Niall gasps and cries out a little, tucking his head against me as the corpse lands in the center of the ring, a puddle of blood already spreading into the dirt. I move my hand to the back of Niall’s head, tucking him close.I reach to clutch Vivi closer as well, but she swats my hand away - she, like me, can’t tear her eyes away from the horrible scene before us. Coco peers with her, neither of them blinking as they take in of the blood, the full display of what her grandfather is capable of, before I grab her and force her to turn. Coco flutters, unbalanced, but Vivi grabs him and holds him close to her chest.“Does ANYONE,” Mahl roars, turning now in the center of the ring, glaring around at the crowd as if he’ll take on each and every one of us now if we challenge him at all. “Have ANYTHING to say on this subject?”And no one utters a single sound. The only noise is the wind whistling through the arena – no echo of a footstep, no clink of a glass - as we all stand perfectly still
“Yes, a coup for Callista,” I say slowly, though everything inside me screams no! That too-sly Vendan Duke is not at all what I hope for Calli, for her future. “But…well, do you think his affection is genuine, sire?” I ask. “Or is he merely…playing with her in order to get closer to you, through me?”“Does it matter?” the Mahl murmurs, rolling his eyes in displeasure with the turn in conversation - and, frankly, a little drunk. Any veneer of delicacy or consideration for my feelings has been neatly wiped away. “She will be useful to us – able to report back what he has said. It is good for a woman to be useful.”I work very hard to hold my tongue now and just say nothing, locking eyes with Calli where she stands across the tent, still at Caspar’s side. She gives me a little smile, but I just shake my head subtly before looking up at the King. Then, determined, I begin to beg him to please let me go to bed, to take my sister with me so that I can warn her about the advances of indelica
Auden loses his temper the moment the words leave my lips, but then I watch him reign it back in almost as quickly as it went.Honestly, a part of me would rather see him lose it – rather see him actually vent his emotions, instead of constantly tucking them back inside of himself. Because as much as Auden is Mahl’s double, I have no real fear of his rage.I know that Auden would never hurt me, never hurt my children. Our children. And part of me very, very much wants to push him across his edge, just a little bit, as I tonight have been pushed. I think it’d be good for him.“Are you – are you serious, Everleigh?” Auden growls at me, his shoulders shaking with the effort of keeping his anger tightly wound. “This is my fault now!?”I narrow my eyes at him, clenching my jaw as my wolf again nudges me, reminding me, deep down, that it is not at all his fault – that he’s been working, this entire time, to mitigate all of this – to protect the three of us.But this? What happened tonight?
**Midwinter, 5 and a half years ago**Auden takes a steadying breath as he stands at the doorway to the terrace, his eyes fastened on the girl before him who stretches her hands out above the warm brazier. His fingers clench hard around the two glasses of mulled wine in his hands, betraying his anxiety.God, does she even like wine?What if –But then he growls, shaking his head in frustration and forcing himself to take that first step forward. Because he’s being ridiculous, and it doesn’t even matter. The wine is just an excuse to talk to her – she can throw it off the balcony for all he cares.Auden begins to cross the terrace to her, his footsteps echoing on the stones.She turns when he’s about halfway across, just at the precise moment when her scent hits him again.He has to grind his teeth, resisting the urge to flinch, or groan, or drop the cups – because god damn it, but that scent –It’s incredible - black violets, and saffron, and plums, somehow spicy and sweet – conflicti
**Midwinter, 5 and a half Years Ago** I can’t help laughing as Auden winds us, fast, down the stairs, the butterflies in my stomach matching his pace as he turns and turns. It feels… I don’t know how to describe it - but something about the way we move reminds me of when I was a kid in spring, stretching out my arms and spinning and spinning for the joy of it. I reach a hand out, laughing and grasping at the snowflakes that fall around us now that we’re far enough from the ballroom that they’re not burned up in the heat. When Auden’s pace slows I almost regret the end of the staircase, mostly because it means he’ll put me down. I’ve rather liked the way that he’s holding me close against his chest, and the fact that both of us are pretending to ignore the way his thumb has slipped around to the back of my thigh. There’s nothing scandalous – not really – about that touch, but…well. We both know it’s there. And if my fiancé found out about it? He would not be happy. But the climb c
“Be cool, Auden,” he murmurs to himself, resisting the urge to sprint for the guard house by the lake and shout for the guards to get the hell out of it.But no. There is no rush – no need to hurry any of this. So he forces himself to take measured steps across the snow and then up the short set of stone stairs to the door. When he opens it, the guards inside turn to him and freeze in surprise.“Out,” Auden says, nodding towards the still-open door.The guards just stare at him.“You have the night off,” Auden continues, making himself wear the mantle of command that he always assumes when commanding his troops. “I’ll take over from here. Go,” he says, jerking his chin towards the door. “Shift, run back to the castle. There’s still plenty of time to enjoy the festivities.”While the Alphas have their own party, Midwinter is for everyone. The Betas, Gammas, and Deltas who aren’t working have their festivities downstairs. A few Betas stand up eagerly, ready to go, but still others move
