[A/N - Play the song above for the entire chapter🌹]

"He loves me, he loves me, and I bet he never lets me go, and shows me how to love myself. Cause, baby, the best part of me is you. Whoa, lately, everything's making sense, too. Baby, I'm so in love with you."
~Ed Sheeran & Yebba, 'Best Part Of Me'

~~~

*Ryland's POV*

"Then," Landon interrupts me, pushing the tip of his thick cock into my hole and making me release a strangled moan. "I'm going to fuck you the way you deserve to be fucked."

Precum leaks profusely from my cock at the promise, and I try pushing my hips back towards Landon. He grasps my hips firmly, eyes darkening as he waits for something.

"Yes," I breathe out, desperately needing him to fill me up. "Please, make love to me."

His oceanic blue eyes soften, and he dips down to press tender kisses along my spine. I shiver under the loving caresses of his soft lips as he starts to slowly push in.

Although he's moving slowly, the way his cock is stretching my walls has me panting from the slight burn. It feels weird, but knowing that it's Landon inside of me adds an extra thrill that somehow makes it more pleasurable.

"Almost there," Landon grunts, rubbing my back as he continues to push his cock deep into my channel. I wince, balling up the sheets in my fists. Once he's completely inside of me, he holds still and gives me time to adjust. "Are you okay?"

I nod my head against the mattress. "You can move."

"Are you sure? We don't have to rush—"

I push my hips back towards him, making him groan loudly as the action causes me to involuntarily clench around him. His hands slide from my back to my ass, kneading the flesh appreciatively. Landon grips my hips, sliding out slowly before thrusting back in.

Gasps pour from my lips in time with his steady thrusts as the burn begins to dissipate. After a few minutes of shallow thrusts, Landon begins to pick up the pace. His cock slides in and out as he fucks his way into me. My gasps turn into moans when his thickness brushes against my bundle of nerves.

"Landon!" I cry out, overwhelmed by the feeling of being so full of my mate, my boyfriend, the love of my life.

"You feel so fucking good," Landon praises with a groan, making me whimper into the sheets. "Goddess, you're so tight!"

"Ngh!" I attempt to muffle my moans with the sheets, but Landon isn't having it. He abruptly pulls me up by shoulders, pressing my back to his chest.

"Don't quiet your moans," Landon says as his lips trail my neck down to my shoulder. "Let me hear how good you feel, baby."

He thrusts back into me, the new angle causing his cock to hit against my prostate every time. I cry out, throwing my head back against his shoulder as my mind is turned to mush. I can't believe how good I feel right now; sex has never been something that felt very good to me since I always had to hold back. But now, with my mate pounding into me without restraint, I can't imagine holding back ever again. I want him, all of him, all the time. I don't think I'll ever get enough of feeling him inside of me.

"Open your eyes," Landon instructs, and my eyes fly open. In all honesty, I hadn't even realized I closed them because I was so lost in the pleasure Landon's providing me.

Blood rushes to my cheeks when my eyes focus on the mirror above us. I try to look away, but Landon grips my chin to keep my head from moving. The mirror paints an erotic image of me getting fucked hard, with my untouched cock red and leaking. Seeing us together in such a lewd way makes a coil tighten in my stomach, and I know I'm already close.

The sound of skin slapping against skin fills the bedroom, mixing in with our moans that are getting louder and louder. I turn my head to the side, capturing Landon's lips in a sloppy kiss. Our tongues swirl together as I bring my hand back to grip his golden hair tightly, making him growl into my mouth.

"Ahh!!" I cry out against his lips when Landon grasps my cock, pumping me in time with his thrusts. Receiving pleasure on both ends is becoming too much too quickly, and I watch in the mirror as my eyes begin to glow red. "L-Landon!"

Landon flips us around until my back is against my mattress, and my legs are on his shoulders. His eyes are glowing blue as he thrusts back into me. My back arches with the satisfaction of being so full, but knowing that I still need more. Opening my mouth, I heave out my canines, making River snarl as I use my wolf abilities. Landon does the same, looking unbelievably sexy with his eyes glowing and canines dropped.

Hooking my legs over his arms, Landon presses into me until our chests are touching and my knees are pressed into the mattress. The burn in my thighs accompanies the immense pleasure that shoots up my spine with each one of Landon's powerful thrusts. He grasps my cock, pumping me to help me get closer to the edge.

"F-Fuck!" I shout; River growling and snarling in my mind as he tries to break free. We need to complete the mating process now, before my wolf can force his way out. I yank Landon's head to the crook of my neck and scrape my teeth along his shoulder. He shivers when I pass over the space between his shoulder and neck, where is scent is strongest.

"I love you," Landon says with a guttural growl, then sinks his teeth into my neck. Fireworks erupt in my body, making me sob as I plunge my canines into his shoulder.

My entire body comes alive, and I gasp loudly. It feels like light is bursting through my broken soul, tearing it apart before stitching it back together into something whole and new.

I keep my eyes open, watching the mirror above me. My red eyes glow brighter and brighter until they whiten, and my body begins to convulse in Landon's arms. He holds me tightly, whispering words that my brain can't process as my eyes begin to flash gold.

River howls, and my sobs grow more intense as I continue to stare in awe at the gold coloring of my eyes. Not red, gold. Just like they were before River went feral.

Holy goddess, it really worked.

River's back.

My wolf, my best friend... he's okay again.

"Shh, I've got you," Landon murmurs in my ear, lifting me up and setting me in his lap. My arms wrap around his neck as I sob without restraint, a hurricane of emotions swirling in me. Relief that my five-year-long nightmare is over. Indescribable joy that my wolf is back. Grief that River missed so much of our life. But most of all, love for my perfect mate.

