LOGINShare
26
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56River is in agony.
The fever had broken during the night, yet as her sickness abated, the burning sensation along her neck increased tenfold. She is unable to sleep throughout the night, lying stiffly on her back, staring fixed at the ceiling.
Her jaw aches terribly. Hadrius had been firm and insistent on her marking him despite possessing blunt, mundane teeth. Unlike his deadly canines, she could barely pierce his skin — and her irritation only grew as he instructed her on how to properly bite him. The lecture unnerved her for it seemed to border cannibalism.
She bit. She bit again. And when that failed, she growled and chewed on his shoulder, trying to rip at his skin like it was a piece of dried jerky.
In the end, she had successfully marked him - if marking could be considered a brutal blue-purple colour with vague dental indents.
By the time dawn arrived, River was fatigued and cranky.
“The Alpha and council will be awaiting
Related chapters
The Beast's Slave 27
River stares after Hadrius.He walks ahead of her, each step faster than the last, harder - more deliberate. There is anger in the manner in which he carries himself, it rolls off of him in scalding waves that scorch River’s skin as she trails after him.She keeps a healthy distance, should the warlord decide to turn and end her life out of pure rage.Alpha Novus had dismissed them after the speculation and talk, but Hadrius did not leave. Instead, the Lycan stood unmoving, a hardness that edged at the corners of his bottomless eyes that watched Novus. River stared between the two men, sensing a power trip as both were unwilling to step down.Novus exhaled dismissively; “She is not your mate.”“She is,” Hadrius stated, something sharp in his voice.It irked River how nonchalant Novus was of his beta’s relationship. Then again, she had just learned that he had a mate and child who died.River glances
The Beast's Slave 28
They did not speak to each other for three days.River spends them purposefully avoiding the warlord after her rather dogged outburst, and in hindsight, she does feel shame for hitting the woman as the pillow was intended for the smug man.Avoiding him was not difficult as his schedule was demanding of the majority of his time.Being the Alpha’s Beta, Hadrius spends the majority of daylight in the palace; at meetings discussing politics; plotting the expansion of boundaries, financial terms, war, the next annual raid; and most importantly, the hellhounds that seemed to have sprung out of nowhere. Now threatening their borders.Though he is busy, Hadrius had made sure she was just as active - having assigned her four tutors which she met at 8 AM for Latin, calculus, geography and history - all of which she loathed with a burning passion but could not decline.Perhaps this was his silent way of punishing her for disrupting his moment.It
The Beast's Slave 29
He leads her back into the palace but down another labyrinth of hallways and doors until they finally halt before a circular wooden barrier. Hadrius pushes it open. Each footfall is as quiet as a shadow. The hallway opens to a bath chamber, walls of different fluorescent mosaic colours beneath glass tiles. River’s steps falter as she takes in the spectacle before her. The chamber curves like a cave, natural luminescent lights glowing from the walls and ceilings, illuminating the thin mist of steam that rises from the large bath to drift around her ankles.Her skin grows damp.She inhales mint eucalyptus and spots a nude female servant dropping two dollops of hardened oils into the water.“Enter the bath, I will join you in a moment.” Hadrius turns away, leaving her alone in the room. She stands by awkwardly, uncertain as to why he would want her in the bath, but the waters steamed invitingly and it wouldn’t hurt to take a quick dip.
The Beast's Slave 30
When Hadrius wakes, it is not the soft pleasant fluttering of drooping eyelids, neither is it a peaceful rousing that pulls from slumber but rather, a violent upright startled, his fingertips aching, hot as embers from a bonfire, with the visibility of wolf claws that had begun to drop during the nightmare. His bare torso glows with perspiration, large chest heaving upwards, darkened hair sleek against his temples and nape of his neck.He blinks into the semi-light room, slants of golden bands slipping from partially drawn curtains. For a moment, he is disoriented and slightly frustrated, heart still thundering from the nightmare of hellhounds of the hooded cloak that reaches for him. But then something shifts beside him- his eyes cut sideways as something brushes his calf, an incoherent murmur from the girl as she rolls over, clearly undisturbed by his inhuman ways.Hadrius watches her a moment, the soft curve of her cheek, clustered freckles behind her eye shaded by
The Beast's Slave 31
River bites into the fleshy succulent apple, glistening juices trailing down the side of her hand and wrist. She wipes at it on the front of her dress absent-mindedly, gaze unfocused and listlessly wandering from one book to another on the wide shelf before her.After their brief intimate scuffle that left her mortal pride wounded, and the Luna’s unexpected visit, Hadrius had shortly dismissed her for classes. His mirthful mood suddenly darkened with hidden meaning.She had left for the palace classrooms but no teacher was in attendance, students as well, all rooms empty. It was then that she noticed the sudden bustling of servants moving about with polished trays and chandeliers, rolled up Persian carpets and glistening silverware. They all moved in one direction.River made her way to the large, silent library, away from the schools of Lycans that would not spare her the poisonous glances and bared teeth of viciousness.The library is partially em
