I knew it and yet, I couldn’t bring myself to stop looking at her. As soon as I left here, I would focus only on Mavy. I wouldn’t think about the princess who slept in the room at the top of the staircase. I wouldn’t wonder about the books on her shelves. I wouldn’t wonder if any of them were scandalous. No, I would remember that it’s only Mavy and I against the world.
Slowly, I made my way to her bed. Mahogany wood was the theme in this packhouse but more so in her room. Her bed matched her vanity and the frame around her mirror. I smirked, Princess had grown up in the lap of luxury.
She deserves nothing less.
I took a seat at the edge of the bed and watched her continue to rifle through supplies. When she had everything she needed, she turned from the mirror and faced me.
Clenching her jaw, she straightened her back and closed the distance between us. She hesitated for a second, only a second, before she placed the supplies beside me on the bed. She took a step toward me, successfully finding a place between my knees. I swallowed at her sudden closeness but she didn’t bat an eye.
I haven’t been this close to anyone, not since…
She didn’t look at me, but with her this close, I got a better look at her. I was close enough to see the curve of her eyelashes and the light dusting of freckles that started just above her cheeks, spreading across her nose.
I watched her slender wrist as she held a cloth. I watched as she dipped it into a metal tin containing a liquid that had a Goddess-forsaken smell.
She focused on my face and I hissed as she pressed it against my cheek, causing a sharp pain. I couldn’t recall even being kicked in the face. She grasped at the back of my head to keep me still. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her as she pulled me close. My throat went dry as her fingers slipped around my neck and ran through my hair. I didn’t know much about women, but at that moment, I knew I was in trouble.
“You smell of blood. Were you hurt before you came here?” Adealine said, her voice breaking through my thoughts. I scoffed.
“No, I kill for a living.”
Her eyes widened a fraction but she didn’t ask me anymore questions. We sat in comfortable silence as she cleaned up my face. I flinched but didn’t make any more noise as she dabbed, wiped, and turned my head to every angle possible.
“Remove your shirt,” she said nonchalantly.
“What?” I asked. I may or may not have been appalled.
“Remove your shirt,” she repeated.
“Why?” I asked cautiously.
“Because my father hurt you and I need to see it in order to tend to it.”
“No, I—” but I didn’t get to finish my sentence because the moment she registered that I had said no, she flung into action.
I tried to block her to keep her off of me but it didn’t work. She was fast, she grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it up and over my head. When she gave me a stern look, I couldn’t do anything but comply and pull my arms out. She tossed it onto the bed and turned back to me.
Her gaze dropped down the length of my body. She gasped and I lifted my nose into the air. Smugly, I watched her while her gaze roamed down my muscled torso but when the look in her eyes went from admiration to worry, I lowered my gaze. Looking down at myself, I realized what she was looking at. Scars, old scars that hadn’t faded over the last three years. They were still an enraged red color and slightly raised to the touch.
“It isn’t as bad as it looks,” I say. I needed to figure out how I was going to turn her attention away from them. I could see the questions in her eyes but I didn’t want to talk about any of it.
“I tensed my stomach with every kick. It could have been a lot worse. Look at me, there’s barely a scratch. I may or may not have broken a rib but I’ll be fine. It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I shrugged.
“You’ll be fine?” She asked, her voice was oddly quiet. I looked up at her. Her chin trembled, her eyes burned angrily, and her shoulders shook ever so slightly. “You were kicked repeatedly by my father, I know it hurts. There are bruises all over you, and I’m fairly certain your eye will be closed shut in the morning.”
“How would you know? I could just be the strongest man around.”
She didn’t say anything but her eyes dropped to my chest. She dipped the cloth again and pressed it against the scrapes and cuts. I fought the urge to growl as she took care of them.
I’m glad she didn’t ask about my scars.
I don’t want to look weak to her.
Why hadn’t she answered my question?
“How would you know what a kick from the Alpha feels like?” I asked.
“I-I…” she stuttered incoherently before she looked away. I watched as she tried to mask her expression. I didn’t like not being able to look into her eyes while she talked. I reached out for her but she dodged me and went back to vanity.
