Chapter 1 Blood for the Curse

Leah Sinclair sprawled across the couch, moaning with a mixture of pain and pleasure.

Ethan Rourke knelt behind her, his powerful hands kneading her round ass. His lean hips worked like a piston, each thrust driving his cock deep inside her.

Her pussy was slick as oil. The tight grip made Ethan's scalp tingle. He freed one hand to grip the back of her neck, dirty words spilling from his lips. "Oh, fuck yeah. You filthy little bitch."

The degrading words made Leah clench around him. Ethan had to concentrate to keep from coming too soon.

Her full breasts swayed with each thrust, the gorgeous curve irresistible. He couldn't help reaching around to squeeze them.

Leah trembled all over, powerless against his strength.

A moment later, Ethan pulled her tight against him from behind, panting, his breath reeking of alcohol, invading her senses. "Isn't this what you wanted? I'm giving it to you..."

His relentless pace left Leah dizzy, but she still managed to say, "Ethan, you're drunk."

If he were sober, he'd never treat her like a whore, humiliating her in front of everyone at the bar. When he'd torn her clothes off, other pack members had still been there.

"Baby," Ethan said, oblivious to her bitter thoughts. He licked along her neck. Leah was so sensitive she could barely stand it. His voice came out low and rough. "Will you let me mark you?"

Leah couldn't believe it.

Three years ago, her sister Chloe Sinclair had left the pack without warning, running off with an Alpha from out of town. Ethan had lost his mind and chased after them. By the time they found him collapsed in the brush, he'd been badly injured. To appease the Rourke Pack's fury, Leah had been hastily offered up—married off to Ethan while he lay unconscious, his survival uncertain. Fortunately, an Alpha's constitution was remarkable. Ethan pulled through. He seemed to accept reality: his future Luna had abandoned him, replaced by the family's invisible daughter.

Ethan slept with Leah regularly, but he'd never marked her.

Leah knew he was drunk. But she was ashamed to admit—she didn't want him to sober up.

She tilted her head back, offering him access. Leah issued her invitation, and Ethan's fangs descended.

But then his phone rang.

Ethan snapped out of his fantasy and realized the woman beneath him wasn't who he'd imagined. His expression darkened. His thrusts turned silent and vicious with anger. Leah went quiet, as if she'd lost her voice. Ethan was awake now. Her foolish fantasy had shattered.

He flipped her over to face him, making sure he could see exactly who he was fucking. His slick cock found its way back inside her. Ethan gave a few teasing thrusts, kissing Leah even as she seemed to turn into a lifeless doll. 

His voice came out low and seductive, full of masculine charm. "Don't pout, Leah. I misspoke just now. Come on, baby, watch my cock sliding into your pussy."

But the phone kept ringing. Whoever was calling wouldn't stop until Ethan answered.

"Fuck!" Ethan didn't have time for this. He flipped the phone to silent and tossed it aside. Leah watched it skitter across the table.

The sex went on for a long time. By the time Ethan came inside her, Leah's legs were shaking uncontrollably.

Ethan headed to the private bathroom. Leah couldn't help glancing at his phone. She never pried into Ethan's business. But tonight, something pulled at her. She unlocked his phone and saw a video from an unknown number.

"Ah... fuck me harder..." The woman on screen fondled her own breasts, mouth open, tongue out, moaning his name obscenely. "Ethan, yes, just like that."

Leah's eyes went wide. She recognized her long-missing sister immediately. Chloe.

Chloe wore a short skirt, riding up and down slowly on the bed. Between her spread legs was a silicone cock.

There were several messages from Chloe.

[Ethan, I miss you so much...]

[I know you still hate me. What happened back then—I had no choice.]

[I was marked by accident, so I had to follow my Alpha when he left.]

[But I never stopped thinking about you. I even had a replica made, down to every inch.]

[Now he's dead. I can finally come back to you. Aren't you happy?]

Tears streamed down Leah's face before she even knew it. Dread filled her heart. If her sister came back, what would happen to her? 

Ethan would be out any second. Leah quickly put the phone down and curled into a ball. She didn't know how to face him or what to do.

Ethan emerged, toweling his hair. He saw Leah with her back to him, curled up tight. He didn't think much of it—probably just exhausted. That was normal.

Only then did he remember his silenced phone. He picked up the call that had been coming through repeatedly.

"Can you come get me?" Chloe's voice was pleading.

He kept his voice low, bitter with resentment. "What do you take me for? I never gave a damn that you left. Hell, two months after you ran off, I found my mate. Maybe your father told you—she's your sister. Thanks for the video. I'll admit it got me going. So I just fucked Leah for several rounds. Right now she's sleeping peacefully beside me."

"Chloe, don't you dare—"

Her tearful voice cut off his harsh words. "Ethan, I love you."

Ethan froze as if under a spell. He tried to speak, but Chloe was already crying. "I'm about to board my flight. Please, don't be so cruel."

Ethan swore under his breath. "Fuck, how dare you?" But in the end, he softened. "It's too dangerous for you to come back alone. Send me your flight info. I'll pick you up."

Ethan left quickly—so quickly he forgot about Leah lying naked on the couch.

A searing pain sliced through her chest, like a cold blade carving through her. Just moments ago, they'd been so close. They'd kissed with abandon, bodies tangled together. He'd held her so tightly, as if trying to merge her into himself. Now Leah found it laughable. This whole encounter had been sparked by another woman. Maybe Ethan had been lying to himself the entire time—imagining he was fucking her sister.

Leah struggled into her torn clothes, barely managing to make herself decent.

She pulled out her phone and made a call. "Your Majesty, I'm willing to use my blood to lift your curse."

A hoarse, sickly voice answered. "Thank you for your generosity. I'll come for you myself in three days, my Luna."