Michael's rough kisses left me gasping for breath, my lips swollen and my tongue numb from his relentless assault. Saliva dripped down the corners of my mouth, mingling with the water that pooled around us. I tried to pull away, to catch a breath, but Michael mistook my movement for an attempt to escape. His response was swift and punishing—a sharp bite on my lip that made me wince. Then he deepened the kiss, his lips crashing against mine with a force that left me breathless.He had me completely pinned, his weight pressing down on my upper body, leaving me no room to move. I was trapped, forced to accept his relentless kisses as he took my breath away, leaving me teetering on the edge of suffocation.It didn’t feel like a kiss—it felt like a slow, deliberate destruction."Oh, my girl, my little she-wolf," Michael murmured, his voice thick with excitement as he held my face in his hands. His eyes burned with a fervor I had never seen before.There was no gentle foreplay this time. Mi
I sighed, feeling a small glimmer of hope. The removal of the chains, even if replaced by a new restraint, felt like progress. It was a sign that Michael's attitude toward me might be shifting, that perhaps there was hope of getting out of this "cage."I tried to recall what had happened last night that might have influenced Michael's change of heart, but my memories were clouded by a few fragmented, blush-worthy moments. Had it been because I’d taken the initiative for once? My ears burned at the thought. If that was the key to my freedom, then maybe it wasn't an impossible price to pay.I shook my head, trying to dispel the wild thoughts swirling in my mind. Michael had been different last night, unusually intense. We’d had sex frequently in recent days, but last night had been different. He had looked at me with a wild, almost possessive gleam in his eyes when he said, "You're finally going to be mine."I had already agreed to be his mate. I had promised him. So why was he emphasiz
"Shhh—" Sasha placed a finger to my lips, then gently closed the door behind her with a smile. I stared at her in shock. She looked as vibrant as ever, her hair now cut slightly shorter, just brushing her shoulders, giving her a fresh, different look.Sasha’s eyes briefly scanned my body, and I knew she saw the silver anklet around my ankle. Fortunately, she didn’t ask any questions, sparing me the embarrassment of trying to explain. Instead, she sniffed the air playfully and remarked with a mischievous grin, "You smell like Michael now."My face flushed, and I stared at her, speechless."Don't be shy, Cecily," Sasha teased, still smiling. She placed a hand on my shoulder and leaned in closer. "So, tell me, how is Michael in bed?""Hey..." I opened my mouth, feeling helpless at her boldness.Without waiting for an invitation, Sasha plopped herself onto the bed—the very bed where Michael and I had been intimate. She leaned down, inhaling deeply with an exaggerated expression. Then, she
I was intrigued by Sasha’s story. The history of werewolves, especially the Lycans, was something rarely recorded. What little I knew came from the elders in my pack, but there were so few details, especially about the past conflicts."How do you know so much?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me."How do you think I know Michael?" Sasha raised an eyebrow, giving me a knowing look."You said you’ve known him since you were young. Maybe you’re from the royal family?" I guessed."That's right," she nodded. "My father is a member of the Committee. But if we go back far enough, I might even be related to Michael. Who knows?"Her casual remark made me realize just how connected the royal Lycan families were, even to this day. Our pack was relatively lucky to have avoided the worst of the conflicts that once ravaged the werewolf world. We had kept our heads down, bided our time, and then used the peace that followed to strengthen ourselves.Suddenly, a thought struck me. Could this
I slumped back, feeling pretty down. Before I could dwell too much on it, Sasha playfully knocked on my head. "Didn't I just tell you that even the Lycan king's tied to our family? There's no way I could take on something that big all by myself. It's like you trying to run away from Michael on your own—it’s just not gonna happen."“I wasn’t trying to run away,” I mumbled, not wanting to admit the truth. “But... what happened next?”“Well,” Sasha started, leaning back as if she was telling some grand tale, “I got caught and locked up in my room. My dad said he was gonna keep me there until the day before the wedding. Then, he’d send me off to get married and marked like some kind of prisoner.”“Wait, so you actually got married?” I asked, my eyes practically popping out of my head.“Nope,” Sasha said, a sly smile spreading across her face. “I bribed one of the maids who brought me food to start spreading rumors. I told her to tell everyone she knew that I was sleeping with different me
"Alright, I might have something that could help you out," Sasha started, her voice carrying that familiar mischievous tone. "Do you remember how Michael looked the day you lunged at him?""Of course, I do," I replied, my mind instantly replaying that intense moment. "You warned me to stay away, but nothing bad happened."Sasha let out a dramatic sigh, placing a hand on her chest. "You have no idea how scared I was that day," she said, her eyes wide with exaggerated horror. "Michael’s wolf is nothing like ours. It’s sort of an open secret among the royal Lycan family. They say when Michael was born, his eyes were golden. You know that werewolves can only shift after they turn eighteen, right? It’s the same for Lycans."I nodded, signaling that I was following."But Michael was different. Even as a kid, he was transforming into that golden beast you saw, with wild mood swings that were hard to control. It would take several adults just to subdue him, and after every transformation, he’
