5

RHETT

The moment I released him, Declan collapsed in on himself as if he could escape what had just happened. He dove into the sheets, his body still damp with sweat and cum, breathing rapidly, his heart racing. And I, the would-be King of the North, just sat there.

The cigar was clenched between my lips. The blood on the back of my neck where he'd bitten me had begun to dry. Bruises had started blooming on my hips from where his thighs had gripped me tightly as I thrust into him.

The air in the room was thick with the smell of sex and tension.

"Get some rest," I told him.

"Don't speak to me," he bit back.

I didn't.

I took another drag. I kept my eyes on the red tip at the end of the cigar that pulsed in the dim room and listened to the silence stretch between us.

I should feel victorious. I'd staked my claim. Fucked him through the worst of his heat and asserted my dominance on the most rebellious omega on this side of the continent.

But the truth was, I felt shattered.

Not with guilt. Not exactly. It felt more like a storm had moved through me and ripped out whatever control I’d had left. My wolf was satisfied—for now. But my mind wouldn’t keep shut.

He was going to need me again. And soon.

The bond hadn’t yet cemented. This was just the beginning.

I glanced over my shoulder.

He was trembling. Not with fear (I doubt he feared anything). But with rage or disgust or even self-loathing. Maybe all three. And the worst part?

He wasn’t trembling at me. He was trembling because of me. And still, I wanted to do it again.

Fuck.

I extinguished the cigar in the crystal ashtray on my bedside table, wiped my hand on my thigh, and rose from the bed. He flinched when the mattress moved, and I froze, waiting for him to do something. He didn't glance at me, just stared at the opposite wall as if it held the answers to his questions.

"You hungry?" I murmured.

"Didn't I say not to talk to me?"

"You did," I replied. “But you need to eat.”

He growled softly, curling himself tighter into a ball.

I pulled on my discarded shirt, buttoning it with one hand while the other continued to rub my thigh, as if it could wipe the heat of him away from my skin. It was as pointless as him denying his nature.

"There's water next to the nightstand," I said to him. "Drink it. You'll need it when the next wave comes."

"Go fuck yourself," he spat back.

"I already did. With you."

He threw the water bottle at me but I caught it midair without blinking.

"Temper, temper," I muttered. You should watch yourself.

He turned then, sat up and the sheet dropped down his chest, revealing the marks I'd left behind. Bite marks. Bruises. Sweat-slick abs and a cock still pink from his climax.

"You think this means you own me?"

I met his gaze with a calm, patient and lethal one.

"Not yet. But you'll learn."

His let out a hollow laugh.

"You're dreaming, Alpha. The moment I am free of this,” he gestured to his condition. “I’ll be gone before you can even blink.”

"Try it," I told him, my wolf beginning to come out to the surface. I could feel my claws extending and my dark power crawling under my skin, wanting to be let out.

We glared at each other. Anger and passion still twisting in the air between us.

By the gods, he was beautiful when he was angry. I turned away before I did something stupid again. Like maybe kissing him. It wasn’t time for that yet.

I walked to the door, and opened it. The guard outside straightened at my presence.

"No one comes in," I said to him. "He tries to leave, knock him out but don't kill him. I'll do that if he makes me angry enough."

The guard nodded.

I closed the door behind me and let out a heavy breath.

The hallway outside the room was quiet, dreary and still smelt faintly of blood.

Killian was lounging by the stairs, and when he noticed my presence, he looked up.

"You look like shit," he said.

"Thanks," I replied, a biting edge in my voice. I really wasn’t in the mood for any games tonight.

"Did it work?" he asked with a raised brow.

Good question.

"Well, he's not dead."

"That's not a no," he deadpanned.

I rubbed the bridge of my nose in exasperation.

"What the fuck do you think, Killian. The bond flared. He took it. But he's going to fight me every step of the way."

Killian regarded me for a moment.

"And you?"

"What about me?" I asked, confused. Where the fuck was his mind heading to now?

"Are you going to survive it?"

I didn't answer.

Because the truth? I wasn't sure.

Every time I touched him, something inside of me shifted. Every time he touched me back, it cracked.

We were fated. An unfortunate fate, but one nevertheless. And fate bonds don't come gently.

They come like war.

“I will survive it,” I said striding to were he was seated. “He’s not that difficult to handle.”

The bite behind my neck tingled in protest. He’s a feisty little wolf, I’d give him that.

I decided to change the subject, not wanting to focus on the fact that he was trying to get something out of me. “Talk to the maids. I need food sent to the room. He’ll be needing a lot of him even if he’s too stubborn to admit to that fact.”

Killian nodded his head in response, already getting up to get the work done.

“And would you be needing anything else?” he asked, as he stood in front of me.

I stood up and smiled.

“Bring some lube will you.”

With an eye roll and a chuckle, he left the room and headed to the kitchens.

Deciding that I’d pushed off seeing Declan’s face for a while, I walked back to the room and thankfully, the guard was still whole.

“Did he give you any trouble?”

“No, Alpha.”

With a brisk nod, I opened the door and was immediately hit by the intoxicating scent of his heat.

Declan was on the bed, and though his legs were still chained, his hands were free and used them well, stroking his cock up and down until his glowing blue eyes caught mine.

My cock hardened as I shut the door.

This is going to be a long night.