The Prince approached the bed and sat down gingerly, trying not to ignite a collision between the two Alphas´ instincts. “What is this really about?”
“Do you think she could feel Alan´s connection to us? That´s why she helped him?” Jen wondered out loud.
“From what I saw,” the man sighed heavily, “I like to think that she would have helped him anyway.”
“Yeah...” She trailed off. “What about you? Can you really not sense her?”
“Apart from her general presence, no.” And a general discomfort whenever she was in trouble, but he decided to leave that part out as it certainly wasn´t the strong connection a Werewolf should have with their mate.
“Maybe you shut her out on purpose. I mean, despite the spell, the rest of your pack seems already in tune with her.” Jen sat up and threw caution to the wind, fitting herself against her brother´s side. Steven scooted over and rested his back on the headboard, securing his arms around her.
“Most of it is guilt,” he was quick to deny.
“They liked her long before that,” Jen gently probed.
“They think she could be good for me,” he shrugged.
“Maybe they are right. If you do feel the same, I want you to know I´ll be on your side. Totally supportive.” She tried to smile at him but it came out laden with so much guilt that made her brother cringe.
“It´s not your fault Kate left. And it´s not your job to fix it for me.” Steven believed they were finally getting somewhere.
“I was happy when she left you!” Jen exclaimed and stood up. She started pacing back and forth in a fit of anxiety and Steven let her vent for a few moments before admitting something he carried inside him for years. Something he always wanted to talk about but, every time he tried, he felt it wasn´t worth the fuss.
“Part of you wanted me to feel your pain for losing Alan.” He remained calm, already having dismissed his sister´s feelings on the matter as blind jealousy and not real malice.
“But she wasn´t your mate.” She stopped pacing and looked outside, desperately seeking for some light.
“No, she wasn´t.” He used to feel a deep regret about that but now, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn´t picture Kate at his side.
“But Cora is.” Jen turned to him in an attempt to judge his response. Steven walked up to her and joined her by the window, looking past her contemplatively.
“Is it the same? The only way for me to feel that way is to actually fall in love with her. No Magic or Werewolf bond to help me along.” He wasn´t willing to disrupt his pack´s peace and endanger their safety for such a selfish reason as trying to find an antidote for Larson´s spell.
“You really know nothing about mates do you?” She gave him a sharp whack on the head, amused. “A Werewolf bond doesn´t mean that everything is suddenly perfect. Many of them fail. Once you meet your mate you have two choices. Either dismiss it mutually and go your separate ways or embrace it and be together. The latter breaks only by death.”
“So you chose to love Alan? Is that it?” Steven´s arched eyebrow showed his clear scepticism. For him, the bond was something that forced people together under the threat of a miserable life, not something to rejoice.
“You don´t choose to love someone,” Jen admonished. “You either love them for who they are or not. All I´m saying is that, even with your supposed mate, it is always about feelings. The bond just makes sure that you belong only to each other afterwards. That there won´t ever be anyone else.”
“And you made that choice consciously? Knowing that if something happened to either of you then the other would spend the rest of their life alone if not mad?” He asked disbelievingly.
“I did, and I don´t regret it.” Steven snorted at that. “I don´t,” she insisted. “If you find the right person, it´s more than worth it... Even if you end up having only a few days with each other...”
“Then what are you doing here?” Steven finally looked at his sister and gestured around them to emphasize the contrast between her words and actions. “Maybe you feel alone but there are people out there who need you.”
“They need someone to guide them. I´m not sure that´s me anymore.” Jen deflated again.
“It´s not me either. I swore to protect you, to fight by your side... Don´t ask me to take your place.”
“Okay, baby brother. I´ll keep on fighting. For you and for him. But don´t give up on your leadership skills just yet.” Her lips quirked at the last part.
“What´s that supposed to mean?” Steven crossed his arms over his chest and glared at his sister, daring her to finish her thought.