I finally understood why Sasha had looked so terrified that day. She had genuinely believed that I might not survive my encounter with Michael."But that day…" I trailed off, recalling the intense scene that had unfolded between Michael and me. Sure, Michael had been frenzied, but he didn’t kill me or Robert. Despite everything, his human side won out over his beastly instincts.Sasha shrugged, a little mystified herself. "I don’t know. In theory, only the Moon Goddess' moonlight can calm the Golden Wolf’s ferocity, but you did it that day. So if there’s anyone who can keep Michael grounded, it’s got to be you. You’re his mate, after all.""Me?" I looked down at my hands, trying to process what she was saying. Just a month ago, I was an ordinary girl, stressing about Robert and my studies. Now Sasha was telling me that I, of all people, had the power to influence Michael, a Lycan prince. It seemed unreal."Yes, you," Sasha affirmed, her voice full of conviction. "Cecily, don’t underes
I couldn’t help but worry about Kate. I had left her behind with the Ancient Woods Pack, where their Alpha—her mate—held sway. My mind spun with anxiety over what might happen to her. It wasn’t just about her being with Alpha Alex; it was the implications of leaving him that troubled me. If a werewolf found their mate and then left them, their strength would be diminished. Kate wouldn’t be as powerful as she used to be, and with her ex-boyfriend still lurking around campus, that worried me even more.Michael’s voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts. "I sent her home," he said, though his tone was laced with irritation. "Now, are you going to eat or not?"Relief washed over me. Kate was safe, at least for now. I chose to ignore Michael’s impatience, focusing instead on the good news. But the relief was short-lived, quickly replaced by fresh concerns. What would happen to Kate if she stayed away from her mate? Would she be okay on her own?As I was lost in thought, I noticed Michael ho
During that time, Joanna was always off somewhere, traveling by herself. No one knew where she went. She would leave for long stretches, sometimes disappearing for years, and didn’t bother checking in with anyone. Naturally, her parents freaked out, not knowing if she was safe or if something bad had happened to her.As I sat there by the water, Sasha handed me a drink. It was this weird, green liquid that I wasn’t sure about at first, but after a sip, I realized it was lemon tea, with a hint of mint. Not bad at all, really refreshing."And then?" I asked, curious about what happened next with Joanna.Sasha sighed, shaking her head like she regretted it a little. “Well, her parents eventually went to Michael's dad for help. Since Michael was good at handling this kind of stuff, his dad put him in charge of finding Joanna.”I sipped my drink again, enjoying the way the mint cooled me down from the inside. "So, Michael went after her?"Sasha looked at me with a mix of guilt and understa
Joanna might be an amazing actress, but honestly? She's not fooling me. It's like she's playing a role, trying to be someone she's not—probably because she can't stand that Michael and I are together. I could feel her trying to mess with us, but I wasn’t about to let her win. If she wanted to act, well, I could act too.The sunlight felt warm on my skin as I stood there watching her. I smiled confidently, letting Joanna see me looking totally unbothered. She dove into the water with all the grace of a fish. I had to admit, she did have an incredible body—she was rocking a white bikini that had these thin straps crisscrossing over her chest and waist, making her look like some kind of living sculpture. Even the lower half of her bikini had those same crisscrossing straps under her belly button. Honestly, it was a look.Meanwhile, Sasha was already in the water, her swimsuit much louder and flashier than Joanna's. She was wearing this fluorescent green bikini with stripes and a skirt th
Joanna’s POV“So, I’m not the kind of girl who lets a man push her around. After all that happened, I left anyway. But no matter how long I stayed away, I’d always get messages from Michael. Some of them were about family stuff, other times he’d talk about finding his mate or being engaged or something. Honestly, it was pretty confusing for me during that time.”Despite saying she was troubled, a small smile crept onto Joanna's face as if remembering something amusing.“Eventually, I figured out that all of those excuses were just Michael’s way of trying to get me to come back. There was never a fiancée or mate. It was all just a big story. So, I was a little surprised when I heard this morning that you two were mates. But, hey, you’re mates arranged by the Moon Goddess, so everything should be fine, right?”Joanna finished her little story with a bright smile, clearly satisfied with herself. But me? I was furious. My fists were clenched so tightly, I could feel my nails digging into
