Chapter 277: 37. What Is Love?
As Haddaway's iconic song played on my playlist, I quietly hummed along and spoke out loud to myself.
Only the walls of my bedroom heard my voice as I exclaimed, "I have no fucking idea. Number one doesn't mean anything to me!"
I was feeling pretty messed up, but I kept it hidden from everyone else. Soon, it would be time for me to move to the island for some Heat. Of course, number one wanted to be the one to ignite my heat. Good luck with that, I thought bitterly.
I could feel my inner mode heat building, but I didn't want to ruin the experience for the wolves and girls just yet, so I suppressed my desires. It would be interesting to see if I could keep this up for the next 12 weeks. After all, I was the alpha female, and I would do anything for my pack.
My attitude didn't extend beyond them. Well, maybe it was because the wolves and Mariella had Damon's alpha power, and they only wanted to serve him and not the pack as a whole. It might be that too.
It would be fascinating to see what kind of force would be created if their powers were combined, or maybe I could just share my powers with Elena and Katherine without telling Damon. Even better, I could combine my power with the other Salvatores. That would be perfect.
I remembered how it felt when we once combined 70% of our alpha powers, but it wasn't meant to be. Mariella undid it, and after that, I wasn't interested in doing it again. It wasn't necessary, and there were too many complications.
As per my promise, Mariella could keep number one. I had nine others, and I was ready to execute my little plan. I had created a mental hideout where I could indulge in sarcastic thoughts about number one as much as I wanted, while keeping a neutral expression on my face.
He, the lazy telepath, was in my mind, but not actively scanning my mind, unlike Wulfe and me, who could communicate through our thoughts. I could Wulfe scan my mind all the time. It felt like a scene from Mission Impossible, where I had to dodge lasers to avoid getting caught, but I managed to create my hideout. Now, I just had to hope that it was strong enough.
As I woke up and found myself lying on the floor, I created a mental hideaway where I could think without being detected by telepaths. I spent several hours strengthening this mental barrier, knowing that Mariella had taken Number Two, who was already claimed by me.
She was clearly annoyed, but Number One didn't seem to care. He was fully immersed in his primal instincts, with thoughts of sex and pleasure dominating his mind. It was an amusing idea, and I allowed my thoughts to flow freely within my mental hideaway. It provided some relief as I expressed myself.
It was time to go to breakfast, and I was excited to embrace the heat. I wore a small bikini, a wraparound dress, sandals, and my hair in two ponytails on either side of my head. I had put on just enough makeup as I lazily made my way to the kitchen.
The kitchen in this castle, where we were gathered, was quite spacious but not as grand as a dining hall. It had a round table that seated all of us, with no extra seats available. Eight girls were already present, which explained why the table was full.
Wulfe would be sitting on my right, Damon on my left, and Mariella on the other side of Damon. The eight girls were strategically placed between the males, including the Salvatores and others, ensuring that they had someone close by. It was easy to see who belonged to whom.
Two busty brunettes were Mariella's, engaging with Murdock and Dexter. Two blonde girls, who seemed a bit airheaded, were Mimosa's, chatting with Lepard and Demon. Two reserved yet alluring dark-haired girls were Shadows', not mine. My girls, who were reserved as well, had dark blonde hair and sat between Colin, Magnum, and Wulfe. They briefly glanced at me but avoided making eye contact, aware of my alpha power, as they possessed my alpha power. Colin and Magnum were respectful and composed, despite their scent of heat.
Damon and Mariella were already seated, eating, and Number Two glanced at my dress, a seductive smile forming at the corner of his mouth. When Mariella attempted to touch him, he swiftly struck her across the face. Number One remained indifferent, content with Mariella's company, or rather, her body.
Elena and Katherine were sitting together, both feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. Katherine's expression was reserved as she looked at me, almost staring. I smiled slightly as Damon Number Eight brought my tray to me. On an impulse, I grabbed him and kissed him passionately, causing Damon Number One to pivot his head towards me, perhaps intrigued by the sight. I wondered if I was inviting trouble or if I could handle it.
Wulfe and the wizards walked in last, and Wulfe sat down next to me. He looked at me, but I didn't pay much attention as I was enjoying my meal. I felt him grabbing my hand into his as he pressed our scars together, while I continued eating with my left hand and sipping my smoothie. My thoughts were racing, hidden away in my mind.
