Chapter 4

Xavier's POV

The blood still hadn’t dried on my gloves. It was from the fight, not from the guards I'd slaughtered like livestock. In fact, one could say it had an uncanny resemblance to the blood of a coward.

I almost laughed, but one gulp was enough to push it back in. The said coward's blood wasn't from the guards I'd killed, it wasn't even from the ones who had attempted to run away. No, it was from him.

Xander’s blood, my brother's boiled with cowardice. I saw it in the way he begged, on his knees, and sniveling like a rat before a hawk. I should have ended him right there, goddess knows I would have done that, but I didn’t.

Because of her.

Lyra.

Even her name whispered through my mind like a fucking prayer I didn’t know I had memorized. I didn't know her name before now, she'd refused to tell me at the club last night, but I liked to think it all happened for a reason. I was fated to know one way or the other, and if you asked me, nothing could beat finding out this way, in between my plan for revenge.

Somewhere in between the crossfire, someone had mentioned her name. I wasn't sure if my men had gotten to them first, but if they hadn't, then I didn't mind sparing their life, just for a little while, that is.

The moment her wolf whispered mate, I felt it too.It pulsed beneath my skin, and slithered down my spine. I could say it also anchored itself right in my chest, just like chains.

The same woman I’d intended to destroy had somehow become the one thing I never expected to find,my goddess-damned fated mate.

And now I had a problem. A very beautiful problem.

She was mine. The moment she gasped beneath me in that hotel bed, she became mine. And the moment her wolf accepted mine… it was sealed. No matter how much she hated me. No matter how much she’d try to run.

She wouldn’t get far.

Someone whimpered, and that was all it took for me to snap out of my trance. Whether it was my brother or his mistress, I didn't exactly care. It had brought me back to reality and I was grateful for that.

Slowly, I made my way towards the throne . I stood over the broken remains of Redmoon’s throne, the place my father had ruled with an iron grip. The place he denied and erased me from.

This palace, this crown, this bloodline, it was all mine now, and Xander was nothing but a well fed bastard who’d grown fat off stolen legacy. My legacy.

I turned my attention to his mistress, still wailing like a damned siren as my men dragged her out of the hall. And as for Xander? He was still silent, sinking into the floor like a rotting carcass.

Good.

I gave the order with a flick of my wrist.

“Where are you taking her?” Xander’s voice was nothing short of iron being sharpened against gravel. It hurt my ears, sbd I would give anything to shoot him, just so he would go quiet. “I thought we had a deal. I'll give you the spot you want. Just bring her back to me.

“Chain him.” I commanded, while ignoring his pitiful cries. “Let the people see who their brave alpha truly is.”

I didn’t look at him again. As far as I knew, he was done. I had bigger concerns now, and one of them came in the form of a beautiful woman.

My eyes scanned the room, and my search stopped when they landed on Lyra. the hall was full of people, but only she stood out to me. Even in her distressed state, she looked nothing short of an angel, an angel I wanted to possess no doubt.

“Unhand her.” I snarled to the guard forcing her to her knees. Without wasting so much as a single second he did as he was told, but that didn't mean he was going to go scot free.

Lyra’s eyes found mine, and I could easily see the many emotions dancing in her eyes. They went from confusion, to anger, and even denial.

Her scent wrapped around me like a trap I walked into willingly. The moonlight seeping in through the windows kissed her cheeks and neck, and her bare shoulders exposed, reminded me of that night. That night when she'd claimed not only my soul but every part of me as well. She didn’t look up when I inched closer, but her body went rigid.

Good. She felt me.

“I thought I’d give you a moment to relax. You know, take it all in.” Her lips quivered as I spoke, but all I could think of, was how sweet she would taste. They did say fear had a way of amplifying other things. “You’ve had quite the eventful twenty-four hours.”

My voice was calm. Too calm, and everyone who knew me, could easily tell it was a bad combination

Lyra slowly looked up, and her eyes flared, but not with submission, but with war instead.

“What do you want from me?”

Her voice cracked, but she didn’t break. I could taste her defiance and It made me hard.

“Everything,” I replied. “Your husband. Your palace. Your kingdom.” I paused, then lowered my voice. “But mostly… you.”

She flinched.

“You planned it,” she whispered. “The club. Sleeping with me. You knew.”

“No, Lyra.” I stepped forward, one slow step at a time. “ That wasn’t the plan. Not at all.”

“You were a beautiful distraction.”

I crouched in front of her and tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes. “A stolen taste of something I thought I could have and leave behind.”

“Then I touched you. Felt you. Tasted you.”

I smirked. “And I knew. The Moon Goddess has a cruel sense of humor.”

“I’d rather die than be yours.”She yanked her face away.

“You already are, darling.” I leaned closer, my lips brushing her ear. “Your wolf said so. And that’s not something we can undo.”

She slapped me, hard, and I would be lying if I said it didn't resonate within me. I didn’t move, didn’t react. I wanted her fire. Gods,I lived for it.

“I hate you.” Her voice shook with truth.

“Good,” I murmured, eyes boring into hers. “That will make loving me more interesting.”

Without waiting for so much as a response from her, I stood to my normal height.

“I'll be leaving now, dear brother.” I made sure to emphasize on the mockery in my tone at the endearment I threw my brother's way. “And I'll be taking your mistress with me.”

“What?!” He yelled. “You can't do that. You can't…”

“Oh I can, and I will.” I nodded with a sly grin. “See it as me making sure the things I want fall into place. I give you three days, I'll be back in three days and I expect my spot. If you can make it happen, you'll get your mistress”

“And if you can't.” I allowed the consequences linger in the air. “I like to think you know what will happen next.”

With one last knowing glance at Lyra, I stalked out, my men trooping out and behind me.

This was definitely going to be fun.