LOGINANOKAI’S POV.
The three brothers surrounded us, all of them staring down at me as I realized what I had just gotten myself into. Because of my words, I was now in trouble with four alphas, the most dangerous and most feared all around me, ready to pounce on me. I gulped, trying to take a step back, only to be met by the wall, “I..i think you have it.. The words died on my lips as one of them stepped closer, fisting my hair in his hand as he sniffed me, a low growl escaping his lips. I was still trying to process him when I heard another, “Move, brother. Let me have a taste.” I opened my mouth to refute the words only for a new set of lips to crash on mine, fierce and hard. He didn’t taste like his brother. No, his mouth tasted like strawberries, probably one from the platter of food. He kissed like he was hungry, like I was a meal promised to him and he was now finally having a taste. His fingers tightened around my neck as he lifted me further, pressing his lips more into mine, his tongue going deeper into my mouth. I tried to resist, only for him to bite down on my lower lip and push in deeper, his grip tightening around my neck. Pain shot through me, tangled with pleasure, and together with a moan that I had not intended to come out. No… No.. Anokai. “I want more of that, sweet orchid. Let me hear them.” He muttered in between the kiss, running his tongue over my lower lip before sliding it back into my mouth. Ohh, goddess. This was bliss. I melted immediately in his arms, all my rational thoughts filtering out again. Who knew being someone’s prey tasted this good? Suddenly, he pulled away, leaving one kiss on my swollen lips as he stared at me. His face was perfection in an artistic form. He was beautiful, and not in the masculine way. His deep, gorgeous black eyes stared into mine, strands of his hair falling to his face. “Don’t be greedy, Nikolai.” I heard someone snarl, cutting my thoughts out, but he didn’t care. His lips met mine again, this time drawing blood. My eyes fluttered closed, feeling myself get lightheaded as another hard body slid behind him. I wanted to fight it, find some way to push them away and run, but my body wasn't cooperating with me, and I could feel my willpower crumbling as the seconds passed. I felt a new pair of hands run down my sides as if they were getting a feel of the fabric of my top. “Mm—this..this…” I tried again, but the hand around my neck clenched in a warning that had my body going lax once more. The hands explored, moving all over my body as they inched my shirt up. Their touch was cold to my skin, and as the pads of their fingers found the strap of my bra, I found myself sandwiched between two of them. I whimpered into the kiss, desperate for air I wasn't granted. My thoughts were getting clouded, and before I knew it, I was anticipating their next move. The one who was kissing me pulled away, helping his brother undo my bra and discard it to the side. Part of me registered that I was half naked and should stop it, yet I didn’t want to. The hands squeezed at my breasts, kneading and molding the soft flesh as lips pressed against the side of my neck, teeth nipping and biting the skin. I couldn't tell who was touching me anymore, couldn’t tell whose hands were at what place. But it was all good. Too good. But just as suddenly as everything had started, it stopped. The one in front was ripped away from me, and I blinked my eyes open long enough to take in one that hadn't been touching me. “Move,” he grunted, and the hands that were kneading my chest stopped. This one was gorgeous, hazel eyes boring into mine with such an intensity that only he managed to muster. He moved his hands to the back of my thighs before I could complain, hoisting me up as he carried me over to the bed. He threw me onto it, and my back hit the mattress with a low thud. I tried to stand up, but they were quicker, the four of them surrounding me, “Where do you think you’re going, sweet orchid?” Nikolai said, already at the edge of the bed. “You belong to us now. For the entire night.” A small sense of panic filled me, inching farther away from them only for one of them to come behind me, pinning my hands behind my back and licking a long stripe of my neck. I clenched my thigh, heat rushing through me at the intensity of it before arching my back forward. I wanted it, but I still didn’t want to. The other two were at my sides immediately, rolling up my top and shoving the bunched-up fabric into my mouth. My nipples were hit with cold air, and I shivered, melting against the grip that held me down tightly as two hands pinched my nipples, rolling the sensitive bud between their fingers. Another pair of hands slid up my thighs, squeezing them before spreading them wide as they settled between my legs. I moaned around my top, letting my eyes flutter close and my head fall back against a shoulder as two mouths went around my nipples, wet heat shooting a sharp sense of pleasure up my spine. Tongues flicked them, teeth scraping and biting. Claiming. The grips on my thighs slid higher, closer and closer to the flimsy underwear the lady in red gave me. I was too far gone in all the sensations until I felt someone's finger press against my entrance, the pressure unmoving and teasing. I whined, my hips bucking up a bit before my legs clamped around hand, holding it in place. The touch was foreign and new, and the unfamiliar feeling had my heart hammering against my chest. All the sensations stopped, and my face flushed in embarrassment as I opened my eyes. I took a moment to glance down at myself, taking in the sight of my bare chest and how my panties were rolled down my legs, pooling at my ankles. I met the eyes of the one who was touching me down there, deep lines creasing his forehead as he stared at me, “Sweet orchid, are you a virgin?”ANOKAI’S POV“You’re scared of losing control,” I said, the realization hitting me with sudden clarity.Rowan’s expression shifted, something flickering in his eyes. “How is that related?”I moved closer to them, not all the way back, but enough that I didn’t have to shout. “Because this takes the control out of your hands. Up here, on this edge, you can’t rely on strength or power or violence. You can fall. You can die. And there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”The words settled over us, heavy with truth.“Everything in your lives,” I continued quietly, “you control through force. Through fear. Through being stronger and faster and more dangerous than anyone else. But gravity?” I gestured back toward the edge. “Gravity doesn’t care how powerful you are. Doesn’t care about your curse or your hunger or your reputation. One wrong step and you fall just like anyone else.”Silence greeted my words.Emiriel’s expression was unreadable, but I saw something shift in his eyes. Understand
