Se connecterELIRAFingers track over my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Shivers rack my body, and my heart thuds in my chest, making me feel like I'm struggling to breathe. I refuse to open my eyes, afraid of what I'll find. Death might feel like a nice person now, touching its newest host in welcoming sweeps, but..."Open your eyes. I know you're awake."My eyes fly open immediately. I know that voice, and the blue eyes that are staring at me right now definitely come with it.My throat moves up and down in a hard swallow. "Alpha Kael?"He looks at me, no words leaving his mouth. Instead, he watches me like he wants to see beneath the skin to something else.His fingers don't stop their ministrations, though. They find a spot on my forehead and press down gently to feel for... something. I don't know what."What am I doing here?" I ask him, my eyes fluttering with the sensations that swarm me following his touch. "You belong to me."There's something about the seriousness of his tone a
ELIRA Madness. That's the only explanation for what's going on here right now. I'm staring with wide eyes, this time for some reason other than my hormones acting like this is the first time I've ever seen a man—or this one, if I'm being more honest. Sarah's doppelganger is holding herself so rigidly even as she falls to her knees, but it's not the war of wills that's obviously going on that makes a gasp steal past my throat. She just... she called Alpha Kael by name. And I swear there's a threat in that statement somewhere. "How... how does she..." Sarah struggles with getting the question out. For the first time since the carbon-copy of her showed up and shoved her to the ground, she has turned. Just like the rest of us, her eyes are wide as saucers as she stares at the demonic half. "Not an answer to my question," Alpha Kael speaks up, his face devoid of any and every emotion—yes, I'm staring again. "You know what happens when you make me repeat myself." I gasp loudly,
KAELI can feel her everywhere. And boy does it piss me off.It was supposed to be me making her life hell, teaching her who's in charge, not the other way round. She shouldn't hold any power over me, and what the hell was the moon goddess thinking making her my fated mate.Again.Fuck it!I drag a hand through my hair, fury seeping through my insides like it's on a mission to upturn my sanity and send me through the fiery depths of madness."Are you okay, Alpha?" Aaron asks as he walks into my annoyingly quiet office.Funny how the same silence that used to promise me peace is now the same thing that's making me lose my mind. The echoes of the previous night are everywhere—taste, smell, feel. All of them working together to drive me off the deep end.I arch a brow at Aaron, deciding anger is the best handler for all of this lunacy. "Is there something you need? I remember asking to not be disturbed until noon."His face squeezes in a frown, his confusion too apparent to be missed. "N
ELIRAI freeze in place, my heart thudding against my ribcage like it wants out of its confinement.Alpha Kael is watching me, but he doesn't seem to register the effects of our coupling as well as I have. His eyes are still a blinding silver, his body held rigid by the remnants of his madness.He takes a single step away from me, his naked body on full display and him making no moves to hide it."We... we are..." I swallow, trying to rein in the confusion that is sweeping through me. "You're my..." I start again.Alpha Kael's voice booms in the room, cutting off my explanation and sending my heart down to the ground in a crashing heap. "You will speak no word of this, and you will never utter those words again. Whatever happened between us tonight would repeat itself should the need arise, but I will not go beyond the physical act."Tears cling to my lashes for all of a nanosecond before it starts to roll down my face—the evidence of my broken heart.What did I expect from a man who
ELIRAMy body lurches forward as the first crack of the whip connects with my back. A scream tears past my throat, tears already making their languid descent down my face.Getting punished every day has become the norm for me. I was the lowest of slaves in RageClaw, after all."What the hell is going on here?" The pack's Beta, Aaron, asks as he walks up to the field.I haven't been able to look any of them in the face ever since the incident three nights ago. My arousal was like an air freshener for the guards to perceive and choke on, while I was being drowned within an inch of my life."This dirty swine tried to poison the Alpha's meal today. Good thing I checked on time." Lady Marge explains in an angry voice."And where did she get the poison from? If I remember correctly, she has been detained for two days and was only released this morning."My eyes raise on their own accord. Is he really defending me right now?His arm curls around my shoulders and he hoists me off the floor. "
ELIRAMy knees are screaming for a reprieve, but I ignore the pain and stay down. I hear the sounds of footsteps hurrying in my direction but I refuse to raise my head. I keep my gaze planted on the floor."Elira, we have to go. The Alpha is back and he's going to be so pissed if he comes in here to find that you're still in this position." Sarah, one of the maids that showed up at my room two days ago, pleads. She grabs a hold of my arm and tries to tug me to my feet. I don't budge.To say that I am weak is an understatement. I am drained of every last ounce of strength I possess. I have been kneeling in this same position for the last two days, devoid of food or rest. I am moving on mere stubbornness at this point."Please, Elira. Come on. We have to go."I shake my head slowly, if I do it any faster, I am going to be dizzy. "Go on.""Why are you doing this?" She cries out. "The Alpha doesn't care if you live or die."My lips stretch in a weak smile. That's where she is wrong. Kael







