I could think of nothing but him.
Alaric.
I moved through the solar and down into the Parlor but no matter where I went, I could see his yellow eyes glowing in the dark as he ducked beneath a branch to crouch before me.
He’d been out there.
Doing whatever he does.
And my wolf had ran straight to him.
Why is it always him?
Of all the places I could go, all the people I could seek sanctuary with, why is it always him?
I could hear his voice in my mind. “Because I’m your mate.”
I shook that away. Banishing that thought. I was leaning against the window frame. Staring out.
I felt a warm presence. Freezing as I saw strong arms wrapping the outsides of mine. Hands covering mine so when I jerked, I couldn’t leave that windowsill. I could feel the hard press of his body all along mine. The rigid length of his root already against my backside.
Ready to enter me.
I had come out to the garden in the back of the castle, hoping it would be the one place Alaric wouldn’t think to find me. I never come out here. There was such peace and beauty here, I found myself truly relaxing for the first time in a sevennight. I could see the woods off in the distance. And knew that going out there would be like coming home. I’d come to this castle seeking freedom. But real freedom would be letting my wolf out. Letting her run until she couldn’t anymore. Hunting by snatching prey in my jaws. But that was how the Asara found me. When I turned into a wolf, it meant that males could smell me. And if it was near a Mating Moon, it meant that all of them could for miles. So, I was like a trapped bird with wings clipped. Sitting in a gorgeous cage. I had everything I wanted. Yet, I was miserably unhappy. I saw maids moving beyond the open door of the Dance Hall leading
I found myself inching up onto the windowsill. Yearning to come out. I balanced on my paws, teetering precariously. I looked down and assessed the drop from my chambers. Growling faintly in growing aggravation as I dropped back inside. Pacing further. I paced until I was so exhausted that I laid down and fell asleep on the cool floor. My head resting on my paws. When I awoke this time, I was a naked woman on the floor of my chamber, my head on the back of my hands. As I lifted it, I found what had awakened me. A maid had cracked my door and now stared at me in astonishment. “Get out!” I shouted at her. Enraged that she would intrude. I saw two knights peering through the crack in the door behind her. Glimpsing my bare backside and legs. “I said, get out!” She fumbled to set down a platter of food on a table near the door before sliding back out and pulling the door closed. I stood. Pulling on a loose, flowing gown. I couldn’t r
I shoved his pants down. He kicked off his botts and stepped from them. The sunlight playing over his bronzed body. And emphasizing every muscle. A glaze of sweat lingered on his skin. Making him glisten like sunlight on water. I turned my hand and dragged my nails up his abdomen and along is chest. He was still staring down at me in confusion. His arms stiffly at his sides. Because I’d made it clear I didn’t want his touch. Now I was yearning for it. But I’d have rather died than admit it. I caught him intimately in my hands. Feeling how his soft, velvety skin immediately began to harden beneath my touch. Rising to obey my commands. I pushed him backward. He took a long step. I shoved him again. He stumbled back another step. I caught the top of his shoulders and yanked him down. He obediently looked up at me as he lowered to rest on his elbows. Stretching his lo
They’d barely declared my sweet old king dead. And all my fears were running rampant. I worried that perhaps this was what the NightHunter wolf had been waiting for. What if he’s going to return now? But it was the same fear I’d had every night since the beast had left. My long skirts swished around my legs as I paced my chambers. I was locked inside it, and still found myself watching the door fearfully. But the footstep I heard at the bottom of the stairs was one I knew. Not him either. Don’t come up here. Don’t come up here. I had one hand cradling my tossing stomach. I was chewing on the thumbnail of the other hand. All my willing was inundated by the hammering of an armored fist on the large wooden door. Alaric. He’s come for me. Thinking he can claim me, unchallenged, now that my King is dead. “Go away!” “Unlikely.” He scoffed. Banging on
LARA I was frozen when the door slammed open so hard that one hinge dangled. But I’d never been so grateful to see Alaric in my chamber. When the knights poured in, I had to swallow back the growl climbing my throat. And close my eyes and try to calm to change my eyes back to lucid blue instead of glowing. I reminded myself to breathe evenly. Feeling my lungs expanding fully again and my back straightening as I rose from my crouched pose. Thank you. I wanted to tell him. But my pride wouldn’t let me speak the words. The knights dragged the wolf out. I watched over Alaric’s shoulder and faintly noted that it was different than the one that had originally attacked me. But he still possesses the stink of a NightHunter. I’d never forget that odor. The musk of rolling in dead animals and filth. As they all left the chamber, Alaric rounded on me. Wrath written over his face and the tension indicatin
“Stop!” I yanked the door open. “Before you summon the household!” He walked in. Forcing me to back up. He kicked the door closed behind him. Making my stomach sink. What’s he going to do? What if all those tiny kindnesses were just to get close enough to drag me back. Always my mind went back to my fear of the Asara Pack. But a subconscious part of me knew that peeling Alaric from that pack was a nearly impossible feat. Despite all my recent hopes. I was now far more reserved. Less confident. And my King is no longer here to protect me. That made my heart ache. Not only for myself but for missing him. The world is less of a place without him in it. Alaric took a menacing step toward me. Forcing me back to the present with striking clarity. Shit. Looking at him I could see purpose written all over him. Determination turning his blue eyes flinted silver. “Tell me what
