The emptiness inside him did not yield even as he watched Magnolia discuss something of importance before him in the meeting.Something about a charity, or…? God, he couldn’t care less.Magnolia was beautiful, fluid and graceful, he should be proud to have one like her by his side as the future queen, but since he woke up from his long slumber, it was as if the world was in black and white, devoid of colour.Even food had lost its taste.The first few days after waking, he had a gnawing urge to leap off a bridge and meet his demise. A depressive cloud followed him, and where he wished it to yield to sadness so he could pour his heart out and hopefully gain perspective, it did not; everything in him made him believe that his life no longer held meaning.It was only after he heard the news of Alba’s wake that the feeling vanished. Yet, unfortunately, the emptiness remained because while he wanted to see her, he no longer held the permission to run to her side, and even if he were to ign
"Wait! Marko!” Magnolia’s voice in the corridor halted him. “Hey, are you okay?... I mean, rejecting your mate...can't have been easy, but I am glad you did it, and I will be here on the other side waiting for you.” His defence to her had been that they were mates, and in his words, she sympathised with him and blamed Alba for seducing one beyond her. Was it funny that he only saw the hypocrisy now? No...it shouldn’t matter; he could not backtrack anyway. Magnolia rejected her mate for him; whether for his position or not, she was a suitable queen. He should hug and seek reassurance from her arms, but instead, his gaze turned to his watch as if he had to be elsewhere. “It will get easier, trust me; I will send her out of the capital for as many missions as it takes for the...” Her phone rang, cutting her words short. “It’s Rhett.” “Pick it. I left Alba in your care, so manage her schedule not to collude with mine.” He turned to leave, to be anywhere but where he thought o
A false driver, something I would have known if I bothered to turn on my damned phone: instead, I was too busy trying to avoid receipts of Marko’s concern that I forgot my life could be in danger.The information that the Alpha had sent a driver to pick me up was passed on by a new employee in the communication office of the temple. Why I never bothered to confirm can only be tied to not knowing the Alpha’s number off the top of my head—then again, I intended to keep my phone off.The investigation results have left me grateful that he was informed of my waking, and he decided to pick me up on the very day Mother Magdalene, with whom they have been in communication, suggested.So basically, I am alive due to luck.As for the leads, Alpha Rhett’s sole resources have hit a brick wall, with two suicides, one from the new temple employee and the second from the driver, yet no traceable connections to pursue. His suggestion was to involve the Lycan, but is there a point if he has yet to vi
"How much?"The question leaves my mouth as soon as the nurse leaves us in the privacy of the room."What?""How much must I pay for you to vanish?"Bill chuckles.“Alba-”“Don’t; I believe the filed restraining order is still in effect.”He throws a document on my lap before picking up a newspaper and settling himself on the couch at the end of the room.“I would not dream of leaving my darling daughter in a place that hurts her this way.”He does not even fake his concern.For him to act this cocky then-My hands find the envelope’s opening, pulling out its contents for my study.“How is it?’He questions as my eyes roam the parchment.“The man she left me for wrote you out of his will. You are no longer a princess, Alba.”He gloats, but a frown quickly fills his face when no reaction forms on my visage.“And then… I am not a princess, so what? You think I will not have security escort you at the mere snap of my fingers just because you needn’t address me formally?”A sneer forms on
Marko’s body stilled at her harsh sense of distance; he expected this, but… she wasn’t even giving him a chance. “I- I asked that my servants and colleagues not mention anything about you. I did that because I thought I would run to you at a mere word that would entice jealousy; it did not cross my mind that you could be in pain. Forgive me, Alba.” He uttered in honesty, for what else could he lose at this point? Her address of him by his title bittered him even though she had been doing it for most of her life, yet if that were her revenge on him for not visiting her, for not being by her side when she awoke from her accident, then he would take it. Her eyes raked his frame as if looking for cues of whether he lied or not, and a nod followed. “Okay...I perhaps should not have dismissed you that quickly as well.” She uttered. “How did you find out of my state then if you asked none to mention me.” A groan escaped him, he did not want to say it, but if he answered her, perhaps s