The Beast's Slave 32
“For all the years I have known you, Alpha, I would never think that you would insult me in such a way.”Alpha Novus glances up from the paper that lies before him, and at his Beta that stands by the large doorway. Both of them still wear their suits from the party but Hadrius’ top button is undone, tie resting on his shoulder. He watches the Alpha with a look of respectful contempt.“You insulted my mate as well.” The warlord continues, unable to rid himself of the expression that crossed her face when Alaina, the Alpha’s daughter, kissed his cheek.Alpha Novus remains silent and immobile, like a column of water, cold and straight, sufficient to himself. His jaw clicks and his pale lips curve into the tenderest of smiles; “I apologize if that is not how you wished to meet Alaina, the girl is rather brazen,” a sigh as he flattens a palm on the papers, “I will pass on the message to her father, should she choo
The Beast's Slave 33
“Mortal!” River glances up from her paper and at the female teacher that stands before the room. Pairs of mythical eyes leering at her. She blinks slowly, drawing from the nebulous cloud of thoughts.“What?” She speaks, bemused.A snicker rises around.Atticus leans back on his seat and rocks whilst smiling hotly at her.“I see you were not paying attention,” the teacher reproaches, something terrible distorting her beauty. “You are dismissed from the class.”River blinks again, “What?” She echoes again, unable to keep up with her mind which is a stinging web of hurt and now this. “I’m sorry, did I-”“Dismissed!” The woman snaps and River stills, eyebrows furrowing.“What have I done wrong?”“You have not been paying attention.”“Neither has the group of boys over there-” River points a hot finger
The Beast's Slave 34
“Thank you,” Hadrius speaks at the maid, watching as she bows low before him with River’s dirty bloodied clothes in hand, before stepping out of the room. That had been the last of them.Slowly shutting the door, the warlord cracks his neck to the side then knuckles. His body is rigid and sore, a phantom ache between joints from the unrestrained shift that briefly surfaced whilst subduing the wolves. The wolves that dared harm her. It had left him fatigued but alert.Hadrius walks across the room and lingers by the bathroom’s doorway.Large and utterly decadent, as nearly everything pertaining to the warlord’s lifestyle is. Smooth grey marble and a lot of glass and mirrors lend the large room a somewhat surreal quality, steam from the hot water and lit candles only added to the effect.There are two lit candles, glowing against the steam from the heat of the water that hung heavy in the air. Through the mist, he sees his huma
Latest chapter
The Beast's Slave Bonus 1
The bonus chapter most people have been waiting for and an important note at the end. “Brother.” The warlord glances up from the alliance paper sprawled before him and at Cain who sits at the head of the table. Beside him is another Alpha, supposedly from another wolf pack that Hadrius could not remember. There was a lot to remember. Hadrius blinks and Cain’s pointed stare drops to the table, “Will you not sign it?” The warlord glances down once more to find the ink pen had dripped onto the paper’s corner, a blank space still awaiting his signatory. He sits straighter and clears his throat, “Yes.” Drawing out his signature, Hadrius caps the pen and slides it towards the awaiting mediators and legal advisors who peer over the papers once more before nodding at the pack leader. Every man rises then, pausing to stare upon Cain and the new Alpha as they exchange firm handshakes and murmurs of ‘we
The Beast's Slave epilogue
The week had gone by in a blur of activities; Novus’ final sighting before the eyes of the public - his execution and burning at the altar. There had been an incoherent pleasure that drifted through the warlord at the sight of Novus’ clipped and outraged face as he gazed upon River, alive and healthy despite his endeavours. He had gone into a frenzy, a sort of madness, regression as the guards dragged him up to the altar. Blood and fluids trailed in rivulets down the man’s wounded body, gaping gulleys of flesh and flashing alabaster bones still unhealed in display for those watching in raptured silence. He was cursing the brothers out. Eyes wide and terror-filled, frothing at the mouth as indecipherable words left him. Neither Hadrius nor Cain flinched at the horrific sight, their countenance masks of clean-cut stone, pristine and unwavering at his curses that dissolved to pleading and begging. They fell on deaf ears. The guards bore him down on the wooden cr
The Beast's Slave 69
Hadrius sighs, “No you’re not.”River’s smile droops, “You have to admit it was a good prank.”Wordlessly he draws her beneath the sheets, worn out not only from the day but her endless antics. For the first time in a long time, Hadrius feels his age. Unable to keep up with her youthful banter and annoyance that is endearing but twists something ageing in him.Her purring picks up in the silence, filling the void as he strokes her hair lethargically. “I have a question for you.”River’s head tilts up in his embrace, searching his face in the darkness.His gaze remains fixated on the wall, then slowly draws down to her. “Would you like to be Luna?”“Luna?” She echoes and he nods.“It’s a title parallel to queen.”“Oh,” he feels her fingers play with his pierced nipple, rolling the barbel back and forth. “No.”
