SeleneMy legs have a mind of their own as I take two steps back from him. "What?" I ask. "Mark me?""I believe you heard me quite well the first time," he says, and closes the distance between us with one stride. His muscular form towers over me, dousing me in his shadow. I can't look into his eyes, but looking at his body isn't much help either. I've never been this close to a half-dressed man before. Especially one so incredibly handsome and oozing masculine energy.'Get yourself together, Selene. He just told you he's going to mark you,' I tell myself."Why do you want to mark me?"He looks at me like I just asked a stupid question. "It's tradition. Mates are supposed to mark each other. Only then will it be clear to all that we belong to each other."It's hard to believe that two days ago, I was back in Unguibus pack and planning to elope with Darius, and now, I'm listening to the Lycan King himself telling me that I'm his mate every chance he gets."W–what if I don't want to b
SeleneTingles spread up my spine at his loving, gentle touch, consuming me with a raw, unadulterated need. I want him. No. Need him. He is like the oxygen that I need to survive. The very air that gives life to my lungs.Within me, my true primal nature shudders in agreement. Yes, only he can give me what I want. Only he can fill me with love, joy, and still make me shake with desire. It is only him. My one true love.As our bodies move in tandem with the rhythm of our hearts underneath the silver light of the blessed moon, I revel in this true beauty. His whole being is like an answer to my silent thoughts, and my most sacred prayers.His breath brushes against my lips, right before his connect to mine, fanning the flames of my desire.He pulls away again. Gazes at me with so much love and the heat of his own equally staggering hunger. Three words come out of his mouth in a breathy whisper and they echo in my head over and over again."I love you." It is a fervent promise. One t
SeleneCresentus always looks prettier at night. Since I was a child, one sight that I usually looked forward to, was that of the Crimson Moon, which only occured twice a year, and was said to be sign of blessing to lovers. I had grown up hearing stories of how mate bonds that were completed underneath a Crimson Moon waxed strong and never faded, and so, looked forward to having such a bond like that. Even though my life as an Omega breeder means that finding true love might be a difficult, and almost impossible task, I hadn't given up on hope. Luckily for me, Darius came into my life shortly after my eighteenth birthday, after the mistress had sent me on the dreadful errand of picking fruits from the pack farm. At first, I'd been startled at the sight of him already up in the tree, snatching some apples, but once he turned around I was smitten.He had hopped down from the tree with such agility that I knew for sure that he was a strong wolf. Casually, he'd handed me an apple with
SeleneI can't believe my ears. I don't want to believe the words I'm hearing. There's no way that what Darius is saying can be true. It's like I'm stuck in a terrible nightmare, and have no way out. I keep blinking, thinking that maybe I'll open my eyes and see that everything has been fixed, that I'm simply lost in a bad dream. Nothing of the sort happens, and instead, I have to keep watching and looking at this unexplainable turn of events."Let this sink into your head, you breeder. You're nothing to me," says Darius, sinking his hands into my flesh with so much strength that I'm certain my skin will be bruised."Darius . . . please, don't say that. I know you love me," I say, nearly gasping from the effort it's taking to speak coherently admist my sobs. If he is simply playing a joke on me, it has gone too far."Are you stupid? No, I don't need to ask that. You are stupid. Why on earth would someone like me ever want to elope with someone like you? In what universe would that b
TaviusThe water is cool as it runs down my face. Just how I like it. I can't remember the last time I touched warm water. It reminds me too much of a time long past.A time where I was happy and whole.There's shuffling back in the bedroom, and I take my time cleaning up so that by the time I'm done, they'll be gone. I've gotten my release already, so they're of no use to me anymore. Maybe until another night that I need to forget and drown myself in fleeting pleasure.My men should be on their way back from their journey to one of the outer border packs. I'd told them to ensure that the Alpha didn't live to see another sunrise.Why? He was keeping Breeders against the usual protocol, selling them in secrecy to rich wolf families and hoarding the profits gained. I also learnt that he was even trading girls that weren't up to eighteen. He also evaded taxes, and refused countless times to come here and answer for his misdeeds. I gave him enough chances to redeem himself, and he kept sp
SeleneAfter Anton takes me away, I find myself in an incredibly spacious room that's clothed in riches from top to bottom. The place is so big that I feel like a tiny, irrelevant speck, and more tears and sobs continue to fall from my eyes."Crying won't change anything, you know."I sniff and raise my head at Anton's voice. He's looking at me with little emotion, although his eyes betray a little compassion.I fall to my knees and press my forehead to the ground. So much has happened in so little time, and my head keeps spinning. "Please," I beg. "I'm nobody. The Lycan King can find someone better. Please.""I'm afraid I can't help you in that respect," he says, and I can see a flash of pity cross his face. "He's given his orders, and he wants you."Lifting my head, I ask, "Why? Why me?"He doesn't respond.Moments later, a young girl no older than I am steps into the room. She's wearing a cream coloured gown that brushes her ankles and has sleeves that reach her wrists. Her head is