At the contact, the moment, it seemed to halt.Neither of them moved, so it must have been the grease and sauce that made his fingers slide between hers. It must have been.Still, his heart did a little twirl when she did not move out of his reach.He moved slowly, affirming the largeness of his fingers between her much smaller and slender ones, parting them wide to rub their centre, to trace their folds and soothe their length.Despite his phallic movements, she did not pull away.He could not face her; he did not want to; he did not want to leave the moments madness, for it felt unbelievably enjoyable.His fingers tightened against hers, and her sharp intake of air sounded in his ears, making it evident that she was aware of his inappropriateness.When he stilled, her fingers moved to his thumb, wrapping around it to stroke it using the grease as lubrication as if his thumb were his shaft.Only when he noticed how both of them sounded breathy from their exchange did he meet her gaze
Alba C The pounding of my heart did not let off, not even after Marko left me in the awkward presence of the Alpha. So much for a new phone line, so much for abandoning my old one for fear that I would wait for his calls. Am I not back where I started, utterly at the mercy of his whims? What even was that? Di- did my hand just lose its virginity? “I can get you another line tomorrow.” Alpha Rhett utters as he clears the bones from my lap, including the piece Marko and I fought over. Perhaps it is for the best that neither of us got to taste it; I cannot imagine eating it now, for it is as though we fucked atop it, even though we just… just what? Christ, just what? My hands, filled with chilly and grease, nearly caress my face in frustration, but the alpha reaches for them, cleaning them with a wet towel. The act feels like a mother caring for their child, a wholly different feeling from when Marko reached for my hand to slow my eating. “Are you not going to say anything abou
"Did you-?""I didn't, but I do know who did,"Jax responds quickly before another chuckle follows."Maybe we can reach some understanding when you come to see me, Alba."What a nut case; how were we friends?Right, I was never at this end of his antics."I told you, Jax, I was placed at flight risk here, and are you kidding me? They wouldn't permit me to leave anyway. Plus, we have some sort of gala that I must attend with my fiancé.""I am certain you will find your way around it. You are smart like that, Alba. Love you."A silence fills the line, alerting me that he has ended the call, leaving me staring into the room’s darkness.That...bitch!Why must he push such burdens on me? Is there even a guarantee that Bill will get off my back if I press the issue?**"How did you know about Bill?"I asked the alpha, finally unable to formulate any more excuses on his behalf.The document on my removal from the royal family, and the information on my accident, are both too much for an outs
And that’s a wrap. The book will be marked as complete soon; I hope you loved both stories, the bonus ( ̄y▽ ̄)╭ ohohoho….. and the main story. Now on the meat of the matter, my next work will be out in late June or Mid-July titled: The Alpha's Ruby Obsession (I think, but most likely.) It will be 18+, not just because of the smut but because it is a little darker than this one, discussing themes to do with suicidal ideations and consent-non-consent relations, but don’t worry, I will tag the concerning chapters. It can be read as a stand-alone, but there are benefits to reading this book first. Lastly, this concerns my other book: Your last lie—please do not purchase it until perhaps next year (Late next year); it was my first book and thus very clumsy, I want to work on it, and if you have it in your library, you can remove it and select it later, the changes should reflect. Thank you for reading and voting for ‘Bound to My Wicked Stepbrother’. I would love to hear more from you; whe
TRIGGER WARNING: CONSENT. The pounding in my head trembles my vision. Christ, I am never drinking again. My struggle to change my position and take advantage of the day is met with a familiar stiffness; only the rattling sounds binding me send my eyes wide open. An unfamiliar room, brightly lit with top wall windows that ensure I cannot see outside, but enough light enters that I can see thousands upon thousands of pictures of me lining the walls. Hah... what the hell? Panic sets in low in my belly as struggle finds my limbs. I do not wish to scream; who knows what I will alert, but the rattling of the cuffs binding my hands and feet to the bed must have awoken something because movement sounds from the other side, beyond the dark staired hallway. It would have been easy to sit upright had it only been my hands bound, but both my hands and feet were chained to the bed, holding me indecently in place and... My clothes are different. "You are up? Good, I brought you some food.
