Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Kael
My sweet little wolf falls asleep almost instantly after another orgasm, which was my intention.
I could feel the weight of the world on her small shoulders and knew she needed to escape her worries for a while.
She fell asleep with our bond wide open.
I could easily pick through her memories and get the answers to my questions, but I refuse to invade her privacy in that way.
Instead, I hold her close and allow my mind to drift to what I've learned.
Not only have I gained a mate, but she's shared her magic with me.
She thought I'd be mad that she burdened me with it.
I'm not exactly sure what gaining magic will mean for me, but knowing that I'll have infinite lifetimes with my Goddess-given mate is more than I could ever ask for.
Sera snuggles into me, breathing in my scent with a smile.
Her dreams float through our bond even though I'm not openly trying to pry.
I smirk when I realize she's sitting at a small table, enjoying what looks like a honey bun.
Even though it's a dream, I can still smell the sweet, spicy scent of honey and cinnamon.
"She's special, you know," a light feminine voice says beside me.
I jump in surprise. "What… how…?" I stutter.
The female wolf smirks. "Magic, of course. My daughter marked you, I see." She tilts her head toward my mating mark.
"Yes, she did," I say with a hint of pride.
"Good. I always knew my Sera was meant for great things. Do you understand the gift she's given you?"
"You mean her magic?"
She shrugs. "Magic and immortality are just part of being fae. I'm talking about her heart. Her soul."
I smile when an older wolf sits across the table and starts talking animatedly with Sera, even though I can't hear what's being said. I'm in her dream, but somehow apart from it too. Somewhere between and somehow speaking with her deceased mother.
"Her father was a good wolf raised in a horrible pack. You need to fix that. Much suffering is happening there. It's why I sent her to you. You've helped the kingdom grow and prosper, but there are some who reject the new ways. Some that have always and will always be evil.
"Sera was able to escape because of her innate magic.
The packlands are hidden by powerful witchcraft.
Now that she's shared her magic, you'll be able to see the unseen.
Fix the broken. I'm entrusting my daughter to your care.
Love her, King Kael. Love her and let her lead beside you.
Great things will come from your reign. Better than you ever imagined. "
Before I can answer, the dreamscape fades, and I awake to a darkened room and my mate missing from my arms. I jerk up and search the room for her. Her scent in bed is old, but I sense nothing but happiness from our bond.
Little mate, where are you? I growl through our bond.
I feel a burst of joy, then her sweet voice fills my mind. Saint showed me to the kitchen. This palace is ridiculous. I got lost twice trying to find it before asking for help.
I shake my head, trying not to be amused by her adorableness. I would have shown you. You should have woken me up.
You were sleeping so peacefully, and I know you barely slept last night…
I can hear the guilt in her words, and I hate it. From now on, you will wake me up before leaving our bed, or there will be consequences.
What kind of consequences? she asks.
The kind that ends with you face down over Daddy's lap with my hand spanking your cute little ass, I growl.
That doesn't sound like much of a threat, she teases.
With barely a thought, I'm out of bed and fully clothed in jeans, a t-shirt, and my favorite boots.
I can feel her amusement at my surprise.
One second, I'm thinking about getting dressed, and the next, I'm wearing what I planned to put on from my closet.
I don't know why I thought it would take me a while to figure out how to use the magic Sera shared with me, but I did.
I shared my control with you. Trust me, the learning curve isn't fun. Thanks to me, you got to skip several steps. You're welcome, she says with no small amount of sass.
I make my way to the kitchens and find my mate covered in flour with the pastry chef angrily staring her down. I narrow a glare at the insolent wolf. I have to remind myself that he doesn't know that Sera is my mate. No one, except Saint, knows of her existence… yet.
"Is there a problem?" I ask.
"Yes! This woman is making a disaster of my kitchen. Dessert will be late because of her nonsense!" he snarls.
Sera doesn't stop what she's doing or even flinch at his anger. She continues working her dough seemingly without a care, but I can sense her irritation through our bond.
"There's plenty of kitchen to share." I wave a hand at all the empty counter space on the other side of the room.
He scoffs. "This is my workstation!"
I narrow my eyes and growl. "Watch your tone when you speak to your king."
His whole demeanor changes immediately. "I'm sorry, Your Highness."
"It's not me you should be apologizing to." I tip my head to Sera, who is humming happily as she spreads something on the flattened dough.
The chef grits his teeth but apologizes. Sera finally turns and looks at the pastry chef with a slight smirk. "You're forgiven, but you really shouldn't be so rude. You'll never make friends that way."
I have to choke back my laughter at the look on the chef's face. She's not wrong. Everyone in the kitchens hates him. Hell, I can't even remember his name, only that he makes delicious desserts.
He huffs and turns without a word, moving to the opposite side of the kitchen. I move in behind Sera and wrap my arms around her. "What are you making, my mate?"
"My mom's cinnamon honey-buns. I woke up craving them."
I laugh because I know exactly why she's craving them. She was literally dreaming about eating them while I had an impossible conversation with her mother. I'm still uncertain how, but I have a feeling that anything is possible when it comes to my mate.
