Once she got into the car, I turned to face Xavier and found him staring at me with a blank expression. His gaze made me feel uncomfortable, so I quickly turned away, grabbing my seat belt and pulling it over my body, fastening it as quietly as I could.Once I was done, I clasped my hands together in my lap and stared straight ahead out of the windshield, though I could still feel his eyes on me."I'm going to have my hands full with you, aren't I?" he remarked with a sigh, turning the ignition on and pulling away from the curb.That all depends on whether he plans to remove our clothes or not... Maine snickered in my mind.My cheeks flushed as I shifted awkwardly in my seat. I dreaded to think what Alpha Calixto's wolf would make of Maine.Maine was fearless, brash, and opinionated; she was nothing close to the demure partner he might expect. If he thought he was getting a doting, loving mate who never argued, he was in for a rude awakening.We drove for a while in what felt like an
"I want to announce our marriage while keeping the contractual aspects hidden. Initially, I had planned for you to have rooms separate from mine, but I believe we must make this marriage appear convincing to outsiders," he explained."O... okay," I stammered, hesitating as I processed his words."That means you'll be sharing a bed with me as well..." he said slowly, maintaining eye contact."Fine. But we'll need to have separate duvets... and I demand a queen-sized duvet all to myself," I quickly declared, wanting to assert my preferences.Xavier leaned back slightly, surveying me with an appraising expression."You really have no objections?" he asked, expressing a hint of doubt."Look, I'm contractually obligated to marry you, right? I will be by your side as your Luna for at least the next five years. Quite honestly, the more people believe in our marriage, the less likely they are to cause issues for me. However, I must warn you, Alpha, you agreed to let me become Luna of this pac
"In this pack, at least, Omegas are not subjected to servitude; they are the backbone that supports all our basic needs. Whether it's food preparation, cleaning, healthcare, or gardening, their contributions allow us to focus on the vital task of protecting and providing for the pack. Although they may lack the strength and combat prowess of higher-ranked wolves, their minds remain sharp, and they possess skills in other areas. They are compensated fairly, work in rotating shifts, and are free to come and go as they please. I won't compromise on this, Anastasia. I refuse to change the community and the ideals I intend to uphold." He finished his statement quietly as he opened the door and stepped out.I sat in silence for a moment, trying to absorb everything he had just conveyed. My throat felt tight, and I swallowed nervously.'I don't see the issue, Anastasia. You're being pedantic. I believe Xavier's vision of a healthy pack hierarchy is far superior to the structure and politics
As Xavier led me down the corridor and around the corner, once we were out of view of the staff members, he abruptly released my hand. I tilted my head slightly to the side and glanced at him shrewdly, a faint smile dancing on my lips. "Xavier, are you annoyed with me?" I inquired, a hint of amusement lacing my tone."No," he replied curtly, not bothering to spare me a look. I fought back the urge to smirk as he let out a frustrated huff and quickened his pace, placing a few steps between us. Ignoring Maine's chiding voice in my head for provoking him, I turned my attention to the decor surrounding us. So far, everything had been tastefully arranged in a strangely satisfying blend of modern design and refined elegance. Sleek lines and original fixtures seemed to harmonize seamlessly, and the entire space was immaculate. While the atmosphere didn't exactly exude warmth and hospitality, it did convey a sense of well-being and care. I hoped that once I had properly settled in and spe
True to my word, I stayed in the suite all night, eventually succumbing to sleep in the luxuriously soft bed. The next morning, a sharp knock on the door jolted me awake, momentarily disorienting me as I tried to remember where I was."Anastasia, it's almost eleven. Would you prefer breakfast in your room, or are you joining me downstairs?" Xavier's voice, tinged with boredom, came from the other side of the door.I muttered a quiet curse under my breath, hurriedly disentangling myself from the cocoon of blankets. "I'll be right there! Just... give me a minute..." I called back.When I finally opened the door, still a bit flustered, I found Xavier leaning casually against the wall opposite me, arms folded across his chest and a wry smile on his face."I guess I don't need to ask if you slept well," Xavier smirked, his eyes dancing with mischief.I glared at him, folding my arms in front of me to mirror his posture. "Seems I don't need to ask if the pack needs a comedian either... you'
After breakfast, I retreated to my room, having eaten barely anything despite Xavier's insistence. I was being pampered and preened in preparation for the official ceremonies. The pack's stylists had selected various outfits for each ceremony throughout the day and were tasked with finding something striking for the engagement party tomorrow.I suspected the word had spread across the pack not only about the feared Alpha seemingly being wrapped around my finger but also of my royal heritage. Everyone seemed to be exceeding expectations, going above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect.As I was offered freshly made snacks and a wide array of drinks, an Omega approached, tilting her head curiously in an attempt to make conversation."Is all this really necessary?" I asked, feeling overwhelmed by the attention."All what, Luna?" she replied with a slight frown."All of this..." I gestured incredulously at the whirlwind of activity surrounding me in my room. The Omega chuckled, pl
