When Avery's brother decides her fate, she gets drunk and ends up in the arms of a stranger. The next morning, a mate mark and a fuming brother await her only for her to realize that her fling has gone missing. When she finally finds him, everyone knows she is doomed for life.

******

Standalone Book 3 of Wolfverse Series

Book 1: Omega for the Alpha King (Standalone)

Book 2: Forbidden for the Alpha King (Standalone)

Book 3: Mated to the Enemy Alpha King (Standalone)

Book 4: Changing Fate for the Alpha King (Standalone)

AVERY

“ We shouldn’t be out here. Let’s just go back, Princess. If your brother, the King finds out we sneaked out and ended up here, we will be so dead. ” My friend and helper Renee whispers in my ear.

I shake my head and shoot her a glare. “ What did I tell you before, Renee? ”

Her dull blue eyes move towards the building in front of us before she looks back at me, “ You told me to call you Ava when we are out. ”

“ Yes, that’s right! Tonight, I am just Ava. ” I point my forefinger at her. To my surprise, I see two fingers instead of one.

Perhaps, all the alcohol is finally kicking in.

“ Ava. ” I mumble, and lower my finger to avoid the embarrassing state of my mind. “ let’s—let’s just go inside. ”

It’s a big mistake. A small voice in my head keeps whispering but I can not pay attention to that.

When your heart is crushed and your spirits are beaten down, maybe, you simply can’t bring yourself to care about anything else. That’s what must be happening to me. I don’t seem to give a damn about anything.

“ This place is not for noble people, Ava. ” Renee says softly, still trying to persuade me to go back to the place I call home when it feels more like hell.

Ignoring her, I stagger towards the entrance of the shady building. The two guards standing outside push the doors open for us without asking any questions. Renee is hot on my tail, refusing to let me alone for a moment.

I hate this. People always have to follow me everywhere. It feels like I was not born alone, but with several shadows that cling to me at all times. If I am to be happy, they watch me smile. If I want to cry, I have to let them see me. If I have a breakdown like any other person, they are always there to witness it.

That’s why my mother made me learn the most important lessons of life as a royal.

Royals never cry, never show weakness, never break down. Love is not for us. Hate is not for us. Emotions, with all their variations, are not for people like us.

As for me, I am the lowest of even those royals. I am a spare Princess of a Kingdom that doesn’t need me. Daughters are mere means to gain potential allies, and that’s what I had always been.

“ Princ— ” Renee pauses before glancing around the noisy space that is filled with people everywhere.

I scan the surroundings just like her. My gaze lingers a little longer on the girls dancing around poles in the middle and then at the groups of men sitting at different tables.

“ This is disgusting, Ava. ” She sighs, voicing her opinion.

“ I know right? ” I shake my drowsy head and stumble to the nearest empty table.

The ear-piercing music overpowers the other voices, giving me the chance to silence the storm brewing inside me.

“ This is not the way to solve problems. ” She scoots closer to me and holds my hand.

“ Who said…I am solving problems? ” I huff, turning to the waiter who approaches us fast. Without saying a word, he places a bottle of alcohol and two glasses in front of us. As silently as he approaches, he leaves after he is done.

I eye the bottle sitting on the table, calling out to me. I already had five bottles. It’s enough to knock down a normal werewolf but as a Lycan Princess, I have higher tolerance.

I open the lid and pour the amber liquid into the golden glass while Renee pokes my arm.

“ We can take this and leave. This place is not good for us, Ava. What if someone recognizes you? ” Her voice is filled with fear.

“ How will someone recognize me? ” I chuckle, picking up the glass. “ Don’t you know how my brother kept me caged behind the walls my whole life? The Kingdom knows there is a Princess but they don’t know what she looks like. ”

“ He was only trying to protect you. ” Renee reasons and snatches my glass before I can drink more.

“ Protect me? ” My chest tightens at the thought. “ Does locking someone between four walls count as protecting them? Does…ignoring someone until they believe they are invisible count as protection to you, Renee? ”

Instead of running her mouth, she stares at me and does so until I get irritated by the pitiful look in her eyes. All these people ever do is pity me when I am crying, when I am breaking down, when I am roaming from one corner of the castle to the other like a ghost.

They see me, but they don’t ever…approach me. With so many shadows around me, I am still alone

“ Ava. ” She places the filled glass on the other side of the table so I can’t reach it and turns to me.

“ I thought Tyson would mate with me and finally, I will be free. At least, he won’t pretend I don’t exist. He will never turn a blind eye to my suffering. He has always been sensitive to other’s pain, right? ” A self-mocking smile curls my lips.

“ Amelia is his fated mate, Ava. When it comes to her, he couldn’t…just… ”

“ Choose me. ” My throat clogs with different emotions.

But I wanted him to choose me. I was engaged to him for my whole life. If he could only say, even if he didn’t mean it, that he wanted to choose me over his fated mate instead of abandoning me for her, maybe…

Just maybe, my heart won’t be breaking like this.

“ He said he never felt anything for me. ” My voice lowers until I can barely hear it over the loud music and sounds of cheers.

“ He does care about you, Ava. ” Renee grabs my cold hand between her warm palms and gives it a light squeeze.

“ But he doesn’t want me. ” I look down at her hands that are holding mine. “ I am sick of it…people always tell me they care about me but they don’t care enough to choose me. ”

That’s all I ever wanted, for someone to choose me over everyone else. For once, I want to be someone they prioritize instead of telling me that they care but not enough to give up something for me.

“ You have someone better in your fate, Ava. Believe me. You are a good person. One day you will be rewarded— ”

“ I am good, but not good enough for anyone. And what choice, Renee? Don’t you remember? My brother decided my future mate for me just last night. ” I pull my hand away. I don’t need her warmth anymore.

