Soft lips met his own and strong arms circled around his waist. He melted into the kiss as the presence of his lover calmed him down. He felt safe in the elder's arms. He felt good, about himself, about his life.... The self loathe wasn't there. Not when the one he loves so much tells him how precious he is.

Many might see this as toxic. Many would say this is wrong. This shouldn't be. A 15 year old boy in a relationship with a 27 year old man.

People think it's disgusting, weird, that he's a gold digger, slut or that his lover is a creep, a manipulator, a psycho and what not. He's been questioned, many times but he doesn't care.

Who are these people to judge him so quickly? They weren't the ones to wipe his tears. They weren't the ones to aid his wounds. They didn't care if he lived or not. They didn't care if he was okay. They weren't the ones to help him up when he was down.... So why should he care what they say?

'Alex, baby, are you okay?' The soothing, deep voice of his lover brought him out of his thoughts. He looked into the dark eyes of the elder that held love, care, warmth looking at him. He hugged the taller, burying his face in his chest, breathing in the comforting scent.

'I love you.... A lot... I love you, Damien....' He whispered as the elder held him in his arms, rubbing his back soothingly.

'I love you more, baby.... Always will.' Damien smiled, leaning down to connect their lips. Alex responded, kissing back, wrapping his arms around the elder's neck just as he picked him up. The younger immediately wrapped his legs around Damien's waist.

Think of them as crazy, psychotic or messed up. It didn't matter. They loved each other and didn't care what people thought. Damien had never pressurised Alex into anything. He loved the younger with his entire heart and was very patient with him.

Alex was on the verge of giving up when Damien gave him hope to actually want to live... Not survive, but to live.

Damien taught him to love himself. He taught him to accept himself and not give two fucks about the hypocrites of society. He brought back the colours Alex had lost, restored the hope that had vanished. He brought back the curious, fun loving, caring, bright person Alex used to be.

Besides, their relationship was a lot more than just lust and love. Alex was Damien's mate.

Confused? Well, let me explain.

Damien is an Alpha. A true blood, to be exact. Alex, on the other hand, is a human. This was an uncommon mate bond but nonetheless, it was a mate bond. Usually and especially when it comes to an Alpha, they reject humans. They think that humans are weak and not up to their standards.

Damien didn't care, though. He's loved Alex since the moment they met. And he'd left it to Alex to choose or reject him. There was no way he'd hurt or force his mate. He'd rather die than do that.

Many thought Alex was a gold digger, only choosing Damien 'cause of his status but, that was anything but true. Alex was the best thing that had happened to Damien in a long time. The younger had brought diversity in his life that once used to only be about work and duties.

But Alex got him to be more open, fun loving, affectionate.... He brought out the childish nature of Damien, his curiosity, his explorer side, the side that wanted to know more.

They loved each other and couldn't care less about what people said. Besides, it didn't matter as the ones who should like Alex adored him to the heavens. Most of Damien's pack members adored their Asena. The Alpha's mother was proud that Alex was the one to replace her.

The Alpha held the younger in his arms, the younger snuggling into the elder's muscular form. He looked tiny compared to the Alpha. At 5' 3'', he was pretty small in comparison to most of the people of the pack. But that was normal as he was a human, not a shifter. And then there was Damien, who was well built and 6' 5'', making him over a foot taller than Alex. They were both so different but they complimented each other beautifully.

Damien stroked Alex's cheek with his fingers, gently going over a bruise mark left on his caramel skin. He frowned every time he saw any bruises on his mate. His wolf didn't like the fact that their mate had been hurt, even though it was before they'd met.

Noticing Damien's hand lingering over the spot, Alex placed his smaller hands on the elder's.

'Please, don't worry. This is old. I'm fine, Dee.' He smiled gently, the moonlight that was seeping through the window lighting his face softly. Damien chuckled lightly.

How much attention Alex payed to everything was beyond Damien's understanding.

He even understood the distress in his mind to address it immediately.

'When are you not fine, Al? You don't complain no matter how hurt you are... Then how do I not worry?' He sighed, running his fingers though his mate's hair, admiring how beautiful he was. Alex snuggled even closer. He was affectionate and he couldn't help it. After being neglected for so long, Alex loved the affection and attention Damien provided him with. He'd sometimes even shower the younger with kisses and give him surprise hugs all the time. Alex appreciated every gesture.

