17: Provocation and Anger

HERA

I lay on my bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, my body still trembling from what had just happened.

Every inch of me felt alive, like I’d been set on fire and doused in ice all at once.

Atticus.

His hands, his mouth, the way he took me… fucking me wth maddening fevor like he owned me—like I had no choice but to surrender.

It was maddening, infuriating, but… gods, it was the most intense sex I've ever had.

I hated him, but I couldn’t deny the way my body responded to his every move, every brutal touch.

I clenched the sheets beneath me, my mind replaying every moment—the way his eyes darkened as he spoke dirty to me, driving himself ferociously into me like a mad man.

I moaned against my will, clutching onto him like a lifeline.

My skin still burned from where his hands had gripped me, my body still aching in a way that stirred something dark inside me.

It had been brutal, raw, and yet… undeniably satisfying.

No one had ever made me feel like that.

Not even Aiden.

The first man I have ever loved.

The asshole who shattered my heart without a second thought.

The bastard who had used me for a bet, humiliated me, and left me broken.

I turned on my side, curling up as I stared into the darkness, my mood souring. I clenched my fists, forcing those memories away.

I don’t regret what I did to Aiden one bit. The past was gone, and I had no room for weakness. Not anymore.

I was here for one reason—to reclaim what was mine, to take back the throne of Shadow Claw.

And nothing, not Aiden, not even Atticus, was going to stop me from getting what I deserved.

****

"Enjoying your stay in the palace, Hera?"

I jolted upright, my heart racing. I glanced around the room, but there was no one there.

I frowned, my mind still foggy from sleep.

Was it a dream? A trick of my exhausted mind?

The voice seemed so real, so vivid. But before I could make sense of it, the door to my room burst open, and three guards stormed in.

"Get up!" one of them barked.

"What now?" I muttered, already bracing myself for whatever they were here for.

"You’ve been summoned. Move."

They didn’t wait for me to respond, dragging me out of bed and toward the wing where Lilith's room was.

As we got into Lilith's chambers, I saw that her room was in complete disarray. Furniture was overturned, mirrors shattered, clothes strewn everywhere.

I needed no one to tell me that someone had intentionally turned the room upside down.

And by someone, I mean Lilith.

Bitch.

One of them grabbed me by the arm and shoved me forward.

“Clean it up.” He growled. I glared at him.

“You can’t be serious.” I fired back.

“Do it!” he snapped. “And if you even think of slacking off, you’ll regret it.”

I bent down, reluctantly starting to gather the mess when a sharp crack echoed through the room. Pain seared through my back. I winced and spun around, catching sight of the guard’s whip raised, ready to strike again.

“You’re not here to relax,” he growled. “Keep working. If you relax, I’ll keep whipping you.”

Biting down on my lip, I turned back to the mess, terribly pissed off. Every time I paused to catch my breath or stretch my aching limbs, the guard would whip me.

This is temporary. I reminded myself of that.

One day, soon, the tables will turn in my favour.

By the time the sun began to set, my body felt like it had been run through the wringer. I had spent the entire day cleaning Lilith's disaster of a room and my muscles ached.

As I knelt, scrubbing the last bit of grime from the floor, the door creaked open. Lilith strolled in, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement as she surveyed her now spotless room.

I straightened slightly, wiping the sweat from my forehead, refusing to look her in the eye.

"Well, well," she purred, her voice dripping with mockery. "Looks like someone’s been busy."

I said nothing, focusing on calming my ragged breaths. Lilith walked closer, circling me like a predator savouring its prey.

"You missed a spot," she said, nudging a perfectly clean section of the floor with her boot. "Pathetic. I thought even a fallen queen could manage basic cleaning." She scoffed.

I clenched my fists, my knuckles whitening as I fought the urge to punch her in the gut.

With a flick of her wrist, Lilith tossed a massive bundle of clothes at my feet.

"Wash these next. Throughout the night till next morning," she commanded, her tone light as if she was giving me a casual chore. "And maybe, just maybe, you'll earn yourself some food. It’s only been, what? Two days since you last ate? I'm sure you're starving by now."

I stared at the pile, exhaustion weighing heavily on me, but I couldn’t stop the sharp words from spilling out.

"I’m not your damn servant, Lilith." I snapped at her.

The whip lashed across my back before I could even finish. I bit back a scream as the pain rippled through me.

"You’ll do as you’re told," Lilith hissed, her smile twisted in pleasure. "Unless, of course, you enjoy going without food for another day."

I looked up at her, fury blazing in my chest, but the hunger gnawing at my stomach reminded me of my limits. I swallowed my pride, knowing there was no winning in this moment.

Not yet.

"Fine," I whispered through clenched teeth, keeping my gaze down as I pushed the bundle of clothes to a side. "I’ll wash them."

Lilith's lips curled into a devious smirk.

"Good girl," she sneered, watching me struggle with the weight of the laundry as I carried it toward the washing area.

I continued cleaning, my body aching and my tummy rumbling with hunger.

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard footsteps approaching. A group of guards, their boots echoing against the stone floor, came into view. I looked up briefly, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw him.

Atticus.

He was right behind them, walking with natural authority that he always exuded, his beta, Kyle by his side. They were deep in conversation, his expression as unreadable as usual.

But then, as if drawn by some unseen force, his gaze found mine.

The world seemed to slow down.

In that split second, everything else faded—the noise, the guards, even Lilith. Atticus’ eyes locked on mine, the intensity of his stare pulling me in.

It was like a current, a heat passing between us, dark, heated and passionate. I could see the hunger in his gaze, the same hunger that had fueled our rough encounter the night before.

In defiance, I didn’t break eye contact, letting the tension simmer between us, feeling the same stirring heat pooling in my core.

He didn't smile, didn't say a word, but the way his eyes roamed over me, lingering just long enough to tell me everything I needed to know—it was undeniable.

Lilith, standing by the door, practically threw herself toward him, her desperation smelling off her.

"Alpha Atticus!" she purred, her voice sickeningly sweet, trying to capture his attention.

She sidled up to him, attempting to brush her hand against his arm, but Atticus barely acknowledged her. His eyes flickered to hers for a brief moment, but it was clear his attention was elsewhere.

She flushed in embarrassment but tried to play it off. Atticus moved past her with barely a glance, leaving her standing there, looking stupid.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Lilith spun toward me, her eyes blazing with fury.

"What the fuck was that?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

"What was what?" I raised an eyebrow, pretending not to understand.

"Don’t play dumb with me, Hera," she snapped, stepping closer, her breath hot and angry against my face. "You were looking at him... and he was looking at you." Her jealousy was thick in her voice, and I could feel the heat of her rage.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"Tell me the truth—have you fucked?"

I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips. I stood up slowly, holding her gaze intently.

"Oh, Lilith," I mocked, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "The question you should be asking is if we have made love… and yes, we have,” I taunted.

I could see the vein about to pop on her forehead, and that urged me to go on.

“I don’t understand why you are so bothered by the idea of my mate fucking me nice and good,” I continued to taunt. “He is after all, my mate. Or maybe you are just worried that I’ve managed to do something you clearly haven’t."

I let my gaze flicker over her in disdain, then smiled, a wicked curl to my lips.

"I guess it eats you up inside to know that I’ve had him, doesn’t it?"

Her face twisted in fury, her fists clenching at her sides.

"You—"

Before she could finish, I turned back to the scrubbing, letting her stew in her humiliation. She could rage all she wanted, but that fire in her eyes told me the truth.

Lilith was intimidated by me.

No, scratch that.

Lilith feared me, and feared what I was capable of.