“You are a Princess´ mate,” she replied, unrelenting. “If you do end up with her, you´ll have a whole other kingdom to think about.”
“Yeah well... Luckily for them, I won´t.” The two siblings were so much alike... Even in petulance. Jen chose not to comment on that, knowing very well her brother´s self esteem issues. She trusted him though so she knew that if the time ever came, he would lead in a heartbeat and the people would fall behind him indisputably. She returned her gaze outside where the streets had gotten too crowded.
“This war,” she said and tried to gauge Steven´s reaction. “We cannot fight it alone. I have to send for help.”
“I know,” Steven nodded. “I´m prepared.”
“You have already thought of everything, haven’t you? Are you sure you don´t want to be King?”
Steven snorted. “I would never want to be in your shoes. No...” He shook his head. “Being an Alpha is enough responsibility for me.”
“Come on then,” Jen said and took her brother´s hand in hers. “Let´s put things in motion.”
16. CLOSE ENOUGH TO HURT
Kate was a breathtaking blonde, emanating pride, strength and self-assurance in her every step in spite of knowing she was not broadly liked outside her own people. She was the heir and Alpha of the Baman pack, the most powerful one number-wise, having in its ranks more Werewolves than even the Anders. They were wilder though, less people-driven, content to live on their own away from the spotlight; nomads travelling the land and not setting up home anywhere. Having cut all emotional ties, their ferocity was unparalleled. This massive army was, thankfully, loyal to the Anders due to an incident Kate liked to call a misunderstanding but the Anders saw as arrogance. Even so, the Baman pack was Jen´s first call for backup.
Steven hadn´t forgotten the woman he was once supposed to marry. She had been a Beta back then, yet still awe-inspiring, and the young Alpha had failed spectacularly to keep his feelings for her on the political spectrum of their arranged engagement. It had been hard for him -completely drowned in his newfound power- not to get hypnotized by Kate´s good looks and air of superiority. The Prince had been persuaded that only a magnificent creature such as her should be by an Anders Alpha´s side and went on ignoring newly-turned Jason´s needs for the first couple of months. It was only after she left him that he threw himself completely in the making and support of his new pack much to his family´s relief, renouncing love and everything associated with this particular emotion that had the ability to manipulate his moral code. As the years passed he had somewhat demystified her, realizing all the ways she had toyed with him. But he still wasn´t prepared for her whirlwind presence in his life once again.
“It´s been too long,” Kate crooned once she and Steven were left alone after the fanfare of her welcoming had died out. The soldiers she had brought with her -two hundred Werewolves and no Humans- had already settled in the makeshift barracks but she was treated as royalty, allowed to stay in the lair as close to the Anders as possible. That fact alone was enough for Jason to fear his Alpha would go in search of comfort. For the first time ever since he became a Werewolf, the Beta had to focus his attention on someone else rather than on his own pack as he had a feeling Cora would take the brunt.
“It was really kind of you to show up.” Steven remained collected but even his mass amount of self-con
trol couldn´t fool a raised-to-be Alpha. Kate´s smile stretched wide, teeth showing in a predatory mood.
“I couldn´t stay away,” she said and took a few steps closer, throwing her hands around his neck. Steven stiffened, his whole body tensing with distrust and unwanted memories. “I missed your face so much.” She ducked her head and took a deep sniff, her blood-red bottom lip catching on his Adam´s apple. The man instinctively closed his eyes and put his arms around her waist trying to push her away.
“My face has always been here,” Steven hissed, finally snapping as he grasped her hands and walked out of her embrace. “It was you who left.”
“Don´t be mad at me baby,” she stubbornly interlaced their fingers leaning even closer. “You know I had to go, don´t you?”
Steven tried to turn his head away but Kate grabbed his chin and forced him to keep facing her. Her nails dug into his skin and he flinched but, before he could move away, she planted a kiss on his lips. Despite the initial shock he quickly reciprocated, mostly out of familiarity and habit. As his senses got overflowed with memories, an unforeseen feeling of uneasiness crept up his spine that quickly turned into anger.