'How do I complain when you don't? You care for my needs but you never ask anything from me... You keep me from any discomfort even if that hurts you... Then tell me how can I complain?' Alex asked, looking right into the Alpha's eyes. Damien stiffened at that, not liking where the discussion was going.

Noticing that, the younger sighed, saying, 'This is exactly what I feared, Alpha....' he chuckled dryly before continuing, 'The facade. I am your mate, not a child you need to take care of. If you treat me like this only because of my age, then I'm sorry to say but I would rather leave. I feel exactly how they said I was... A burden, a use-' 'Not another word, Alexander!' He was cut of by the Alpha's warning. Damien was in no way going to quietly hear bad words against his mate. No matter the person saying those words.

Alex felt a shiver run down his spine because Damien had unintentionally used his Alpha voice.

Alex froze completely as he felt tears in his eyes. It wasn't because he was weak, it was because of the Alpha voice. The force of the voice triggered emotions because of past incidents.

Alex harshly wiped the tears, refusing to be so vulnerable.

Damien, upon realizing what he did, immediately went to embrace his mate but the younger pushed him away.

'Don't touch me, Alpha. Please... Just no.' He spoke coldly. Damien didn't like it, neither did his wolf. And also, he didn't fail to notice how his mate was addressing him and he didn't appreciate it. Alex was a person who didn't give a damn about Damien's rank or position or power and addressed him however he wanted. Having him address him with such formality wasn't a good thing.

'Alex, why are you doing this?' He finally asked.

'Because you don't trust me. You don't believe in me.'

'What are you trying to imply? I trust you more than I trust myself!'

'Then why didn't you claim me?' He dropped the bombshell, catching the Alpha off guard.

'Why didn't you claim to to be yours, yet?' This time, his tears fell as he looked down, unable to look at the Alpha.

Damien just stood there, not knowing if he should laugh at his mate's childishness or if he should laugh at his own childishness.

He just legit started to laugh, facepalming himself.

Alex looked at him confused, wondering why the big ol' giant was laughing.

'Why are you laughing?' He asked. Damien just came over, embracing him and picking him up. Out of reflex, Alex wrapped his arms around the Alpha's neck and legs around his waist. Damien kissed him all over his face until he began to giggle, his melodic laughter echoing throughout their room.

After they finally came back to normal, Damien sat up straighter, Alex still on his lap. He chuckled, cupping the younger's face.

'Baby, I didn't claim you not because I didn't trust you. Hell, I trust in you more than I can trust myself. I didn't claim you cause I wasn't sure if you were ready or not, baby flower. I didn't want to hurt, nor force you. I wanted you to tell me by yourself, not under pressure. You're too special for me to ruin this.' He smiled, his dark eyes looking into the younger's caramel brown ones.

Alex broke out a shy smile, hiding his face in the elder's neck. He mentally chuckled at how dramatic he was being.

Damien almost cooed at the adorable sight of his mate. He gently pried his face away from his neck, making the boy look at him.

He leaned down, his cheek touching with the younger's and he brought his lips near Alex's ear.

'I didn't know my flower was so ready to be wrecked. You have no idea how much I want you, baby..... I'm literally pushing my limits.' He whispered in his low, husky voice, then left a open mouthed kiss on Alex's nape, trailing the kiss to his collarbone, stopping with a soft, low plop.

Alex blushed red as a tomato, his body totally frozen at what Damien did. This wasn't a regular occurence that Damien decided to play so hot, though to Alex his Alpha was always hot.

But this display of dominance wasn't something Damien always did with Alex. Not that the younger was complaining.

'Just wait a few days, baby flower. I'll make that day and night the most special for you.;' Damien kissed his mate, letting their hearts beat in sync.

Later that night, Damien held Alex in his arms, falling asleep with the comfort of his mate.

Alex, though, was still awake. He was looking at his mate, admiring his features. He had some scars but that made him look good, in all honesty. He had a scruffy beard that Alex enjoyed poking, just to annoy him.

Alex thought about how lucky he was and how grateful he is to have such a caring mate. He was very grateful and he thanked the goddess everyday for granting him so much love, such a beautiful mate and in-laws that treated him like their own child. He was accepted and loved.

All along his life, till he met Damien, he wondered what his future held for him and how much more he'd suffer.... But now, he didn't care. He knew he could deal with whatever came his way with the love and support of his mate.

In all honesty, he thought he would never belong anywhere or to anyone.... That he'd never be able to have what he longed for so dearly.

But as he drifted off to dreamland, in the embrace of a person who loved him to eternity and back, he finally got his answers...

He finally did belong.