Chapter 3 Vera

No… no… no. I repeat it over and over in my head as I watch the way he looks at her. My grip tightens around the tray in my hands. I already know what this means.

This is him choosing her. I'm right. My eyes stay on her as she walks toward him, calm and sure, like she belongs there.

She walks to him in seconds— And then he pulls her in and kisses her. It’s not soft. It’s intense. Possessive.

The tray in my hands trembles. Something inside my chest twists painfully, like it’s being pulled apart piece by piece.

She pulls back first.

“Alpha Aiden,” she says, bowing slightly, her voice full of respect. She carries herself with confidence and grace.

I recognize her, It's Eve. One of the noble daughters. She just returned from studying overseas.

He looks at her like he’s been waiting for her all his life.

Whispers spread through the hall as everyone watches in awe.

“Now, I present to you… my Luna.” He lifts her hand, and the room bursts into applause.

The sound fills the hall, loud and overwhelming.

And still… I can feel the bond between us. It's faint, but there. It hums quietly, refusing to disappear.

Then our eyes meet. For a second, everything else fades. Something sharp and electric passes between us. But it’s gone just as quickly.

He reaches out his hand. She takes it. And together, they walk out of the hall—like I was never there at all.

Mia is just across the room. She’s seen everything and is making her way toward me. I don’t wait, I turn and run out of the hall. 

I should feel relieved that he finally has a Luna now, but why does he call her mate?  But my heart feels like it’s been ripped in two?

“Vera,” Mia calls, but I don’t look back.

Then I feel a sharp pain erupts in my lower abdomen. “Oh, Goddess,” I gasp, clutching myself as the pain flares again.

“Are you okay?” Mia’s voice is near me. The pain hits in waves, and I grit my teeth, trying to stop it.

“Oh, Goddess, Vera… he’s having sex with her.” 

“Maniac,” I curse under my breath as another wave of pain hits me again.

Mia helps me to my room. I collapse on the flat, bug-infested mattress on the floor. The pain keeps coming in intervals, each wave sharper than the last. Then, suddenly, it stops.

I sigh in relief, rising to my feet, determined to hurry back to work before anyone notices I’m gone.

“The Alpha wants you,” the guard’s voice stops me mid-step. Mia glances back at me, “That bastard.” She mutters under her breath, 

I shake my head slowly. There’s nothing Mia or I can do.

As usual, three maids appear, drag me away, and wash me.

Now, I stand at the entrance.

“Come in,” his smooth voice vibrates through me.

The moment I step inside, my legs tremble. I barely keep myself upright, clenching my thighs. I hate this bond, hate that it pulls me toward him even when I should be furious. I stare at the devil incarnate—he just had sex with Eve, and now he wants me.

And yet… my body betrays me. Heat pools low in my stomach, my pulse racing, my chest tightening as I fight the urge to run into his arms.

He stands shirtless, sweatpants low on his hips, the V-shaped lines of his body sharp and commanding. 

He steps closer, tilting my face up with both hands. His gaze drills into me, trying to strip me bare with nothing but his eyes. Sparks crawl down my spine, and my throat goes dry.

I swallow hard, trying to push him away, but before I can think, my body moves on its own. I rise onto my toes and crash my lips against his.

Anger and desire twist together inside me. I hate that I want this. I hate that I’m trembling. I hate that his scent, his heat, his strength make me forget everything I should feel.

And still, part of me melts against him, betraying every promise I’ve made to myself.

I devour him like a hungry beast. At first, he doesn’t push me away, but then I feel him snap out of some kind of trance and shove me back. He stares at me as if I’ve broken a rule—I shouldn’t have kissed him first.

A lump forms in my throat. I try to step back, to get away, but the moment I move, he steps forward and slams my back against the wall. I forget, for a moment, that he just had Eve and caused me pain. All I feel now is heat—burning, consuming—again.

His lips collide with mine, the force knocks the breath out of me, and I respond immediately. I wrap my hands around his neck, pulling him closer, letting him kiss me as hard as I want. My fingers thread into his soft hair while my lips match his intensity.

He is rough, demanding, and I feel his cock press against me. Another wave of heat travels through my body. I press myself firmly against him, dragging my hands down his chest. His right hand reaches out and cages my throat between his palm. He chokes me, just enough to steal my breath, then lowers his lips to nuzzle down my neck, leaving a trail of kisses in his wake.

The scent of my arousal fills the room. He doesn’t waste a second. He rips my panties, then my bra, his hungry lips finding my nipples—sucking, biting, nipping fast.

My heart hammers against my ribcage as my body grows hotter with every passing moment.

His fingers trail down to my swollen clit, and I purr aloud.

Then, he enters me savagely with one finger. My pussy clenches around him, and the throbbing of my clit grows unbearable. He wraps his other hand around my breast, sliding his middle finger in and out of me at a furious pace.

Suddenly, he pulls his finger from me and forces it into my mouth. I taste myself, warm and wet, sliding down my throat. Our eyes lock, and I suck on his finger until he pulls it away, capturing my lips with his in a heated kiss.

His hands work quickly, pulling his pants down his legs. His skin is rigid and hot; electric sparks ignite wherever our skin meets. The sensation drives me wild.

He turns me onto my stomach. My hands clench the sheets as heat radiates through me, every nerve on fire.

“Raise your butt in the air,” he commands.

Moisture pools from my clit at his demand. He plunges his finger into my wet folds once more. I moan loudly, gripping the sheets as he stretches me, pumping inside me. Then he pulls his finger out.

He tilts my head back at a strange angle, and I arch my back against his body. He parts my legs and thrusts his cock inside me. My mouth hangs open as he shoves it fully in, stretching me to my limit.

“So fucking tight,” his raspy voice purrs in my ear.

My head spins, and a scream of pleasure and surprise rips from my lips. He pulls out and thrusts back inside, the size threatening to tear me apart. My pussy feels filled, and I sink my fingers into the mattress. Moans spill uncontrollably from my mouth as he fucks me relentlessly, claiming every inch of my body.

His growls and grunts fill the room, mixing with my moans. His thighs collide harshly with the backs of mine. The slapping of skin, the growls, and the moans create a symphony of raw, wild desire.

Every thrust makes me feel like I’m losing my sanity. Then I feel like I’m going to die, his hand gripping my neck as he fucks me from behind. Pressure builds instantly, climax threatening to rip through me.

With another powerful thrust, my insides clench around his thick cock. I yell in pleasure as the orgasm washes over me. He pulls out for a mere second, then pounds back in, thrusting faster than before, devouring me, ruining me. His balls slap against my thighs with each fierce motion.

A guttural growl rips from him, and suddenly he releases, spilling his cum over my back and buttocks.

I shudder as the world blurs around me. My ears ring, my body goes completely slack, and exhaustion drags me under. Everything fades to black.

But one thing I know is that he didn't see me as his mate. But I'm his punishment.