ANOKAI’S POV“If you’re trying to kill me,” I said, my breath coming in short gasps as we climbed yet another steep incline, “you should just tell me now. At least give me the dignity of knowing.”My legs burned, my lungs ached, and sweat dampened my back despite the cooling afternoon air. We’d been walking—no, climbing for what felt like an eternity, following a narrow path that wound up and up through increasingly dense trees.“We’re close,” Rowan said without looking back, his pace never slowing.“You said that ten minutes ago,” I muttered.“And we’re closer now than we were then,” Emiriel added from behind me, amusement threading through his voice.I wanted to snap at him, but I needed all my breath just to keep moving. The path was getting steeper, the rocks under my feet loose and treacherous. More than once I’d nearly slipped, catching myself at the last moment.Where the hell were they taking me?We rounded another bend, and suddenly the trees thinned. The oppressive canopy
ANOKAIA laugh escaped my lips, genuine and surprised. “Really? Two sisters?”Rissa nodded, her smile soft and warm. “Yes, my lady. Both younger than me. They mean the world to me.”“I can’t imagine having sisters who actually like each other,” I said, the words coming out more bitter than I intended. But Rissa didn’t seem to notice, or if she did, she was kind enough not to comment.“They’re everything to me,” she continued, her eyes lighting up in a way I’d never seen before. “When I left home to work here, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I send money back to them every month. To help with their education, their future.”“That’s—” I started, but a sharp knock interrupted me.The door opened before either of us could respond, and Emiriel stepped inside, Rowan close behind him.Rissa stood immediately, her chair scraping against the floor. “Your highnesses,” she said, bowing quickly. I could see the fear in her eyes but I noticed she remained close to me. My heart softe
EMIRIELThe afternoon sun streamed through the window of my office, but I barely noticed it. My eyes were fixed on the papers scattered across my desk. reports, accounts of the mysterious deaths but the words blurred together, meaningless.I couldn’t move past her words from yesterday.I came here because I had no choice.I was sent here as a spy.I’ve told you everything.Her voice echoed in my mind, sharp and defiant and tinged with something that might have been pain. But she’d delivered it all so coldly, so matter-of-factly, like she’d moved past caring whether we believed her or not.Like she’d given up.And that bothered me more than it should have.My beast stirred restlessly beneath my skin, a constant gnawing presence that had only gotten worse since last night. The moment her scent had disappeared from Nikolai’s room, the moment she’d slammed the door and left, taking that calming presence with her, everything had spiraled.All of our beasts had started raging again.Nikola
ANOKAII didn’t turn around. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing whatever expression was on my face.“I don’t owe you any explanations,” I said, my voice flat.“You’re not leaving until you give me one.”The words were quiet, but they carried absolute authority. I felt it then—a shift in the air, something heavy and oppressive settling over the room.When I tried to turn the handle, it wouldn’t budge.Locked.Or held by something I couldn’t see.My jaw clenched as I slowly turned back to face them. Emiriel stood in the same spot, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. Waiting.“Let me out,” I said coldly.“Answer the question first.” Emiriel took a step closer. “Be truthful this time, Anokai. Why are you here? How did you end up in our pack?”I scoffed, the sound bitter. “What truth? Didn’t Ethan tell you everything already when he was here?”“I want to hear it from your mouth.”“Why?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “So you can pick apart every word? Find more reasons to su
ANOKAIVoices.I heard voices in my sleep, distant and muffled, like they were coming from underwater. They pulled at me, dragging me up from the depths of unconsciousness where I’d been floating peacefully.I didn’t want to wake up. Sleep was safe. Sleep was quiet. Sleep didn’t have kidnapping attempts or jealous women or alphas who looked at me like I was both salvation and destruction.But the voices persisted, growing louder, sharper. Angry.My eyelids fluttered, heavy and resistant. I blinked once, twice, trying to clear the fog from my vision.The ceiling above me was wrong.Not the plain white ceiling of my room, but something darker. Richer. With intricate wood carvings running along the beams that I didn’t recognize.Confusion settled over me like a blanket as I pushed myself up slightly, my eyes adjusting to the dim light.This wasn’t my room.The walls were different—darker. The furniture was larger, more masculine. Everything smelled different too. Not the soft, clean scen
ANOKAI’S POV.I ran out of the room with my heart almost leaping out of my chest. I didn’t look back until I got the quarters and slammed the door shut. The entire room was empty which meant the girls were still at breakfast. I paced back and forth, chewing my nails with my thoughts halfway spirali
ANOKAI’S POV.Ethan. It was Ethan.It was always Ethan in my dreams. Dead, decaying, angry, bitter, there was no form he had not taken in my dreams. For the past three years I spent in prison, it was his face that haunted me in my dreams, calling my name and spitting hot lava of venom on me. The
ANOKAI’S POV.The car that picked me from the pack house finally stopped in front of a large building, and my heart stopped with it. There were other cars outside, large, expensive-looking cars. When the alphas had told me other alphas would be present, I had thought maybe neighboring alphas, but w
ANOKAI’S POV.I was angry. No, I was livid.There was nothing proper about my situation. This is unacceptable. This is power abuse. Wicked, monstrous beasts doing as they please. For a whole day, I have been locked inside a gigantic room, unable to leave or go anywhere other than the four corners







