Chapter 20 Pain
Pain
Two years later
The visage staring back at me in the mirror was hardly recognizable. My naturally pale skin was practically translucent, my freckles mere memories of days spent in the light.
Two years. Two years I’d been living here, cut off from everything and everyone I’d ever known just so Victor could sleep easier. His mate kept safe, secret, and hidden from a dangerous world that would do anything to hurt me if it meant getting to him.
Two years of isolation. Of my mate chipping away everything I was and used to be until he’d finally formed me to his liking.
A perfect, submissive omega.
I’d tried in the early days to push back. I really had. But with no magic, no power, no strength, and no agency, it just became easier to give up.
I turned on the faucet to rinse my toothbrush when the lights flashed—a warning that he was coming up the elevator.
I spit out the toothpaste and quickly rinsed out my mouth. One of his rules was that I had to be waiting for him by the front door when he came home.
It wasn’t even starting to get light yet, so he was earlier than he’d told me he would be tonight. That meant his important meeting, “important” being the only detail he’d offered, went really well or really poorly. And in either case, he’d take it out on me.
That was my job as his perfect, submissive omega.
It was like my body was a funnel for all his emotions, and he poured himself into me every morning when he came home.
Whether he was happy, angry, sad, or frustrated, he would release those feelings inside me and I would dispose of them for him quietly and out of sight, so he could sleep soundly and start the next evening fresh and ready to go.
I gave myself a quick one-over in the mirror. I was wearing the light pink, see-through negligee he seemed to like, so that should put him back in a good mood if he wasn’t already in one.
I rushed down the hall, just in time to hear Caro, one of my security guards, speaking from the other side of the door. “Sir, Premier Corvane isn’t here yet. He wouldn’t want you to—”
“What do you mean? I come straight here every time I’m in Noctis. It’s fine.”
I didn’t recognize that voice. It was deep, growling.
Alpha.
I took a step back as the lock clicked and the door knob turned.
“Sir, just let me call him, and he’ll tell you where to meet him.”
“And he’ll tell me just to come here, like he always does. I don’t know why you think you can order me around…”
My heart leapt all the way into my throat as the large werewolf alpha entered the apartment.
Caro’s eyes widened in horror and he turned on his radio, mumbling something I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t even move, too caught like prey in a predator’s sight.
And this alpha was all predator.
He smiled once he saw me, nodding backwards towards Caro. “See, I told you Victor was expecting me. He even left me a little snack.” His canines glinted in the harsh lighting, his hungry gaze raking over my trembling body.
Caro stepped in, placing a hand on the alpha’s arm. “Please, sir, you can’t—”
Before he could finish his sentence, the werewolf had grabbed the offending hand and flipped it back, making Caro scream over the sound of breaking bones. Then he punched him hard in the side of his head, knocking him out cold.
“Caro!” I yelled, but the werewolf blocked me from getting to him.
He was tall—way too tall—with biceps as thick as my thighs. Chest hair stuck out from the collar of his t-shirt, and a thick, black beard covered his face. Ice blue eyes under long black hair studied me carefully, and he began to slowly circle the spot where I stood.
Oh Hecara, I knew who he was, and he wasn’t just any werewolf.
He was Kain Ulfic, the Premier of Fenmoor.
“Well, what have we got here? A witchy chew toy? My favorite,” he purred, coming up behind me and inhaling deeply. “Ah, little omega. Do you have a friend for Victor, or is he bringing her later? Not that I’m against sharing, but I have a feeling I’ll be busy with you all night.”
I had to keep him talking until Victor got here, because I was sure that Caro had been getting in touch with him before Kain had attacked him. How long did I need, then? Didn’t he tell me the Premier’s Mansion was about twenty minutes away?
I opened my mouth to speak, finding the words getting stuck in my throat.
“W-we…”
“Yes, witch, spit it out. Or swallow it, if you prefer. I prefer that as well,” he said, running a finger along my shoulder to push off one of the straps to my negligee.
“We should wait… for Victor. That’s what he wants.”
