Benita’s POVIt was night, and I had been in my room all day—or should I say the confined space I called room. I wanted to stay away from everyone and wished I could remain locked up here forever so I wouldn’t have to face anyone.My thoughts drifted to Nathan's words about how he couldn’t stop thinking about me. For a moment, I was supposed to be happy—at least he might be feeling something for me—but I brushed it off. Of course, there was no way he was having feelings for me. He was just saying it to accuse me of using a spell on him.“What if it’s really true?” my wolf asked, but I shook my head against it. Nathan hates me, and maybe I want it to stay that way.“Bring two bottles of water to my room,” Nathan spoke to me through the mind link, and I frowned.“Bring it this moment,” he ordered abruptly, ending the mind link without waiting for my response.I grumbled under my breath, annoyed at Nathan’s abruptness. For a moment, I debated ignoring his order, but I knew better. He alw
Benita’s POV“Got you,” Nathan growled, his voice low and strained. His body pressed into mine, his hands gripping my wrists to stop my frantic attempts to crawl away.“Get off me!” I screamed, thrashing beneath him, my anger boiling over.“Stop!” he barked, his tone sharp and commanding. “You’re going to hurt yourself!”I froze for a moment, my chest rising and falling as I tried to catch my breath. “Why do you care?” I choked out, tears streaming down my face. “You hate me, remember? I’m just your slave, right?”Nathan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, his grip on my wrists loosened slightly, and I felt his warm breath against the back of my neck.“You drive me insane, Benita,” he finally said, his voice rough. “Damn you.”I turned my head slightly, trying to see his face. His expression was shadowed, but his eyes burned with a mix of anger and something else—something deeper, more dangerous.“Then let me go,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Reject me, Nathan. End this.”His ha
Nathan’s POVFuck! That was insane.I could hear the happy howling of my wolf in my head as I lay on the grass beside a panting Benita. I didn’t know what had come over me, but I couldn’t deny this sex was absolutely one of the best of my life. No, this wasn’t just fucking—this was sex, real sex. All my life, I had sex with a few ladies, and I thought being with Nina was the best. But now, it seems I was wrong. Don’t get me wrong—Nina was a good fuck! She gave it to me whenever and wherever I wanted it. It could be in the woods, the marketplace, a bathroom in a coffee shop…or even in the back seat of my car. Nina was wild, adventurous, and knew how to please a man. But with Benita, it was different. It wasn’t just physical—it was raw, consuming, and maddening. Every touch, every sound she made ignited something primal in me that I couldn’t control.I turned my head slightly to look at her. She was still lying there, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. Her ha
Alpha Nathan's POV“I want you to get clothes for my…” I hesitated for a moment, the word tasting unfamiliar on my tongue, before I finally completed it. “My wife. I believe you know her size,” I said, my tone cold and clipped.The silence on the other end of the line stretched for a beat too long, and I could practically hear the curiosity stirring.“Yes, Alpha,” came the reply at last.“One more thing,” I added, my voice lowering as I leaned back in my chair. “Make sure she doesn’t know they’re from me. Tell her they’re from my mother.”“Your mother?” The voice on the other end carried a note of disbelief, quickly masked by professionalism.“Yes, my mother,” I repeated firmly, cutting off any room for questioning. “Benita doesn’t need to know I had anything to do with it. Do you understand?”“Yes, Alpha. I’ll handle it.”“Good. I’ll expect updates.” Without waiting for a response, I ended the call and placed the phone on my desk, staring at it for a moment longer than necessary.Why
Alpha Nathan’s POVBenita froze in her spot, her eyes widening slightly before she masked her surprise. “Assist you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.I nodded, keeping my expression as unreadable as possible. “Yes. Is there a problem?” My tone was sharp, but inside, I was anything but composed. What the hell was I doing?For a second, she didn’t respond, and I wondered if she was going to outright refuse me. A part of me almost wished she would—anything to end this torturous game I was playing with myself. But then she took a deep breath, her posture straightening.“No, Alpha. I will assist you,” she said, her voice steady, though I caught the flicker of defiance in her gaze.Without another word, I stood from the couch, my movements slow as I made my way to the adjoining bathroom. Her presence followed behind me, her footsteps hesitant yet steady.Inside the bathroom, the tension between us thickened. The air felt heavier, the silence louder. I turned to face her, my eye
Alpha Nathan’s POVHer breath hitched, and I felt the tension in her body shift. She wasn’t immune to me, no matter how much she tried to pretend. Her defiance faltered for a heartbeat, replaced by something raw, something she couldn’t suppress.“You’re something else,” she whispered, her voice trembling with anger and something else entirely.“Maybe,” I admitted, my hand trailing down her neck to her shoulder. Her skin was soft, impossibly smooth beneath my fingertips. “And yet, you wanted me?”Her lips parted as if to argue, but I didn’t give her the chance. I closed the space between us, capturing her mouth with mine. The kiss was rough, demanding, a collision of anger, frustration, and need. For a moment, she froze, her hands pressed against my chest as if to push me away. Then, just as quickly, she melted into the kiss, her fingers curling into my skin.I pulled her closer, her body sliding against mine beneath the water. The heat of her bare skin ignited a fire I could no longer