Once the tray of honey-buns is in the oven, she turns to me with a curious gaze. "So, are you going to tell me about the whole Daddy thing?"
I'm not sure why I'm surprised by her blunt approach, but I am.
I figured this was something I'd ease her into with a few hints here and there, and then a more in-depth conversation when she's comfortable with the idea of things.
Of course, my girl would want to get things out in the open right away.
I can't say I'm disappointed in that since it means I can Daddy her faster.
I pull her to the table where the chefs sometimes eat when they don't feel like leaving the kitchens. I sit with her on my lap. She immediately relaxes into my arms, filling my heart with happiness.
"I'm a Daddy Dom."
She purses her lips and nods. "It's your kink?"
"It's more than a kink. It means that I want to care for you on a deeper level. Yes, I'm a dominant like most Alphas and will be in charge, but unlike the type of Dom that only practices during scenes or sex, this is all the time. No scenes, a twenty-four/seven dynamic between us."
She nods. "Okay."
My brows raise and my mouth opens as I sputter. "Okay? That's it?"
She shrugs. "You want me to submit to you, right?"
"Yes, at the core of things, you'll be my submissive."
"Okay."
"I'm going to need more than just an 'okay.'"
She smiles. "I'm an Omega. Omegas are naturally submissive.
I never pictured anything other than submitting to an Alpha.
I just hoped that I would have a nice, loving Alpha like my father and not like the leaders of our pack.
I honestly never thought it would happen.
So submitting to you is my dream come true. "
I'm completely blown away by her easy acceptance. "There will be rules for you to follow and consequences if you break them."
She nods. "I figured. You want me to call you 'Daddy,' right?"
It's my turn to nod because I'm utterly speechless right now.
"I like it. It's much better than Master," she says with a shudder. "You won't make me call you that?"
"Never," I agree.
"Okay, good. What rules do I need to follow, Daddy?"
Once again, I'm dumbfounded and a whole lot turned on by her sweet voice calling me Daddy for the first time.
It's everything I've ever wanted and hoped for.
I realize that we aren't so different in that we both want something other than the normal Alpha/Omega bond.
She was truly made for me and hand-picked by the Goddess. We're a perfect match in every way.
"First rule is that you never leave me asleep in bed. If you get up, you wake me up. I want to know where you are at all times. I can't keep you safe otherwise."
"I can do that, but I don't like waking you up needlessly. What if I just need to use the restroom? Can there be exceptions?"
"Yes, the only exception will be if you're staying in our rooms. You do not leave me asleep if you're going to leave our rooms."
She smiles brightly. "I can do that."
"Good girl."
"Rule number two, you will not leave the palace without either me or Saint with you. Zero exceptions. I don't care if you're just going to the gardens or somewhere on the grounds. You will have one of us with you."
"Seems a little excessive… There are guards everywhere. I think the palace is the safest place in the whole world."
"I won't argue with you on this one. You will do as I say or face the consequences, and it won't be a sexy little swat to your bottom."
"Fine. Even if it seems a little ridiculous."
"Rule three, I'm in charge. If I tell you to do something, you do it. I won't take advantage of this, but when it comes to your safety, I will not hesitate. I won't tolerate any pushback on your safety."
"Fair enough, as long as you don't become some irrational dictator. I won't take my safety for granted. I love that you want to protect me."
She gently kisses my lips, then pulls away, smiling.
"Rule four should be easy, I want you to eat healthy meals, go to the doctor if you're not feeling well, get a good night's sleep…
basically, I want you to take your health seriously.
We'll eat most meals and sleep in bed every night together, so those shouldn't be an issue, but if there's something else going on, I need you to tell me. "
"You don't have to worry about me not eating. I love food." She pushes out her flat belly and giggles.
I laugh at her silliness. "Good. I want my girl healthy and happy."
"Do you have any rules, Daddy?" she asks with a mischievous smirk.
"Yes. My rule is making sure you follow the rules."
She huffs. "That's hardly fair. I think you should have rules too."
"Like what?"
She taps a finger to her lips. "Well, I think you shouldn't be able to get mad at me if I do something that is completely safe, but you might not think it's safe."
I raise my brow and narrow my eyes at her. "Such as?"
"When I practice my magic. It might look dangerous, but it's not… well, not for me," she says with a smirk.
"Fair enough. As long as you're being safe, I won't get mad at you for practicing."
"Thank you. It's important to me. I think your second rule should be the kissing rule."
I chuckle at that. "And what's the kissing rule?"
"That every time you leave me or when you see me again after we've been apart, you have to kiss me. The kissing rule," Sera smiles proudly.
"That's a rule I can definitely appreciate. I think it should be for both of us, though."
"Do I get to spank you if you break your rules?"
"Nope," I say, laughing.
She purses her lips. "Then that rule is only for you. I don't think there should be any more spankable rules unless they are for your sexy butt."
"No, I think we will definitely make that a spankable rule." I move in close, my lips brushing hers. "If you don't kiss me, I'll spank you right then and there while I kiss you senseless."
She licks her lips and nods. "Y-yeah… okay… mhm…"
I crash my lips to hers and kiss her like my life depends on it. Maybe it does.