Edric is pale. He didn’t even look this shocked when I screamed at the king. He storms into the study and goes straight for a bottle of liquor. I close the door behind us, and gesture at Adrian to take a seat, sitting next to him while we watch as Edric pours some of the whisky in a glass and swill it around his mouth, grimacing as he swallows it. Another sip, and then he puts the glass to the side.
Standing next to his desk, he pushes his fingers into the top, staring at Adrian, the brother he didn’t know he has. “Who’s your Alpha?” Edric asks, his tone calm like always, but I can see the turmoil churning in his eyes.
“Kenneth of Blood Moon.”
“Ah fuck, kid, I’m sorry.”
I look at Edric, my eyes asking him the question. “He’s an ally of ours, but by far one of the most abusive wolves in the kingdom. He can give the Lycans a run for their money.”
I wonder what it is that these wolves do that are so terrible. I’ve met several other Alphas now, bu
“What time is it,” I ask, struggling to open my eyes. “Just after six.” “Hmm--” I moan into the pillow --“I don’t wanna get up.” “I know. I’m tired too.” I finally manage to drag my lids apart, staring at the spot where Edric usually lies. His side of the bed looks undisturbed. “Did you get any sleep at all?” “A few hours. I slept on the couch.” “Why?” “You told me to. Besides, I was afraid your wolf would have her way with me while you slept. I’m into a bit of kink, but nothing that crazy.” I don’t know if he’s serious or not, but I don’t ask. Finally, I get myself into an upright position and look at my mate. Big dark circles have formed under his eyes overnight, and he still looks way too pale for my liking. “Are you getting sick?” “Unlikely. Werewolves don’t get sick that often. I’m just tired. I haven’t slept properly in more than a week--” he pats my rump --“come on, get up. I want to talk to you before yo
I stare at my swollen eyes in the mirror. Shit. I haven’t cried like that since the day my parents kicked me out. How am I going to hide this mess from the others? I fill the basin with cold water and dunk my face in it, holding my breath until it feels like my lungs will explode before I come up for air. Well, that didn’t help at all, but it is what it is. “Maya?” Edric knocks on the door. “You okay in there?” “I’ll be out in a second.” “We have thirty minutes.” “I know, I know.” Drying my face, I yank the door open, staring into Edric’s concerned eyes. “I’m sorry.” “Why?” I push past him. “Not your fault.” “I should have waited with that gift.” “You couldn’t have known.” I feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, and I wish he’d stop looking at me like that. Avoiding his eyes, I yank open the closet and pull a clean dress from the hanger. “What should I expect tomorrow?” Edric doesn’t look like he wants to change
Edric's POV: I didn’t think I’d be this nervous – this is what happens when you’re overconfident…like I haven’t learned my lesson many times over these last two weeks. “You look so handsome,” Jolie says as she starts dusting imaginary dirt from my jacket, tears glinting in her eyes. “I wish mom was here to see you.” I don’t. My mother would have looked down on Maya. She might have tolerated rogues being accepted into her pack, but she would never have accepted a wolf like Maya as my mate. She was a snob, like all Lycans. “Mom wouldn’t have attended if she was alive,” I tell Jolie. “She would have hated Maya.” She nods. “She would have been proud of you all the same.” I very much doubt it. I glance at the balcony, shudder, and look away, purposefully forcing the memories from my head. I don’t want to think about what she did…how she looked…not today. Today is supposed to be a happy day. I plan on keeping it that way. Luca is si
Edric's POV: Say the words, Maya. For the love of our Goddess, say the words. She stares at me, her eyes big and questioning, but not filled with wild fear like that first night I caught her in the woods. She shakes her head, then looks at the priest. “I can’t say my parents’ names.” That’s it? Fucking hell. Is she trying to kill me? I let out a slow, shaky breath as I try to get my galloping heart back under control. This is my fault, she tried to tell me she’s not comfortable with calling herself their daughter, and I basically told her to suck it up. How could I be that dense? “You don’t wish to honour your parents, Luna?” “My parents abandoned me.” The priest nods, and behind us, I hear the gossiping voices rise up. I couldn’t care less – our pack’s been the topic of discussion for so many years that I’ve gone deaf to most of the gossip. The king snaps his head around, shooting death stares at our guests, and every
Edric closes the bedroom door behind us and throws his clothes on the bed. “We only have a few minutes,” he says. I have no idea what's going on. What he's planning. A few minutes ago, he just grabbed my arm and dragged me upstairs without a word. I can only guess it’s because I froze up and basically told the whole kingdom that my parents abandoned me. “I’m sorry.” “What for?” he asks. “For freezing up. Not saying my parents’ names.” “That’s my fault,” he says. I sit on the bed, bundling the dress and petticoats up under me. It’s a beautiful gown, I love it, but it’s not the most comfortable dress. I should have gone for something a little sleeker, but the moment Jolie and the queen saw me in it, they insisted that it was the dress. “You’re not angry?” “No. You told me yesterday that you don’t want to say their names, and I dismissed you. I should have listened.” He kneels in front of me, taking both my hands in his.
“Alpha. Luna. This way please.” One of the True Omegas leads us to our table. As always, Edric’s subordinates, their mates, and his father are at the table with us. “That took a while,” Luca teases, and I blush like a teenager caught in the act. Edric bumps me with his shoulder, and holds up his whiskey glass. “We were distracted by the bar.” My mate and his Beta start chatting, while Jolie gets up and brings something over. “You’ll need this.” I take a leather satchel from her. “Okay. Why?” “You’ll see in a minute.” She sits back down without another word. I look at Edric. “What does she mean.” “It’s traditional to gift the she-wolf with cash. It’s so you’ll have a financial cushion if something happens to me, or if our…union breaks down. They started doing it decades ago when wolves were constantly at war with each other, and she-wolves lost their mates faster than they could count.” Slight panic starts tucking at my
My insides contract as Edric slips his arms around me, cupping both my breasts and rolling my nipples between his fingers. My wolf purrs in response to his touch. Sighing, I lean back against him, trusting that he won’t let me fall. He drops his head to my neck, nuzzling me, tracing the lines of my jaw, leaving behind a trail of fire in his wake. Warm need flushes through me, electricity exploding from my centre when his lips flutter over the mark he left on me. I try to turn around, want to look at him but he won’t let me. Swatting the side of my butt, he keeps me in place with his strong arm wrapped around my waist. “The only words I want to hear from you are yes, no, or stop,” he breathes in my ear. “Otherwise, shut up or I’ll start spanking you.” “Okay.” He swats my other butt cheek, not so hard that it hurts, but enough to sting. Instead of scaring me like I expected, it turns me on even more. I really don’t understand my sexual side well enough
Edric's POV: I’m having the hardest time letting go of Maya. Clutching her to my chest much tighter than I should. I came very close to losing control, my wolf forcing himself to the surface with a roar just when I was about to climax. I stopped him just in time. He’s quiet now, content for the moment. I lift myself up and off Maya, kissing her brow before I roll off her. “Are you okay?” She stretches, giving me a spectacular view of her body. In the back of my mind, my wolf growls. * Back off. I’ve just about heard enough out of you. * “Yes.” She rolls over into my waiting arm. I draw her against me, kissing the side of her face. “Did I hurt you?” I’m not too worried. I might have taken things just a little too far, but I could also feel and smell how much it excited her. “Yes,” she admits bluntly. “But it wasn’t…bad.” I can feel the heat from the blush bleeding into me. I know she enjoyed it, but I wa