“Don´t,” he warned when he finally found the strength to draw away. He wiped his lips on his sleeve, the bright red lipstick staining the fabric and causing Kate´s smirk to broaden. He swiftly retreated from the council room but not before Jason intercepted his path. The Beta raised his eyebrows in obvious disapproval and Steven grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, hauling him back into the Alpha´s room to have a much needed conversation.
“What do I have to do to get you off my tail?” Steven asked exasperated.
“I´m the least of your problems right now,” Jason retorted shoving past his friend. Steven fell back against the wall and grunted upon the impact but he quickly recovered and trailed after him.
“Is that so?” The Alpha said with a conceited little head wiggle, arms crossing over his chest. Jason came to a sudden stop and his eyes scoured his features and lingered on his cockily raised eyebrow.
“You know she saw right? I know you felt it.”
“Again with this? Cora and I have already spoken. She knows not to expect anything,” said Steven.
“Oh my God!” Jason screamed, throwing his hands in the air indignantly. “Could you at least be more discreet?”
“Stop harping on everything!” Steven scoffed but his friend´s words stayed with him the whole day.
Cora indeed knew not to expect anything from Steven, but being semi-publicly mocked hurt. She couldn´t even face Jason after he saw her running away from the scene and, what´s worse, the Beta´s pity made her cheeks flare up in embarrassment. She felt a longing so pure and real that completely blindsided her and made her limbs numb and clumsy like stepping on chipped ice. She was a Princess though and, although her power was dormant, she knew how to take care of herself; she always had. She needed no one´s pity and she would beg for no man´s heart. She would have already left if her father hadn´t made his life´s purpose to scorch the land between the Werewolves´ town and the Magics´ kingdom to get to her. As things were at the moment, she had to buy herself some time until she could find a way to stop the war fought in her name without too many people getting hurt. At least the Werewolves were good at protecting their own.
Steven went to her when the rest of the lair had fallen asleep but his conscience had remained wide awake, screaming at him to patch things up. He froze by the door when he saw the state of Cora´s undress as she was soaking in the bath, the warm candlelight sharpening her every angle. Now that she had the liberty to order such luxuries, Cora wanted to scrub her skin off and forget every time the Alpha had touched her.
“What happened to knocking?” The girl spat and reached for her nightgown, standing up in the tub and covering herself as quickly as possible. Steven closed the door and locked it, Cora trailing his every move in distrust. Putting the embarrassment of being caught naked aside, she was also extremely conscious of how her body looked now that she wasn´t under the influence of shock and pain. Steven picked up immediately on her frame of mind, hard to hide anything when you can smell it in the air.
“Show me,” he said softly and, at her idleness, he walked closer and grabbed hold of the lacings fastening the front of her gown together. He looked down at her imploringly but she didn´t move so he continued untangling the strings and tugging gently where the white, gauzy fabric clung on her wet body. He let the gown slide to the floor dismissing her slight quivers when her scent told him what she was feeling wasn´t fear. Gripping her slender hips inside his large palms with breaking strength, he slowly turned her around, her back finally in full display. He didn´t dare touch it yet, sparing a moment to lift her up and lay her on the bed on her stomach.
Cora let him guide her as he wished, trying to remain as still as possible while willing her heart to calm down. She had trouble suppressing her shiver though when she felt the mattress dip next to her thighs and he started making a trail with his thumb up and down the ridges of her spine, outlining each and every whip mark. All of her recent wounds -the ones she had suffered at Anders´ hands- had healed when Larson broke her bonds. But the older ones were deep-rooted, long ago having taken hold of her body and leaving behind a map of her biggest victories.
“What you saw today,” Steven said leaning down, letting her feel the gentle susurration of his breath against her back, “it didn´t mean anything.”
She stiffened under him and he paused before sliding his arm around her waist and turning her over. “You have nothing to explain.” Locking her eyes with his, she waited for his next move. Would he claim her or would he run away?
