MORE CHALLENGES TO COME

Carly turned to face the owner of the voice.

She had gone pale and hoped he wouldn't sense her fear. “I just went out for a breath of fresh air.” She lied. 

“You cunny bitch. You are a terrible actress, you know?” Derek gave her a disgusting look. 

Tears filled Carly's eyes. “I'm se…serious, please… Where else can I go? I just wanted to watch the moon a little.”

Derek grunted, wondering whether to believe her or not. “Then why do you smell like you've been with a crowd?”

“I've not had my bath since the full moon, maybe that's why” She praised herself for how she could think of that excuse on the spot and hoped he would buy her excuse.

He walked up to her and lifted her chin up, entering a stair contest with her, trying to get a hint of foul play.

When he was satisfied with what he saw, he traced his hand down until he gripped her neck. “Try to escape, and I will slay you myself,” he warned.

She was gasping for air, but managed to maintain a straight face.

He sniffed at her neck. “You let men near you. You can't help being such a whore, can you?” he accused, digging his claws further into her neck. “How dare you share what's mine?!” his orbs had turned red, like he was out to draw blood, and unfortunately, Carly was the one near him.

“I did no such thing. I was alone the entire night,” Carly managed to respond while tapping at his hand, silently begging him to release her.

“You fucking liar” He drawled, his tone was low and his desire to have her was overclouding his earlier judgement. 

Staring at her pink and full lips. Carly stilled at the turn of events.

Is he going to force himself on me again?

She jammed out of her thoughts as she felt his lips on her lips.

A moan escaped her as he cupped her breast in his hand. “Please..” she begged.

“Like I said, you're still such a whore,” he taunted her.

She felt like she had been doused with cold water and shame filled her. She tried to free herself from his grasp, but his hold on her was firm and strong. “You're one to talk when you can't stay without touching me at night.” She retorted.

“I own you. I don't need to explain myself to you. Even the moon goddess gave you to me for pleasure.” He snarled at her, wishing he could just snap her neck and also wishing he could just sink into her flesh until they were one.

“Sure, whatever you say, Supreme Alpha Derek,” She mockingly bowed.

“You have no fear for me, huh?” His eyes were red. “Should I take you here? You would like that.hmm? You want someone to watch you get taken like a whore, right?” He asked. 

Carly was mortified “No you wouldn't dare” her eyes were begging him to stop.

“You should know me better by now.” He drawled. “Let's play seekers, shall we? You run as far as your little limbs can let you, and I chase,” He proposed with an evil glint in his red eyes.

It annoyed Carly how, whenever they met, he would threaten her with his red eyes. Does he have to always summon his wolf? 

'Show off!' Carly said in her mind. 

“What am I to benefit from playing?” She asked curiously.

“Oh, if you're extremely lucky, you can locate a free room before I pounce on you. You see, I'm bored, and I need a hunt, so you will be my little prey for tonight.”

“You can go hunting outside,” Carly suggested, she knew she had no chance if he should chase her.

“Where is the fun in that?” he said with an evil smirk etched on his face. “Tick…tock…tick…tock. Your time is going,” he drawled.

“The devil.” Carly muttered under her breath and stormed off, in search of any room she could run into and, if possible, she can snap the lock to prevent him from coming in.

“Devil is a very pale comparison. Come up with better ones.” He called out and chuckled.

“Thank the goddess!” She said happily, as she saw a door and Derek was nowhere near in sight.

Just as she was about to step in, he grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. “Game's over!”

“Please…”

But her pleas fell on deaf ears.

He pressed her face to the wall with her back facing him. “My prey, let me tell you something. The sweetest part about hunting is savoring your reward.”

He raised her tunic until her backside was in view. "So pretty…. So delicate and so fleshy,” he said as he spanked her.

She let out a cry that was lanced with a soft moan, and then he plunged into her, taking her like he was an animal starved for food.

“Please….anyone can walk in…please” she begged.

“Shut up,” he growled. “I'm going to make sure I wash off every other scent you have on you,” and with that, he pressed his body to hers.

Carly turned at the sound of footsteps, hoping Derek would stop, but he turned a blind eye to her concerns.

Zoya walked in at that moment and saw the scene before her. Her hatred for Carly that instant radiated and fury danced in her eyes.

“Get out,” He commanded Zoya.

She bowed and quickly scurried off.

Carly had turned scarlet red and muttered to herself, “I'm finished. The goddess might as well strike me.”

Derek yanked her hair and pressed his lips to her neck. The urgent urge to mark her was so intense that his eyes were a darker shade.

“Atlas, stop it!” he groaned, drawing his face away from her.

“Atlas…. So his name is Atlas,” Alexis said in Carly's head.

He came with a full force and sighed his release.

“Out” he ordered her.

Carly’s face burned with embarrassment as she arranged her tunic and scurried off.

“Atlas, what was that all about?” Derek asked his wolf the second Carly was out of earshot.

“She's mine to mark. She has another's scent on her,” he growled.

“She gave an explanation already, and she has no lover outside the den. We both know that. I agreed to touch her but marking her and declaring her as my Luna is where I draw the line, and you fucking know why!”

“Will it be so bad to treat her right?” Atlas asked soberly.

“Her father was a trusted person, and he betrayed me. The apple doesn't fall far from a tree. I would be a fool to trust her”.

“I still want her,” Atlas said quietly.

“Well, she's ours already. Isn't she our mate? I might just take her as my toy.”

“You know what I mean,” he retorted and then went silent.

After a few moments had passed, Derek replied in his thoughts, “I wish our circumstances were different too.”

That night, Alpha Hulbert found the perfect ally. He was not against the king, but he was a brutal fighter and a tough ruler.

He quickly ran to Alpha Stephen to relay the good news.

“Hmm… but getting him on our side would be difficult” Alpha Stephen said, after hearing the whole plan. 

“I'll convince him. Leave that to me. Do you want to meet with him, or should I handle everything?” Hulbert asked.

“Meet him first. When we are sure that he's on our side, then you can arrange a meeting for us,” Stephen decided after a pause.

“Okay.”

“Go with Ralph… we need a strong front if he's to agree. Alpha Leo is a tough nut to crack”.

“I'll take Ralph and my beta. I plan to offer him a land in return for his alliance. Is that okay by you?”

“Do whatever you can. Land is not an issue. I have it in abundance.” Stephen replied. “And Hulbert?”

“Yes Alpha?”

“Don't disappoint me this time.” Alpha Stephen replied with a note of finality. And Hulbert knew what could happen next.