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"If you tell me information on where my brother is, you'll both be free." He looks between us, his eyes dark. "Otherwise I'm going to take Dove upstairs and I'm going to fuck her."
***
One night, Dove sneaks away.
Deep in an un...
A dull thud pulses against my temples, surprisingly unrelated to alcohol consumption.
Months, years worth of stress and obligation are culminating into a particularly stomach turning mix.
It's happening soon. Within days, even.
The faint click of my suite door has me sitting up against my pillows. It's late morning, the golden haze of sun is warming my bedroom floor.
Claude saunters in, his shirt hanging open, baring his chest to me. The buttons have clearly been torn by an ardent lover, their hands having raked viciously through his tousled hair.
"Holy fuck it smells like sex in here." His face screws up, his free hand waving in front of his nose.
"Uh huh." I take the cup of coffee he offers me, setting it on my bedside table.
A twin pair of dark slashes hang beneath his eyes, his skin sallow. He's nursing a hangover, yet is still here to torment me.
"You finally go back on your personal rule of not fucking women at parties?" His grin is wry as he seats himself on my bed, forcing me to shift my legs out of the way.
"No. Just jerked off is all," I mutter, rubbing the heels of my hands into my eyes.
I'm tense, my body wound up like a tight copper coil. I'm blaming it on my plan that is in its final stages and not the woman whose face I couldn't erase from my mind last night.
Even if it were the latter that led me to completion this morning.
"Ah, so that's why you're stuck in bed when it's nearing on midday." Claude smirks knowingly.
"Needed to blow off some steam," I admit.
There is nothing particularly remarkable about Dove, the wide eyed girl who wandered into my billiard room last night. Pretty, yes, and relatively interesting to talk to, but I've come across such qualities in others before.
No, there is something else about her. Her eyes reached through me, piercing deeper than skin and muscle and bone. She's left a lasting impression, a mark of sorts.
And it's bothering me; akin to a tiny stone stuck in my shoe.
"Is it the deadline approaching that's got you worked up?" Claude asks, sitting on the end of my bed, stretching his legs in front of him.
"Partially." I rub my forehead. "That and other issues ."
"What?" There is a mischievous edge to his tone, but I don't miss the subtle asperity in his eyes. "Guilt overcoming you after you stole my woman?"
I roll my eyes. I thought Claude would have forgotten Dove's existence by now, having moved on to entertaining some other beautiful woman. Yet, he sits before me, appraising me with a bitter jealousy that sits like oil on my skin.
"She doesn't belong to you," I respond, waving at the steam gathering on the surface of my coffee.
Claude and I have been friends since we were boys. He's the son of my father's old advisor, and since we met I haven't been able to shake him.
Even if he can be despicable sometimes.
"You know I selected her and you took her and made her cum in front of all our friends." He angles his head, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly.
"She wasn't aware of what depravity you had planned for her." I ease out a breath after a sip of coffee, the familiar bitterness dulling the sharp edges of tension that has plagued me since I woke.
Claude smirks. "I kind of like that element, though."
All amusement vanishes.
"I would be very careful, Claude. If I hear even a whisper that you're intending to make sex non-consensual I'll revoke your invitation to stay here. Then I'll kick your ass until you don't recognise yourself in the mirror, do you understand?" I warn quietly.
I don't prefer to enforce rank with Claude. He's my friend, and as an Alpha maintaining relationships is a fragile, tentative balancing act.
But if he needs reminding of the privileges he indulges in here, then I won't hesitate to make him understand that they can be taken away as easily as they have been granted.
"Of course." He holds his hands up defensively. "Just to be clear, Varian, I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't have forced her into anything."
I don't think he would either, but I watch him closely. He can portray an easy ride to those who fawn over him, and by the time they learn about his distinctive bedroom interests, they might not know how to back out, and he might now perceive that uncertainty in him.
Luckily for him, he has a myriad of women who share his interest who regularly share his bed.
"She didn't need to feel that pressure. Keep to the inner circle," I demand forcibly.
He nods fervently, clearing his throat.
"I understand," He assures me. "So why make her cum like that in front of everyone.? It was hot though, don't get me wrong."
