Chapter 3:  Black Lace Thong

 

Alpha NERO POV

"Fuck." I slammed the door to my father's office so hard the windows rattled.

I was trying to ignore the fact that I was still hard. Still thinking about her. About the way she'd looked standing there in nothing but scraps of lace, all curves and those fucking eyes that made my wolf want to—

"Rough night?"

I spun around. My brother Kade was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking far too amused for someone who'd just watched another wedding turn into a shitshow.

"Get out." 

"That's no way to talk to your Second." He pushed off the frame, strolling into the room. "Especially when I'm here to help."

"I don't need help."

"You just walked away from a gorgeous woman who was naked in your bed." He dropped into the chair across from my desk. "Trust me, brother, you need all the help you can get."

I glared at him. Kade was two years younger than me, lighter in every way—lighter hair, lighter eyes, lighter approach to life. Where I carried the weight of the pack, he carried designer clothes and an iPad full of interior design apps.

"She was willing," he continued, studying his nails. "She was naked. You were very obviously into it. And yet here you are, pacing around Dad's office like a caged animal while she's locked in your room. So what happened?"

"None of your business."

"Actually, it is my business. I'm your Second. And also your brother. And also the one who's going to have to deal with the very angry priestess and the very confused pack tomorrow morning when they find out you didn't complete the consummation ritual." He tilted his head. "Again."

I turned away, staring out the window at the dark forest beyond. "I had my reasons."

"Which were?"

"Kade—"

"Come on. This isn't like you. You usually take every opportunity to sleep with your brides. Especially one that hot." He paused. "Why'd you stop?"

I pressed my palms against the desk, trying to find words for something I didn't understand myself.

"You remember the woman from my dreams?"

Silence. Then: "The one you've been sketching for months? The face you keep seeing?"

"Yeah."

"What about her?"

I turned to face him. "It's her."

Kade blinked. "It's… who?"

"Remi. The girl downstairs. She's the woman from my dreams."

His eyebrows shot up. "You're kidding."

"I didn't recognize her at first. Her eyes are different—warmer in the dreams. Kinder. And her hair…" I ran a hand through my own hair, frustrated. "But when she took off the dress, I saw the scar. On her. Same placement as in my dreams."

Kade leaned forward. "Nero—"

"She's the one. The face I see every time I close my eyes. And tonight she just… appeared. Crashed a wedding, killed my bride, and ended up in my bed." I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Tell me that's not suspicious."

"So you think what? She's a spy? Someone sent her?"

Kade was quiet for a moment. Then he pulled out his phone. "I did some digging after the ceremony."

"And?"

"She's nobody, Nero. Like, actually nobody. Works as a bartender at some dive in Riverside territory. Comes from a big family. Father drinks too much. Mother does… let's just say ‘sketchy business’ and leave it at that."

"A bartender," I repeated.

"From Riverside. The poorest pack in the region." He looked up. "So the question what the hell was our nephew doing with her?"

That was a good question.

"Or," Kade said slowly, "the Moon Goddess has a twisted sense of humor."

I shot him a look.

Fair point.

We sat in silence for a moment.

"You should've slept with her," Kade said finally. "Consummation would give her a fighting chance against the curse. You know that."

"Don't remind me of my mistake."

"Oh, it was a mistake?" Kade’s eyebrows rose. "So you DO want to sleep with her."

"You can't imagine how much I'm regretting not finishing what I started."

"Nero—"

I thought for a moment. "Prepare a peace offering basket for the dead bride's parents. The usual—gold, apology letter, blood money."

"And for Remi's family?"

"Same thing. They'll need it for her funeral."

Kade froze. "You really think she's going to die tonight."

"They all do." My voice was flat. "Might as well dig both graves now. Same plot as the others. Save time."

"That's dark, even for you."

Kade studied me. A clock chimed. It was almost midnight.

"Shit," Kade said. "Nero, we need to—"

"I know." I was already moving toward the door.

"Your room. Now."

We reached my chambers—not the ones where I'd left Remi, but my real chambers. The ones with reinforced walls and chains built into the bedframe.

Kade locked the door behind us.

"Lie down," he said.

He moved quickly, securing the chains around my wrists. Heavy iron, blessed by the priestess. The only thing strong enough to hold an Alpha.

He finished with my wrists and moved to my ankles. The chains were long enough that I could move, but not long enough to break free. Not long enough to hurt myself or anyone.

"Make sure she doesn't leave," I said.

Kade looked up. "Remi?"

"And Kade?"

"Yeah?"

"Make sure the chains are tight. I don't want… incidents."

He tested each lock again, yanking on them hard enough to make sure they held.

"Tight enough?" Kade asked.

I tested them, pulling hard. The chains held. "Good."

Kade squeezed my shoulder. "Get some sleep. Or, you know, whatever passes for sleep when you're chained to a bed."

Then he was gone.

I was alone.

I closed my eyes and thought about her. About Remi. About the way she'd looked at me right before I'd told her I wanted her dead.

I'd lied.

REMI POV That Night

I was still staring at the drawing when I heard footsteps outside the door.

I grabbed the first thing I could reach—a heavy candlestick—and pressed myself against the wall beside the door.

If someone was coming to kill me, I was going out swinging.

The lock clicked.

The door opened.

A man walked in. Not Nero. This one was leaner, prettier, and moved like a dancer.

"Hello, sister-in-law," he said cheerfully.

I raised the candlestick. "Take one more step and I'll bash your skull in."

He looked at the candlestick. Then at me. Then he smiled.

"Oh, I REALLY like you. Nero's going to have so much fun with this one."

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Kade. Nero's brother." He held up a shopping bag. "I come bearing gifts."

"I don't want gifts. I want answers."

"Can't help you there. But I can help you out of that tragic dress situation you've got going on." He tossed me the bag. "You can't sleep in a dead woman's wedding gown. That's just depressing."

I caught the bag reflexively. "Nero sent you?"

"Nero's… busy." Something flickered across his face. "I'm here on my own."

I opened the bag slowly and pulled out what was inside.

A black lace thong. Matching bra. And absolutely nothing else.

"Are you KIDDING me?" I held up the thong. It was basically a string. "Where's the rest of it?"

Kade grinned. "That is the rest of it."

"This is lingerie."

"That IS clothes. Very expensive clothes, actually. You're welcome."

I threw the thong at his face. He caught it, laughing.

"I'm not wearing this," I said.

"Your choice. But the alternative is sleeping in that." He nodded at the bloodstained wedding dress. "And trust me, that's not doing you any favors."

I glared at him. Then at the dress. He had a point..

"Has anyone ever told you that you're annoying?"

He laughed. "I like you. You've got bite."

"I've got questions. Are you going to answer them or not?"

"Not." He pushed off the frame. "But I will tell you this: my brother's not the monster everyone thinks he is."

"Six dead wives would suggest otherwise."

"Six cursed wives," he corrected. "There's a difference.You're still alive, aren't you?"

"You should get some sleep." He backed toward the door. "Big day tomorrow. Assuming you survive the night."

"Wait—"

"Goodnight, sister-in-law. Try not to die before breakfast."

He closed the door.

I couldn't sleep for hours. I lay on the bed, thinking about how I got into this mess.

Then, A sound came from outside my door. Then again.

Chains rattling.

It was coming from down the hall.

From Nero's direction. Whatever monster lived in that room…

I was married to it now.