He isn’t coming. I repeat to myself as I splash some more warm water on my face. Ugh, what the hell was that sickly sweet champagne Magnolia guzzled down my throat in ‘celebration’? If she wants me to be drunk and embarrass myself, all she has to do is say that. A sigh escapes me at my tired expression in the bathroom mirror. My face is flushed, yet despite how tipsy I am, the hurt from seeing him arrive with his ‘ex-fiancée’ cut too deep to be blurred with liquor. Ever since the production ended, I woke up to sex dreams where Marko would bind me, trap me somewhere and have his way with me mercilessly. Of course, I would plead that he free me because, let’s face it, I would only plead that he does not touch me so that I could be regarded as sane. Because who in the hell would want to be bound and f*cked mercilessly by someone who all but regarded them as a slut? Guilt always devours me at the end of the vulgar dreams, I guess they are about to worsen now that he is with his ex-f
Marko "Cut”. The director's voice rang for what would be the last time, and applause followed. The moment was bittersweet, but the feel of Alba detaching from him as if he was plagued stung. "Alb-" "Don't...don't say anything, Marko. Let this end." "I don’t want-" "Don't want that?" Again, she interrupted him, finishing his sentence when he did not wish her to. "Marko, you called me a slut a few weeks ago, so let this 'slut' reform her ways, a safe distance from you.” “I never said you were a slut.” “No, you merely said that I spread my legs for anyone who gives me the time of day; if your argument is on semantics, try again." Alba uttered as she moved from him, but her dress, the same ivory gown that stole his chest as she walked down the Aisle, making him wish that for a moment the scene was real and she was his bride, made her curse as she moved. "God damn heels!" She muttered before leaving him...again. Should he manipulate her transport? No, she might not fall for
The ballroom echoed its commotion at Marko’s announcement of me as his future wife and Milos as his heir. I should cease wearing fitting gowns that limit my breathing during balls that I anticipate trouble. Still, his hand on my waist is more intense in this way, even as some show their distaste for our relationship vocally, despite our mention that we were mates chosen by the goddess. The tea party was brutal, but this, having to look in the eyes of hundreds of unsmiling faces as if our lives impacted them more than was appropriate, was a whole other thing. Despite all this, my proximity to Marko keeps me uncaring; but I cannot stop my chest’s clenching. Unlike me, he has cared how others viewed him since his youth, and he has always wanted to be a regal and dignified king framed by perfection. Am I not staining him? Please don't change your mind. Please want me still. Please- A tremble rocks through me at the thoughts chanting ceaselessly in my mind, so I step away from Mark
"Ahh...that hits the spot."Ruby utters as she places her pitcher of cider beer on the table with a thud. Without missing a beat, she turns to the table grill and turns the thinly sliced steaks before they burn.It was amusing watching her eat, actually more than amusing; I keep growing envious of her appetite.Still, how were the Clive illegitimate children treated for her to behave this similarly to Violet and me?While I like her playful maturity, we understand the scars that made us this way.After explaining my dream as the ‘sun’ to her (I am not sure if she believes me or thinks I am crazy), we settle and enjoy each other’s company at the eatery that offers each table a small grill and a wide selection of meats for one to fry up themselves if they do not wish for any item from the precooked menu.It took quite a bit of patience, but I finally finished the steak Violet made for me; it is hard to avoid eating when everything around me smells delicious; hell, even the smoke smelled
The woman’s voice holds remorse so deep that it stills me momentarily; it is only when tears stream down her face, ruining her perfect make-up, that I try my hardest to squat in the tightness of my dress and hold her in my arms, for God knows what reason.A feeling I had not felt since Red Graw dances in my chest."My Su-""I am sorry for the way it ended, my dearest misunderstood crimson moon."My lips utter with a voice that comes from deep within me before a smile tilts the corners of my lips upwards.Despite the smile playing on my face, a deep heaviness feels my chest.“It shall awaken soon; find your centre, my precious blood moon; only then will you find peace.” The moment her head slumps heavily on my shoulders, the ‘enchanted’ feeling dissipates from me before I feel her stiffen in my arms."Oh...oh, you must think I am insane."She whispers through my flesh before she peals away from me, hiding the crimson covering her face.“Help me up?”She asks her chauffeur, who assists
“That’s like saying I do not care for my skin.”The girl Violet converses with responds.“I am not responsible for how you choose to interpret my words.”Christ, Violet.I almost groan, but Georgia yells a question impolitely at me."Is that a ring? Are you engaged, priestess?" Silence follows the words; even the blonde, who almost responded to Violet’s taunt, turns her attention to me.“That’s right; you said you would discuss it inside,”Rebeca chimes.Hesitation echoes within me, I thought I would be amongst friends as I open up about this tender subject, but instead, I feel as if I am-"Yes, uh...I am getting married."I announce into the silence, and gasps follow from the majority of the lips but Rebecca’s."Oh! The Lycan King was carrying a baby in his arms in the papers, perhaps a week back. Was the baby yours? I mean, you did go missing for years after the whole Red Graw saga. Did they… I mean, is that why you are being removed from the royal line."Georgia asks; her brashnes
As opposed to an elegant parlour room, Rebecca escorts us outside to a greenhouse-like place that holds numerous colourful and bright plants that add to the bright aesthetic of the party, and despite being outside, the scent of pastries and tea hang deliciously in the air.My gaze turns to the nearby pond, and it is so clear that I can see my reflection in it, but more than that, I can see the tiredness in Rebecca’s build.I guess all the Clive relatives, regardless of association, had a tough time after Magnolia’s treason.The deeper we walk into the space, the more the sound of laughter and chatter calls to us only; it is not as inviting as she had once presented during the mate ball.“About Magnolia…”I begin, but she turns so suddenly on her track that I wind up trailing my words.“Oh, we are fine. Our relation is only from the maternal side.”What the hell is that supposed to mean?Does it matter from which side your cousins hail?“Anyway, I saw today’s papers; how are you holdin