"Relax, it's perfectly natural," Maine grumbled. "Besides, it's about time we had some fun. Saving yourself for a mate turned out to be a foolish idea. We could have been enjoying ourselves all this time.""How can you say that, Maine? What if we find a second-chance mate? He'd be furious if he discovered we were with someone else...""And if we don't find one? Honestly, Anastasia, get a grip," Maine scoffed. "The odds of finding your fated mate are slim, and the chances of a second-chance mate? Even less likely.""But if there's still a chance...""There is absolutely no chance I'm letting us stay celibate forever. Our heat will come, and it's better to have a reliable partner chosen for that, rather than letting a chaotic mess ensue," Maine argued convincingly.I bit my lip as I pondered Maine's points. She was right. I hadn't experienced my heat yet, but it wouldn't stay that way indefinitely. The thought of being forcibly mated during a heat-induced frenzy, where the strongest mal
Xavier growled, meeting my intense gaze, my boldness and confidence stirring a depth of arousal in him beyond anything he thought possible.I smirked at him. "I'm not afraid of you, Xavier. Quite the opposite. I want you to fill me completely and take me so fiercely that we'll obliterate each other's pain. I might be inexperienced now, but I'm a quick learner, and I promise to draw sounds of ecstasy from you just as you do from me."The husky desire in my voice nearly drove Xavier over the edge. Without wasting another moment, he lifted me effortlessly and carried me to the large bed dominating his bedroom. His eyes hungrily took me in as he quickly shed his shirt and trousers. I forced myself to watch as he slid down his trousers with a smirk, followed closely by his boxers. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. The size of him was intimidating, and the thick head of his cock seemed ready to burst.Swallowing nervously, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him as he stroked hims
Xavier POVThe group of individuals who had access to the sensitive information necessary to successfully sabotage my business interests was remarkably small. Coupled with this was the fact that security measures within the pack were so meticulously controlled that the culprit could only have been someone on the inside, and alarmingly close to me. This growing suspicion made me increasingly wary of the man I once considered my closest friend.I scowled deeply at the scenery passing by the window as memories of that difficult period resurfaced. I never discovered who was responsible for those issues—they simply ceased without warning. Despite my efforts to provoke the culprits into revealing themselves, they never resurfaced.The cessation of these attacks did not coincide with any deaths or hospitalizations, nor were there any significant shifts in power within the boards of directors, leaving me to ponder over the mystery ever since.As we drove up the long driveway leading to the pa
Scowling, she turned around only to be met with a look of horror. She watched the demon beside Lord Thamuz shift from its faceless, genderless form to precisely replicate Xavier's image once more, teasing her with a wink and mockingly blowing her a kiss.Eve's face turned pale as realization set in, her mouth agape in disbelief. Moments later, a wail of disgust filled the corridors, her voice promising violence as the guards dragged her away.Leah snorted, watching Eve's forced exit, and waved casually at the mimic beside her father. "Franklyn isn't so bad, you know? He's one of the few who seem to have an intelligence that others of his kind lack," she whispered to Xavier and me, offering a light salute to the mimic.Alpha King Leo observed Eve's disgraceful exit with a mixture of sadness and fury, now painfully aware that everything he believed about Nerissa and Eve was a complete farce. Guilt surged within him as he felt the once-familiar stirrings of his wolf, a sensation absent f
Brent nodded silently, stealing a final longing glance toward where Xavier and I stood, then followed Lord Thamuz as he ascended the stairs.Xavier seemed to shake himself free from whatever had held him captive, lifting his hand to gently cup my face. His eyes searched mine while I mirrored his gesture. "Do you feel that?" I breathed in awe as my fingers trailed down his cheeks and across his lips."Mate..." Xavier growled in a rich, husky voice. He nodded as his wolf surged forward, its presence sitting boldly in his gaze.In all the time I had known him, I had never heard Xavier speak in such a tone, and it sent a delightful shiver of anticipation and longing down my spine as he looked at me."Finally... after all this time in darkness... my fated mate..." his wolf spoke hoarsely, disbelief coloring its voice as it almost cracked. "I found you... I am not... alone... anymore..."My heart leaped to my throat as Maine, my wolf, howled her sadness and grief at his past suffering, reso
