate—he accepted Ross. "I belong to you," he affirmed.

And then it happened.

As Jesse's gaze locked with Ross', a profound realization washed over him, leaving him breathless and unsteady. It was as if the universe itself had whispered a truth he longed to hear, and in that moment, everything changed.

He felt a seismic shift deep within his being, a stirring of something ancient and eternal that had slumbered within him until this moment. It was a sensation beyond words, a fusion of souls that transcended the physical realm and touched the very core of his being.

As Ross drew closer, Jesse could feel the warmth of his presence enveloping him, wrapping around him; it was a sensation both exhilarating and terrifying, as if the very fabric of his existence was being rewoven.

With each brush of skin against skin, Jesse felt a tingling sensation ripple through him, sending shivers down his spine. It was as if their auras were intertwining and merging until they were no longer two separate entities but one unified whole.

In Ross' eyes, Jesse saw a reflection of his own soul, a mirror image of his deepest desires and fears laid bare for the world to see. And as their auras merged and mingled, Jesse knew with a certainty that defied logic or reason: he had found his soulmate in Ross, and nothing else mattered.