1: ENDURANCE

AVA-ROSE'S POV

Gracefully, I glided down the aisle leading to the dining hall. The naked monstrosities of white-marbled statues that my mate called art lined the hallways like guards in Buckingham Palace. My wolf was torn. She wanted to obey the obligations the Moon Goddess bestowed upon us. But she also wanted her pack to be happy. But being mated to the Alpha of the Drexel Forest Pack wasn't an easy task.

Alastor Drexel was a man so ferocious, he ate the hearts of his enemies. His humanity was, if not non-existent, it was close to being so. My stomach girdled as I anticipated tonight's feast. Dexter Black, Alpha of the Midnight Rune pack, was defeated by my mate. He owed our pack a significant amount of money, and he was days overdue.

Alastor challenged him to a duel, a fight to the death, and the poor unfortunate fool accepted. Now his head was mounted on a spike on the front lawn, next to Alastor's other kills. The big clock to my left chimed, waking up my tired legs. I picked up the pace. It was a minute after 9 and I was late. I hurried towards the two guards that were standing at the entrance to the grand hall. It wasn't until I stopped and greeted them I realized I was winded. I inhaled, fixing the strand of hair that fell from my updo style. Alastor loved when I combed my hair out of my face. He said that my beauty was one of his greatest possessions but really, he wanted the world to see the hideous mark he left on my neck. My hands smoothed some of the wrinkles from my dress, and I inhaled and exhaled to steady my breathing.

“Luna," the guards welcomed, bowing as they pulled the double doors open.

I stepped through. I wasn't with the quietness of the halls or my thoughts anymore. The ruckus of plates cluttering and bear mugs clinking took over my hearing.

A young wolf drunker than a drunkard on his wedding night ran up to me. “Luna, you're looking bootiful tonight," the dark-haired teen slurred as he kissed me on the cheek, surprising not only me but also worrying my wolf. What was he doing here anyway? This dining hall was for the high-ranked wolves and warriors. A bitter mist of someone's burning gaze washed over me. He was watching. My eyes quickly scanned through the crowded auditorium. There, in the darkest part of the room, his glowing red eyes connected with my green ones.

“Run along now," I warned the young lad. “And get some water," I finished. With my eyes paired with my mate's, I walked towards him. The crowd parted like I was Moses, and they were the Red Sea, clearing a path, so I could go towards him. Sitting on his chair made of his victim's bones, he leaned forward. My eyes adjusted to the darkness of the corner. The smirk he had on his face, which some would call a smile, was a Sinister sign of how wicked and dirty his heart and mind were. He grinned wider, moving his hand to his trousers.

His bare chest was riddled with countless battle scars he got while he brought torture to innocent people. But that one thick scar that decorated his face from his left ear to the below of his right cheek was my favourite, for it was I who put it there.

He undid his button, scooting his pants down below his hips, releasing his cock for me and the world to see. I clenched my jaw and my fists, and his eyes glimmered when he saw my action. “Come, sit," he ordered. My wolf howled in anger in my head. How could our mate keep disgracing us like this? But we couldn't resist. We knew what he would do if we did. I climbed the three steps, so I could get close to him. I watched him stroke himself, his manhood twitched, wanting me to slide on already. I hoisted my pink dress to my waist. I didn't bother to wear any underwear. This was how my life had been ever since I moved here. My mate took enjoyment in fucking me in front of our pack. It started a week after we marked each other. He said that I was too unsubmissive and that he would enjoy breaking me and putting the pieces back together to how he saw fit. Like a chair, I sat on him, sliding on his massive penis. I gritted my teeth, refusing to make a sound, not wanting to ignite his satisfaction by revealing how full I felt with him inside of me. Of course, a part of me loved him. I didn't want to love him, but it was out of my control. The mate bond the Moon Goddess created had me and my wolf longing for our mate's tender touch. Something that we dreamt of every night, but every day when we were awake, that dream only seemed to be further and further away.

“Bounce," he whispered into my ear, nipping at my earlobe. His breath felt like acid on my face. The internal turmoil I felt was driving my wolf insane. The fact that we wanted this man, but at the same time, his touch and kisses made us sick. My wolf and I didn't know how much more we could take. But our endurance was high, and so was our need to survive. And I wasn't backing down either, so I gripped his knees and clenched around his cock. His warriors were watching, some of them stroking themselves as they observed their Alpha and Luna fuck. I held on to the armrest of his skeletal chair and I bounced up and down as hard and fast as I could. Seizing my breasts through my dress, he nibbled on my ear, then ran his tongue over the mark on my neck. I shuddered. I felt disgusted. “This pussy is mine," he rumbled, grunting as he dug his nails into my shoulder, making sure all of him was inserted inside me. But before he could ejaculate, he shoved me off him and I fell to my knees. “Get up," he ordered. I glanced up at him, looking down at me with satisfaction in his eyes. “Up on the chair.”

Biting back the urge to spit on him, I got up. He had never done this part before. He grabbed me by my hair and helped me up on the chair. My knees were on the seat, with my legs spread apart and my ass up in the air. He ripped my dress off me, leaving my nudity for everyone to see. My head hung low over the headrest.

“Dwight," he called.

“Yes, Alpha," I heard Dwight answer from the crowd.

“Bring me the boy," he ordered.

What boy?

“Right away Alpha.”

I looked behind over my shoulder and saw the dark-haired young wolf that kissed my cheek earlier.

“No, no! Please, he's just 16," I heard the frantic wails of a man.

“Let me go," the boy pleaded as Dwight dragged him up the steps.

“Shut the fuck up and stand over there," Dwight grunted as he shoved the boy up to my mate.

