Vera

My heart stutters as I stare at him, like he just said something impossible.

Most times when he calls me to his chamber, he only makes me sit quietly in a corner while he works. But the pack… they whisper, and assume the worst, that we fuck.

As if their cruel thoughts have finally come true.

“Did you not hear me?” Alpha Aiden’s voice cuts through me. It makes my stomach twist.

“I… I heard you,” I say, swallowing hard.

He starts walking toward me, slow and steady, like a predator closing in. With each step, my heartbeat grows louder, pounding against my ribs.

Before I can react, he grabs my hair and yanks my head back. Pain shoots through my scalp, but I bite my lip, forcing back the tears.

I lift my eyes to his.

Cold. Empty. Full of hate.

I’ve heard stories about how his brother's death broke him. And also I was found at the scene that night. Everything about me reminds him of that loss.

That’s why he was sent abroad.

Alpha Aiden never lets me forget it.

He believes I had a hand in his brother’s death—the girl found at the scene of the murder.

My fingers tremble as I reach for the knot of my robe. Slowly, I loosen it, letting the fabric slip from my shoulders and fall to the ground.

“Face the wall,” he commands.

A chill runs through me. I can feel years of hatred in his voice.

I turn slowly, just like he said. My hands press against the wall, my heart pounding so loud it fills my ears. Tonight feels different. Like something is about to break.

I sense him behind me before he even touches me. His body heat wraps around mine, making my skin burn. Then his hands grab my hips.

I can feel that familiar spark. The bond between us. A reminder that we are mates… but he doesn't feel it..

I feel his cock against me, and my breath catches in my throat.

Then he pushes in.

I gasp as pain shoots through me, sharp and sudden. His movements are rough, short at first, each thrust hurt more than the last.

I cry out, my teeth clench so hard my jaw aches. My body presses against the wall, trying to escape the pain, but there’s nowhere to go.

His grip tightens on my hips as he thrusts harder, deeper.

Then he pulls out only to thrust back into me again, this time harder.

I scream, as my body twists, but his hold doesn’t loosen. He keeps thrusting, pushing me forward with every forceful thrust. The pain builds until it feels like it’s tearing me apart.

My cries echo in the room, raw and broken, but he doesn’t stop.

My whole body jerks with the impact of his final thrust. Then I feel he releases inside me.

And just like that… he goes still.

The room falls silent except for my shaky breaths.

He pulls out his cock.

At that moment, my legs gave out. I stagger, then collapse to the floor, the pain between my legs are unbearable.

“Get out,” he growls.

His voice sounds different now.

I crawl on my knees, grab my robe with trembling hands and pull it around my body. Every movement hurts.

“Get out,” he repeats.

This time, his voice is low and strained.

I force myself up and move toward the door, holding myself together as best as I can while the pain follows me with every step.

My body shakes with deep, painful sobs. I can’t stop the tears as they fall down my face.

Now it’s real.

He didn’t take me as his mate… he took me like I was nothing. Like I belonged to him.

My body hurts. My heart hurts even more. I don’t even know which pain is worse.

Warm blood runs down my thigh, sticky and humiliating.

I barely step out of the door, closing it behind me, when—

Slap.

The sound echoes through the hallway.

My head snaps to the side before I even understand what happened. My cheek burns, throbbing from the slар.

I turn slowly… and see Zarah standing in front of me. If Alpha Aiden hates me, Zarah despises me.

To her, I was nothing more than another whore warming her brother’s bed.

“Whore,” she spits, her eyes full of disgust. “I knew it. You’re nothing but a filthy thing crawling into my brother’s bed.”

Her words hit just as hard as the slap.

She walks past me like I’m nothing. Like I don’t even deserve to be seen.

My fingers curl at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I force myself to stay on my feet.

I won’t fall here.

Not in front of her.

I start to limp away, each step painful, my body weak and shaking.

Then I see Mia.

She rushes toward me, her face full of worry. She’s the only one who has ever been kind to me and treats me like I matter.

The moment she sees me, her eyes widen in shock, dropping to the blood running down my thigh.

“Come on,” she says quickly, gently taking my arm. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

**

By the next day, the whispers start again.

Another ‘mate choosing’ ceremony for the Alpha.

I hear it everywhere, while I scrub the floors, while I wash the dishes. No matter where I go. I keep my head down, pretending not to listen… but every word still sinks in.

“I think it’s for the best.”

Mia’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

“You’ll finally be free.”

The word doesn’t bring relief. It leaves a hollow ache in my chest.

I shake my head slowly. I keep telling myself I don’t want this bond… so why does it feel like something is being torn out of me?

“Come on,” Mia whispers, pulling me along. “We have to hurry.”

Of course, I’ll be serving.

A tray rests in my hands as I walk into the grand hall. The room glows with chandeliers, filled with soft music and quiet laughter.

And then—I feel his gaze, before I even see him.

It burns. No matter where I move, it follows me, everywhere.

The ceremony begins. Then suddenly, the room goes quiet. My eyes lift toward the entrance.

A woman walks in.

She’s beautiful. Graceful. Everything a Luna should be. Her steps are calm and confident, her posture perfect.

I watch her, unable to look away.

And then something tightens painfully in my chest.

I turn slightly… and see him.

Aiden stands completely still, his eyes locked on her like nothing else exists.

My fingers curl tightly at my sides as I freeze in place.

Then I see his lips move.

“Mate.”

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 was right.

My eyes stay on her as she walks toward him, calm and sure, like she belongs there.

She reaches 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 now.

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?

My heart feel like it’s been ripped in two?

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

Then 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 crashes through me. Mia helps me to my room.

I collapse onto 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 didnt see me as his mate. But I'm his punishment.