Chapter 5 - Mira
How the hell did all of this happen so fast?
One moment, I was living my life, getting by each day.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was peaceful… and the next time I have the Alpha living with me in my little cottage, my husband and I can barely find a moment's peace away from him. This place is too small. And when he’s near me, I can’t think straight.
Dammit, this moon magic binding is doing the wildest things to my body and to Mika.
Last night, Jace slept in my bed, and even though I curled up as far as possible from him, practically falling off the edge, I still had crazy dreams about him.
I mean proper crazy dreams. He was fucking me in the forest, bending me over that ritual stone and spreading my legs wide as he slammed his massive cock into me over and over again.
And I couldn’t get enough of him. I woke up in the middle of an orgasm, horrified that he might have heard me.
But he was sleeping restlessly. Tossing and turning in his own dreams.
I managed to get back to sleep, and in the next dream, it was Jux standing over me, his massive wolf fangs inches from my face as I crawled on all fours on the mossy forest floor to try and escape him.
He stood over me, his fangs sinking into my shoulder to lock me in place.
Pain shot through me, and blood ran over my skin as he thrust into me from behind.
I screamed, terrified of the size of him.
But at the same time, my body was screaming for him.
So desperate for him to fuck me that instead of trying to move away, I arched my back to let him slip in deeper.
I woke up yelping in shock at the intensity of the pleasure, and in the real world, Jace was already reaching for me in the dark.
“Mira?” he calls my name, pulling me away from the edge of the bed toward him. “You’re having a nightmare.” He says sternly, shaking me gently, fully.
In the dark, he leans over me, his eyes piercing into me, and I think to myself, not a nightmare. It felt far too good to be a nightmare.
“Are you ok?” he asked gruffly, in his usual cold manner.
“I’m…I’m fine,” I stammer, nodding and wiping my hand over my face. “I’m fine.”
His nostrils flare, taking in the scent of my arousal. He growls and scowls at me. My heart races, waiting for him to take me. But he doesn’t.
He forced me to marry him. He bullied his way into my home. He shares my bed and commands me around. He acts cold and distant, even though his wolf clearly wants me. I don’t understand him.
I don’t understand what he wants from me. Why did he reject me all those years ago? And why didn’t he do the same again now? Why is he forcing himself to be with someone he doesn’t want?
He hardly even speaks to me here at home. His training has made him cold and calculated, and I keep thinking that this can’t be my life. Forever? Married to a man who thinks in military precision. There is no passion, no comfort…. No love.
I think the days are numbered before he uses his Alpha voice to command me to let him mark me. Technically, he’s strong enough to do it without my permission, but either way…he’ll get what he wants.
My heart aches as the old rejection stings through me. A scar that will never heal. I don’t think I will ever believe that Jace Greenwood truly wants me. Maybe to fuck. Maybe to ease his wolf’s needs. But he will never want me.
Rolling over, I let out a frustrated breath and close my eyes to sleep again, but I can’t.
***
In the morning, Jace is already awake and in the kitchen making coffee when I climb out of bed.
Instead of rushing to get a cup of coffee too, I get dressed, eager to get out of here as quickly as I can.
I’ll have coffee at my workshop. I haven’t been there in a few days, and my team must be wondering where I am.
I have responsibilities that I’ve been missing.
But never mind my responsibility to my team…
I miss working. I love my job. It’s the only thing in this world that is mine.
My slice of freedom to be myself without judgment.
I walk into the cozy living room fully dressed and ready to go.
Jace’s hackles immediately rise. “What’s going on?” he snaps.
“I’m going to my workshop. I’ve had enough time off, I need to get back to work,” I say, picking up my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
“You are going to do no such thing, Miranda. You aren’t going back to work. Not now and not ever,” he snaps coldly.
“What are you talking about? I have to work! I can’t just stop working!”
“You are a Luna. Your duties will change. But more importantly, for the moment, I cannot let you go because I don’t trust you not to escape.” His words are delivered without emotion.