It wasn't until Michael had completely disappeared from view that I became aware of the unsettling stare from behind. I could feel Joanna’s eyes boring into me, but I refused to acknowledge her directly. Instead, I turned and made my way toward my room, hoping to escape the tension she brought with her presence.But, of course, Joanna just happened to be standing in my path.She wore that same infuriating smile, the one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Your relationship with Michael seems... strong. You’re quite adorable when you're with him, Cecily."Her words dripped with something—sarcasm? Malice? It was hard to tell. I wasn’t sure what she was getting at, but I didn’t care to find out. I wasn’t in the mood to engage with her."I'm heading back to my room," I said, keeping my tone as neutral as possible."I know I upset you yesterday, and for that, I’m truly sorry," Joanna replied, taking a step closer as if that would make her words more sincere. "I didn’t mean to offend you. Le
Joanna's giggle echoed through the room, its beauty contrasting with the venomous intent behind it. Her voice was as sweet as a siren’s, but I could feel the malicious undertones. "Former friends, Sasha? That's not quite accurate. Michael and I were more than friends."I knew Joanna was up to no good. I had seen it in her eyes the moment I met her. Whatever her goal was—whether to make me jealous, provoke anger, or worse—I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me unravel.She turned her gaze toward Michael, who remained focused on his coffee cup, now almost empty. He hadn’t acknowledged her presence, which gave me some comfort, but Joanna wasn’t finished. "If you two are truly mates," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "may I ask, was it the Moon Goddess who arranged this, or did Michael choose you?"Her question cut deep, even though it was wrapped in a seemingly casual tone. I clenched my fists under the table, my wolf surging with rage. Joanna was impl
"Would you like to come downstairs for breakfast, or should I bring it up to you?" Michael asked, his voice soft and tender. As he spoke, he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch sent a warm shiver down my spine, the closeness between us undeniable.I found myself smiling at Michael, wondering how I hadn’t fully appreciated this side of him before. I had always been so caught up in our arguments, his domineering ways, and the battles for control that I had somehow missed these moments where he could be... sweet. The realization washed over me—there was more to him than the arrogance and possessiveness I had been focusing on. If I allowed myself to let go of the tension between us, there was an undeniable pleasure in being with him.“I’d like to go downstairs to eat,” I replied with a soft smile, feeling more at ease than I had in a while.We walked down the stairs together, and I found myself momentarily at peace. But as we descended, my mind wande
The night had ended in a comfortable silence, with both of us content in each other's presence. By the time I had finished my tasks, Michael was still seated at his desk, absorbed in a pile of paperwork. His brow furrowed in concentration, and I didn’t have the heart to disturb him, nor did I want to leave his side. So, I watched him, feeling the steady calm he radiated.Before I knew it, I had dozed off in the warm cocoon of the study, lulled by the scent of Michael that filled the room. It wasn’t long before I felt someone gently lift me. I knew it was Michael, and feeling safe in his arms, I allowed myself to drift deeper into sleep.When I finally woke up, the morning light was already creeping in through the curtains. My body felt well-rested and refreshed. At some point during the night, I had been changed into my pajamas, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Michael had been the one to wash and dress me while I slept. A small smile tugged at my lips at the thought.I glanced to my
"Oh god, absolutely not," Michael exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. "Yes, we had a relationship in the past, but we broke up a long time ago. Joanna came by a few times after that, but it wasn’t for me. She had business with Samuel and others. I was too busy to even notice when she came or left. But I swear, Cecily, nothing happened between us after we ended things."I turned to face him, my mind clouded with uncertainty. Should I believe him? Jealousy burned inside me, poisoning my thoughts. The mere idea of him being intimate with Joanna made my skin crawl."My little wolf," Michael's voice softened as he lifted my chin gently. His expression was tinged with regret. "If you want me to apologize for my past, I can. But remember, I’ve lived a long life, Cecily. I’m not a saint—I’ve had relationships, felt emotions, just like anyone else. But if you're blaming me for something more than that, it's unfair. I’ve never been in two relationships at the same time. When I met you,
"I can't just pretend nothing happened, especially after my wolf reacted the way it did." I shrugged, trying to stay calm. "I need to know, Michael. I'd rather hear it from you than find out through Sasha."Michael hesitated, his brown eyes locked on mine as if weighing his options. I held his gaze, determined to get the truth. If he wanted honesty between us, he needed to practice it too."Okay," he muttered, running his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "She's... a friend."A friend? Joanna's behavior toward Michael was far from friendly. It was passionate, intense—nothing like the casual interactions between Sasha and him. I took a deep breath and asked the question I had been avoiding but couldn't ignore any longer."An ex-girlfriend?"Michael's expression stiffened. He didn’t nod, but he didn’t shake his head either. Silence hung between us, thick and heavy. I knew the truth was coming, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. If Michael wanted me to be honest with