It took us almost an hour to reach the castle gate, a lot of stops and go with my nerves all over. Eventually, I was able to settle into the horse's slow, easy gait, my hips rocking rhythmically with every step. Not only that, but Axels scent helped along the way, making me dig my nails into the flesh of my thighs.A forbidden territory. I reminded myself while looking ahead. So to distract my train of thoughts, I made easy conversation during the Alpha us along the outside of the castle wall towards the beach."Do you do this every month?"There was silence from his side, the sound of his heart the only thing echoing back. I held my breath, waiting for the Alpha to answer.He cleared his throat. "Mhm...It's a tradition my father started, and I want to keep it alive."Oh. Makes sense. They have a large number of population for this very reason. Looking after your people is one of the primary duties of the Pack Alpha. Maybe if my uncle kept that in mind, our people would be just as hap
/Abel’s POV/It's warmer, the sun strong on my back as I lead the horses along the narrow alley. From the corner of my eyes, I saw that Lana settled into William’s rhythm quicker than she had initially, leaning into him and swaying with ease.The pathway was full of lively sounds, of the quiet hum of life, followed by the splash of creek water around the horses' hoofs, the rustle of the bushes as the rabbits and tiny creatures scampered out of sight.It didn’t take us long to locate the pack members standing on either side, their faces gleaming. A chorus of whispers rang in my ears, their eyes taking Lana’s appearance. She didn’t even deter, raising her chin in the air. Of course. Princess Lana was not an ordinary omega; having been born into royalty, she must be used to this. “Good afternoon.” I greeted the over-enthusiastic crowd, waving at them while the omega followed my action. My eyes were trained on the back of her head, watching as she gripped tightly onto the saddle. “I am
Ethan was quiet the entire time we started walking towards the corner of the alley. It’s better that way. I thought under my breath, not ready to involve Axel yet. Lost in my train of thoughts, I tripped on the rocks in my way, almost losing my balance. “Lana!” Ethan hollered, his arm reaching out to steady me.It’s not my day today. I winced, eyes zoning in on my throbbing toe. It’s the second time I injured my feet in a few hours. Huffing under my breath, I leaned down. “Y-Yes, I walked too fast, I think,” The words slipped out, the sharp nails still digging into my thighs while trying to regain my balance.“Are you sure?” I wanted to shake him off, but I needed to concentrate all my energy on pushing upright again without toppling over. Ethan’s arm fell off my back when I got to my feet, but he cupped at my elbow almost straight away, steadying me. “I am good.” I exhaled, ignoring the spots dancing in front of my eyes. “So, did you meet with that guy? What did he say?”That’s w
My mind went blank as her words struck me, a lump forming in my throat. Axel was in a rut. One part of me—the omega one was flushed all over at the mere thought, while the other feared he would be asking for someone else. The Alpha made it clear several times, that our bond meant nothing to him. “S-So…what does he do for his rut?”Mostly Alphas, the unmated ones, find the omega houses or, in the case of royal ones, call for special services in their private rooms. It’s shameful how even mated Alphas do that, and they are not judged or held accountable for their actions. Amy was red in the face, taken back by my question, but she opened her mouth, “His Highness rides them alone ever since his first wife passed away….”Something ugly bubbled in the pit of my stomach, recalling Angel's voice about how he’s still hung up on her. What if it’s the truth? That’s why he may be holding back and not wanting to start anything. I bit the insides of my cheeks to hold back the tears from burning
When his hands slid beneath me, I arched my back, clinging to his broad shoulders. My entire body trembled at the anticipation of his touch, mouth parting. His fingers found the chain that held my dress together, and he ripped it apart. The fabric slipped down my shoulders, and he tugged it down completely, moving to undo the laces of my cotton corset until I was only left in my undergarments.A whine escaped my lips under the heat of his unwavering gaze, eyes trailing over the ridges and curves of my body. Pulling back, he hastily tugged at his shirt, dropping it unceremoniously over the side of the bed, revealing the expanse of his chest. My breath caught in my throat. It's not the first time I had seen him half-naked; I was still not prepared for him to be up close. I trailed over his front, halting at the waistband of his trousers, feeling equally intrigued and nervous. With my cheeks turning bright red, I peered at him as he closed the distance between us, breathing ragged. Ove
I must have dozed off somewhere in the afterglow because the next thing I knew, harsh rays hit the side of my face. I stilled in the bed, eyes blinking sluggishly at the ceiling as I slowly let the unfamiliar room come into focus. The spot next to me was empty and cold, I realised.My brain was still fuzzy; spots of colour and blurred outlines only slowly appeared in the line of vision, and my limbs felt heavy like blocks of concrete. The next thing I realised was I was naked, the traces of his come clinging to my inner thighs as if a harsh reminder of what went on. I shifted my legs, mouth twisting, when I heard the sound of water running. It took me a moment for the sound to register when I also realised Axel must be in the shower. Was his rut over? I thought to myself while tilting my head towards the nearest wall. The clock read ten in the morning which was too late. I had to recheck and rub my eyes to make myself believe it. A curse befell my lips as I attempted to manoeuver
/Axel's POV/Liam stayed behind as I slipped inside Jade's place, feeling on edge. The beta kept quiet the entire way as if he understood my inner conflict. It’s been a lot; ever since I woke up to Lana sleeping next to me, looking very angelic and sculpted by the moon goddess, guilt swarmed my belly. During my rut, all I saw was how she would look up, lush, her long curls a mess and matted on her forehead and tear tracks streaming down her reddened cheeks as she whispered back softly, urgent and unsteady to knot her. I felt my breath catch sharply at the memory, the jolt pulling me straight back to the present. Still, despite everything, I coerced her into sleeping with me, a sick feeling taking over my body. If not for my rut and the Alpha taking over, I would have never let her near me. Why did she give in? Maybe…No! I completely shut the thought before it started forming, fully aware of its danger. Our relationship was a facade, a mere convenience for both of us, and I made t
It's been a few days since the last time I saw Axel, so I had a lot of time to think with a clear mind. There was no point in denying that his absence affected me; the marks left on my skin wholly faded. It gave my omega enough nightmares, waking up to look for his arms only to find myself all alone in the bed. I didn't know when things switched from vehemently hating being anywhere near him to wanting to get as close as I possibly could without being too obvious.But his words stung. The wound was still raw, and I had no intention of making the same mistake again. For all I know, the Alpha rejected me without actually saying those words. Despite his long stares in my direction and wanting to talk, I had completely shut down the attempts. I had no interest in hearing the exact words again. Pinning after a mate who doesn't even care about relationships is the possibly highest act of stupidity. Shaking my head, I stood up, noticing the cape Amy had placed on the bed for me. Ethan was