Star’s POV
I can feel his hunger. It clings to the air between us, unrelenting and heavy, pressing against my skin like a tangible thing.Helios has always been a man of control, imposing, demanding, arrogant in his strength. But now, that control is slipping, unraveling thread by thread, and I’m the one pulling at the seams. Good.I watch him as I step out of the bathroom, my damp hair cascading over my shoulders, droplets of water trailing down my bare skin. He hasn’t moved from where I left him, kneeling by the bed, his hands clenched into fists against his thighs.His golden eyes, sharp and intense, darken when they land on me. Desperate. Needy. I smirk. "You're still here," I muse, running my fingers through my wet strands, feigning indifference. "Good boy."His breath catches, just for a second, but I don’t miss it. His wolf, Hades, is close to the surfaHelios’ POVThe cold floor bites into my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the fire raging inside me. I can hear her breathing, steady and calm, as if she hasn’t just set my body ablaze and left me to burn.I should be furious. Any other time, any other person, and I would have ripped them apart for this. But with Star? I crave it. Every denied touch, every withheld moment of pleasure, every command, she’s unraveling me, and I know she enjoys watching me fall apart under her control.She shifts on the bed, and I instinctively turn my head. A mistake. She’s on her side, propped on one elbow, looking down at me with those piercing eyes that strip me bare in ways I never imagined. The sheets barely cover her body, revealing smooth golden skin and the curves that have haunted me for as long as I can remember.“You’re staring,” she muses. I swallow, dragging my gaze to the ceiling. “Hard not
Helios’ POVTime bends and warps in this torturous limbo between pleasure and restraint. I kneel, still as stone, every muscle coiled with tension as Star’s fingers trace over her skin, her skin, the very thing I crave more than breath itself.She stretches languidly on the bed, her nightgown slipping further, baring the soft curve of her thigh. The flickering candlelight bathes her in gold, making her look almost untouchable. Almost."You're being good," she murmurs, dragging her nails lightly down her stomach. "For once." I grit my teeth. "I'm trying." She chuckles, a low, satisfied sound that sends a shiver down my spine. "And does it hurt, Helios?" She knows it does.Star knows that every second I kneel here without touching her is its own kind of agony. But I don't break. I won't break. Because this is my penance, my submission. And somehow, the pain of waiting is as intoxicating as
Helios' POVThe chains are cold against my wrists, an ironic contrast to the fire burning beneath my skin. I kneel, my head bowed, waiting, no, craving, her next move. My alpha instincts scream at me to take control, to rip away these invisible shackles, but the mark on my neck pulses with a different command. Submit.Star circles me like a predator, her steps slow, and deliberate. Every nerve in my body is attuned to her presence, the way her scent wraps around me, both a torment and a balm.She stops in front of me, tilting my chin up with a single finger. My breath stutters. "Did I give you permission to look at me?" Her voice is silk laced with steel. I drop my gaze instantly, my pulse hammering against my ribs.The silence stretches, filled with a terrifying tension. I feel the light touch of her fingers grazing my skin, trailing from my jaw down to my collarbone. It’s not a caress,
Star’s POVPower. For years, I had none. Nothing but whispers behind my back, the weight of the pack’s scorn pressing down on me. They saw me as weak, as nothing. Even my so-called mate, Alpha Helios, thought he could break me, mold me into his perfect little Luna.Now, the tables had turned. Now, he was the one kneeling before me, naked, vulnerable, and eagerly waiting for my command. Tables do turn indeed.I took my time, letting my gaze sweep over him. He was magnificent, all raw muscle and strength, but there was something even more intoxicating about seeing such a proud Alpha in complete submission. His body was tense, his need evident, but he held himself still. He had learned."Good," I murmured, stepping closer. "You're finally beginning to understand." Helios’ golden eyes flicked up to mine, burning with something primal. "I understand that you own me." The words sent a rush of s
Helios’s POVThe scent of her still clung to the air. Wild, untamed, intoxicating. I was on my knees, fists clenched at my sides, my body trembling with the force of my restraint. Every inch of me burned, not just with desire, but with absolute surrender.I had never felt this before. Not when I fought for dominance. Not when I won battles. Not even when I became Alpha. This....this surrender to her, this loss of control under her hands....was something far more powerful.I could still hear her words in my head. "Patience, Helios. You’ll get your reward when you’ve truly earned it." I swallowed hard. My breathing was ragged, my pulse unsteady. She had stripped me bare, yet never once let me touch her.I had watched as she undressed. Watched as she teased herself, sighing in pleasure, bringing herself to the edge and tipping over, all while I remained frozen, aching, needing.