"I don't know," I admit, resting my coffee cup down as I can sink deeper into my pillow. "I wanted to challenge her, to see what intrigued her. I wasn't certain she would go for it..."
The moment I turned her in my arms and gave her a chance out, I thought she would leap for it. I thought she might flee then and there and I would never see her again.
Instead she stayed and indulged, and it may have been the hottest thing I've ever participated in.
She was so wet and pliable and willing to give in to her desire. I can still feel her pulsing against my fingers, hear her sweet moans singing in my ear.
Claude's eyes warm. "It was hot as fuck."
"Yeah. I know." I rub my face.
"You're all torn up about it?"
"No...nothing like that. She's just some girl I'll never see again." I sigh roughly. "Although I just admit it irked me that she insisted my driver drop her at Matthias's first northern station instead of giving her address."
Does she assume I'll track her down? Is she afraid of me? She's being careful, regardless.
Admittedly I had planned send a transport to collect her and her family before the invasion began. It may quell the bite of guilt that is digging relentlessly into my gut.
Next week my forces will pass Matthias' pack line to take over his estate. They will take hostages and loot the place until I'm satisfied with any information they garner.
People may die. But it won't be for nothing.
"You clearly care enough to check with your driver," Claude points out, pulling back the curtain to peek out at the city.
"Didn't sleep until I knew." I twist my ring, driving back anxious irritation.
Claude's eyes narrow into blue slits. "What's going on?"
I throw the covers back, forcing myself to stand out of bed. My muscles are leaden from fatigue and there's a deadening cold lacing through my ribs.
"I don't know." I nudge open my closest. "Seeing her is like seeing a reflection of the innocent souls that will be caught up in my invasion. It's not their fault I'm reclaiming what was stolen from me."
"This must be done. Don't turn back now." Claude's voice hardens like a slab of granite.
I yank a shirt on, blowing out a tense breath.
"I'm not, obviously. I'm just thinking is all," I mutter distractedly.
Claude approaches, pushing at my chest. I almost stumble back a step, but I hold my ground.
"Don't let some pussy change a plan we've been working on for years." His voice darkens, a profound urgency readily apparent.
"I'm not, okay?"
I shove him away, brushing past him. Nothing is going to come between me and finding my brother. I won't stop until I know his fate.
Whatever it takes.
***
~Dove
I hug my knees, nerves clamouring with anticipation in the depths of my stomach.
My backside is damp as I sit on the dew soaked slope before our cottage, awaiting Eden's return.
The sun peeks shyly over the horizon, it's ghostly dawn light crawling lazily over the land. Fog bows and looms with the shadows, pooling in the cervices of the land.
Despite being up all night, my body is fraught with nervous energy.
I still can't entirely believe I allowed Varian to do that to me...I can't believe I even met him!
Later it will feel like a hazy dream. A distant memory to call upon when I'm feeling magical.
The rhythmic liquid purl of the stream at the foot of the hill is disturbed by tentative steps hopping along slick rocks. I stand, my heels sinking into the soft grass.
Eden starts up the hill, her steps hurried. Her dress and makeup is gone and her hair is loose and familiar around her shoulders.
I blink, wondering briefly if seeing her tonight was a drug induced mirage. Maybe it was my guilt overcoming me...
No, it was real. Eden was at that party and so was I.
She glances up at me as I brush flecks of grass from the back of my dress, fighting off a shiver from the morning chill. Her expression is grim, focused.
The only hint she attended the party is on her face. Spidery swishes of mascara still douse her under eyes. Her lips are stained red and glitter still glistens beneath the morning light as it dusts her neckline.
Her eyes shutter as she sees me.
"Come on Dove, get inside."
I step in front of the door. "Not yet. Not until we've talked."
She rubs her eyes with the heels of her palms, sighing roughly. She seems so faraway suddenly, like I might reach out and find my hand falls through her.
I thought I knew her. I thought she cared more about this packs values than me, and represented our father ardently.
"Aren't you tired?" She huffs.
"I wouldn't be able to sleep, even if I wanted to." I wrap my arms around myself, brushing my fingertips against the light bumps gathering on the skin of my arms.
"Fine." She drags her eyes down my person.
