Two

Alec

She was gone.

But her scent lingered. Vanilla, honey, and pure fucking heat.

I could still smell her need. The scent of a bonded female aching to be claimed.

And fuck, my wolf wanted to chase her, mark and claim her.

Before she revealed her name, my heart had leapt with joy. It reminded me of easier times, before duty and bloodshed crushed the part of me that used to feel alive.

I'd blessed the goddess for bringing my mate to me. The most precious gift right on my coronation night.

But now, all that joy had become a lingering sorrow, one that left me breathless with pain.

The goddess hadn’t given me a mate. She’d shackled me to the daughter of a traitor.

I pressed my back to the wall, panting like I’d just come out of a fight. My wolf, Jaxon, was restless, howling for her. I was one second away from losing control.

“Go to her,” he cried. “She’s ours.”

I ripped the ceremonial robe off and tossed it into the flames. Then I slammed my fists into the wall, again and again, until my knuckles split open and bled.

Still, the feeling didn’t leave.

“Shut the fuck up,” I bellowed at my wolf, who was starving now. “Do you realize what you're asking me to do?”

Valen Hunter's eyes flashed in my memory. Blue with gold at the center, just like his daughter's.

Those eyes haunted my dreams. He had given me a strange look seconds before my father tore out his throat.

When he was captured, he didn’t beg.

He spat in my father’s face.

“You can kill my body,” he had said, “but I will haunt you forever.”

Then he looked past my father and directly at me. His eyes were wild and unbroken. He died like a true Alpha. Without fear. Without begging.

“Alpha Alec.”

I shook the memory off and turned.

Lucas stood in the doorway, with his arms folded.

“You missed the toast. Half the council thinks you’re brooding. The other half thinks you’re hungover.”

“Let them think whatever they want,” I muttered.

He stepped inside and shut the door.

“Why are you hiding?”

“I’m tired.”

“Bullshit,” he said with a laugh.

His gaze swept the room, at the burning robe and the blood on my hands. He paused. Lucas knew me too well.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t give me that. You hardly stay in your chambers unless it’s to sleep or fuck. Something’s eating you alive.”

I headed to the bathroom, rinsing blood from my knuckles. Lucas lingered behind me, waiting.

“I felt a bond,” I said.

I saw his reflection in the mirror. His eyes widened.

He whistled, grinning. “That’s great news! Confirmation the goddess chose you. Your reign will be—”

“Valen Hunter’s daughter.” I said it like I was spitting poison and walked back into the bedroom.

Silence.

Even the hearth seemed to stop crackling.

Lucas blinked, then rushed forward.

“You’re joking, right?”

I shook my head. His laugh was sharp.

“It has to be a sick joke. There’s no way in hell you’re bonded to that evil bastard’s daughter.”

I didn’t answer.

His eyes sharpened. “We have to kill her, Alec. Marking her would be an abomination.”

My wolf growled possessively.

“I didn’t choose this,” I said coldly.

Lucas looked disgusted. He began pacing.

“This bond will break you. She’ll drag you into madness. You’re already slipping. Can’t you see? If the council finds out you even looked at her, we’re finished.”

I turned away and leaned against the stone arch.

I wanted to end this. Goddess knows I did.

But how could I reject my mate, the one my wolf ached for?

“You’re going to marry your girlfriend, Maya,” Lucas snapped, like a father scolding his reckless son. “The Luna ceremony is in three weeks. She’s carrying your child. Her father is our strongest ally.”

I stayed silent.

Lucas stepped closer. “You don’t have to kill the traitor’s daughter. I will. I’ll slit her throat before sunrise.”

My wolf nearly lunged out, feral and ready to maul him.

I took a slow breath, holding the beast back.

“Don’t.”

Lucas stared at me like I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had.

“If you imprint your scent on her and the pack finds out, they’ll revolt. They’ll kill her. And they’ll lose respect for you. Don’t throw away your crown over lust.”

“If she has to die, I’ll be the one to do it. Not you.”

He scoffed. “I know you, Alec. I know the power of the bond. Let me handle this before it gets worse.”

“What’s getting worse?”

We both turned.

Maya stood in the doorway, draped in red silk. Her baby bump was small, but she made sure I saw it. Her hand rested on it like a prize she’d won in battle.

Lucas bowed. “My lady.”

“Hey, Luc,” she said sweetly.

He turned to me. “We’ll be expecting you downstairs. Take your time with the lady.” He winked and left.

Maya moved closer, her nail trailing down my chest.

“What’s wrong, honey?” she purred. “Is it the pressure? Do you want a distraction?”

I didn’t answer.

She took that as permission.

“What do you want?” she whispered. “My mouth? My tits? Or—”

My jaw clenched.

My wolf recoiled, snapping inside me.

But I let her touch me.

I closed my eyes and thought of anything else. Battles, blood, duty.

Anything but Vanessa Hunter.

When her lips touched mine, all I saw were blue eyes flecked with gold. Brunette braids. Trembling lips.

My hand caught her wrist and pushed her back.

She glared at me.

“What the hell was that?”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“Well, have you ever been?” she snapped. “You claim to love women, but you’ve been more affectionate toward Lucas, a married man, than the mother of your child!”

“You got what you wanted.” I nodded toward her belly.

Her face hardened.

“You have a mistress, don’t you?”

I stared at her.

Calling Vanessa a mistress was an understatement. This wasn’t lust. It was a soul-deep pull that burned through my blood and refused to let go.

“You’ll be Luna in three weeks,” I said. “You should be happy. Plenty of women would kill to be in your place.”

She stepped back.

There was a storm in her eyes, but she masked it with a practiced smile.

“Just pray I don’t find her,” she said sweetly. “Because if I do, she’ll regret ever being born.”

I laughed.

It was loud and abrupt.

It startled her.

“It’s rich of you to claim me,” I said, “considering you had to spike my drink to fuck me after I rejected you again and again.”

She flinched.

“Too bad I won,” she muttered, latching her arm around mine. “The guests are waiting.”

---

Downstairs, the party raged. Music, laughter, wine, and the endless parade of naked women pretending to be gifts.

I sat on the Alpha throne, accepting congratulations and offerings.

But I couldn’t wait for it to be over.

I scanned the room.

Then I saw her.

Far across the hall, on her knees.

One of the gammas had her by the hair, ready to use her like the others.

My wolf lunged inside me, red hot and roaring.

Her eyes lifted and locked onto mine.

I couldn’t stop it without raising suspicion.

Courtesans and servants were for sex. No one would question it.

But the thought of my mate pleasing another male made my blood boil.

I wanted to break his hands.

I wanted to rip his throat out.

Lucas stepped beside me.

“She’s the enemy. The sooner she’s dead, the better.”

I didn’t respond.

My wolf did all the screaming.