“What's your name, boy?” Alastor asked, towering like a mountain over the slender boy.

“Dennis, My Alpha," Dennis trembled as he spoke, refusing to look my mate in the eye.

“Dennis, what a marvellous name. A name fit for a man," my mate rumbled. “Are you a man, Dennis?”

“I—I," Dennis was at a loss for words.

“Do not stutter when you are talking to me, boy. I asked, are you a man?" The force of my mate's words rattled the chandeliers up above.

“I am a male, if that's what you mean, my Alpha.”

“Someone is playing smart. Let me rephrase that. Have you ever fucked before?"

Before Dennis could answer, I screamed, “No! No! Don't do this, Alastor."

My body jerked when I felt a heavy palm against my ass. “Did I say you could talk, mate?”

“No," I let out.

“Good." I felt his lips on my ass where he hit. I would give anything right now to save this boy. “Back to you, Dennis. Have you ever fucked a girl before?"

“Yes, Alpha.” He nodded his head. I was still looking over my shoulder. Dennis's eyes were filled with pure fear. The scent was staining the atmosphere, overpowering the smell of mine and my mate's arousal.

“Really? Or are you lying?" Alastor inquired.

“I would never lie to you, my Alpha.”

“Very well then. What is this girl's name?" Alastor grinned. “Don't keep me waiting."

“Dahlia, my Alpha.”

“What?” Dwight roared. “My daughter Dahlia?”

My mate let out a hearty laugh. “This is riveting.” He spoke, and the crowd broke with laughter, too. Dwight must have punched Dennis because I heard the youngster scream. “Dwight, if you do that shit again, I will kill you.” My mate warned. “Now Dennis, have you ever fucked a woman, I mean, a real woman?”

“No,” I barely whispered when I gathered what sick game Alastor wanted to play.

“Answer me, boy!” Alastor boomed. But Dennis didn't answer. “OK then. Fitzroy, get up here now!” I heard footsteps coming toward us. I looked over my shoulder and saw an older man, an Omega, that served in the kitchen. “Do you know this boy, Fitzroy?”

“Yes, Alpha. He is my son.” Fitzroy was scared. It was clear in his eyes.

“And how many sons do you have?” My mate asked.

“Three my Alpha. Dennis is my eldest.”

“So if I kill him, you'll still have two to carry your family's name.”

Fitzroy didn't respond.

“How about you boy,” he turned to Dennis. “How many fathers do you have?”

Dennis's eyes shot up to meet Alastor's now. “One.”

“Good. So if I kill him, you and your brothers would be orphans since your mother died years ago.” My mate snickered. “So, are you ready to answer my question now?” He chuckled, and Dennis nodded. “Have you ever fucked a real woman?”

“No, my Alpha.”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes, Alpha, I'd love to when I'm older,” Dennis stated.

Alastor froze for a while. He was just standing there staring at the boy with evil intent. Suddenly, the clock chimed adding noise to the already noisy grand hall. It was the hour of 10 pm. “Guess what, Dennis, you are a minute older. You get to fuck a real woman tonight.” My mate slapped my ass, and the crowd went wild.

“Please don't,” I yelled.

“Take your clothes off, Dennis,” Alastor ordered.

“No, Alpha, he's just a boy,” Fitzroy begged, grabbing onto Alastor's hand. Alastor's eyes darted to where Fitzroy's hand was.

“HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME, YOU FILTHY SCUM!.” Venom, Alastor's wolf was at the forefront. I couldn't look, so I closed my eyes. Unfortunately, I couldn't do the same with my ears.

The sound of someone choking on their blood invaded my ears, sending icy chills up my spine. I heard a few gasps and then Dennis screamed in agony. “No, father!” he sobbed.

There was a thud, then something was rolling across the floor closer to me. I slowly opened my eyes to investigate. My tears flowed freely as I saw Fitzroy's bloodied head settle a few feet from me.

“Dwight, take the boy home and from now on, no wolves under 18 are allowed in the dining hall,” Alastor demanded.

“Yes, Alpha.” Dwight declared as he took a frantic Dennis away.

Alastor ordered another one of his goons to dispose of Fitzroy's head.

“We'll finish this tonight,” Alastor told me as he threw my torn dress at me. “Cover yourself.”

I covered as much as I could with the tattered dress. His warriors waited for us to be seated at the rectangular table before they settled in their chairs. I was the only female allowed to eat with them. This was one of Alastor's many ways of keeping an eye on me.

The double doors burst open and in strode the magnificent Trenton. Beta Trenton always waited until after the Alpha's fuck session with me to turn up for supper.

“You're late – again,” Alastor roared.

“You've been saying this for 12 years now, big brother,” Trenton chuckled. “What did I miss?” His eyes finally found mine as he spoke.

“A lot,” Alastor rumbled as he kissed my temple. A low growl escaped Trenton's throat, which made Alastor laugh.

A female Omega placed a plate before the Alpha, and then another before me. The raw, bloodied heart of poor Alpha Dexter Black lay dead on our plates. “Delicious,” Alastor licked his lips, dropping his head onto his plate, and tearing into the uncooked heart. He looked over at me. “Eat," he ordered. My stomach churned, but I was a strong wolf. With my hands at my side, I lowered my head and feasted on the half of the cold, dead heart on my plate. The taste was vile, I could sense the pain the wolf endured in his last hour. I chewed as fast as I could then washed down the taste with red wine.

The dining hall cheered with glee after the Alpha ate his share. “Now We Feast!" Alastor commanded and the heartless puppets dug into their meals as well.

I watched them chomping down their meals and my wolf and I promised ourselves that the day will come when we get to kill every last one of them.