I flinch away from Auden as he reaches for me, as memories of that night five years ago come suddenly flooding back -It, too, was a night that started on an open-air terrace with Auden offering me wine –And then, a little guard shack in the woods, when we shared a drink by the fire, and Auden reached for me, just as he’s doing now -My breath comes short in my throat as his hand moves for me -But his palm lands soft on my shoulder, not on my waist. He leaves it there a moment before squeezing, his skin warm against mine. “I’m sorry, Everleigh,” he says quietly, his eyes sad. “I was upset –“I gape up at him like a stupid fish for a moment before I force myself to blink, to come back to this moment –Because, of course, of course it’s just me imagining things, flashing back to the memories of a night that Auden doesn’t even know existed -“No,” I say, finding my shaky voice and taking a step closer to him. “I mean – yes – I accept your apology – but I was unfair too. I’m sorry, Aud
Auden stares at the floor for a moment, not really knowing how to answer Everleigh’s question. Because he is shaken up by what happened last night – more than he wants to admit. Not so much his father’s violence – that he’s seen before.But her response to it – and…And how right she was, asking that question about whether his violence was part of his nature or just something he’s chosen to believe his whole life because it’s easier.God, he’d been up half the night turning it over in his mind.“Auden?” she asks, and he clenches his jaw, realizing that he’s been staring at the floor for too long.“I’m all right,” he says, raising his eyes and meeting hers, willing her to believe it. Because he is, really – he’s been shaken up before, he’ll be shaken up again. But what matters is that he’s…steady. That he’ll hold it together, for the kingdom, for the children…For her, if she’ll let him.But the way she stares at him now, her hands in fists at her side…He sighs, not knowing…what he wa
“It went off without a hitch, Ev!” she says, laughing and smacking my shoulder, delighted. “Seriously, you are a skilled woman – both in terms of using that powder and…what I convinced Mahl you could do in the bedroom, when properly incentivized.”I burst out laughing, letting my head tilt back with it, relief rushing through me as much as humor. I mean, I figured everything went okay when I didn’t receive any drastic summons this morning. But hearing it from Margot’s own lips is its own relief.“The powder lasted all night?” I whisper, leaning closer.She nods eagerly. “I had to scrub it, Ev, you put it on good. Honestly, do you think my hair still has a bit of a blonde sheen?”I glance at it and then give her a playful shove on the shoulder as I laugh, realizing that she’s kidding. “Don’t be silly.”“Oh, I’ll be as silly
I yawn as I walk slowly through the halls, heading for the great hall where the majority of the Lunas of this castle will be gathered, alongside their children, as is traditional after the Night of the Stag. Some Alphas will come too, but most will stay in bed.And it’s not that I’m necessarily dragging my feet to get there because I’m dreading it or something. I’m just still quite tired after an eventful night.Luckily for me, the day after the Night of the Stag is a long and lazy day where everyone in the palace takes it easy. The children play with their toys together in the hall, Lunas hang out and lounge around gossiping, and Alphas take the time to sleep off their drug-fueled orgy.Everyone just takes the day to do what they need, which is very nice.Viv and I took a long cozy nap after our extended chat about why kindness matters even when it doesn’t reflect your inner feelings. It wasn’t enough, c
I laugh, looking around at my family, eyebrows raised. “Finally?”“Yes,” she murmurs, Niall nodding in agreement. “You finally let daddy scent mark you and you smell much better.”I straighten in my chair, my eyes flashing to Auden, who laughs low and rich, shaking his head at me.Shit. I – I didn’t even put together that of course the kids were going to notice that I smell all over of Auden now until I get a chance to wash it off.God, thank heavens the children are the only ones I’ve seen so far.I laugh too, shaking my head, suddenly anxious to get in the tub even as I lay my cheek on my daughter’s hair. “I didn’t realize I smelled so objectionable before.”“Not ob-jection-bul,” she murmurs, taking a deep and happy breath, turning her face to bring her nose closer to me. “Just better. Daddy s
