Chapter 12

ALPHA PARTHE.

It had been days, yet Luxuria still lay in a fragile state, her body recovering slowly. I wasn't sure how much longer I could bear it. A part of me—the beast that stirred restlessly beneath the surface—wanted her fully healed, fully alive.

She was awakening something inside me that had refused to be tamed, a fire that flickered more dangerously with each passing moment I spent in her presence.

I stood at the edge of her chamber, watching her sleep. She was utterly oblivious to the world around her, her breath soft and even, completely unaware that a predator stood silently, watching her like he always stalked his prey before ending them.

Her buttery, silken skin glowed faintly in the moonlight that filtered through the narrow window, casting a delicate sheen over her naked shoulders.

She was the kind of woman who could make a man beg for redemption, make him want to be better, and repent for every sin just for the chance to touch her again. But I was not that man.

No, I reminded myself coldly, forcing my gaze to harden. She was here for one reason—duty. She was just another prized trophy in a long list of accomplishments, a beautiful trinket to admire and use. But the emotions she stirred inside me, the ones gnawing at my control, would wither before they had the chance to bloom.

It all ends before it even begins.

My gaze drifted to the small silver locket nestled between her firm, perky breasts. The memory of that night—our night—flooded back with a force that left my mouth dry and my chest tight.

The way she made me feel.

Her body, soft and succulent beneath mine, her silky voice whispering desperate pleas in my ear when she couldn't take any more of my torments on her pure innocence.

I remembered everything as if it had just happened yesterday.

I could still feel the way her smooth skin glided beneath my hands, how her warmth seeped into me, filling the cold void that had been my constant companion for so long.

Every curve of her body fit perfectly against mine as if she were crafted by the gods for my pleasure.

I could still remember the soft sound of her breath catching as I traced my fingers down her side, the way her body arched instinctively into mine, desperate for more.

Her innocence had only made it more thrilling, the way she surrendered to the heat between us, even when she tried to resist.

Luxuria had been both intoxicating and maddening.

And now, even in her vulnerable state, lying asleep and unaware of the storm brewing inside me, she still had the power to undo me.

She stirred slightly in her sleep, her soft lips parting ever so slightly, and I cursed under my breath, pushing the desire down deep.

She was nothing more than a distraction, a fleeting pleasure. The beast in me wanted her, but the man knew better.

She was awake. I felt it. But why was she not opening her eyes just yet? There is surely a lot she doesn't know about me. Just like now.

Did she really think she was fooling me by pretending to be asleep?

A small smirk left my lips. Whatever her reason was, I didn't really care.

I had to go look for Shikta to calm the storm Luxuria had stirred in me.

***

I left Luxuria's chamber, my mind swirling with dark, unrelenting thoughts. The way she stirred something within me, something primal, was maddening. But I couldn't afford to dwell on it. I needed something else—something familiar—to douse the fire she had ignited.

Shikta would know how to handle it. She always did.

Luxuria had made me feel something I hadn't allowed myself to feel in years—something I despised in myself. Weakness.

But I could take that out on Shikta.

The moment Shikta stepped inside, a slow, knowing smile spread across her lips. She was dressed in deep scarlet, the thin fabric barely clinging to her curves. Her long, dark hair flowed down her back, and her eyes gleamed with anticipation. She had been waiting for this moment to be called upon to serve me in the one way she knew best.

"You sent for me, Alpha," she purred, her voice thick with desire.

I didn't say a word to her. I just wanted her to get on with it already. My balls were burning with need. She knew what I needed. She always did.

Her hands reached for my chest, trailing down slowly, her fingers barely grazing my skin as she undid the laces of my tunic with practiced ease.

Shikta's touch was like fire, igniting something deep within me, but it was a different kind of flame than Luxuria had stirred. This one was darker, more controlled. She knew how to handle the beast inside me, how to tame it just enough without letting it consume me.

"You look tense," she whispered, her lips brushing against my neck as she pressed herself against me. The heat of her body was a welcome distraction, but it did nothing to quell the thoughts of Luxuria that lingered in the back of my mind.

Still, I let myself be drawn into the moment, knowing that Shikta was there to serve, to calm the storm raging beneath my skin.

"Just get on with it, Shikta," I almost snapped at her. "Less talking, more action."

Her hands moved with deliberate slowness, teasing, as she slid my tunic from my shoulders, letting it fall to the ground.

Shikta's fingers traced the ridges of my muscles, her touch light and playful, but I could see the hunger in her eyes. She wanted this as much as I did—maybe more. She just waited for my approval.

"You always know what I need," I growled, my voice thick with lust as I gripped her waist, pulling her closer. Her breath hitched as our bodies pressed together, but she maintained her composure, knowing that this was a game we often played, one where she was always in control—until I decided otherwise.

Her lips traced a line along my jaw, her breath hot against my skin. I closed my eyes, forcing myself to surrender to the sensations, to let her take me under, just as she had countless times before.

Her hands worked their way lower, her lips following. But the further she went, the more I realized that no matter how skilled she was, no matter how much she tried to please me, it wasn't enough. Not this time.

The beast inside me didn't want Shikta. It wanted something else—someone else.

With a growl, I grabbed her wrists, halting her teasing movements, and she looked up at me, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Alpha?" she asked, her voice hesitant, unsure.

I flipped her around, pinning her against the stone wall, my hand in her hair, gripping tight as I pulled her head back, exposing the delicate line of her throat. Her breath hitched, but she didn't resist. She never resisted.

"My Alpha," she breathed, her voice heavy with desire. "I'm yours."