Meanwhile, Mariella observed Damon, almost pouting, as he hadn't addressed Number Two's behavior.
My thoughts were sarcastic, "Oh, what's the matter, little pussy? Isn't the big bad dick going to put that one under control? Too bad. You see, little pussy, that one is mine. Just wait and see how many of these I've taken after this heat."
Wulfe coughed, his face turning red from inhaling some coffee. I glanced at him but thought a little about it.
As Number Seven brought Mariella more food, she grabbed him and kissed him.
I could see Number Seven's hips moving, and I thought, "Oh my god, are you really going to dry hump her? Come on, I might want to have my own private time during this heat. No need for that kind of desperation."
Wulfe squeezed my hand, his voice echoing in my hidden thoughts. "Oh please, my unicorn, stop. I can't take this. I swear, I'll soon burst out laughing, but you're right."
I couldn't believe that Wulfe had somehow invaded my thought hide. Then I felt a tingling sensation in my scar.
"Oh great, nothing is private anymore," I sarcastically thought.
Wulfe just smirked, looking at me.
Damon noticed our interaction and said, "Mimi, let's see what kind of heat we have. I think at least the first partner should be a Salvatore for you, so you two will surely have time."
Wulfe rolled his eyes this time.
I chuckled silently at my hidden thoughts. "Oh, is the dick getting jealous, or is this just my normal life? No good times, but fine. If he wants to offer me Salvatores, sure. Let's see how many of them want my bite on their neck."
Again, Wulfe had to attempt to keep his expression neutral, while I couldn't help but feel smug as ever. My girls were also smiling, thanks to the potent pheromones I had given them. These pheromones, linked to my alpha power, helped them relax and be more accepting. It was time to show Mariella how it's done.
In my thoughts, I said to Wulfe, "Want to see Mariella desperate? I can make her throw herself at Number one."
Dryly, Wulfe replied, "Isn't she already?"
Smiling, I moved slightly closer to Damon, positioning myself on his right side. Leaning in, I licked at his pheromone gland and nipped it, asserting my claim on him. His fingers curled around the edge of the table, his eyes half-closed, and his breathing became uneven. It was time to make this count.
Gently, I took one of his hands and ran my tongue along the back of it, focusing on his middle finger.
He gasped and looked at me, his voice growing growly as he said, "Oh baby, you really know how to get me."
The alarm on Mariella's face was clear as she focused, pushing her raw lust through her skin. She pressed herself against Damon, kissing him and crawling into his lap, taking his hands in hers to ensure his full attention was on her.
My girls were smiling. I continued to eat, as did Wulfe, though he had to work hard to maintain his expression. Mariella's blatant desperation to secure the number one for herself was almost pathetic.
As I finished eating, Charles spoke in a firm voice, "Mariella, stop that and eat your meal. God knows you don't eat enough. You need vitamins, but you're too lazy to even plan to synthesize them. For once, I would like to enjoy this heat without receiving 13 alerts daily about your critically low vitamin and mineral levels."
Mariella stopped and moved to her place, begrudgingly eating her meal. She was clearly irritated at being called out in front of the pack, as she was usually the one responsible for feeding everyone.
Damon ate his meal, too. Feeling lazy, I sent the latest report to himself so he knew where he was going. It was his decision, his body, his health. I wasn't his mother or his keeper; I was just his protector. It was up to me to choose how and in what way I would provide that protection.
I walked into the living room, or lounge, whatever you want to call it. It was my castle, and even though I was a Salvatore, I still considered this space to be mine. I had these nice lounge rooms, so there was no need to go to the big hall where the wedding had taken place.
I hadn't found the perfect chair in this room, so I settled for a normal one. I was waiting for the others to arrive, hoping that Mr. Dick would come too. Maybe Mariella would allow him to warm me up, or we could do it on the island. I wasn't sure what the plan was.
Wulfe also entered the room and smirked at me. He asked, "Let me guess, you have a mode heat but you're suppressing it. Why?"
I replied, "I want Elena, Katherine, and the other girls to enjoy themselves. I can't promise to suppress it for the entire 12 weeks, but I'll try, at least for now. No need to traumatize you or the other guys. After all, being in heat can be a really fun time."