SeleneMy heart's beating so fast in my chest as I follow Letitia outside the room and down a wide hallway.Even here, the walls seem to be made of the finest material. I long to run my hands over them, but fear has me in its grasp."Where are we going?" I ask."The King and his men are having a celebration for their successful raid," she says gently. As we move, I'm grateful that we don't run into a lot of people—in fact we don't cross paths with more than two people throughout. Those that we do see, are also dressed in the same attire as Leticia, with equally timid gazes and quiet voices.As we emerge in a wing of the building, I start to hear the full thrumming and thudding of music. We turn past a corner, and find ourselves approaching a large set of double doors. Here, the music is even louder, and is obviously coming from inside.A cold bead of sweat rolls down my neck, and my palms start to sweat. My whole body locks in place."We're here," Letitia says, pointing to the door. "
TaviusMorning comes, and with it, the tightness of a band waiting to snap. Anger hasn't fully left my system yet, and even as I look out the window, I can already tell that my mood is going to be sour for the whole day.For the first time in a while, I'm alone in my bed when I wake, which gives me enough room to ponder and think about my actions in solitude.I should have killed him. I should have shown him what happens when people go against my orders. If not for the little shred of self control that slipped into me back in the hall, I would have severed his head from his body instead of simply taking out one of his eyes.That celebration was meant to be a time for me to get to know that woman better, to see beyond her scared front and know what lies inside her mind. My curiosity had been peaked right from the moment our eyes had locked together and it was killing me on the inside. Only for that bastard to ruin everything.Right from the moment she had entered that hall, I'd sensed
SeleneMy legs have a mind of their own as I take two steps back from him. "What?" I ask. "Mark me?""I believe you heard me quite well the first time," he says, and closes the distance between us with one stride. His muscular form towers over me, dousing me in his shadow. I can't look into his eyes, but looking at his body isn't much help either. I've never been this close to a half-dressed man before. Especially one so incredibly handsome and oozing masculine energy.'Get yourself together, Selene. He just told you he's going to mark you,' I tell myself."Why do you want to mark me?"He looks at me like I just asked a stupid question. "It's tradition. Mates are supposed to mark each other. Only then will it be clear to all that we belong to each other."It's hard to believe that two days ago, I was back in Unguibus pack and planning to elope with Darius, and now, I'm listening to the Lycan King himself telling me that I'm his mate every chance he gets."W–what if I don't want to b
SeleneA clock chimes in the distance, and I suck in a deep breath, heavy with anticipation.It's evening now, and for the first time in maybe forever, I experienced a full day without having to attend to chores or go on an errand. It's strange and new, and I have to admit that there were times that I was tempted to go out and find something to do, just so that my hands wouldn't be so still.A gentle knock comes on my door. Something tells me that it's Letitia again.She opens the door and peers in. "Selene, you have to move now."I rise from the bed and dust imaginary dirt off my dress. Today's style is made of two distinct clothing pieces—a silk gown with thin straps and frilled ends, and a thick woolen sweater worn over it. I had also been given another pair of soft, warm shoes."Do I have to?" I ask her, even though I already know the answer.She nods. "It's the King's orders. Going against him is akin to treason."I clenched my trembling hands into small fists and followed her o
SeleneI refuse to be treated like some kind of toy. I'd rather die than lose my identity.Who does he think he is? He might be the feared Lycan King, but how dare he just barge in here and claim that I belong to him? Something boils underneath my skin, a regurgitation of all the hardships I've endured. I have nothing left to lose but my life at this point, and if I am to die, I will do it with dignity."You must be very mistaken. I am NOT your mate. I belong to no one but myself!" I jut out my jaw and raise my head. It doesn't matter that I'm practically naked with nothing but a dress draped over my front, it doesn't matter that my heart is pounding so hard that it might burst, and it definitely doesn't matter that inside of me, there's a strange feeling that's circulating there—the same one that I felt back when he we first met.He's taken aback for a few seconds, and then his face goes completely blank. I doubt if he's ever been told no by anyone, but there's always a first time