"Thank you," I sob into his neck. "Thank you for b-bringing River back. I'm so h-happy that you love me, and that y-you didn't l-leave me. Thank y-you, thank you, thank you."

Landon pulls back to cup my cheeks, and that's when I notice the tears running down his face. I would've been concerned if not for the wide smile on his lips.

"Thank you," Landon emphasizes. "For being so patient, and understanding, and good. Thank you for not giving up on me."

I cry harder as Landon kisses all around my face; my cheeks, my nose, my forehead, my jaw. My body relaxes into his loving embrace, and my crying gradually dies down.

"Can you feel him?" Landon asks, his eyes flashing blue to let me know Leo is listening. "Can you feel River?"

Closing my eyes, I prod around in my mind for my wolf. I sense him curled up in a corner, breathing deeply and shivering. He doesn't snarl or growl when I reach for him, but small whimpers escape him. As expected, he's weakened from the whole ordeal, but he's okay.

"Yes," I answer, opening my eyes and smiling. "He's weak, but... he's back."

Landon crushes me in a tight hug, and we laugh together out of relief and joy. We tumble around on the bed, playfully wrestling while nipping at each other's necks and ears. I pin him to the mattress, admiring my mark on his neck. The permanent bite mark that forever claims him as mine, just as I am his.

Leaning down, I run my tongue over his fresh mark. Landon shivers, eyes rolling back from the sensitivity. I grin at him, flattening my tongue as I continue to tease him. He growls at my cheekiness, lifting his head to suck on my mark. I moan loudly, feeling my cock already stirring back to life.

I yelp when Landon pushes me onto my back, lifting my legs over my head until my feet are almost touching the headboard. The position makes me feel extremely exposed, and I squirm around to try and escape while Landon discards the used condom.

"I told you," Landon starts lowly, watching me with heated eyes that causes my erection to fill. "I was going to make love to you, and then fuck you. And I'm a man of my word."

He moves to grab another condom, but I quickly grab his wrist to stop him.

"I want to feel you, all of you," I tell him, my erection leaking as his eyes darken with lust. "I don't want anything in between us."

"Fuck, you're so sexy," Landon groans, leaning down to kiss me passionately. He nips at my bottom lip, tugging it between his teeth. When he releases my lip, he reaches for the bottle of lube to apply some to his shaft. I hold my hands under my thighs, keeping myself spread and waiting for him. Landon growls, nipping at my thigh appreciatively.

The head of his cock pushes back into me, and Landon moans while gripping my hips hard enough to bruise. The thought of being covered in bruises caused by our love-making makes my cock pulse, and I wiggle my ass to try and take more of him in me.

"Fucking minx," Landon growls. "I'm trying to keep myself from cumming right away, and you want to tease me? Goddess, do you even realize how warm and soft you are inside?"

My cheeks heat up from his lewd praises, and Landon slides the rest of his length into me. We groan in unison; my eyes fluttering as I can feel every detail of Landon's cock now. The shape of his swollen head, the sensitive vein that runs along the underside. I can feel everything and I am relishing in it.

"Fuck me," I plead with a high-pitched whine. "Landon!"

Landon pulls back before snapping his hips forward, making me choke from how rough his thrusts have become. Gripping my hips, he yanks me to him as he thrusts forward harshly, mercilessly fucking his way into me.

"Goddess, yes!!" I cry out, tears of pleasure prickling my eyes. Landon grabs one of my legs, positioning it on his shoulder as I'm forced to roll onto my side. He thrusts back into me, and I yelp as I have to grip onto the mattress for support.

I'm definitely going to feel this for a week.

"Lan...don..!" My cries come out choppy and strangled as I'm fucked into the mattress. Without warning, my orgasm slams into me, making me scream as the tears fall.

I'm lifted from the bed as Landon scoops me up, pressing my back against the wall. Incoherent mumbles leave my lips, although I'm not sure what I'm trying to say as Landon hooks my leg over his arm, not giving me a chance to rest before he's thrusting back into me.

"Fuck! Yes!" I sob out, and Landon grips my ass to lift me up, forcing me to wrap my legs around his waist. This is completely different than the tender way he made love to me earlier. This is wild and animalistic; two wolves fucking the life out of each other.

I cover Landon's mark with my mouth, sucking hard and making him bark a moan. Warmth floods me as he cums inside of me, sweat dripping from his forehead.

Returning the favor, I don't give him a chance to rest before I unwind my legs from his waist and push him back onto the bed. My legs are shaky, but I'm able to gather enough strength to straddle him. His cock is still hard, making it easy for me to sink down onto him.

"Mmmm!" I moan as I begin to bounce up and down, fucking myself on his cock. "S-So good!"

"You're so good to me, honeybee," Landon groans, running his hands through his disheveled golden hair. "You take my cock so well."

Leaning back, I place my arms behind me and place my feet flat on the mattress. Using the strength in my arms to hold myself up, I raise my hips up and down to take him even deeper. Landon cries out, his legs beginning to shake as his orgasm rushes to him. His hot release floods me for a second time, triggering yet another orgasm to tear through me.

We collapse together on the bed, bodies sweaty and spent. I curl into his side, trying to catch my breath while feeling his essence trickling out of me.

"I love you," I murmur, feeling my eyes growing heavy.

Landon brushes his lips against my forehead. "I love you, honeybee. Forever."

~~~

~2300 words of pure smutty goodness, you're welcome

If I were to split this novel into two books, I would end the first one here. Buuuuuut I'm not cuz I already have the entire series planned out

THEY MATED!! RIVER IS BACK!! RYLAND IS A POWER BOTTOM!!

Thoughts??

Q: What artist do you listen to when you're sad?
[Lewis Capaldi and Anson Seabra]

See you next time, Gumballs!
-Gumbie