Benita's POVI went back to my room and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to the mess I called my life. My skin still tingled, the phantom sensation of Nathan's touch lingering like a ghost I couldn't shake. We'd just had sex in the bathtub—raw, passionate, and utterly devoid of tenderness.I closed my eyes, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. This wasn't love. It had never been. It was a twisted power play—a game he seemed intent on winning while I kept losing pieces of myself. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, her bond to Nathan a constant ache I couldn't numb.The bond made it impossible to resist him, no matter how much I wanted to. And he knew it.I turned onto my side, curling into myself. The sheets smelled like him, a mix of lavender and mint, and it made my chest tighten.It was obvious that Nathan was just obsessed with fucking me and nothing else. His eyes burned with desire, but there was no warmth in them, no care. It was all about contro
Nathan’s POVI could see the hesitation in her eyes, and obviously, she would have refused my demands. But then, she glanced at the bag of clothes for a long while before looking my way and frowning.“Fine! I’ll change in the bathroom.”She grabbed the first dress she laid her hands on and disappeared into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. I leaned back in the chair, the hint of a smirk playing on my lips. Her stubbornness intrigued me; she had fire in her, no matter how much she tried to suppress it.But I could also sense her fear. It wasn’t the kind that made me proud of my dominance—it unsettled me. A small, nagging part of me hated that she looked at me like I was a monster.Minutes ticked by, and when she finally emerged, my breath caught in my throat.She wore a fitted midnight-blue dress, simple yet stunning, the fabric hugging her curves and accentuating the softness of her skin. She looked so sexy.I stood, closing the distance between us. Her body stiffened as I m
Alpha Theo’s POVI could see the terrified look in her eyes as she waited for my command. There were so many things I wanted to demand of her—to ask her to call off her marriage with Oscar. Why would she want to marry a man she didn’t even love? I wanted to ask her to stop taking my breath away, to stop smelling so intoxicatingly alluring that I couldn’t control myself or my wolf. I wanted to tell her to stop making me feel this way—the unbearable urge to claim her, to mark her.For God’s sake, I was supposed to hate her. What the hell was happening to me?Composing myself, I looked at her, considering my next move. I needed to give her a task, something she couldn’t refuse. Then, something clicked in my mind.Her wolf.I hadn’t seen her wolf yet. And damn it, my wolf was growing restless, desperate to see it.“In twenty minutes, leave the mansion and wait for me outside,” I ordered.Lagertha’s brows furrowed. “Why?”I scoffed. “You’ll find out later. Now, unless you want to stand the
Lagertha’s POV “I'm so happy for you, Leggy. You deserve to be happy." Mother Lagertha had been buzzing with excitement all morning as we prepared breakfast. She seemed absolutely thrilled, going on and on about the wedding—about how Beta Oscar would be the perfect husband for me. I felt bad, knowing all of this was just an act. “Lagertha, Alpha Theo requests that you bring him a cup of coffee in his room.” One of the guards’ voices cut through my thoughts. A frown tugged at my lips, and my wolf huffed inside me. With a heavy sigh, I prepared the coffee just the way Theo liked it, grabbed the tray, and left the kitchen. When I reached his door, I hesitated before knocking, my pulse quickening as his intoxicating scent wrapped around me. “It’s open,” his deep voice called from inside, softer than usual, none of the usual harshness in his tone. Taking a steadying breath, I pushed the door open, stepped inside, and closed it behind me. Turning around, I met him standing at the
Lagertha’s POV I took a deep breath and stared at my reflection in the mirror. “You can do this, Lagertha,” I whispered, trying to steady my nerves. My wolf stirred within me. “Calm down. It's just a family dinner,” she soothed. But she was wrong. This wasn’t just any family dinner. It was my first time sitting at the same table with Oscar’s parents, Theo’s parents, Oscar’s siblings, Theo’s siblings, Theo and Oscar—all in one room. And I had to pretend to be in love with Oscar, right in front of Alpha Theo. My mate. It was a huge task. “You can do this," my wolf encouraged again. I exhaled deeply, forcing myself to push aside my emotions. Straightening my dress, I left my room and walked down the long hallway. My heart pounded with each step. The mansion was eerily quiet, aside from the faint clinking of dishes coming from the dining hall. The scent of roasted meat and warm spices filled the air, but it did nothing to settle my nerves. As I reached the entrance of th