A deep, amused rumble sounded through his chest. “You presume to speak for a Premier?”
I felt like my knees might give out from under me. He radiated strength and power, and I hadn’t had access to any of my magic in over two years. I was completely defenseless.
“No, I’m sorry. That’s just what he instructed me before he left. To wait.”
“Hm.” His finger moved to my other shoulder, pushing off the other strap. Thank Hecara the chest on the negligee was tight enough around my breasts to keep it from falling completely down.
“My part in the negotiations ended an hour ago, but Zephiron refuses to leave the table until all her conditions are met. You know how seraphim can be,” he chuckled darkly, his hands gliding down my hips.
“He’s going to be busy for a while, and I don’t think he’d care if I got started without him.
Besides, his treat isn’t even here yet.”
Even after all this time, why did it still sting every time I was reminded that I wasn’t the type of woman Victor typically went for? If only I’d bleached my hair, maybe then the werewolf Premier would assume I was Victor’s omega.
And of all the indignities to focus on right now, this was what upset me the most? I was so ridiculous.
His fingers brushed against my bond mark along the crook of my neck. “Hm, interesting.”
Yes! I wanted to scream. See? I’m his mate! You can’t touch me!
But he dismissed the curiosity quickly. “Tell me, omega, have you ever taken a knot?”
My blood froze in my veins.
I knew werewolf males had that “special” addition to their anatomy, but I’d never seen it in real life, nor had I ever wanted to. One, because I’d never dated a werewolf, and two, a knot was something that could only be eased in gently, or if an omega was in heat.
But I wasn’t in heat, and he didn’t seem like a particularly gentle man.
“No, please, don’t…”
“Shh,” he said. “Let me be your first, little witch. I’ll make you feel so good.”
He grabbed my hips and ground his erection into the small of my back. Victor was a very well-endowed man, but Premier Ulfic…
There was no way he could fit, knot or not.
My mind raced as I tried to come up with ways out of this unscathed.
Victor didn’t want anyone, especially the other Premiers, to know he had a mate.
But if Premier Ulfic took me to bed, Victor would never forgive me for not stopping him.
He’d accused me being insecure when he’d been “dating” various escorts for the past two years, but I’d mentioned Kaleb once a few months ago by accident and he’d punched a hole in the wall.
He’d never kill me—he needed my blood to survive. But there were other ways to punish me…
“I’m sorry, Premier Corvane instructed me to wait until his arrival. M-maybe I could offer you a shoulder massage in the meantime? Or if you’re hungry—”
His hand fisted my hair, forcing my head back so hard I yelped and tears stung my eyes. He looked down into my face from behind, his teeth bared. “The only thing I’m hungry for is omega cunt, little witch. Now shut up and be a good girl for your alpha.”
Caro was still out cold, but the radio on his vest came to life. “Status check. Is the Premier’s asset safe? Repeat, maintain protective protocol.”
“Asset?” The werewolf spun me around and pushed me against the wall, a cruel smile growing on his sinister face. “This is even more interesting. Why would Corvane care so much? What delicious little secret are you hiding?”
His gaze fell on the bond mark again as I struggled beneath the cage he’d made with his massive body, and he ran his fingers down the scar.
“A claim? But why—”
It finally clicked for him.
He threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, oh… oh, this is too good. It can’t be. Lundaria’s most eligible fanged bachelor has hidden his mate?”
“I-I don’t know what you mean. Please, just let me go until Premier Corvane is here. That’s what he wanted…”
“You think I give a fuck what he wants?” he snarled, lowering his face into mine.
His breath was hot on my skin, his alpha werewolf musk nauseating.
“I want the little witch cowering beneath me. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just a whore, a tight little cunt that’s been hired to wet my knot, and that’s what’s going to happen. Got it?”
“Hel—!” My breath was knocked out of me as he picked me up and my chest slammed against his shoulder. I tried to suck in air even as my lungs deflated, my head dangling down his back while he carried me off to the bedroom.
