Chapter 5: The Alpha’s Burden

Ethan was in his chambers, the air was thick—still carrying the distant hum of music from the courtyard as the pack prepared for the night’s grand ball.

The door creaked open behind him. A tall, dark-haired she-wolf stepped into the room, her voice a low murmur.

“You called for me… Alpha.”

He didn’t look at her at first, flexing his jaws.

“Kneel.”

He instructs the lady before him, she obeys and starts unbuckling his belt, she already knows what the Alpha wants and in less than no time his trousers were out of his legs.

He sat on the chair and the lady in front of him gave him a nasty smirk, she was always happy to tame the Alpha's rut.

“Just open and suck it,” Ethan instructed. She immediately tied her hair back with a hair band to avoid any interference.

His hands dug into her hair pushing her closer to him, as he slowly slid his third member into her mouth so she could taste his masculine fluid.

“Huuk”

He pushed his male shaft deeper into her throat and thrust forward. She gasped for air and he pulled out immediately giving her a moment to breathe and regain her strength. As usual, it was too big for her.

He pushed his shaft again, filling her throat all the way to the back, and he thrust so hard that she gagged. His breathing became erratic, indicating the feeling was exquisite.

She raised her hands to stop him, but he held her hand and completely ignored her

“I need to feel every wall of your mouth.”

She nods.

He thrust a third, a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth time, faster and faster. The forward and backward movement of her mouth on his male shaft, ignited an electric current in his body as he drew ragged breaths.

She chokes, then he gives her another moment to catch her breath, then he slides it in again and another thrusting motion stimulates the right amount of dopamine in his body that makes him come.

He groaned in ecstasy, his creamy fluid spilled all over her face and some in her mouth.

His breathing started returning back to normal and he was calm again.

“How was it?” she asked with a lustful smirk. He didn't answer. “I know you enjoyed it; no one can please you like I do, Alpha.”

He ignored her and grabbed a clean white towel and tossed it on her face, without looking at her. "Here, clean up.” he said, devoid of affection.

Then he stood up, putting his trousers back on. While adjusting his belt, he turned toward the window, staring at the crescent glow above the Blackthorn mansion and became absorbed in his thoughts.

With every passing of the full moon, Ethan loses hope of finding his true mate. To him it felt better having no attachment to anyone.

For years, he had lived beneath the weight of the terrible curse. His wolf, Arthur, often loses control and turns into a beast.

Then a memory crept in spontaneously, he saw again that night—years ago, when the beast inside him had almost claimed an innocent life.

It was on the night of the Half Blood Moon, during a dinner in the Blackthorn mansion, his wolf Arthur had stirred uncontrollably in him.

A young maid had come forward to refill his cup and her pulse had quickened under Ethan’s crimson monstrous gaze.

Ethan’s claws began to form and before he knew it a deep growl escaped his throat. The maid froze in terror, her eyes widened in horror as Ethan rose from his seat ready to pounce.

Luckily enough Seraphina— Ethan’s oldest friend stepped in immediately—calm and unflinched, her gaze steady and ready to face the monster in him.

It was her voice that calmed him. "Ethan… this isn’t you, don’t give in to what the monster wants, you can fight this.”

Her words, and the terror in the girl’s eyes, were enough to drag him back. He had thrown himself backward, forcing Arthur down with sheer will, and immediately seraphina tied the red sacred thread around his wrist.

The maid fled in tears, unharmed. But the memory of her fear, and the thought of what might have happened if Seraphina hadn’t been there, left Ethan with a bitter reminder that If he had hurt her, he knew he would never forgive himself.

Ever since that incident, he had sought every cure the elders and seers whispered of. Rituals. Oaths. He even tried to form a forbidden bond with a vampire—the wolf’s sworn enemy. But none of it had freed him. Each attempt only worsened his curse.

Ethan poured himself a glass of martini, swirling the glass once before taking a slow, deliberate sip. The burn from the martini was familiar and grounding.

Over the years he had organized countless mating balls with a flicker of hope in searching for the one destined to anchor his soul. But each gathering ended in disappointment.

His excessive sexual desires came from the beast within Arthur, (his wolf) and he often relied on the willing women in the pack to satisfy that side of him.

Yet, no matter how damaged and burdened he was, he still did not want a mate. Because any wolf he mates with that is not his anchor or true mate would suffer because of his curse, and he refused to damn any innocent she-wolf to that fate.

But it wasn’t his decision to make alone.

Now the elders pressed him again. The ball this year was to draw closer every pack across the realm. They spoke of duty, of finding a Luna, and giving the pack a pup to ascend the throne one day. And he had to provide that for them.

The Shadow Fang Pack had always been the strongest, but its greatest flaw had been his cursed existence and lack of a Luna.

“Bang. bang. bang.”

A sharp knock at the door jarrs Ethan from his thoughts.

“Come in.” He ordered, his voice edged with command.

The door swung open and Beta leo stepped into the chambers, bowing slightly.

“Leave us!.” Ethan said without looking back.

The woman who was with him immediately bowed her head and exited the chambers, shutting the door behind her.

“Alpha,” Leo greeted.

Ethan turned to his Beta, his eyes were fixed on him steady and unbending.

“Have you warned xander about those miscreants from his pack?”

“I have,” Leo replied without hesitation. “I told him the disturbances in the outlying territory won't be tolerated. If he doesn’t rein them in, then you will.”

Ethan gave a curt nod, and a faintest glint of approval in his eyes.

“Good. And the ball?”

“The word has spread across the realm,” Leo said.

“Every major and minor pack has been informed. By nightfall, their Alphas and eligible wolves would gather. There would be no delay.“

Ethan refilled his glass but didn’t drink this time. He raised the rim of his glass towards Leo.

“Uhm,” he murmured, pointing his index finger with the same hand still cradling the glass.

“See that nothing goes amiss. I won’t have Shadow Fang shamed by disorder tonight.”

Leo inclined his head. “Understood, Alpha. I'll make sure I oversee the arrangements personally.”

Ethan’s gaze hardened towards his Bet, a quiet warning beneath his calm tone. “Make sure everything runs as it should. I’ll not have our enemies see weakness in this pack.”

“Understood.” Leo repeated, bowing once more before he exited the bedroom.

Ethan took a sip of his martini once more, as his gaze lingered on the red thread tied firmly around his wrist.

It was a simple knot, yet heavier than any chain, a reminder that the monster within is still chained inside.

He exhaled, a deep sigh slipped from his lips, before turning back to the door.

The ball would begin soon.

The weight of expectation and duty pressed heavily against his shoulders.

“Another gathering.” He murmured under his breath, his voice low and gloomy “Another hope that will end in nothing.”

He rolled the cuffs of his shirt , adjusted his collar and exited his chambers. The expression on his face was once again the calm unreadable mask of the Alpha.