Steven let some time fly simply looking at her. How the breath caught in her throat; how her bare breasts moved rapidly up and down trying to pull in oxygen. The flood gates flew open and, suddenly, he wanted. Cupping his hands around her thighs, he pried her legs open and settled between them like he belonged. She tried to reach out to him, pull him closer, but he crawled up the bed forcing her to ease back. Propping himself over her on his elbows, they stared at each other ready to burst.
“Tell me to stop,” he begged but she lifted her head up and pulled at his bottom lip with sharp teeth. His pupils dilated, he reached down to unzip his pants the same moment she started unbuttoning his shirt. Once finally skin to skin, he pulled her to him in a fierce hug and with a short, controlled thrust, he entered her body.
“Shh.” Steven swallowed her quiet yelp with a frantic kiss that left her lips stinging and buried his face in her hair. Cora´s hands sought purchase on his back, nails leaving red welts on his skin that healed before they had a chance to settle in. She arched up, moulding her chest against his and, as she clenched around him, his thrusts turned deeper making him moan in pleasure, surprising himself. Leaning back on his haunches, he pulled her with him, helping her steady herself on his thighs as she sat on him, hands slipping over his sweaty chest, foreheads touching.
“Kiss me,” Cora shakily demanded and he hurried to oblige, sealing their lips together and leaving finger-shaped bruises on her thighs in an effort to tame his animal instincts. She drew away after what seemed like hours, trying to catch her breath, and threw her head back in a wordless scream. Steven immediately latched onto her neck sucking and biting, irritating the skin with his stubble and leaving behind a trail of hickeys that would brand her unmistakably as his. She tried to push him away, not wanting his mark on her, but his grip on her was firm.
“Come on... For me,” he whispered in her ear and reached down between them, his fingers playing her like a puppet. “Again!” He commanded, making her whimper.
“I can´t,” she said, oversensitive, trying to pull away from his deft fingers, but his free hand had wound its way around her waist holding her in place. As she clenched around him for the third time that night belying her own words, Steven turned wild, his hips ramming up in her with abandon. With a growl that shook the entire room, he finished i
nside her. Cora collapsed against him, her whole being unfolding in his strong embrace. He easily supported her weight as, still shaking, he lowered them both down on their sides.
“You can stay or you can go. Your choice,” she murmured sleepily, repeating the words he had said to her a few days ago. Nevertheless, she curled around him, throwing her arm over his stomach to allow for her own feelings on the matter to be heard; unlike the blank face she had received then. Steven settled in with a satisfied sigh, his eyes tracing leisurely over her naked, sleeping form and immensely enjoying his scent on her. It wasn´t long before sleep overtook him, catching him in the middle of reflecting on what he had just done.
That disheartening trail of thought followed him through the next morning, immediately throwing him into panic mode the moment his eyes snapped open. Cora was still asleep beside him, oblivious to the inner workings of her lover´s mind, her leg kicked around him. The viciously accurate image of her writhing above him was enough to pull him out of his own mind and, with a light curse, he shot out of bed casting around for his pants. When Cora woke up a few hours later, she refused to let the sting of rejection puncture her heart.
17. MAKE A CHOICE
The morning of the war meeting, the council room was overcrowded by the Baman and Anders packs. Kate stood in front of the Queen´s throne drawing the whole room´s attention to herself with her blithe attitude. Jen was careful on handling her, knowing she could be easily manipulated by the woman across from her. Despite her best efforts though the meeting got loud quickly as the two packs started shouting at each other over tactics, each wanting their opinion to prevail. Where the Anders were more sensible and wanted to keep their people safe by holding their defences, the Bamans argued that they were warriors and they had got there to fight, not sit around waiting. Kate watched with amusement, letting her council argue their points and turning her senses towards the door where Steven had just slipped in looking hurried and dishevelled. She smirked and made her way over, dismissing the conversation in front of her with an audacity stemming from the impression that she was needed.
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