Helios’s POVThe pack watched me differently now.They still saw me as their Alpha, still bowed their heads in submission when I walked past. But behind their obedience was curiosity and a hint of unease.They had seen the way I followed Star with my eyes. How I moved only when she allowed it. They didn’t understand. They couldn’t.Because they weren’t bonded to her the way I was. They didn’t feel the pull, the need to prove myself to her. To earn her approval.I had spent years rejecting her, denying the mate bond. But now that I had surrendered, I couldn’t stop myself from chasing her, even if it meant crawling. And I knew the pack was talking.The whispers followed me through the halls of the pack house. "He's different." "Did you see how he looks at her?" "She owns him now." I clenched my jaw, ignoring them. Let them talk. Let them wonder. It didn’t matter.
Star’s POVThe night stretched long and quiet, the only sound in my chambers the steady rhythm of Helios’s breathing. He lay beneath me, his body warm and pliant, his restraint impressive.For days, I had pushed him. Tested him. Punished him. And he had obeyed. Without hesitation. Without question. Even now, as I straddled him, running my fingers lightly over his bare chest, he didn’t move. He had learned. He had surrendered. And perhaps… he had earned something tonight.I leaned in slowly, brushing my lips against his collarbone. His body tensed under the ghost of my touch, a sharp inhale betraying just how much he wanted more. "Relax," I murmured.His hands, clenched into the sheets, flexed and then slowly uncurled. He exhaled, and for the first time, I felt him let go, not from fear, not from submission, but because he trusted me. The realization did something to me.
Helios’s POVThe taste of her was still on my lips. I had thought her punishments were unbearable, being forced to kneel, to watch, to ache without relief. But now, her rewards were worse. Because they were fleeting.She had kissed me. Let me touch her, however briefly. And then, just as I was drowning in her, she had pulled away. Now, as I sat on the edge of the bed, watching her undress for the night, my entire body was locked in tension.Her nightgown slipped down her shoulders in a slow, unhurried motion. My breathing turned shallow. She wasn’t doing it for me. Not in the way a mate might tease her bonded partner. No, this was something else. A lesson. A test."Lie back," she murmured, not sparing me a glance. I obeyed immediately, moving to the pillows, my arms resting at my sides. She turned then, her eyes dragging over my body, and something dark curled in my gut. The hun
Star’s POVThe courtyard was awash with tension as the pack gathered. Their murmurs were a low hum of uncertainty. The challenge with Hutchins had ended, but the unease lingered like a storm cloud.Helios stood beside me, his face unreadable, his fingers curled into tight fists. Hutchins had not only challenged his authority but had done so under someone else's influence. Someone far more dangerous. And though the battle was won, the war was far from over.Helios exhaled slowly before addressing the pack. “Hutchins made his choice. He didn’t act alone. And though he lost, his actions threatened the unity of our pack.” His voice was strong, unyielding. “For that, I have no choice but to banish him.”A ripple of shock coursed through the crowd. Banishment was a harsh punishment, but it was necessary. Toren, one of the senior warriors, stepped forward. “Alpha, is there no other way?”“No,” Helios said firmly. “He betrayed us by allowing himself to be a pawn. Ravena has been pulling the
Star’s POVMy body shuddered with unprecedented unease, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something worse was coming. As much as I wanted to trust in the strength of our bond, there were too many unknowns, too many things about Ravena and Hutchins that lingered like a shadow over us.Helios had grown quieter in the days following the challenge, his once-unshakable confidence now tempered with a cautious wariness. And I couldn’t blame him. I, too, felt the weight of it all. The sense of danger that had been growing like a storm on the horizon.That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Helios called for a pack meeting. It wasn’t unusual to gather the members of the Moonlit Pack, but tonight felt different. The air was filled with anticipation, the usual warmth of pack camaraderie replaced by an undercurrent of tension.I stood beside him, my hand firmly clasped in his, trying to offer him whatever strength I could, though I could feel my own anxiety tightening in my chest.