Suddenly it feels as if Varian's handprints are seared onto my body, visible like black ink for everyone to see. Instead, only his scent lingers on my skin, reminding me that this night is real.
"What on earth compelled you to attend that party?" Eden hisses.
"I...I'm not entirely sure. I just knew I wanted to experience something new." I shrug sheepishly. "I've felt so lost recently. I don't know what my future looks like, and I know I don't feel entirely comfortable in this pack."
I dampen my voice a touch, knowing father will be waking soon.
"So you wanted to see how you could handle Varian's?" Eden stares at me beneath her manicured brows.
To her, I'm a simpering virgin too afraid to take risks on anything. My job, to her, is simple, and I've never loved or been loved by anyone. It's mostly my fault for not telling her about Matthias, but I've always been scared of her reaction, as I am now.
"I don't know if it's truly for me yet." I scratch below my ear. "But if I'm honest, I had fun."
"As fun as it was for you, it was dangerous," she snaps, releasing a shaky breath.
"You went too!"
"With Ciella, who has been attending these parties for a long time," he bites back.
I pull back a touch. Ciella. I've been so caught up in the whirlwind of the night that I forgot about the beautiful stranger making out with my sister.
"Is she your girlfriend?" My breath fogs in front of my face.
"Yeah, she is. We've been dating for over a year now." She swipes her hair behind her ear.
"And you kept it from me?"
No wonder she kept Ciella a secret. She likely did it for the same reason Matthias was a secret - it's wrong. Ciella comes from a another pack, and our father learning of our affairs would be world ending.
"Until now I had no clue you were all questioning your life here." She wraps her arms around herself, lowering her voice. "And trust me, I didn't enjoy keeping it from you."
"So you're not new to those parties?" I ask softly, my curiosity chasing away any drift of anger that thought about blowing over me.
"No. I've been attending for a while now, and I don't intend to stop." She rubs her arm, flecks of glitter cascading down into the grass from her skin.
"Are you going to move away and be with Ciella?"
"One day. But not without making sure you and father would be okay first."
I nod slowly, teetering on my aching feet. I believe her. Eden has never been the type to abandon her family. If she's been faced with a life of decadence on the other side and hasn't been tempted by it, she won't leave yet.
I sink my fingers into my knotted lengths. "I can't quite believe this..."
She pauses for a moment, looking me over. "What is all this about a girl wearing your exact type of dress coming out of the Alpha's room?"
"Oh, he was just offering me a moment to breathe," I say quickly, stumbling hopelessly over my words.
She opens her mouth and closes it again, a wary suspicion creeping into her eyes. Meeting an Alpha is no small feat, she she knows that.
"You didn't..."
"No, of course not!" My voice comes out a little shrill. "He was just being nice."
Admitting what happened tonight with Varian will only lead to a lecture about how powerful men can't be trusted and I'm only endangering myself by getting caught in his web.
"Hmm, well I have a million questions that will just have to wait." She brushes her hair back over her shoulder before stifling a yawn. "I need to get inside before father wakes and catches me in this."
"Alright." There is so much more to say, but dawn is reaching for day and I have work in two hours.
She brushes past me, but pauses as her hand reaches for the doorknob.
"I know I shouldn't be offering this, but I was wondering if you would like to come to a dinner party at Ciella's? She lives in a grand manor and it would be a good chance for you to get to know her." Her nervousness is evident in her soft smile.
I reach out and squeeze her hand. "I would love that."
"We would have to make up some excuse." She rolls her eyes. "We'll tell father we are going to stay at grandma's for the night."
"He'll never believe that," I remind her.
She squares her shoulders back. "He'll have to. I'll be persuasive."
Opening the front door, she slips inside, leaving me outside in the cool morning air for a moment longer.
Our relationship has swiftly changed into something entirely, but I feel no regrets. I'm finally learning who my sister truly is, and she's learning about me. I'll tell her about Matthias, about our relationship that's come to an end.
For now, I'm going to savour this new feeling, and wonder how I'm ever going to move on from what Varian did to me...
🩷••🩷
As always, you can read this book 16 chapters ahead on Inkitt and 10 chapters ahead on Radish!
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