TaviusMorning comes, and with it, the tightness of a band waiting to snap. Anger hasn't fully left my system yet, and even as I look out the window, I can already tell that my mood is going to be sour for the whole day.For the first time in a while, I'm alone in my bed when I wake, which gives me enough room to ponder and think about my actions in solitude.I should have killed him. I should have shown him what happens when people go against my orders. If not for the little shred of self control that slipped into me back in the hall, I would have severed his head from his body instead of simply taking out one of his eyes.That celebration was meant to be a time for me to get to know that woman better, to see beyond her scared front and know what lies inside her mind. My curiosity had been peaked right from the moment our eyes had locked together and it was killing me on the inside. Only for that bastard to ruin everything.Right from the moment she had entered that hall, I'd sensed
SeleneMy heart's beating so fast in my chest as I follow Letitia outside the room and down a wide hallway.Even here, the walls seem to be made of the finest material. I long to run my hands over them, but fear has me in its grasp."Where are we going?" I ask."The King and his men are having a celebration for their successful raid," she says gently. As we move, I'm grateful that we don't run into a lot of people—in fact we don't cross paths with more than two people throughout. Those that we do see, are also dressed in the same attire as Leticia, with equally timid gazes and quiet voices.As we emerge in a wing of the building, I start to hear the full thrumming and thudding of music. We turn past a corner, and find ourselves approaching a large set of double doors. Here, the music is even louder, and is obviously coming from inside.A cold bead of sweat rolls down my neck, and my palms start to sweat. My whole body locks in place."We're here," Letitia says, pointing to the door. "
SeleneAfter Anton takes me away, I find myself in an incredibly spacious room that's clothed in riches from top to bottom. The place is so big that I feel like a tiny, irrelevant speck, and more tears and sobs continue to fall from my eyes."Crying won't change anything, you know."I sniff and raise my head at Anton's voice. He's looking at me with little emotion, although his eyes betray a little compassion.I fall to my knees and press my forehead to the ground. So much has happened in so little time, and my head keeps spinning. "Please," I beg. "I'm nobody. The Lycan King can find someone better. Please.""I'm afraid I can't help you in that respect," he says, and I can see a flash of pity cross his face. "He's given his orders, and he wants you."Lifting my head, I ask, "Why? Why me?"He doesn't respond.Moments later, a young girl no older than I am steps into the room. She's wearing a cream coloured gown that brushes her ankles and has sleeves that reach her wrists. Her head is
TaviusThe water is cool as it runs down my face. Just how I like it. I can't remember the last time I touched warm water. It reminds me too much of a time long past.A time where I was happy and whole.There's shuffling back in the bedroom, and I take my time cleaning up so that by the time I'm done, they'll be gone. I've gotten my release already, so they're of no use to me anymore. Maybe until another night that I need to forget and drown myself in fleeting pleasure.My men should be on their way back from their journey to one of the outer border packs. I'd told them to ensure that the Alpha didn't live to see another sunrise.Why? He was keeping Breeders against the usual protocol, selling them in secrecy to rich wolf families and hoarding the profits gained. I also learnt that he was even trading girls that weren't up to eighteen. He also evaded taxes, and refused countless times to come here and answer for his misdeeds. I gave him enough chances to redeem himself, and he kept sp
SeleneI can't believe my ears. I don't want to believe the words I'm hearing. There's no way that what Darius is saying can be true. It's like I'm stuck in a terrible nightmare, and have no way out. I keep blinking, thinking that maybe I'll open my eyes and see that everything has been fixed, that I'm simply lost in a bad dream. Nothing of the sort happens, and instead, I have to keep watching and looking at this unexplainable turn of events."Let this sink into your head, you breeder. You're nothing to me," says Darius, sinking his hands into my flesh with so much strength that I'm certain my skin will be bruised."Darius . . . please, don't say that. I know you love me," I say, nearly gasping from the effort it's taking to speak coherently admist my sobs. If he is simply playing a joke on me, it has gone too far."Are you stupid? No, I don't need to ask that. You are stupid. Why on earth would someone like me ever want to elope with someone like you? In what universe would that b
SeleneCresentus always looks prettier at night. Since I was a child, one sight that I usually looked forward to, was that of the Crimson Moon, which only occured twice a year, and was said to be sign of blessing to lovers. I had grown up hearing stories of how mate bonds that were completed underneath a Crimson Moon waxed strong and never faded, and so, looked forward to having such a bond like that. Even though my life as an Omega breeder means that finding true love might be a difficult, and almost impossible task, I hadn't given up on hope. Luckily for me, Darius came into my life shortly after my eighteenth birthday, after the mistress had sent me on the dreadful errand of picking fruits from the pack farm. At first, I'd been startled at the sight of him already up in the tree, snatching some apples, but once he turned around I was smitten.He had hopped down from the tree with such agility that I knew for sure that he was a strong wolf. Casually, he'd handed me an apple with