Chapter 51
55 vouchers
Chapter 51
SORIN
The moment Wade and Ariel walks past the halls, my entire body exhales. A subtle shift in the air less eyes glued to me as if I’m some shiny toy the King just unboxed.
appears–less
pressure,
My thighs ache from sitting on Alaric’s lap for that long, and I swear his stupid hand is still imprinted on my hip. I slide off him immediately, stepping onto the cold marble floor. The guards lower their heads as I straighten, smoothing the ridiculous veil covering my face.
Damn it. Why was all this even necessary?
With everyone’s eyes on me, I bow at the King as I get off because that’s what everyone is watching for. The perfect little obedient offering. The King’s kept woman.
My pride twitches but I swallow it.
Alaric sits there, lounging as if he’s posing for a damn portrait–legs spread, hand on his throne arm, a slow satisfied smile curving his mouth. He’s clearly enjoying this. He looks to me as sin sculpted into a man and he knows it. His eyes burn into me through the veil.
I grit my teeth, give one last bow, and turn toward the back curtains behind the throne. He quickly follows behind.
One of his aides immediately reacts to him leaving his spot, “Your Majesty, the ball is not yet p>
“I don’t care. Finish it without me.” He coldly replied. I rub the bridge of my nose with the stress from this manchild.
The second I’m behind them and out of
yone’s sight, I yank the veil off, whip around-
-and smack the absolute shit out of his chest.
“What the hell was that p>
He barely budges. Of course he doesn’t. The man’s practically carved from a mountain.
Alaric just raises a brow, looking… amused. Very amused.
Heat flares in my cheeks. Annoyance, embarrassment–hell, both. “Was putting me out here even necessary? And sitting on your lap like I’m your–your fucking concubine? I could feel Camila’s eyes stabbing holes through my skull p>
His lips twitch.
Oh no.
He’s enjoying this.
“Apparently,” he murmurs, voice dropping into that smug, velvety rumble that absolutely does not help my sanity, “yes. It was necessary p>
I smack him again. Harder.
He catches my wrist this time–effortless–and pulls me closer, his breath brushing my cheek. “Careful, little wolf. Someone might think you like touching me p>
“Someone might think you’re insufferable,” I shoot back.
“I am,” he agrees without hesitation. “And this is your payment p>
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“For what exactly?” I demand.
His eyes gleam, dark gold, wicked. “For forcing me to help that
ard in the fire.
Oh.
65 vouchers
That.
The memory hits in a flash–smoke, burning wood, Wade unconscious on the floor, the guest house ripped apart in flames. I don’t even know what started the fire as we were walking past it
I don’t’t know what drove me to run into the fire but the memories of being locked up inside of it back in the Woodridge Pack That helpless feeling of being left alone inside of a burning cage is something I would not wish for my most hated enemies.
And when I saw Wade there… unconscious and with no help, I didn’t know what I was doing but helped him.
I could still remember Alaric’s hand on my back as he dragged me away from running straight into the danger like an idiot. But I still did and he still followed me.
My stomach twists. “I didn’t force you. I just p>
“Dragged me into it,” he finishes. “Same thing p>
I huff. “Unbelievable p>
“Mm.” His smirk sharpens, savoring something he hasn’t said yet. “Besides… Wade looked like he was about to pass out again when he saw you on my lap. Even with that pretty face covered, I’m sure he somehow felt it was you, darling p>
I freeze.
Alaric does not.
Did he … really know it’s me?
No, I was way too covered. Besides, Wade is now about to be a father.
He leans closer, his breath ghosting my ear. “He looked ready to rip the doors off their hinges and head over here. Good thing he didn’t try. I would’ve broken his hands p>
My jaw drops. “You’re insane p>
He shrugs one shoulder, casual as hell. “Maybe. But it worked. They’re gone p>
He steps back only enough to look me in the face. “Wade and his woman are leaving the territory. Right now p>
A long, heavy breath leaves me. Relief spreads through my chest–slow, warm, shaky. I didn’t realize how badly I needed him gone until now. The idea of bumping into anyone from Woodridge while I’m still… this–still broken, still rebuilding. still hiding–makes my skin crawl.
“Good,” I mutter.
Alaric watches me too closely. Those crimson eyes always managed to make me shiver, even before I ran into this pack. He would visit the Woodridge Pack and he’s never failed to remind me how low I am compared to royalty.
It’s as if he’s reading every flicker of emotion I try to hide.
go
“So,” I exhale, crossing my arms, grounding myself. “What now? Where do I from here p>
2/5
FICAVY
His playful expression drops. Just like that. Gone.
The change in him makes the hair rise on my arms.
He steps toward me–slow, deliberate. The kind of approach that makes prey freeze on instinct. His shadow swallows mine.
“Sorin,” he says softly, but there’s a razor under his voice. “My offer still stands.
My throat tightens.
The offer. The revenge. The truth.
He lists the pieces of my ruined life as though they’re carved into him.
“You lost your Luna title p>
I look away.
“Your father was convicted for a crime he didn’t commit p>
My fingers curl into fists.
