3. What Could Go Wrong?

CADEN'S POV

I watched her gasp for air and it filled me with so much pleasure—blood rushing to my cock making me feel like an apex predator. After Gretchen's little display of discarding me like I was nothing, Maeve's red face made me feel powerful again.

The way her throat worked desperately under my grip, the small whimpering sounds she made, the fear in her eyes mixed with that stubborn defiance that never quite died—it all fed something dark and hungry inside me.

"Ca‐caden p-please stop th-is," she bit out painfully slow and I finally released her from my grip as I watched her pant heavily, taking big breaths.

She stared at me with those stubborn eyes which told me she wasn't as broken as I wanted her to be, and that was a challenge I was willing to take up.

I walked up to her, my hands trying to get her naked so I could see how glorious she was underneath those clothes. The fact was Maeve was very attractive, everyone who had eyes could tell but she acted oblivious to it and I hated it.

Hated her because her very existence reminds me of why I grew up without my parents and for that reason I like punishing her for it. But what I would never reveal is that every reaction I get from her makes me crave her submission more. The idea of toying with her was my favorite pastime.

My fingers had just reached the hem of her worn dress when she spoke up, always too clever for her own good.

"Caden this isn't wise, you're about to be Alpha. What would Alpha Bastian think of you messing around before an important ceremony? And besides you just said you needed to welcome the prince. You know you can't keep him waiting?" She said cautiously.

Maeve knew how to always say the right words—the right things to worm her way out of difficult situations. It was infuriating how she could think so clearly even when I had her cornered.

As I was about to tell her it wasn't her position to lecture me, Alpha Bastian walks into my room, his expression tight with barely contained irritation.

I could see the relief spread through Maeve as she scurried out after paying her respects to him, practically fleeing through the doorway like her life depended on it.

"Caden, I thought I made it clear that you needed to be on your best behavior today. Do you want Prince Riven to think we know nothing of etiquette?" Alpha Bastian says in his usual disappointed tone.

As my uncle who took over after my parents' death, he was like a legal guardian I never asked for. The man who constantly reminded me I wasn't quite measuring up to whatever standard he'd set in his head.

I know the position I was getting as Alpha today would all be ceremonial formality because the one with the true power was staring at me.

I felt pathetic. I was nothing but a child to the council of elders and now I would be a mere tool to Bastian.

"I was just messing around a bit, besides isn't my position teaching lowly outcasts their place?" I questioned turning away from him as I put on the ceremonial Alpha badge he had handed down to me the previous day.

"True power isn't cosplayed, but embodied. I hope you can learn better skills than messing around with women because if you don't you'd get eaten alive." He enunciated each and every word making sure I felt them.

I scoffed but nodded my head at his words. What choice did I have?

"The Prince is here and has been ushered into his room. You need to go pay your respects." I breathed in deeply knowing I needed to find favor in him because being on the bad side of the next King in succession wasn't too good an idea.

I watched him leave as I decided I was ready to make my way to the prince, straightening my shoulders and trying to look like the Alpha I was supposed to be.

The guest wing of the pack house was quieter than the main halls. I was before his door and I wondered how he would look like. Was he more handsome than I was? Well that didn't matter because it was known he liked fucking men anyways. That was why I was shocked Gretchen was all too willing to catch his attention. To her and most people here, a half man like him is better than me.

Utter nonsense.

I knocked and I heard shuffling within and finally I saw a man who had this brooding dark aura. All no smiles and I couldn't help but think of him being worthy to be a prince.

He certainly looked like one but then my eyes caught a woman inside. Her hair cascading down covering her face but was still alluring and powerful, dressed in what looked like flowing silk that caught the light from the tall windows.

I couldn't help but wonder if the prince brought a woman along. But did that mean the rumors were all false?

"And you are?" the prince asked, still at the door staring me down like I was a suspicious rat.

"I'm Caden, Prince Riven, welcome to Grimwell Pack. I'm here to welcome you and make sure all your needs are attended to. And so, I see you fancy such beautiful women," I gestured to the lady within. "I could have more brought to you," I smiled bowing my head.

The prince's eyes danced with amusement and I couldn't help but wonder what I've said wrong and then the lady in the inner chambers started making her way toward us. But then I realized that she was dressed in male clothing.

This must be the cause of the rumors, his woman's peculiar taste in fashion. But then as she got even closer I realized that wasn't a she at all.

It was a he, and he didn't look pleased at all.

"So, you think I'm beautiful? Crown Alpha Caden.”