Star’s POVI watched as the dust settled, the echoes of the challenge still hanging in the air. Hutchins, bruised and bloodied, was helped away by a few loyal pack members. His defiance had been met with force, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.Helios stood tall, his back straight and unyielding, but his eyes betrayed him. The weight of being Alpha, of leading with both strength and the uncertainty that came with it, was heavy on his shoulders. His hands clenched, then unclenched at his sides, like he was trying to rein in something. "Star," he said, his voice low, but steady, "We need to talk."I nodded and followed him to the balcony, away from prying eyes. The cool night air brushed against my skin, but it wasn’t enough to chase the heat gathering in the pit of my stomach. This wasn’t just about Hutchins. This was about everything.“I don’t und
Unknown POV A few months prior, Hutchins had been humiliated in front of the entire pack when Helios effortlessly defeated him in a challenge. It was a public spectacle, and Hutchins’s pride had taken a brutal blow. Since then, he had been hiding in the shadows, licking his wounds and plotting.But now, his behavior had changed. He was bolder, almost reckless. Why would someone who had just been crushed so easily return to challenge the Alpha again? It wasn’t just arrogance or pride. It was something deeper, something dangerous.Unbeknownst to most of the pack, Hutchins had struck a secret deal with a powerful ally, someone who had resources and influence that even Helios couldn’t easily disregard. This mysterious figure was, Ravena.Ravena had never been content to live in the shadow of others, but her deepest resentment came from her unrequited love for Killian, the former Alpha of the
Helios's POVThe room was filled with unspoken challenges as Hutchins turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The tension in the room was palpable, but I refused to let it crack me. His words that were meant to wound, only strengthened my resolve. I could feel the eyes of the pack on me, waiting, watching, assessing.But I wasn’t about to let them see weakness. Not now. Not ever. Star stood close beside me, still tense, her fingers brushing mine. I felt the connection between us, the pulse of the bond that had only grown stronger. But I could also sense her hesitation. I didn’t blame her. Hutchins had struck deep.“Are you alright?” I asked, my voice soft, though I was keenly aware of the gravity of the situation. She nodded, but her eyes betrayed a quiet storm inside her. “I’ll be fine,” she said, though the uncertainty lingered in her tone.“I won’t
Helios's POVThe day after Mordecai's challenge, the Pack house felt suffocating with unspoken tension. The servants moved quietly, their eyes darting nervously, the heavy weight of yesterday's events still hanging over us. I couldn’t escape the sensation that the pack, the very kingdom itself, was watching my every move.Star stayed close, though I could feel the walls she built around herself. Despite the bond, despite everything we had shared the night before, she remained cautious, as if she were afraid of being swept away by the current between us.She was beautiful, as always. But today, there was a sharpness to her gaze, a flicker of determination in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before.As we walked the corridors together, side by side, the tension in the air between us was palpable. She kept her distance, but I could sense the pull, the magnetic force of our bond tugging at her, at both of us.The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps approaching, heavy, purposeful. I tu
Helios’s POVI could detect the scent of deceit lingering in the air before Hutchins even spoke. My cousin stood to the side, his expression carefully neutral, but I wasn’t fooled. The moment I stepped into the gathering hall, I could feel the tension, the waiting eyes, the unspoken challenge crackling like a storm about to break. Then, my gaze landed on him. Alpha Mordecai.A towering brute of a man, all brawn and arrogance, his sharp eyes assessing me with an amused glint. He leaned back in his chair, arms draped casually over the sides, a smirk playing on his lips. The room had gone quiet. Too quiet.“You’ve grown soft, Helios,” Mordecai drawled, his voice laced with false sympathy. “Mating an Omega… what a shame.” A low growl rumbled in my chest, but I kept my posture relaxed, my expression unreadable.Mordecai chuckled. “Then again, I suppose it makes se
Star's POV I woke up to the warmth of Helios's body wrapped around mine, his gentle breaths a soothing melody in my ear. For a moment, I forgot about the world outside, about the expectations and responsibilities that weighed on me. All that mattered was the quiet, peaceful moment we shared.As I stirred, Helios's arms tightened around me, holding me close. I felt his lips brush against my shoulder, sending shivers down my spine. It was a gentle, reverent touch, one that spoke volumes about the depth of his emotions.I turned to face him, our eyes meeting in the soft morning light. For an instant, we just looked at each other, the connection between us pulsing like a living thing. Then, Helios smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and my heart skipped a beat."Good morning, my love,"he whispered, his voice husky with emotion.My response caught in my th
Helios POV I was on my knees, yet, I had never felt more powerful. Not because I had submitted. No. Because she had chosen me. Because she wanted me here, wanted me suffering for her. And I would. Happily.Every fiber of my being screamed for her. The scent of her heat wrapped around me like a noose, tightening with every breath I took. My muscles ached with restraint, my body shaking with the effort to remain still. But I would not move. Not unless she allowed it.She was toying with me, her fingers running over my skin, her lips grazing my throat, her breath teasing the shell of my ear. She knew exactly what she was doing, testing my control, pushing me to the brink of madness. And I loved it.I had spent my life in command. Of my pack. Of my warriors. Of my own damn instincts. Yet here, with Star, I had no control. She had taken it, stolen it from me with nothing but her voice, her to