Chapter 4

ALPHA PARTHE'S POV

I stared at the disturbing sight before me. That dimwit was standing close to my mate.

The nerves.

But I'd let it slide. I'll count it as ignorance on his part.

If he had known whose possession he was in close proximity, he wouldn't have dared to stand even a breath close to her.

I never expected to have a mate. I am thirty-one already, without a mate. Not that any sane woman would agree to be mated to me. Who would want to be mated to a death god?

The idea of being mated to Luxuria didn't particularly thrill me. I had seen a lot of women. She doesn't come close to what I'd like to have, but that didn't change the fact that whatever is mine is mine. It doesn't matter what I think about it... Her.

I had imagined what use she would be in my pack. The Wild Wolf pack wasn't known to have idle members. Even the women who have been gifted me by numerous Alphas who sought favor had their duties aside pleasing me.

Luxuria was overly beautiful, and I couldn't deny that. And she seemed to have the brains I could fix in the office of Luna, after all. Additionally, her father was a powerful Alpha. Perfect.

My calculative thoughts came to an abrupt halt when I heard the words that left her lips.

"I do not wish to go with him, father." Her voice, which had peppered my ears the previous night with sweet melodies of her soft moans, let out the words that would haunt her for the rest of her life with me.

Not that I was paying attention to all the drama that was unfolding before me, especially the one that involved the racing heart of the dimwit standing beside her.

I felt like ripping his heart off for letting it beat for my Luxuria.

But the moment she uttered those words, it stirred something within me. Something cold. Dangerous. Aggressive.

I was quiet, my expression as passive as always. There was no amount of hurt that had ever made me betray any emotions. It won't begin now. Not with this little girl.

I remained calm. Waiting for her father to do what was needed. He knew better than to go against me.

"Are you out of your mind?"

I finally heard Alpha Odren make the right choice of words. I smirked inwardly. My gaze never left her nervous form.

Yes. She ought to be nervous. Terrified, even. She had just crossed a line she shouldn't have crossed.

"Father. It was all a mistake. I have the right to reject my fated mate, don't I?" Luxuria tried to put up a front.

Perfect. She was only falling deeper into my web. She fits the kind of woman I love. Strong. Willful. Brave. Beautiful. I loved breaking them into submission.

If only she knew what I wanted, she wouldn't have tried acting brave.

"You defied all my warnings about going out late at night. Now, here is your consequence," Alpha Odren fumed, pointing at me.

Ouch. Me? A consequence? Now, that's the most flattering compliment I've received since setting foot in this cesspool of a pack.

I'm the kind of consequence no one should ever pray to cross paths with—a price far too steep for anyone to afford.

"Father? Why are you so eager to send me away with... With... With him?" She stuttered.

This one time, she was fortunate she didn't call me that, which was at the tip of her tongue. Yes, I was a monster, as people gossiped. But no one had the right to call me that.

"He is your mate. There is nothing I can do about it." Odren said with a finality I admired.

I saw the terror in Luxuria's eyes. There seemed to be an underlying tension between the father and daughter, but I couldn't quite place my finger on it.

"The mating ceremony is in two days. I want everything set. She leaves with me after the ceremony," I said, standing to my feet.

I caught her eyes tracing the fluid motion of my body. No need to guess what had her attention—my veined arms, the very thing that left most women breathless. Most women except Rashina...

I was wearing a sleeveless doublet, which left much to the imagination.

I cast one final unreadable glance at her before storming out of their presence without saying a word to her.

***

LUXURIA'S POV

Goddess! The silence was killing me. I felt suffocated under Kahel's scrutinizing gaze. He just stared at me with so much hurt and betrayal that my heart almost stopped beating.

"Kahel..." I called, reaching out to hold his hands, but he pulled away.

The chirping of the night's crickets only added to the torment I felt. I felt an irresistible urge to hunt down every single insect in this woods and crush them under my palms.

I never had so much urge to kill before. Why now? It all made up a perfect blend of frustration for me.

"Don't touch me. How could you betray me in this manner, Luxuria? I gave you my heart. My love. My all. I was willing to die for you!" Kahel looked at me like I was an abomination.

I couldn't stand the disgust in his eyes.

"No. It all happened so fast," I let a tear roll down my cold face.

"Oh... You mean you didn't even realize how well you had spread your legs for him until he poured his cursed seeds inside of you?" Kahel scoffed, "Tell me you have never craved his touch after that. Tell me, Luxuria," he asked, his deep blue eyes wishing I'd deny all he just said.

"Kahel... Please..." I whispered.

"Great. I wasn't wrong, after all." He took a step back, "You know what? Have a happy life ahead, Luxuria."

No. He didn't just say that to me. No. He was the only reason I had a fighting spirit. I had called to see him so we could come up with a plan... Maybe an escape plan. But he seemed very uninterested. Very hurt.

Right before my eyes, Kahel changed into his brown wolf and disappeared into the woods. In the direction I feared.

What was he doing? Why was he headed toward the path that led to the Northern border?