When she walked back to me, she had a tube of ointment in hand. Her shoulders were tense, and her gaze firm as she made up her mind. She still had a limp in her step and a thought crossed my mind. A terrible thought, one I didn’t think could be possible. If he had easily slapped her outside, what happened behind closed doors? When she got to me, she squeezed a bit of the ointment onto her finger. I felt a jolt of pain as her finger prodded a bruise. In a flash, I grabbed her hips and threw her down onto the bed. Her dress rode up but my mind wasn’t on that. All thoughts of being close to her had scattered in the wind. I needed to check, I needed to know. My suspicions were confirmed as I was met with smooth skin marked with bruises. New dark purple bruises lay on top of older yellowing ones. My heart dropped into my stomach. Scrapes and cuts started on her legs and ran all the way up her thighs. I had a suspicion they went higher. “What are you doing?!” She hissed. Her eyes darted t
I held her while she poured her heart out. I didn’t judge her, I didn’t try to make it better because there was nothing I could do. When she was done, she wiped her cheeks. Looking up into my eyes she burst into a fit of laughter.“I’m sorry. I don’t know what just happened.” She turned her face to look out the window. The sun was starting to set. “Goddess, I need to go!” She uncurled herself from my grasp and hopped to her feet. “… and you need to leave here without being seen. I’m surprised no one has come for me yet!”“Leave without being seen? I can do that.”“How?” She whined as she rushed to the vanity.“I’m good at hiding.”“Are you though?” She asked. Her tone revealed her disbelief.“Yes. It’s a skill, and just think, no one is looking FOR me. Don’t worry. I’ll make it out without being seen.”“How are you going to manage that? We’re up four flights of stairs and people are most likely walking around now. What’s the plan?” Adealine asked.I watched Adealine as she sat in her
AdeaThe day was as hot as it was humid, with air so thick you could practically cut it with a knife. The people prayed for a sign of rain, but there wasn’t a cloud in sight. It’s funny how things like caring about the weather started to matter the older I got. At almost fourteen, I knew what a drought would do to our crops. It was announced that every pack member was to gather in the meeting hall. Pulling my gaze from the window, I turned to face the people as they made their way in.I sat to the far left of my father, Alpha Eduard Biscoff of the Clear Mountain pack. He wore a white dress shirt tucked into his fitted black slacks. A red vest was fastened at the front and gold rings adorned his fingers. He had a full head of brown hair, where mine was curly, his was straight. The air pulsing with tension spoke volumes as he held his head as high as only a King could. His gray eyes glared at the pack members as they poured into the hall.The only buffer between my father and myself was
It felt as if all of the air had been sucked out of the room. I’d never seen him before, but I didn’t need an introduction. I knew who he was. From the light scar at the corner of his brow and the green of his eyes, I knew instantly who he was. The man that had just entered the Meeting Hall was Ethan of the Crimson pack. His broad shoulders, muscular chest, brown tousled hair and piercing green eyes made it clear. My future King had arrived. Seeing him, I knew why we were called to the Meeting Hall. We were here to welcome Alpha Ethan.He towered over his men by at least two feet. He wore a white dress shirt that hung loosely. His shirt did little to hide the muscles beneath it. He was tall, his long legs gave an impressive stance. He paired his ensemble with black shiny boots.Ethan was mouthwatering and I knew every woman who sat in this hall today would agree. Just glancing around, I saw the jealous glares shoot all across the room. I knew any one of them would happily volunteer to
Two years laterShane“Shane!”My Princess’s voice cut through my concentration, demanding my focus. I internally groaned and jumped at the thought of her being here at this moment. I had been on the hunt all day before a prey willingly walked into my trap. I didn’t flinch as she called me again. I knew she was here, any moment now, she would walk through that door and see me, if she hadn’t already.Pretending I couldn’t hear her, I stuck my tongue down Evangeline’s throat and grabbed her breast. Her arms were wrapped around me, her mouth was open, wet, and inviting. I squeezed hard and she cried out as the pleasure mixed with pain. She didn’t tell me to stop, she never did. She was good at giving me what I wanted. No matter how dark, no matter how depraved, she always let me do whatever it was I wanted. She ground against me as she widened her legs. The door opened and the sound of her footsteps announced her arrival.“Shane!” Adea hissed through the darkness.Tonight was the masquer
Had I not been a wolf, I wouldn’t have heard her. I heard her loud and clear, and I didn’t have to ask who she was talking about. I was stuck between wanting to see him and wanting to take her far away from him. Why was he here? She wasn’t even of age yet. Why now? We were supposed to have time, she still had time. The bastard was being selfish, this was too quick and I wanted to rip him apart. The thought of him claiming her before her time made my blood boil. Over my cold, dead body would he take her.As if sending my inner turmoil, Adea stopped. She turned toward me and for the first time tonight, I saw the real fear in her eyes. Why hadn’t I heard it when she called me? Why hadn’t I been able to hear how scared she was? It wasn’t just worry, it was fear. I was such a dumbass. I had been too focused on making her jealous or angry. I had wanted her to say something,to demand that I stay away from everyone except her.I had wanted her to claim me but I’d been stupid, too focused on m
Everyone was intoxicated, dancing, or high on moony. It was a drug that gives you a warm sensation, heightens your senses, and euphoria for a limited time. Hands slid up my arms and across my chest but I brushed them off. The Alpha was sitting on the elevated throne and I knew he couldn’t see us. He was being entertained by two she-wolves but Adea kept her head down as we walked by just in case. We were almost there. As long as we could get out of the dance area, we were practically free.The smell of arousal was in the air, the lights dimmed, and sweaty bodies rubbed up against us. Adea didn’t say anything but I felt the way her hand tightened around mine. She trusted me. She knew I’d keep her safe and I wasn’t going to let her down. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding as we made it through the bodies and out of the ballroom. We walked under the high archway and were in the hallway. The one that would lead us outside, the one that would deliver us to freedom.There were a
My Princess threw her head back, her eyes closed tightly, her lips curved, and her mouth open as she laughed. The wind blew her hair back, and the moon shined down on her. It was ethereal and I was mesmerized. Adea was beautiful and I was under her spell. At this moment, carefree, happy, and mine. Right now, she was the most beautiful I’d ever seen her. The stars twinkled in the sky, and the moon smiled smugly down on us but I ignored it. Adea was mine, all mine.Tonight was a night of victory. I’d punched her intended in the face and I fucking reveled in it. His holier than thou self had gotten what he deserved. He deserved more than my fist but there was no time for that. The sound that echoed in the hall when my fist collided with his face was absolute perfection. My blood was pumping and I felt higher than I’ve ever been. I felt powerful. I don’t know how long we’d been running. I don’t think I even knew where we were headed.This wasn’t the time for thinking. We wouldn’t worry ab