4: She Can't Be Your Mate

ATTICUS

"Are you for real?" Lilith asked as we entered my room. I ignored her as I took off the clothes I had hastily put on at the shed.

"You've really brought her here after buying the idea that she's your mate? Come on, Atticus, you know more than anyone how much of a conniving bitch that witch is. I'm sure she faked a mate bond with you because she knows how desperate you are to have a mate so she'd survive since she was going to die!"

Her words were starting to irk me but I ignored them. My relationship with Lilith was complicated. She was neither someone I liked nor hated, she was someone that I had to hold on to, the only link to Rachel. She was Rachel's best friend, her childhood friend. She had known Rachel all her life and holding on to her was like holding on to Rachel. It was the only way I could hold on to the memories of my dead love.

I felt that familiar pain I always feel anytime I remember Rachel. It was like a vice, tightening around my neck, squeezing and squeezing till I could feel an unbearable pain.

"And is this how you want to honor Rachel?" My mood shifted at the mention of that name and my hold tightened around the trouser I had taken off.

"Bringing that bitch to the very palace Rachel used to control? Even if she's your real second chance mate, you should have rejected her and killed her on sight instead of attempting to honor the bond with the same witch that killed your mate."

A pained shriek made me realize that I had moved, grabbed her by her neck, and slammed her against the nearest wall. My claws drew blood and my wolf howled in satisfaction at the sight. It was only when her pupils were dilating that I let her go. She dropped to the floor, coughing and wheezing.

"You'll mind the way you talk to me because I can't guarantee you'll be able to use your tongue if you forget your place again."

"Yes Alpha," her voice was meek as she pushed herself to a kneeling position in front of me, "forgive my insolence."

"Good! Now make yourself useful."

She didn't hesitate before crawling to me. When she stopped right in front of me, her skillful hands undid my boxers, grabbed my dick and after two pumps, I was hard. I groaned when she took me all the way in. She licked and sucked but it wasn't enough. I grabbed her hair, taking control of her as I repeatedly slammed into her mouth.

It took a while for me to cum. It always take a while for me to cum after Rachel died and most times, I had to imagine it was her on her knees, begging me with a doe eye to make use of her mouth anyhow I deemed fit.

*****

I relished in Hera's shock when I announced that she should be subjected to Tanzu. I couldn't care less about the outcome of the ritual. If she was found to have used her powers, she was going to be stripped naked, wiped publicly, and booed all over the town. The almighty Hera getting subjected to that was enough satisfaction enough. And if she scaled through, I'd get to keep her by my side to torture her for as long as possible.

It was a win-win situation for me.

"Good!" Elder Zahrah beamed. She was one of the female elders and I could tell how excited she was that I had ordered Hera to be subjected to that.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" That was Elder Theo, always the voice of the reason in the room, "I mean you're an Alpha, Atticus, you should know if the mate bond is real or not."

I was about to answer but Elder Lucas beat me to it, "I think it's a good idea. Whether or not Alpha Atticus can tell if it's a fake mate bond, subjecting her to Tanzu is a great idea. This is the witch we've always wanted to hunt for plunging us into this madness and the gods have delivered her into her hands. We'd be foolish to let the opportunity slip away."

"We can't always pay evil with evil, Lucas," Elder Theo replied, "just because..."

"You don't have to argue because of me," Hera's voice echoed in the huge hall. She started to make her way towards us; her steps slow and unhurried as if she had all the time in the world to cover all the distance between us. There was an elegance to her steps, to her slow movements that annoyed me. I forced myself to remain calm and logical. Even if she survived Tanzu, I'd have all the time in the world to cripple her wings till she's nothing but a shadow of herself.

"I'm right here," she got to us, "and I'm not objecting to being subjected to Tanzu. If that's what I have to do to prove that I'm indeed mated to my Alpha, then I'll do it. We have years to spend together, we should get rid of doubts and uncertainties now."

She was answered with glares and hisses. Only Elder Theo didn't show his disdain for her. Beside me, Lilith was vibrating with fury. I understand her anger. Rachel was her best friend and now, the leader of the people that killed her best friend was trying to step into her shoes.

"Do we start now?" Her voice sounded overly innocent, fake with a meekness that she'd never have, "and what do I have to do?"

"You don't get to ask questions and talk to us like you're above us," Elder Ayo snapped at her. She was old and very feeble, yet her voice silenced every other sound in the hall.

"I'll be Luna," Hera answered meekly, "I'm just practicing how to talk to you when I'm crowned."

I chuckled. I tried to fight it but the sound left my mouth before I could stop myself. Her foolery was cute. It'd become cuter when she found out what I had in plan for her.

"Send for an Adane from Tanz House," Elder Ayo snapped again. She wasn't addressing anyone in particular but it was obvious her orders were directed to the guards, "tell them we have a ritual to hold and set up a room for the ritual."

"I'll do it," Lilith spoke beside me as she stepped out into the spotlight. She was addressing the room but her eyes, burning so bright with unbridled hatred, were focused on Hera. She was also an Adane from the Tanz House and it was only them that could perform the Tanzu ritual.

"I'll hold the ritual."