The Beast's Slave 68
“She performed a partial shift.”The warlord’s intent, worried stare lifts from his mate currently sitting on the healer’s table, and to the source. The healer stands by his side holding a large leather-bound book with ancient diseases and plagues that befall the Lycans. His hand rises to rub the throbbing spot between his brow, a tension headache bloomed out of fear and pure terror for his mate.Thrice in his life now River has nearly given him heart attacks and high blood pressure.“A partial shift,” he murmurs thoughtfully. Such shifts were rare, one in every five centuries would either be born with the inability to fully shift or a human turned would only grow out their tail and ears.His gaze returns to his mate, now freshly dressed in a clean white shirt and skirt, her bare feet doodling circles on the air below. She is rubbing her ears in wonder, turning her head this way and that whilst staring at her reflection
The Beast's Slave 67
“Crawl to me.”Heat flares throughout River’s body as she kneels a distance from him, dark eyes fixated on the warlord’s shadowed face. Her lips are slightly parted to which she shuts gently as he arcs a sardonic eyebrow and taps a patient boot on the floor.River swallows, throat jerking against the dryness and obediently she lowers both palms onto the carpet. As her hands sink into the cushioned floor, blood rises stinging to her cheeks, wide eyes brilliant and unwavering on his dominant countenance.Slowly, like an obedient puppy, she obeys.Each movement is slow, her knee rising in tandem to each hand, hips swaying like a swelling tide in the ocean, from side to side. The sheer dress caresses her skin, whispering along the curves of her body and she feels her nubile breasts gently press on her inner arms as she crawls.He watches her. Hellfire swallowing his gaze in absolute darkness, not once leaving her face as space b
The Beast's Slave 66
River woke with a fire of determination lining her veins. All she sees is red whilst stomping down the palace’s hallway in search of the one person who would know Hadrius better than she did.Despite the weather’s coolness, dark winter clouds lumbering lowly, heavily, River still feels the prickling sensation of heat on her skin, rubbing its friction hands up her inner thighs, cupping her throbbing womanhood.Hadrius had refused to touch her and she threw a tantrum throughout the night, then cried believing that he would allow her to suffer in such a way. In retrospect, River cannot help but cringe inwardly at the realization that she truly shed tears over his cock and sudden chastity.It’s the heat, she reasons, it has to be.Since its beginning, she had been nothing but affectionate for the warlord, oftentimes wanting to hold him if not fuck him. The emotions that tumult within felt vivid; love, caring and adoration. Sometimes she woul
The Beast's Slave 65
The serenade of the black wintry sky is filled with a choir of stars that sing patterns across the dark, each musical note wavering in the air and seeping into the warlord’s room.The silence is broken by such song, along with the restless shifting of covers as River lies beside him in unsettled slumber.Something slips through her blood and she turns, unconsciously slinging her leg around Hadrius’ waist, but the brushing of sweltering skin is enough to shed hairs of sleep from her mind. Peeling one hesitant eye open, she peers briefly around the room through a hooded lid, then slumps back onto the pillow beneath her.There, she finds herself torn between the carousel of ideas that fill her awakened mind and the whispers of sleep that still call back to her.River sighs against her arm. An itch dances along her nose but she brushes it away, following the movement of her hand to the slumbering behemoth beside her.The twisted bedsheets d
The Beast's Slave 64
Hadrius stares.The numbing shock that cripples his nerves only thickens at the sight of his human. She still watches him, a slight haze to her cloudy eyes and she blinks once more, the earthen color shifting to golden if not for more than a second before dissolving.His lips part to speak but no sound leaves.His hand tries to rise and reach for her but leads weighs them down. A shocking anchor rooting each limb to the spot.Seemingly undisturbed, or perhaps unaware of his distraught state, River searches his face over and over, suddenly alert and confirming a dreadful suspicion that did not come to pass.She sinks back into the table. “I thought you had died—” A startled huff of breath vacates her lungs as the Warlord’s large body suddenly climbs atop hers.Hadrius does not know what he is doing, not until his hands reach for her face with desperate urgency, his mouth finding her own in a bruising kiss as teeth graz
The Beast's Slave 63
Cain stands on the ridge, watching the dark shapes of battle moving across the field. He cannot make out faces or individual forms. The charge of his hellhounds onto the final remaining Lycans, striking them down like useless things, uprooting them like weeds on a rainy day.The thrum of satisfaction juddering within feels like power, a hammering beat to his chest that lines his veins with the fire of victory. A godly glory.The writhing field is like a gorgon’s face slowly turning his face to cut stone. The kingdom had finally fallen.“Cain!”The voice that calls him is distinct, sharp as jagged sea rocks. Cain slowly angles his face over his shoulder, Lycan eyes offering clarity as the distant figures approach. He sees Hadrius leaping off a horse, his men not far behind.There is an urgency to his face; a twist of sheer cold terror that causes Cain to hesitate. Hadrius has something in his arms.Cain sees it in pieces.