“And then,” Vivi murmurs, sitting on my lap with her mouth full of toast and butter and jam, reaching for her glass of juice. “Aurora’s mother took my bow away and said I wasn’t allowed to play with it anymore if I was going to keep scaring Aurora –“I grimace and look over at Auden, who sighs and cocks his head to the side, clearly regretting his choice of gifts for the Night of the Stag.Niall stares daggers at his sister from his chair, shaking his head at her. “You were so mean to Aurora and now we won’t be invited back!”“Even if they invite me back, I won’t go,” Vivi murmurs, turning to offer Coco a whole sausage from her fork. “It’s boring there.”“Vivs,” I murmur, reaching out to stop her from giving him so much food at once – but Coco gobbles the sausage down fast, the meat folding in half and going
Auden glances at me one last time as he reaches the door and I pull the dress over my head, hastily standing and tugging at my laces. I duck down next to his bed, ready to hide as instructed, and he nods to me, pulling his bedroom door open and then heading for the main door.I sit down hard on the floor on the far side of the bed, ducking my head so that I can’t be seen above the mattress, my arms twisted behind my back and tugging as best as I can at the stupid strings that will tighten my bodice.When? When will they invent dresses that women can put on without aid so that they can keep their clandestine night adventures to themselves!? “Papa!” Vivi cries. Auden laughs and says something back as Niall likewise shouts his hellos. I smile – I can’t help it – the sound of their voices going right to my heart.My sweethearts, my cuties. God, I haven’t thought about them in…hours.I
Auden lifts his hips fast and rough, pressing his cock up into me one final time. I moan, grinding myself down, my hands pressed to his chest beneath me, my arms trembling as I go to pieces around him, my inner muscles clenching hard as the tension within me comes to its breaking point and begins to unspool.I gasp again and again as that heat pounds through me, my arms giving out and my body pitching forward as my eyes fall shut. Auden’s there in a moment, catching me against his chest and turning me slightly so that I lay on my side. He murmurs something soft but I don’t hear it – or can’t comprehend it – or something - whatever. My brain is again mush and I can’t find the energy to care.Auden shifts behind me for better leverage, his hips slapping hard against my ass a dozen more times before he, too, groans and stills, coming to his end as a few curses slip from his lips. My body responds, my back arching painfully as I press my ass more ti
We lay there for a long few moments in silence, I think just letting our bodies learn the feel of each other in repose, basking in this new warmth. He ducks his head slightly, rubbing his stubbled cheek against my hair in a very fond, wolfish gesture. I can’t help my growing smile, raising a hand to his chest and letting my fingers spread out over his soft skin.God, who knew it would be this soft?Or maybe I did.Maybe I dreamed it.My wolf gives a scanty little howl of joy, curling up in a little crescent shape with her nose tucked under the edge of her tail, completely content.“I’ve thought about this,” he murmurs, letting his body curl around me more completely, pressing a kiss to my hair.“Really?” I whisper, lifting my face a bit to look up at him, grinning.He stills for a moment, frowning down at me. “You’re going to break my heart if you say you haven’t.”I laugh, smacking him lightly on the chest and lowering my face to press my cheek again to his nice warm skin. “So, what
My breath deepens as I keep my eyes on Auden, my fingers deftly working at the leather of his belt, sliding the end through the metal clasp and then tugging it, working it free of the pin. When I slide the buckle free, my hand moves to the button beneath, quickly popping it free of the fabric.Auden watches my face as my hand works, his expression very serious, very…solemn.Like this is some kind of great ceremony.Like this is…a point which when crossed we cannot go back. Which, I suppose it kind of is.But we’ve already crossed at least three of those points already. Honestly, I’m so far in with this man that…this tiny step? This last little leap?It just feels inevitable. Natural and right.Auden’s hand moves slowly up my arm as my fingers work at the series of little buttons on his fly, slipping each one free. He keeps his eyes on mine, even as my hand slips around to his side, my thumb again running along the waistline of his pants. When I reach his hip, I press the fabric down.
“What are you doing?” I gasp.“It’s easier this way,” he murmurs, settling down on top of my legs. He pauses for a second, but then his fingers wrap again around the edges of my dress, pulling it down a little lower so that half of my booty is exposed.“Auden!” I gasp, my head flying up.“Calm down, Everleigh, this is strictly medical. I just need to see the extent of the bruise.” His voice is low, entertained.“Oh, I hate you,” I murmur, tucking my head back down against my arms, my cheeks flaming.“No, you don’t,” he murmurs, making me smile. A soft scraping sounds, the lid of a jar being unscrewed, and the balmy scent of mint and eucalyptus fills my nose. “This will be cold.”I sigh and nod, consenting to it, thinking that sounds quite nice against the hot ache growing in my lower back. But I still gasp at the first t