Xavier pressed my thighs against his chest as he leaned down to kiss me deeply, curling me up against him. His need for me was palpable, and the anticipation took my breath away.I bit my lip and looked up at him coyly through my lashes. "Take me, Xavier... hard..." I whispered in a sultry tone.His self-control snapped, and he thrust into me with such intensity that I briefly thought we might break the bed. Each powerful movement was filled with a passion I hadn't realized existed until Xavier. The harder he took me, the more I found myself crying out with pleasure.Every sound, every moan was his, and they made him forget everything else in his life that wasn't perfect."Oh yes... Xavier... I'm so close..." I gasped, clinging tightly to his back as he moved within me.Xavier growled deeply, driving into me with a passionate urgency as my legs wrapped around his waist. As the wave of ecstasy overtook me, I felt him release inside me. He leaned forward, his fangs elongating as they sa
Xavier nodded slowly, uncertainty swirling in his chest. "So, if she were standing right in front of you, how could you ever recognize her?" Leah asked hesitantly, the concern in her voice evident.Xavier frowned at the oddity of the question but understood Leah's worry for my well-being. I had endured so much already, and given their close bond, Leah would certainly despise seeing me hurt again."I wouldn't even know if she was lying next to me," Xavier replied softly, regret lacing his words. "But don't worry, Leah. Hurting Anastasia is the last thing I would ever do. Even if my true mate should appear, I'll ensure that Anastasia doesn't suffer. I promise she will be well taken care of."Leah regarded him for a long moment, her expression unreadable, yet she managed a soft smile. "I trust you; don't worry."An awkward silence stretched between them, and Xavier shifted uncomfortably on the bed. Both of us were completely naked, and having Leah in his room felt bewildering."Have we
"Not at all, I know you're more than capable. What worries me is the risk of outside influences getting to you again and coercing you into making regrettable decisions," I explained calmly, feeling Maine withdraw into a sullen silence at my words.Alvin looked back and forth between us warily before exhaling a heavy sigh, gesturing wildly at the new marks on our necks, still processing everything that had just been revealed."Regardless of what this situation entails, I truly hope you don't end up regretting any of it. At the very least, it should be sufficient to silence the Elders for a while," Alvin remarked, letting out a sigh and rolling his eyes. "I don't know what has gotten into them lately. They are currently milling about downstairs, eager to catch a glimpse of the Luna and her mark.""If they lay a single hand on her..." Xavier snarled, tension radiating from him."Yes, they will definitely be dealt with appropriately, Xavier. I certainly didn't expect them to challenge you
As he leaned back in his chair, he studied me intensely, contemplating the impression I had already made upon his heart. Although his wolf rarely communicated with him, even before the intervention of the Demon Lord with the mark, I had become an indelible presence in his mind."Is everything alright, Xavier?" I asked, my gaze searching his, filled with concern. He offered a light smile in response, but it didn't quell the unease growing inside me."It's fine, Anastasia. I was just lost in thought for a moment, that's all," he replied dismissively, but his focus quickly shifted to a raven-haired woman who stood nearby, casting malicious glares in my direction. I jumped slightly as Xavier growled softly, instinctively turning to see what was troubling him.The woman's smirk only deepened as she approached us, her hateful gaze locked onto me. Xavier rose, positioning himself protectively beside me, ready to confront whatever this woman intended. The tension in the air was palpable; it w
The scene unfolding in the dining hall attracted a large crowd of onlookers.The Omegas whispered in terror among themselves, and a clear divide formed among the ranked wolves—those who stood by their Alpha no matter his decision and those who sided with the elders.It wasn't long before those aligned with the elders began whispering loud, vicious words toward me and Xavier, while the raven-haired woman seemed to smile triumphantly."Elizabeth! Now is the time!" Thompson crowed excitedly between manic laughs. "Prove that she has no mark! Show the Pack these pathetic Alpha's words cannot be trusted!"I turned toward Elizabeth in shock as Maine protested loudly in my head. This entire situation was insane!Before I could react, Elizabeth launched herself at me, knocking me off the chair and onto the ground, pinning me in place with her body as she straddled me, panting heavily against my struggles.Elizabeth smirked down at me, her eyes glistening with hatred as she spat directly in my
Eventually, Elizabeth's back hit the wall, and she frantically searched for an escape route, but there was none. In this moment, she was entirely at my mercy, and the realization screamed inside her.I stopped just centimeters from her. If she wished, she could end my life here, but it would mean sacrificing her own, a price she wasn't willing to pay with so much still to achieve."Didn't I warn you that you were making a mistake?" I asked, staring at her with a cold, emotionless expression, my voice flat as I surveyed her.Elizabeth composed herself and sneered. "You're a fraud. You're not his true mate! It can't be!""It seems the mark on my skin suggests otherwise," I replied dryly, narrowing my eyes slightly."Then it's nothing but a trick! You faked it!" Elizabeth hissed furiously."Oh? Pray tell, what method exists to fabricate a bond? In all my years, I've never encountered such a thing," I responded with nonchalance, maintaining a steady gaze. I knew that to be convincing, I h
"Forgive my boldness, my Luna, but none of us doubt you. We have faith in both our Alpha and you. Whether you're his fated mate or his chosen partner, it makes no difference. A strong Pack thrives under strong leadership, and Alpha Calixto has always exemplified that."A murmur of agreement coursed through the room as the voice continued. "Regarding this 'darkness' the witch speaks of... I don't believe it for an instant. We've all seen the mark you bear, no thanks to this... woman's forceful attempts to reveal it. She claims darkness will prevent him from finding his true mate, yet you are marked, and we're all well aware of the bonds that unite you both."Laughter echoed around the room, and I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as I glanced at Xavier, who grinned at me with undeniable pride."That alone shows that she is full of deceit. Although I may not know everything about witches, I recall the tales from my ancestors about how dark witches spread discord, turning friends and family
Whether contracted or otherwise, I was Xavier's Luna, his bonded mate, and he had no intentions of allowing anything to take that from him.My thoughts were interrupted as the bathroom door swung open and I sauntered out, the droplets from my shower still clinging insistently to my skin. I casually towel-dried my hair as I made my way to my wardrobe and opened its door, scanning the clothes leisurely, blissfully unaware of the insatiable hunger in Xavier's eyes as he quietly approached me from behind.I felt his lips press against the mark on my neck as his hands glided over my skin, slipping beneath the towel and letting it fall effortlessly to the floor."Xavier... what..." I stammered in surprise, my heart racing at the unexpected touch.Could he possibly still not be satisfied after spending most of the morning indulging in our ardor?"You are mine, Anastasia," he growled with dangerous intensity from behind me, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. It was the commanding tone
Anastasia POV "Oh, what the heck!" I exclaimed, startled by the sudden intrusion. Leah raised an inquisitive eyebrow while Xavier gave me a benign smile."The perks of the mate bond, my love," Xavier murmured inside my head, as Maine rolled around gleefully. "Now I can hear all your thoughts, your deepest desires, your most intimate fantasies..." His voice echoed in my mind, and I blushed a deep shade of crimson.Leah quickly realized what was happening and feigned gagging noises by sticking her fingers into her mouth. "Please, if you two are going to have such intimate exchanges in each other's heads, can you not do it around me? You're such insatiable furballs..." she muttered in annoyance."You're one to talk," a sarcastic voice interrupted from behind, as Alvin casually entered and seated himself across from Leah, scowling in her direction.Leah looked flustered for a brief moment but swiftly regained her nonchalant demeanor. "Amazing, isn't it?" she retorted sarcastically. "Not
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