Chapter 2

ELOWYN

“My dearest Luna. The one who stood by me when I had been too wounded for company. The one who nursed me and sat beside my bed until I began to feel whole again… This is how I have chosen to reward you…”

Alpha Kieran muttered, slinging one leg over Sabrina’s and pulling her closer.

I shut my eyes and tried not to cry. After the ceremony, Sabrina had chosen me as her maidservant and ordered that I remain in the chamber while she and the Alpha consummated their bond.

She hadn’t only stolen my dress and the place that should have been mine, she was now going to make me watch as the Alpha claimed her body in the sacred act of mating.

I watched as the Alpha’s hands moved over the bodice of her gown, his eyes closed, his expression intent as though he were seeing her with his senses. His long, capable hands trailed slowly down her stomach, and my own body clenched as though it were me he was touching.

When his fingers reached the hem of the gown I had worn earlier today and began to bunch it upward, I felt a longing moan catch in my throat.

His hands slipped between her thighs. Sabrina trembled, her eyes fluttering closed as she surrendered herself to the Alpha’s touch. His fingers grazed the band of her panties, and she let out a low, helpless moan.

The Alpha grinned in satisfaction, then guided her lips to his. Pain and arousal throbbed through my veins as I stood there, a silent witness to the scene unfolding before me. I wanted to move. I wanted to slip quietly to the door and leave.

But Sabrina had warned me. If I took even a single step toward that door, she would punish me like a traitor. I couldn't risk the Luna’s wrath. Or worse, the Alpha’s.

If Sabrina said I was to watch, then I had no choice but to stand there while the man who once might have chosen me gave his body to someone else.

He kissed her gently at first.

"You taste like spring water and rain," he whispered against her lips, before deepening the kiss, his passion flaring, hands moving to her chest, cupping her breasts.

"I am going to make love to you right now, songbird. He rasped, his voice reaching my ear, that familiar name he had often called me while I tended his wounds hitting me between my chest.

I covered my mouth with my hands, trying to muffle my cries. I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned to face the wall, unwilling to watch them any longer.

This was deliberate. Sabrina had done all of this knowing I had a real chance of being chosen. She wanted what could have been mine, and she had gotten it.

So while the man who might have been mine made love to someone else, I stood there in silence, crying, as their bond deepened with every sigh and gasp.

"You taste so fucking good," he growled. "You taste just like I imagined. Like wild earth. Musky. Perfect."

"Ah..." Sabrina moaned, her voice breathy as the Alpha continued to pleasure her. Even though I had turned away, I couldn’t block out the sound of their desire. It wrapped around me like chains.

"Feel it, dearest," he whispered. "Feel what you do to me. Now, I’m going to fuck you like I’ve always wanted to. Like I’ve dreamed of since the moment you walked into my chambers and silently tended to me."

My breath caught.

I waited, hoping for a  moment that this could be the point where the alpha would realize the deception that was going on. I had never said anything while I tended to the alpha's wounds, afraid that if I did, I will be sought after and beheaded

"I want to mate with you right now, songbird," he said, his voice low and rough. "My member pulses with want, and I’m on the verge of tearing your clothes off and pressing your skin to mine... but I need to hear your voice. You never spoke to me while you tended to me, but I want to know now. I need to know what you sound like. I need to remember it. Call my name, dearest Luna."

I turned slowly.

And I saw it, panic settling into Sabrina’s face. She turned, and our eyes met. Her eyes narrowed into something venomous, and I quickly looked away. 

The Alpha was waiting. His hand still rested at the juncture of her thighs.

"Are you afraid, songbird?" he husked against her ear. "Do not be afraid... I will bring you no harm."

Sabrina shut her eyes and whimpered as the Alpha resumed the movement of his fingers. 

"Say it, Luna," he growled, the tension in his voice sharp. "Say my name."

Her whimpers grew louder, almost desperate.

"I won’t ask again, little flower." His voice dropped, edged with threat.

My heart beat so loudly I was afraid it would betray me.

"K-Kieran!" Sabrina shrieked, her body spasming as she reached her climax. Her legs clamped shut around his hand, trapping him there.

"Again," the Alpha commanded.

"Kieran... Alpha Kieran... my Alpha," she whispered. "My mate."

Her eyes flew open, and I saw it then, real fear, rising in her like a tide she couldn’t escape.

The Alpha tensed.

Silence fell over the room like fog. I watched sweat map Sabrina's forehead as she waited for the alpha's next words.

Then, a low growl rumbled from deep within his chest. Animalistic. Ravenous.

"Yes, my Luna," he said, voice rough and wanting. "I will have you now. I must have you now."

That was it.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I didn't care whether Sabrina would behead me and decorate her dinner table with my remains. I couldn't stand to watch this another second. 

I turned, flung the door open, and ran, tears spilling down my face like blood from a wound I couldn’t hide anymore.