Wulfe said to me, "Oh my unicorn, once I have you, I won't let you go."
I told him, "Well, we normally have one week for one partner, but it has been a while since my last one, so I can't make any promises. And here's a word of warning: once I'm pregnant, Damon will most likely be all over Mariella and the wolves. She might even pull others in, like the Salvatores, maybe even you. I might get a bit naughty, meaning I might not want you near me, especially right before giving birth. I'm not even sure if I'll tolerate Colin. I just wanted you to know."
Wulfe smiled and reassured me, "Don't worry about a thing. I can use my magic to bind you and keep you immobilized if needed. Remember, I've got you, even if your alpha side might resist me at first. But don't worry, I've read and studied your mind. Your alpha side will calm down once she realizes I'm not a Salvatore. I won't back down, and neither will Colin, Magnum, Dexter, or Murdock. We've got you."
I nodded and hoped he was right. We sat there, and Wulfe looked at me. He spoke suddenly with a tense voice.
He said, "Please, my unicorn, right now, take me as your own. Bite into my pheromone gland. Right now!"
There was a desperate need in his voice that made me stand up, go to him, straddle him, and sink my teeth into the right side of his neck, marking him as mine. I felt the connection being established, and at the same time, I heard a sharp gasp of surprise, a flash of disappointment, and the smell of peach.
Of course, it was Mariella's little plan, trying to claim Wulfe for herself. But even after that, Wulfe didn't want to be claimed by her, only by me.
Number two's sneering voice taunted Mariella, "Oops, princess, it seems you were a little too slow. Who are you trying to claim next? Or will you finally get a grip? Poor Mimi might have sore jaws soon if your little plan of claiming males doesn't go away. Isn't it blatantly obvious that we don't want to be yours? We belong to the alpha female of the pack."
Mariella remained silent as number one glanced at us and said, "Now, let's move out. I turn on the heat at the island, so you are free to have fun after we determine who goes with whom."
In my mind, I thought to myself, "Poor Salvatores, they will be Mariella's playthings. And as there is no functioning pack leader, it is Mariella who decides who gets who."
Wulfe smirked and replied in my thoughts, "Yeah, you're right. And now I am permanently in your mind. Please create a new hiding place. I have an idea of what to look for."
I rolled my eyes, feeling grateful for our connection with Wulfe, but also aware of number one's laziness.
I noticed Adam smirking, as well as Charles, whose amused voice in my thoughts said, "As you can see, honey, Wulfe was kind enough to tweak our connection so that we can also be a part of it. Please continue, I want to see which one of us breaks first. Your dry sarcasm is spot on, I must say."
My eyes rolled again, feeling as if they were billiard balls on a table, but I had my backup. It felt fantastic to have these individuals supporting me.
As number one teleported us to my paradise island, he took my hand and led me to a bedroom. He remained silent, burying his face in my neck and inhaling my pheromones. He undressed me with his magic and gently placed me on the bed. Oh, he was a machine in bed, but being who I was, I wasn't making it easy for him.
Sure enough, he soon spread my legs and thrust his powerful cock into my pussy with one forceful stroke. His movements were frantic and passionate, but something was missing, that spark. I did orgasm, but I didn't let my heat take control. In my mind, I was having a heated exchange with Adam and Charles, who were encouraging me the whole time.
I'm not sure how long it took, but then number two entered the room. He quickly undressed and number one grew frustrated. Number two came next to me, kissed me, and then I felt a sharp needle penetrate my lung. My mind went haywire, as did my control over my heat.
Number one grunted. "Finally, now we can get this going. This one is not in a good mood."
Number two kissed and bit me while number one pushed me into another orgasm, fully igniting my heat.
Once it was on, he rolled over and said to me, "You're done."
As my mind cleared up, I got off the bed and put my bikini and dress back on.
Number one and number two escorted me to the lobby, where number one scanned the area and said, "Number six and eight, you two take care of her."
Mariella smiled happily as she followed number one to the bedroom to indulge in her heat.
Two extremely tuned-up fucking machines grabbed my arms and teleported me into the bedroom. No foreplay, no passion, no talking as they were after only one thing: my body, raw sex, and not so much feelings. But hey, at least the heat was on. It would be interesting to see what this heat would entail in the end.