“Jace, I shake my head, “I’m not going to escape, but I need to work, you can’t take this away from me, please.”
“My duty as an Alpha means that I will do everything and anything this pack needs of me. You have the same duty as a Luna,” he explains as though discussing some military formula instead of my life.
His cold, clinical delivery tells me more than his words. He doesn’t care about me at all. There isn’t a flicker of emotion towards me. His only focus is his duty.
This is business to him. The marriage. Living with me. Putting on a solid front as husband and wife for the rest of the pack to see.
“I’ll be home in…”
“You aren’t leaving!” he snarls.
My body jumps in fright, and I have no choice but to back down. Dropping my bag near the front door, I head into the kitchen in silence to make a cup of coffee.
He follows me, towering over me. “Tell me you will not disobey me,” he snaps.
“I’m not leaving, ok,” I huff, shrugging him off me.
Anger flashes in his cold stare. But he accepts my words and leaves the kitchen to go and shower.
I wait a few minutes, making sure he isn’t testing me.
But when I’m sure he’s really in the shower, I make a run for it.
Grabbing my work bag, I bolt out of the cottage and leap into my old, beat-up Jeep.
Usually, I walk to work, but today I need to make a proper escape and get there as fast as I can.
I refuse to let Jace bully me. He might be my Alpha, but I won’t let him control my life and keep me from my work.
At my workshop, I push open the door to my quiet little space and step inside. The air is musty, so I push a window open and set my things down, looking around to see what I want to work on today.
“Where the hell have you been?” an older man blurts out as he bursts into my workshop.
“Barion, I’m sorry I’m late, I was…”
“I don’t give a fuck about what your excuse is. You have a job to do here, and when you arrive late, you disrespect me, and I will not allow you to disrespect me, girl. I am your superior. I control you. I run this place!” he’s furious. But I know why.
Yes, Barion is my superior and the face of our technical department.
But he’s a fucking moron. His entire purpose here is to take all of the glory for other people’s work because he is the one who presents our ideas and our designs to the elders.
He never even mentions the person behind the creation, only constantly reminding everyone who will listen that he runs the technical labs.
I don’t get recognition for my work, but I still love it. And staying on Barion’s woodside is unfortunately a part of the game I have to play to have such a nice workshop and get the funding I need to create the things I want to create.
“Please, you must understand that these past few days have been a big change for me and…”
“I know what the fuck has been going on, and I told you, I don’t want excuses.
Your pathetic existence is embarrassing to the other pack members.
Do you think you’ll last long as the Luna?
Our Alpha will tear you apart and replace you before the next full moon.
You are scum in this pack, and you have no right to… ”
I smell Jace before he storms into my workshop. He’s livid. His eyes are pitch black as he shoves the door open, and the bulk of his body almost fills the entire space.
He towers over me, glaring down at me with his jaw set firmly.
I brace for the impact of his reprimand, but to my surprise, he turns away from me and directs the full force of his rage onto Barion.
“How dare you speak to my wife, the Luna of this pack, like that. You are lucky I don’t rip your throat open right now and leave you to bleed out on this white tiled floor because that is exactly the consequence you deserve.” Jace looks terrifying. His cold demeanor is deadly and forceful.
Barion stammers, taking a step back, “Alpha, it’s an honor to have you visit our lab. I was just explaining to Mira that she can’t be late as the team relies on…”
“I heard what you said to her,” Jace’s voice is now a dangerous whisper. “Word for word, I heard what you said to my wife,” he snarls.
Barion swallows hard and raises his hands, turning his face down and slightly to the side, exposing his throat. Even humans share the same habits as wolves.
We are wolves. We are the animals inside it.
An image of Jace, powerful and wild, flashes in my thoughts. His body pinning me down, his sweat against my skin.
I hold my breath, fighting against the intrusive thought.
Barion is terrified and backing steadily towards the door.
“I’m sorry, Alpha. It will never happen again,” he mutters.
Jace turns to face me, and the dark pits of his eyes steal my breath away. He grabs my wrist and tugs me toward the door.
I dare not argue.