002

Ember's POV

The pack clearing was alive and bubbling with energy.

Torches flickered along the stone walls, casting a soft, ethereal glow on the crowd that had gathered to welcome the return of a name, long lost in the pack's legacy, me. Ember Wraith, daughter of the runaway Luna. It was a mystery traced down to bloodlines.

I stood at the centre of the clearing, draped in a midnight silk that kissed every inch of my body like a second skin. It was too revealing for my comfort but then again, it belonged to my mother, I had to wear it because tonight, my appearance mattered.

“Smile, Ember” my bestie, Cassia, whispered into my ears. “Gossips are spreading, let's give them a good one to think of”

I pursed my lips, forcing myself to smile but it was almost difficult with so many prying eyes fixed on me.

They arrived one by one, each more refined than the last. They raised their eyebrows and nodded politely, all pretending not to notice the lingering scent of Zane on me.

The soreness between my legs and the faint bruises under my gown were secrets I kept hidden. No one knew the truth. Not openly.

Werewolves were not dumb, I knew they all craved to dominate me but then again, none of them dared to.

Except one of course.

“Mi Lady Ember!” A voice boomed behind me, smooth and calm. “You're draped in power as though it was made for you”

I forced a smile, spinning my heels and there he was.

Alpha Lucien.

He was tall, brooding with green eyes and a sharp jawline. He was calm, like a predator that didn't growl. His grin was polite, but his gaze lingered on my body with a primal hunger like he already knew how I tasted down there.

“Oh hey, Lucien!” Cassia spoke up in a smile, furrowing her brows. “You were the least person I expected to see here”

Lucien didn't spare her a glance, his gaze still lingering on me. “Well you didn't expect me to miss the return of the Luna's heir, did you? I've heard interesting things”

I smiled softly. “And which half of them are true?"

“Ahh yes” he grinned widely. “Let's hope the other half is interesting”

I swallowed hard, it was difficult to ignore the little inch of distance between us. He was a little too close but then again, I didn't step back. Maybe because I enjoyed the way he looked at me, the way he noticed Zane's scent lingering on me and the slick between thighs.

But it was a big mistake because I felt Zane's deadly stares; he was watching.

Although I couldn't see him, I felt his stares. It felt as though gravity itself was shifting against its will.

Just as Lucien's fingers brushed mine under the guise of a toast of my return, I heard it; a slow, distant, guttural snarl. It was coming closer.

I looked around, my heart racing in my chest.

Then, I saw him, our gaze locking.

He leaned against a column, his eyes dark with anger. His hand was clenched so tight that veins stood out on his arm. He looked ready to attack Lucien.

“Pls excuse me” I muttered and quickly moved away before things got out of hand. I rushed through the back hallway of the old house, my heart racing.

But I didn't make it far. A hand grabbed me, pulling me back against the wall with a force that left me breathless.

It was Zane.

His face was twisted in anger, his chest rising and falling with each ragged breath. Fury radiated from him. “You let him touch you,” he snarled.

“He didn’t…..” I began to protest, but Zane’s body was already pinning me in place. He smelled of smoke, lust, and anger.

“He looked at you like you were unclaimed,” he growled, his nose grazing my neck. “He sniffed around like a desperate animal. And you just stood there… letting him.” “I didn’t let…..”

I gasped, but he was already kneeling in front of me, his hands pulling up the hem of my dress like he owned me.

“Zane, someone might….”

“Let them,” he said with a dark tone. “Let them hear how you sound when I pleasure you. Let them know you're mine.”

My legs shook as the cool air touched my thighs. My hands reached out to grab his shoulders, to stop him or push him away, but as soon as his mouth met the warm spot between my thighs, I gave in.

I cried out, and the sound bounced off the stone walls.

“Tsk….” He clicked his tongue with disdain as his tongue dove into my core without any mercy or gentleness. “Still dripping wet! You were soaking the moment he spoke to you. You love his attention, huh?”

I bit down on my lower lips, my hips buckling against his face as I grabbed a fistful of hair, trying to stabilise myself but he didn't relent.

He first nibbled on my clit before his tongue circled it with maddening talent, flicking it in between bites and rough sucks that made loud screams rumble from my chest.

My legs wobbled, my body growing hot. I was nearing orgasm.

“Not yet” he snarled, tilting his head back slightly. “You don't come until I command you to”

“Fuck it, Zane, please….pl….” I muttered under my breath, whimpering as tears stung my eyes.

He pinned me against the wall with one arm, the other making its way into my core, moving with rhythmic precision that made my eyes roll into my head, loud, lustful moans tearing through the air as he devoured me once again.

“You belong to me, little wolf” he growled into me. “Mine! No one else can ever possess what's mine!”

With one loud, raw moan, the orgasm tore through me, my body trembling violently as my head subconsciously fell back against the wall, my mouth hung open, body trembling as he sucked every last wave of pleasure juice from my core.

Finally, he stood slowly, his imposing height towering above me, eyes still deadly and laced with dominance.

He leaned in close to me, his hot breath brushing against my skin, his lips close to my ear.

“If Lucien tries to breathe near you again….” He whispered in a deadly, seductive tone. “He'll lose more than just his life”

After that, he tilted his head, his golden orbs piercing into mine as he leaned I closed, kissing me once, this time softly as though he hadn't just devoured me in the open.

“And Ember…” he broke from the kiss, eyes gleaming gold. “Next time you even think of looking at another Alpha, I’ll fuck you so hard, your scent will choke the entire damn pack.”

Then, he spun his heels and walked away, leaving me there, legs trembling, dress half ruined, chest heaving up and down with heat and something dangerously close to surrender.