It was true that us females could become lusty too but not to the extent that the males did. Though our pheromones became intoxicating to males and if we changed into wolf form, we’d summon every male wolf for miles. How close to the Mating Moon? How much time do I have until it’s arrival. I didn’t even know. I’d forgotten to track it when I no longer belonged to the wolves. What night was it? It has to be the next few nights. I could tell from the intensity on his face. Ragged need written over him. “I told you when the king was dead…” He said in a dark tone. “I didn’t agree to that.” He had never cared what I agreed to. He always speaks as if he communicates only with my wolf because the human part of me is all deception. In some ways, I’d always found that wounding. In other ways, I knew it was partly true. “I never asked you to.” He growled. “I gave you fair warning. You’ve had time to ready yours
Alaric eventually shook all of my guards off him like nuisance raindrops. Tossing them in a scatter over the floor. Making them slowly retreat as they eyed him as if he were someone foreign. Realizing that he was inhumanly strong. Even more powerful under the Mating Moon. Stronger, fiercer. “What are you?” One murmured. “He can’t be human.” The one that had tried to hold him said. In the chaos, I fled past him. Determined to find an escape. I looked furtively down the hall. Trying to find a safe direction to retreat. And hide throughout the Mating Moon. But I’d need somewhere that would disguise my scent. If that’s even possible. Alaric was an impressive wolf. And as the next potential Alpha, he’d been born with increased strength and senses. He can smell better than me. Better than most wolves. Which made him even more difficult to hide from.
He can do this all night. I realized in horror. Wondering how I’d ever survive it. I’d taken many wolves when I was the pack bitch but there had been breaks between the males then. Times for me to recover before the next awful interaction. Not now. As soon as he’d finished, he was taking me again. I could barely catch my breath. I was so tired that my body shook limply. But I knew what he was doing. He’s going to force me to change. Everytime the pleasure climbed through me and exploded, I came closer to her. I was realizing he could do this to me all night. He’s showing no signs of relenting. Nothing I can do. Nothing I can say, will stop him. I realized the awful truth. Limply letting him take me. Even as I was thinking it, my core tightened again. Sending surges through me. Even more powerful than the last time. White hot heat burned through my being, and I felt my muscles cooking like lava and bones starting to snap. I huffed in exhaustion. Barely noticing this strange
His length was impossible. Seeming even bigger than the last time. His whole body was tight. Every muscle bulging as he resisted turning himself. Knowing that he might lose control entirely if he did. But the words that came from him next were the last I could’ve ever suspected. “Tell me, Lara, and I’ll go a bit easier on you.” “Tell you what?” I spat. Unable to focus on anything but my straining body and the sore spots and ached each time he brushed over them. “What broke you.” “Nothing!” I screamed. “I’m strong. You’ve never broken me.” He paused momentarily. Holding my narrow waist in his hands and staring down at me so long that I felt the need to twist and look back at him. “I didn’t say me.” I shook my head adamantly. “Tell me.” He caressed more slowly. Painstakingly pressing in and then easing that torrid length back out. Bit by bit. “What happened to you before the Asara. What destroyed you so badly that
I woke to strange smells, too much heat and a hand cupped around my breast, pulling it further to the center. There was tugging on the little pink crest that seemed to have a direct line down to the center of me. Making it reflexively tighten there. Creating an ache and a tension that reminded me he was still there. He didn’t remove himself. We’d both fallen asleep with him still planted within my sweet hollow. And he’s not about to leave now. He moaned and became a bit forceful. Suckling that fleshy bit more roughly. Nipping it between his teeth and stretching it. Making me cry out at the shocking pleasure of it. I couldn’t see any light to gauge the time, but I could feel the lustful aggression still rolling off him. Indicating that it was obviously still night. Still the pink moon. The Mating Moon. He pulled harder and my fingers bit into his scalp, already tangled in his hair. Maki
He felt me tightening around him. I saw the triumph crossing his masculine features as he felt the telltale quakes that whispered I was soon to shatter. Then my back arched. Exciting him further. He cupped my breasts, balancing them against his palms as he rode me harder. Feeling them leap against his hands. The small, hard nipple crossing the crease of his fingers as our pelvis’ joined again. I gave a wolf whine as the pleasure made my legs vibrate, my vision blur and my mind flood with pleasure until I was utterly lost to the sensation. I soaked him when I climaxed. Slicking all around him and seeping out to dampen his sack. “Yes, mate. Come for me. Show me how good you are…” He was grinning as he thrust in and held it, enjoying my surrender. I went limp, exhausted from the exertion of every muscle in my body jerking tight and then releasing until they could no longer tighten. But his next words made my heart sink.