Alpha Theo’s POV Lila stiffened beside me, her discomfort obvious in the way she tensed. I could feel the weight of her pain pressing down on both of us, but she kept her expression carefully blank. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay composed, to not let my own emotions betray me. “They had to step out,” I said evenly, keeping my voice devoid of the frustration clawing at my insides. “Oscar had some business to handle, and Lagertha went with him.” It was a lie. I had no idea where they were. Mother’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded. “I see. Well, we’ll have to see them soon. The wedding preparations must be keeping them busy. I heard it’s happening in two weeks,” Mother announced, and my brows furrowed. “Two weeks?” I asked in panic, unable to control it. Mother furrowed her brow and gave me a suspicious look. “Yes… do you have a problem with that?” she asked, and where I stood, my heart sank. My furious wolf howling loudly in my head. Not getting any response
Alpha Theo's POV I stood on the balcony, gripping the railing so tightly as I watched Lagertha step into the car with Oscar. Everything in me urged me to go downstairs and pull her away from him, but I forcefully forced myself to remain in place as I watched the car drive out of the mansion. “Do something,” my wolf growled angrily in my head, and I wished I knew what to do, but I was confused. Oscar had put me in a tight corner—I was cornered. The sound of my door creaking open pulled me from my thoughts. I turned, my chest tightening when I saw Lila walk in. Her green eyes—identical to mine—were red and swollen, her usually radiant face pale and lifeless. My protective instinct kicked in, and I rushed to her, gently holding her arms as I studied her pale face. “Lila, why are you crying? What happened?” I asked worriedly but also angrily. Lila’s tears had always been my weakness, and seeing her like this, utterly broken, shredded me from the inside out. Lila broke into a loud sob
Beta Oscar’s POV Three years ago. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Lila chatting happily with some guests, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. Tonight was the mating ceremony, where aged wolves who didn’t find their mates after turning eighteen would participate in the bond. I had just turned eighteen a few days ago, and I was anxious—anxious about what lay ahead of me. I looked at Lila again—the only girl I had ever loved. I had liked her for as long as I could remember, ever since I truly understood what it meant to have feelings for someone. The three-year age gap between us had never mattered to me. I had convinced myself that if we were mates, she would see past it too. So I kept my feelings hidden, waiting for this night, clinging to the hope that fate would be on my side. I prayed every night for the Moon Goddess to grant my wish—to make her mine. And now, the moment of truth had arrived. We were all called to stand in line, but Theo refused, s
Lagertha’s POV The moment she walked in, I stood abruptly, my heart pounding. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. My body tensed as I met her gaze—her confused expression only making my nerves worse. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, Beta Oscar beat me to it. “Lila, you’re here,” he said, straightening to his full height. Then, unexpectedly, he wrapped an arm around my waist. I flinched but didn’t move away. I could see the stunned look on Lila’s face. “Lila, Lagertha and I are now dating,” he announced. My breath caught in my throat as I turned to Miss Lila, watching as a disapproving look flickered across her face. I swallowed hard as I began to wonder if the whispers among the other servants were true. According to the gossips I had heard, it was said that Miss Lila has feelings for Beta Oscar—that was why she had been rejecting all the eligible suitors that came for her. But I had never believed in gossip from the staffs. However, seeing the reaction
Lagertha’s POV I reached my room and leaned against the door, trying to catch my breath. My heart was still pounding, and my mind raced with everything that had happened. “Well done, Lagertha. You did well,” I murmured, offering myself a moment of encouragement. I stood there for a while, willing my pulse to slow, before finally pushing away from the door and sinking onto my bed. I kicked off my shoes and stared at the floor, my thoughts circling back to Theo—what I had said to him and the way he had reacted. If Lila hadn’t walked in when she did, I had no idea what would have happened. A sudden knock at the door made me jerk, but I quickly relaxed as a familiar scent filled the air—Mother Agatha. She always smelled like dried coffee, a scent I could recognize anywhere. The door creaked open, and she stepped inside, a warm smile spreading across her face. “Happy eighteenth birthday, dear Leggy,” she said cheerfully. A small smile tugged at my lips as I stood up. In her hands
Alpha Theo's POVI wanted to pull her back and tell her that I was never going to allow her to get married to Oscar. She could choose any of the men, and I would be able to live with it, but not my best friend… not him.“Theo… is everything okay?” Lila asked, concern lacing her voice. I sighed, turning my back to her. My wolf was howling in fury, sending a splitting headache through my skull. “Theo, please talk to me," she pleaded, placing a hand on my shoulder. I stood rigid, debating whether to tell her the truth. It was a risk. If she found out, she might tell our parents, and that could land me in trouble. “Are you in love with Lagertha?” Lila suddenly asked. I neither confirmed nor denied it. Lila sighed. “Theo, I noticed the way you look at her. You might pretend to others and make them think you hate her, but I know that you like Lagertha. I see the way you look at her when you think no one is watching,” Lila said, sounding so sure about it, and I didn’t bother to deny it