Chapter 5

~KILLIAN THANE~

Weak. Feeble. Small.

If I had pressed a little harder at her neck, the sound of bones snapping would be next. The image of Emilia Monroe’s frightened eyes had refused to leave my mind since the moment in the relic room. It angered me how her scent still lingered and how my wolf had become restless with desire. A desire to claim and savage her whole till all she knew was me.

The same way my wolf was cursed with bloodlust since my ascension, so also was his sexual desires. My sexual hunger was one that could hardly be satisfited despite the women I had been with, and neither was I easily aroused. But the girl Emilia had somehow managed to stir up my wolf with just a glance at her.

Still, I was never going to accept nor claim her as my mate. She was an insult to my personality, an insult to my title and being.

It must have been some cruel joke from the gods to bind me to an unshifted.

A flicker of movement drew my attention back to the present. My maid lay half-naked on the marble table before me, her skin glowing against the ray of sunlight. Fresh berries trailed from her collarbone leading toward the soft curve of her bare breasts and down to her waistline. She trembled slightly beneath my gaze and bit her lips seductively.

All my maids were trained to serve and tempt me in different ways and in different places. This particular one was specifically assigned for that room and table.

She arched her chest even more when I reached for a berry slowly, tracing the path of her skin before picking it up. She waited for me to grab her and bend her over like I usually did but I was too unsettle for such. Too angry.

The door creaked open.

“Someone’s still in a foul mood.” Reese said, immediately assessing my mood.

“More reason why you should be swift with your words Reese.”

He stepped forward, gaze flicking to the maid sprawled on the table and back to me. “Your uncle, Edgar wants a word. Says it’s urgent.”

I leaned back in my seat that some might refer to as a throne. The city faced me through the glass wall. The many rooftops shone silver under the light of the day.

“Urgent.” I repeated, letting the word taste like mockery in my mouth.

“He’s waiting at one of his dens in the outer district. Said he wouldn’t send any more messengers because of the last incident.”

“That man stole from me.”

“So you flayed him alive?" I shot him a deadly stare. One that told him to consider his next words very carefully.

“What does he want?” I finally asked. I've always known my uncle to be shady and I was without doubt his reason for this meeting was also shady and selfish.

“He wasn't very specific, but he said something about ravaging wolves."

Reese’s lips twitched. “Should I tell him you’re too busy enjoying your breakfast?”

"Get ready." I finally said. I had an option of ignoring my uncle, but I knew him. He was one of the many thorns in my flesh. He wouldn't give up.

*****************

We left my city behind, to its outskirts where one of Edgar's pleasure houses was. Edgar’s rule for his pack was different. He didn't see women in his pack, he saw sex workers and he saw business. That was all he cared about and that made him the renowned owner of most of the the pleasure houses in the district.

Music spilled from the open doors of the house when we arrived, coupled with heavy laughters and the stench of cigarette smoke. Inside, women whom were half naked danced around poles, and they were met with the lustful gazes of men.

Every head turned when I entered.

Eyes widened. Smiles faltered. Some bowed, others froze mid-movement. The crowd parted instinctively, the way prey gives way to a predator.

Reese stayed close to me, hand on the hilt of his blade.

At the far end of the room sat Edgar. His white hair tied back, his pristine clothes and a glass of red in his hand. Two women draped themselves over him like ornaments, their laughter dying the moment they saw me.

“Killian, my boy!” Edgar’s grin was wide. “The city’s conqueror graces my humble hall.”

“Cut the theatrics.” I slid into the seat across from him. “You called. Speak.”

He chuckled, dismissing the women with a flick of his wrist. They scurried away, replaced by a servant who poured us both a drink.

"You never change. Always so uptight with no room for games."

I did not respond to his remark.

He sighed dramatically. “There are forces moving, nephew. Ones that might reach even Silver Crest if you continue to isolate yourself. You need allies.”

"Bold to assume you know what I need, uncle."

"You are just like your father. Never fully trusting. Although I hoped you wouldn't portray that attitude towards family. I want the best for you, Killian. These ravaging wolves are taking cities by storm."

"Clash between territories, and cities being burnt down is no new thing, uncle. Our forefathers experienced it and none fell defeated. What makes you think I will?"

"Do not underestimate this new movement, Killian. Alliances are being formed to create a stronghold. I suggest you do the same."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Let me extend my houses of pleasure to your lands. Men will spend their rage there instead of bleeding it on your streets. You’ll have peace. I’ll have profit. Everyone wins.”

“You mean you would win.” I said flatly. I knew he was going to head to that direction in the conversation. Edgar had always seeked to extend his pleasure houses to my territory, but I never allowed it for many reasons.

"You always put power before pleasure, Killian. Just as your father did." His gaze sharpened. “But you forget, I have eyes and ears everywhere."

That was one of the reasons I didn't want the expansion. I didn't want him all over my business. He already had spies within my territory. All of which I plan to kill once I uncover.

"Even in your sacred halls. Word is, the great Alpha has a contest running… to find himself a Luna."

My grip tightened around the glass.

"The bloodlust you have isn't new. It is hereditary from your forefathers and it cannot be cured by some random contest. It can only be cured by getting bloodbound with your true mate."

Anger burned within me as Emilia resurfaced in my thoughts. Not only was she my mate, she was my cure too?

"You seem more agitated at the mention of the word 'mate', have you perharps found....."

"I'd choose my next words very carefully if I were you, uncle." I warned.

"You need me Killian. I hope you realize this soon." Edgar leaned back, gesturing to someone.

"I brought you a gift. Consider it a gesture of goodwill."

From the shadows, a woman stepped out. Tall, curvy, and with blonde hair. She wore a thin black gown that clung to every curve of her body, and when she smiled, the room seemed to shift with her confidence.

“This is Winower.” Edgar said. “She’s amongst my very best. Well trained in the art and can fulfil any pleasure or kink of yours. Men pay tripple the normal price for her.”

Winower bowed low before me, her gaze never leaving mine. “Alpha Thane.” Her voice was smooth as silk drawn across a blade.

She was truly seductive and more tempting than any other female in the room. And she managed to catch my interest too. Not in the way my wolf desired his new-found-joke of a mate, but in a way that appealed to me to fuck her to let loose my anger.

"Finally something I consider not useless from this meeting, uncle."

****************

Winnower cried out as I slammed into her. It was a cry from mostly pain than pleasure, but I didn't stop. I didn't hold back. I was usually rough in bed, but rage had consumed me even more. I didn't seek pleasure. I seeked release from my frustration.

I curled her hair in my hand, slamming faster and pushing my length deeper into her. Her back arched at my pace.

"Alpha..... please... yes..." She screamed loudly, her body trembling with every thrust from me.

Her body reacted perfectly. It felt exciting to touch and fuck, but it didn't satisfy my wolf.

It didn't do shit.

Again, my thought drifted to her.

Emilia!!!