“You were tortured. Cast out of the pack you so tried to protect for another woman he just met p>
A burn spreads down my spine as I remember who died protecting me so I would live. Live. Am I really living?
He stops inches from me. His voice lowers into something that vibrates through my bones.
“You ended up on my borders half–dead because of them. All of them p>
I don’t breathe.
Not when his hand lifts.
Not when he tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear–slow, almost gentle but not soft.
Not when he murmurs,
“What do you plan to do now, little wolf p>
It isn’t a question.
It’s a match pressed into my palm.
Waiting for me to choose whether I strike it.
I swallow, pulse hammering in my throat. I My lips twitch into a smirk I don’t entirely feel, but I use anyway. I look up at Alaric.
Alaric Hayes. The Alpha King who rules the continent.
God, he’s standing there, all hard edges and dark heat. I can see it in the way his jaw tightens, the way his fingers twitch, it’s as though he’s counting down to pounce.
Do I just stay here with him? Just be someone’s consort? I can bu… no. I can’t. Not yet. Not like this.
And yet… maybe I can.
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Maybe I can use him. Use him the way he’s been using me all this time–this obsession, this hunger, this raw, impossible. power he exudes. He’s giving me a tool I can barely comprehend a weapon wrapped in skin and muscle and danger, and I’m… tempted. Guilty as hell, but tempted.
I need this: I need to know. I need power. I need the truth about my father, about everything that’s been stolen from me, and if he’s the key… then fine. I’ll take him. I’ll make him mine, st long enough to get what I need.
“Sorin?” He calls, taking a step forward.
I’m gonna have to put him on a leash.
Goddess, the thought makes my stomach twist. He’s already mine in ways I can’t explain, and yet the idea of using him- manipulating the obsession he has for me–feels as though I’m turning fire back on fire.
Dangerous. Reckless. But necessary.
I glance back up. I watch him now, really watch him. His eyes, crimson and alive, flicker with some untamed hunger. The heat in them makes my skin tingle, my thoughts blur. And there’s a strange thrill in knowing he doesn’t realize I see it–he doesn’t know I can turn it to my advantage. The idea makes a wicked little smirk tug at my lips.
I inch closer, testing the gravity between us, letting him feel the pull without surrendering. God, he’s so fucking tempting. So dangerous. And yet… I control it. I can control it. I will.
And with that thought comes the first taste of something I haven’t felt in a long time: dominance. Not brute strength. Not physical. But sharp, deliberate, knowing that I own him. My pulse slows just a fraction, confidence settling in the pit of my stomach.
Am I a sadist?
“Depends on you, big bad king,” I murmur slowly, letting my tongue swipe across my lips. His eyes snap to mine confused at my sudden response, pupils dilated, amber gold glowing with something that makes heat coil in my stomach.
“You’re gonna
reacts to me.
do everything in your power to help me, right?” My voice is teasing, light–but I know exactly how this
man
He’s quiet for a heartbeat. Then his lips curl. “Every. Single. Thing. I’ll make sure the world is at your feet, Sorin. Whatever you want–I’ll break it for you, steal it, crush it, whatever it takes p>
I tilt my head and inch my lips closer to his. I feel him shudder underneath me. This beast longs for me. And then I don’t. Instead, I press my lips to the side of his jaw, then his neck, leaving a mark that burns through his skin.
A visible hickey blooms across pale, taut skin.
“Good boy,” I murmur, pulling back just enough to watch him. His lips part. Eyes dark. Hot. Hungry. Drooling, almost, a wolf on a leash and I’m the scent he can’t resist.
Step one is owning someone. And holy hell, he’s already mine.
pull back, smirk tilting as I watch him reel just from the tiniest tease. Then I shift, voice low, sharp.
“Now,” I say, eyes narrowing, “I need to know what happened to my father. I need the truth. I need power, and I’m not coming back broken this time. I’m coming back with everything
He’s behind me before I realize, and his hand closes around mine. The heat of his palm steals my breath. His lips press to my knuckles, soft, reverent, but with a hunger that rattles my chest.
“You’ll have it all,” he murmurs, “Vengeance. Power. The world itself. You’ll be the most dangerous queen anyone has ever seen–and I’ll be the king who brought you there p>
uy.4/ Wed, Jan 7 u
Chapter 51
I shiver at the promise, and my pulse races. His scent, his warm
his obsession it’s enough to make me reckless.
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I pull my hand from his grip but not too far. Our eyes lock. Hea lust, danger swirling between us. Every muscle in him is coiled, ready, lethal. Every instinct in me screams this man is life, and I’m already burning.
“I’m going to have my revenge.” I smile. And he’s going to be the key.
“But p>
“Ah!” I quickly hiss when my back hits the wall as he pushes me onto it with head and for that quick second, all power shifts onto him.
“I’ll make everyone kiss the ground you walk on, darling.” He licks iny onto him. “Alaric p>
“But in exchange, you will be mine. All mine p>
both
my
hands above my head. He lowers his
carlobe and a shudder runs down my spine as I arch
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