Jenna

“Please,” I pull on the leather straps around my wrists. “Let me go. Please, Luther, I don’t know what I’ve done wrong.”

I’m growing weaker by the second. The blood draining from my body is making me dizzy.

“I’m sorry that the Moon Goddess paired us, but it’s not my fault. You can reject me; I won’t contest it,”

Even though the heat will hit me soon, and I’ll probably end up tearing my own heart out. Either that or I’ll end up in the forest sleeping with any wolf that comes my way. The rejection will also kill me, but I’d rather die from that than what’s happening to me right now.

“Please, Luther,”

“Luther,” He laughs maniacally while rolling his neck and letting it crack. He rounds his broad shoulders, the laughter dying on his lips, and he looks me dead in the eye. “Luther isn’t here, little wolf.”

I swallow hard because that’s not Luther’s voice. If Luther isn’t here, that means I’m looking at Lorcan, Luther’s brother.

I was never meant to know about Lorcan, but I’ve heard things spoken around the mansion. I wouldn’t say that I’m nosey, but I am the type of girl who can’t pull her ears away from private conversations when they catch her attention.

Okay, I’m nosey.

From what I’ve heard, Lorcan shouldn’t exist. The Queen was pregnant with four babies, unheard of for a shifter. However, Anja isn’t the everyday wolf; she is so much more. Anja is half-vampire and has many abilities that others do not. She’s a powerful hybrid and the only one in existence to become pregnant with four cubs.

However, Anja didn’t give birth to four cubs because she miscarried one – Lorcan. That must have been beyond devastating for the King and Queen. I never want to experience anything like that. Not that I’ll ever get the chance, I’m either going to die here or when Luther rejects me.

When Luther was born, he showed signs of having two personalities. Crazy to think that about a baby, but there it is.

When Luther was a small child, Lorcan started speaking through Luther, making his presence known.

Luther was taken to an oracle who performed a ritual to help the Dalgaard’s understand why this had happened to their son. The oracle informed the King and Queen that a spell had been cast upon the Queen, stealing one of her son’s physical bodies, and placing his subconscious inside the eldest son, Luther.

The spell was meant to torture the Dalgaard’s, of which happened. I can’t imagine the agony the Dalgaard’s were in knowing this.

I heard Anja’s father mention how the witch was dead, but maybe they should have kept her alive long enough to force a counterspell out of the woman. For years, the Dalgaard’s have tried to find a way to separate Luther and Lorcan, each time coming up empty-handed.

As Luther grew, Lorcan became stronger. He often takes over Luther’s mind and body, causing chaos wherever he goes.

The King swore that he’d teach Luther how to control Lorcan. Of course, that didn’t happen, and no one has been able to control Lorcan. He wants to take over Luther’s body and mind entirely and will stop at nothing to make that happen.

I’ve watched from the shadows as Luther tries to fight Lorcan. I’ve also seen how his family rush him away whenever Lorcan tries to take over. They don’t wish for anyone to find out their closely guarded secret.

Though there have been whispers amongst the staff that Luther is crazy, heads would roll should the King or Queen hear such gossip.

I’ve even seen Lorcan do just that, take over Luther’s body and run from the mansion. It would stun me because on more than one occasion, Lorcan’s eyes have locked with mine, and he’d shoot me a smirk before making his escape.

I always wondered what that smirk was for, but I never dwelled upon it. Luther would return days later, covered in blood, weak and needing his brother to help him.

I’m not privy to private Dalgaard business, but it’s hard not to notice these things when you’re a servant and have lived your entire life in the same place. Plus, I can be quite the spy when I want to be, which is most of the time. I used to like to imagine myself as one of them, living the life of a princess.

What young girl doesn’t want to be a princess?

When I realised that Luther was my mate, for a split second, I had the stupid idea that he’d claim me, and then I’d be able to help him. I thought that I could convince Lorcan to let Luther go – somehow, at least.

The silly thoughts of a seventeen-year-old girl who knows nothing and no one.

Lorcan leans down and slides his finger down my cheek. “I’m going to enjoy destroying Luther’s little mate.”

I swallow hard because I’m scared to death right now.

“What have I ever done to you?”

“You chose him,” I can feel his breath on my face, and I can feel my body shaking with the effort to stay conscious.

“I didn’t get a choice, Lorcan. The Moon Goddess chose for us,”

He smirks at me. “I don’t give a shit! I won’t let you live if it means you’re with Luther.”

I guess Luther didn’t let Lorcan in on the secret that he doesn’t want me.

“I don’t want you anywhere near the body that is almost mine. You’re the only one who could push me back for good, and I can’t have that. So,” He stands his full height. “You have to die.”

I have to die because I’m Luther’s mate, and Lorcan wants Luther’s body for his own. Lorcan must believe that Luther would take me for his mate, meaning Lorcan wouldn’t have as much control over Luther. Thus meaning, Lorcan would be pushed back to the far reaches of Luther’s mind.

This wouldn’t be a bad thing, but without his mate, Luther will lose himself. If Luther loses himself, Lorcan will take over, and nothing will ever be the same again.

“You may kill me, but Luther will find a way to stop you.” I’m not as brave as I’m trying to sound, but I won’t let this arsehole kill me, thinking that I’m a coward.

“You’re very brave to speak to me like this, the man who holds your life in his hands. Very brave or very stupid.”

I scream when Lorcan slams his hands down on the armrests of the chair. “Please,” I sob because I can’t stop myself. I don’t have Alpha or Beta blood running through my veins, so I don’t have the ability to fight back.

“Go to sleep,” He mocks, and for some reason, my eyes begin to close on me, and I can’t fight it.

I don’t know how long I passed out for, but it’s dark out when I open my eyes. My vision is fuzzy, and I can barely make out Lorcan from halfway across the room. I don’t know if what I’m seeing is real, but I think he’s drinking my blood.

My blood?

Do I even have much left in my body?

I can’t even feel my body anymore, and I don’t think I’m long left for this world. I never imagined I would die like this. I still can’t contact my wolf, and I’m scared that she’s already left me.

“Mhm,” I hear his voice, but it sounds so far away, like an echo to my ears. “You are a tasty little thing.”

My eyes roll, and I can no longer feel anything at all but the ringing in my ears.