Leah gently shook her head and let out a chilling chuckle. "No, don't worry. Your stepsister fuck with a low-level demon, and by the sounds of it, she has no idea that it isn't Xavier. From what I gather, they were still going at it when we managed to break in here," she snorted.A wave of relief washed over me as I turned to look sheepishly at Xavier. "I'm so sorry... I didn't want to believe it, but... I saw you... with my own eyes..."Xavier rushed toward me, enveloping me in his arms, holding me tightly as I buried my head against his chest. "I would never, princess. Not in a million years would I ever put us at risk in that manner," Xavier murmured, his fingers gently stroking my hair."As sickeningly sentimental as this is, where the hell is Nerissa?" Leah grimaced, cutting through the moment.A deep, ironic laugh echoed from the doorway to our right, accompanied by soft grunts, as we all turned in unison to face it. "She's in there," Brent intoned flatly. "I put her down for a
"I'm sorry. I didn't consider..." he stammered, clearly at a loss for how to act around me now."It's fine. Let's just get out of here, okay?" I murmured wearily, turning to exit the cell. However, my legs wobbled once again, and I had to lean against the door for support."Here, let me help you..." Brent offered softly, as I cursed myself under my breath."No, really... I... oh my goodness..." I stuttered as suddenly, my legs were lifted from the ground.Brent cradled me close to his chest, moving decisively forward. The warmth of his presence and the steady beating of his heart were, for the first time in what felt like ages, a familiar sound that brought me reassurance. I could sense his wolf rumbling in contentment at our proximity, and despite everything, I couldn't help but smile.'He misses us terribly, doesn't he?' I murmured quietly to Maine.'Well, he should have controlled his human better,' Maine scoffed in response.'Maine, think about the magic... if he was indeed under
'Oh, cry me a river, Anastasia. Your feelings are utterly irrelevant. You fell for a man to whom you signed a contract. You agreed to stand by his side as his Luna and partner. You didn't consent to anything beyond that, even with your counterfeit mating mark,' she responded calmly, before sighing and softening her tone.'Listen, I know it hurts, Anastasia, but we don't need a man to complete us. He may feel like home, but he isn't, not really. We are all we need. We are not the same as other females, Anastasia. I refuse to roll over and beg for affection or attention from an Alpha. If he wants me, he will pursue me, and if he stops, then I will let go. I will not fight to keep a male, as I know we are worth far more.'I couldn't help but snort softly despite myself; Maine was right, as always.'I'm sorry, Maine. I should have listened. I was being foolish.''No, you were just sheltered for the majority of your life. I have been kept from you for years while you lived in the palace. I
"Of course I do, you foolish little girl. Why else would I waste some of the best years of my life with a murderous fool like your father? I will destroy him and his family as utterly as he did mine. This isn't just personal; it has been a long time coming," Nerissa snarled."I don't understand..." I frowned, searching desperately for something, anything, to distract me from the sight of Eve trying to seduce Xavier on the screen. Even though we were only contracted mates, it still hurt like hell. He was the last person I ever thought would betray me, yet there he was... stabbing me in the back with none other than Eve.Even though I knew I wasn't truly related to her anymore, it still stung, considering Xavier knew all about our shared history. It just didn't make sense. He had stood by me through everything and agreed with each point regarding Eve. I couldn't wrap my head around why he would suddenly have a change of heart and rush after Eve so eagerly.Even if he was under some sort
I had lost track of time since they brought me to this place. Apart from Nerissa and Eve, there were no other signs of life in these depths. As much as I strained to hear anything beyond the closed door, only silence greeted me, amplifying my frustration. The quiet was overwhelming, and my arms had gone numb. Yet, the numbness was preferable to the burning sensation that had coursed through them before.Nerissa returned not long after she and Eve took Brent away to an unknown destination. She entered, humming to herself, pushing a cart with a television perched on top. On the cart's lower shelf, there was a tray with a few glasses and a jug filled with some kind of drink. Whatever it was, I had no intention of accepting it anytime soon. I suspected that a single sip might be lethal.I watched Nerissa with narrowed eyes, following her movements across the small room as she completely ignored me while attending to her tasks. Once finished, she exhaled with satisfaction, dusted her hands
Nerissa perched gracefully on the edge of the table, studying me in thoughtful silence. The room was hushed, save for the muffled sounds of distant voices echoing faintly through the corridor and drifting into the space around us."Ah! It seems our first guest has arrived!" Nerissa exclaimed with excitement as she slipped off the table, stretching her arms in a leisurely manner before her."Now, not a peep, little princess. I wouldn't want you to ruin the surprise!" she giggled, drawing her fingers across her lips in a shushing gesture.I attempted to open my mouth to respond, but suddenly found myself utterly immobilized. A fiery sensation seemed to course through my veins, urging me to scream, while my muscles fought to break free from their invisible restraints, yet remained powerless.Nerissa smirked as she sauntered toward me, her finger trailing lightly down my cheek as she gazed intently into my eyes."Do you like it, Anastasia? Isn't it exquisite?" she whispered joyfully. "Eve