* * *
I thought I knew what pain was after two years of living with the insatiable vampire Premier.
But apparently that was nothing compared to how bad it could be.
His knot had ripped me open, and my skin was covered in bruises, scratches, cuts, and bite marks. Blood smeared nearly every inch of my body and the sheets beneath me.
Even after my surgery, I hadn’t felt like this.
Cigar smoke wafted in from the living room, where Premier Ulfic had gone to celebrate after he’d paid thorough “attention” to my body.
He connected his phone to the speakers and played some classic rock, the music covering the sound of my muffled sobs as he sang along.
The lights flashed.
A tear ran down my cheek.
Then the front door opened and I held my breath.
“Victor! Took you long enough. So who finally caved—you or the winged bitch?”
Victor didn’t answer, and I heard his footsteps as he walked straight down the hall and entered the bedroom.
My eyes were closed, my face turned towards the pillow to keep from seeing the anger I was sure painted his features. But I could feel his presence in the doorway anyway, his rage pulsing like tidal waves from his epicenter.
I just hoped he’d make it quick, however he would punish me.
He stepped closer, pulling off the sheet that stuck to my wounds and gasping in horror. I felt his hands hover over my body, focusing on the points that hurt the most. He pulled my legs apart, surveying the damage done by the werewolf’s knot.
But he didn’t say anything. All I heard was the music from the other room and Victor’s hard breathing.
Then he lay down next to me, digging his nose into my neck. “Oh darling… oh darling, what did he do to you?”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice raspy from screaming. “I didn’t tell him, I promise. He guessed, and I tried to stop him, but—”
“Darling, my beautiful Sage, my mate… why are you apologizing to me? This is my failure. I’m your alpha, your mate. I’m supposed to protect you.”
I sobbed as he held me, surprised I still had any tears left to shed. His touch, his voice, his scent all comforting me for the first time since we’d met.
“Victor! What are you doing? Come out and celebrate with me! Bring the witch if you want, although she might be a little broken now.” His chuckle echoed through the hall. “You know how I get with my toys.”
Victor ground his teeth behind me, whispering in my ear. “I will be right back.”
I heard him exhale slowly, and then he left. The sudden absence of him behind me made me shiver, and I just wanted him.
I… I wanted him. That was new.
“Kain. Sorry about that. Had to take care of some business first. Can I get you something to drink?”
His voice sounded calm and inviting, but I knew him well enough to pick up on the hint of violence lurking beneath the surface. The thinly veiled darkness held back by only the thinnest of tethers.
A glass clinked. “Already helped myself.”
“… So you did.”
Then chaos erupted.
Snarls and roars, growls and snapping. Grunting and hissing.
Furniture splintered and bodies fell.
I winced at each sound, suddenly fearful for my alpha. What if Victor lost? What would Premier Ulfic do to me if…
I lost myself in my nightmare, and didn’t even notice when Victor re-entered the room, dripping in blood. He walked to the side of the bed.
“Come with me, mate.”
I finally lifted my head with some effort—the blood from my split lip had dried and stuck to the pillow. It hurt to move. It even hurt to breathe, as I was pretty sure he’d broken one of my ribs.
Then he tucked his arms under my knees and back, picking me up in a bridal carry and taking me out to the living room.
Splatters of blood decorated the white walls.
The TV hung at a strange angle, its screen cracked, and the coffee table was split in half beneath the body of the werewolf Premier, his icy eyes glassy.
I bit back my gasp at the gruesome sight of his chest, cracked open, his heart laying still on the floor a few feet away.
A bite-sized chunk missing.
Bloodied lips kissed my swollen cheek. “May you never doubt my love for you, my beautiful mate, nor ask me again if you can leave. Can’t you see? This world is not safe for you.”
I couldn’t believe it, but… he’d been right. This whole time.
Something new blossomed in my chest. It wasn’t love or affection.
But it was something close. Close enough to hold onto.
Comfort.
I leaned my head against his chest. He smelled good.
“Yes, alpha.”