I twisted to look at him but saw only conviction in his eyes. The hardening of his jaw as he slowly shook his head. Leaning back to give me a long, meaningful look as he purposefully stroked his hand down my spine. Making the skin tingle in a warm trail that I could feel even as his touch stopped. He wouldn’t. But his excited grunting and moaning, and the ferocious flexing of his biceps as he pumped violently combined with that steady look, he was giving me, indicated he wasn’t going to stop. I knew a moment of renewed panic. “Alaric, it could-” “You’re mine, Lara!” He growled as he tipped forward over me. His stomach tightening in a ripple that climbed through his chest. I felt him surge inside me. “Mine!” He roared. I could hear the animal inside him snarling as it overtook him. Wanting to possess me in every way that was physically possible. Wanting to own me. I was stunned at his sh
I was always the one in control. And I wasn’t ready to give that up. I began struggling against him. My thighs thudded into the edge of the table, and my hips ground into it as I tried to escape him. Tried to slide away from him. Before I fully turned and welcomed him as a mate. There would be no turning back if I did it, this time. He’ll keep me forever. He was callous and relentless. He was grunting. Slamming harder and harder into me. The wood table scraped along the stone beneath it. Swaying slightly with each hard thrust. Rocking and creaking with his movements. Giving him just enough mobility to push forward and then bringing my own weight back to him. Offering him the next hard entry. Invading the center of my body as he speared into me with such force that I was losing my mind. All sense of thought was vanishing. My face was flushing. My hair was prickling. I clawed the table n
He threw my skirts up. Forcing them under my stomach and shoving me down to pin them against the corner of the table beneath me. Then pulling the back of my skirts up over my buttocks. Exposing me to his lush perusal. I closed my eyes tight against the aching vulnerability of the situation. The burning humiliation that heated my face. He’s going to take me. I could feel his eyes roving my pale skin. I felt him palm one firm buttock. Squeezing it to fully appreciate its suppleness before turning his hand downward to palm all that sweet flesh. He groaned in pleasure. Pressing himself against me. Grinding himself along my crack in his hunger to have me. He’s already hard as a rock. I heard his buckle loosening again, feeling my body tightening in fearful response. “No!” I cried. Shaking my head wildly. Tossing my blonde hair around me like caught in a whirlwind. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want this.”
I’d long ago vowed to never be commanded by any male. Not after they’d all owned me. Treated me like a hole to please them and nothing more. I’d spent hour after hour in a dark shack. With sweating males rutting away at me. Down on my hands and knees on a dirt floor. My body jerking upward. Occasionally they’d yank my hair. Or spin on their palm before they brutally smacked my ass. Sometimes, if they were particularly cruel, they’d push into my ass while they did all of those things. Trying to hurt me. Body after sweaty male body. Drowning me in that horrible moldy, blood-soaked odor as they took from me what I had no choice but to give. So, I’d become in control of who could tell me what to do. Until now. Until Alaric. In that moment I both hated him and desired him. "Alaric, please." I whispered fearfully as he returned to pin me against the wall ag
Alaric was right. I was already wet for him, but my pride demanded I not admit that my foolish body was reacting even though I didn't want it to. Damn him. "Alaric, stop." I whispered it so weakly, even I knew I didn't mean it. He laughed. "That's not what you want, is it?" He purred against my cheek. Making goosebumps rise on every inch of my flesh. Making bits of fur push at my pores trying to rise. A primal growl erupted from my throat. And I felt the tingling behind my eyes that told me they were changing to yellow. Suddenly every shadow in the black dungeon came to life. Blooming into hazy shapes I could now identify. "Are you ready to be treated like a true female, rather than a princess trying to demand what she wants?" He released my body, and I felt a chilly sense of loss combined with a great sense of relief. My leg dropped back down and he took a step back. I'd withstood this onslaught. Pride int