“ Ava. Your brother…has your best interest at heart. You know he loves you. ” Her eyes brim with tears but she doesn’t let them fall.

Silently, I reach out and grab the glass she pulled away before. In a single go, I down the liquid. My throat burns and so do my eyes but I can’t stop drinking. I must knock myself out tonight or else, I might end up losing my mind.

“ Best interest? ” After drinking two more shots, I turn to Renee and giggle. “ really? My brother doesn’t care Renee. He just wants to form an alliance with the enemy Kingdom, the South and so he has decided that it’s best to make me become the King’s woman. That way, Aleister Anasazi will be our ally in the war against vampires and humans as long as I remain by his side obediently. ”

Faced with the bitter reality, she releases a defeated breath and looks away momentarily. My smile falls and a frown takes its place.

“ I didn’t even recover from the previous mate they decided for me. And in a day, I have a new suitor. How ironic. ” I say bitterly and shift my focus to the amber liquid.

Renee doesn’t try to stop me this time because she knows how true I am. In a single week, my fiancé mated with another woman and my brother announced my matrimonial with another King. He only cares about strengthening our Kingdom and winning the war agaisnt the vampires and humans that have been attacking us since forever. If he has to send me to an enemy Kingdom, completely alone and at the mercy of the enemy, he will do it for the alliance.

See? My brother does care about me. But just not enough to choose me over the Kingdom. There is and always has been something or someone better than me in other’s eyes. I am not worth the trouble of giving up on things that others desire the most.

Without Renee’s interruption, I drown my sorrows in alcohol. The burn mingles with the lump in my throat and I can finally breathe without feeling as if I am going to wail any moment.

There are so many thoughts in my head. The people closest to me have all chosen the things most precious to them and in this circle, I don’t know where I stand because I don’t have any freedom of choosing anything or anyone.

I don’t notice when my vision blurs or my hands start trembling. The music becomes a thrum in my veins that makes me laugh to myself. All my senses heighten, brightening the world around me.

Everything is happening so slowly and it feels like the world is finally spinning.

“ I wish the world just comes to an end. ” I grin, dropping my forehead on the dirty table.

“ Ava. ” I feel a pair of hands pulling at my shoulder to pick me up but I can’t bring myself to pay attention.

At last, I am free. I am not Princess Avery Landric of the Kingdom of North. I am Ava—a girl who can get drunk, and pretend that the world is a happy place.

Suddenly, my sharp senses tune into an enticing scent. My nerves light up as electric currents run down my body. Shuddering, I pick up my head and look around the messy place that is still spinning.

Chasing the scent, my gaze pauses on the back of the man sitting alone in the far right corner of the bar. The hypnotizing scent draws me to him and in a daze, I shrug off Renee and stagger towards him.

AVERY

When I near him, the man turns his head slightly. I halt, trying to see his features through the hood covering his head but it is impossible.

Shaking the drowsiness from my mind, I approach and slump on the seat opposite him. He picks up his head and casts me a curious look.

My breath hitches. A pair of deep grey eyes peer back at me, as his lips morph into a quirky smirk.

Unconsciously, I hold my breath and stare at him without moving a single muscle. I have seen my fair share of handsome men in my life, but something about this gruff and muscle-packed man screams a certain kind of sex appeal.

I swallow the lump forming in my throat and focus on his grey eyes. I narrow my gaze on him.

“ Are you from the South? ” I huff, my voice coming out slurry.

Grey eyes are the symbol of people from the South, the enemy Kingdom—the same place where I am supposed to be shipped to, a week later.

The people from there reside behind a magical wall that they raised in their defence, and they are not seen in any other Kingdoms. So what is this man doing here of all places? And why do I feel this electrifying pull to him?

His gaze lowers to my lips, my neck, my heaving chest hidden beneath the clothes before sharply meeting my eyes. Heat spreads in my belly as I stiffen in front of him.

“ Does it matter to you, Princess? ” His voice has a deep baritone and holds a hint of indifference.

My body shudders under his penetrating eyes that are sizing me up. “ do you know me? ”

I feel my heartbeat quickening at the thought. My vision blurs again momentarily before I shake my head and regain it.

“ Isn’t that why you are here? ” He leans in and whispers huskily, “ you want me to get to know you. ”

I gulp the uneasiness in my throat and feel my stomach tightening in knots. Alarms are sounding in my head but my eyes are drawn to the rest of him.

Dressed in all black, and wearing a hooded cloak over his clothes, he looks like a grim reaper. I would have distanced myself from him immediately after just seeing his size and his eyes if I had not been so out of my mind tonight.

Yes, that’s right. I must be mad to be here.

He is an enemy. They are not allowed in the territory of the North, but well, who cares?

“ Why do you think that I… that I want you to get to know me? ” I swallow my saliva and lean back in the chair.

That thick lips of his stretch wider. My heart misses an odd beat. Why does he look so tempting? Like a devil?

He rises to his height like a scary statue carved out of rare stones. My mouth dries as my eyes roam his strongly built body. My gaze traces the veins protruding in his arms before lowering to his fingers. How will it feel to have him—

My cheeks flush as I stop my train of thought. I shake my head instantly, trying to regain my rational thinking.

As a Princess, my purity means everything to me and the world. I must not have these thoughts. I have to be pure for the man who is chosen for me.

The stranger strides to my side and rests his hand on the table. His face closes in on me, sending chills down my spine. I hold my breath and turn my head to the right to stare at him.

Closer and closer and closer—

Instinctively, I reach out and place my hand over his chest to keep him at some distance. His lips are already so close to mine that I can feel his minty breaths scorching my face. And it’s making me squirm with a strange mixture of excitement and anticipation.

His other hand reaches for my cheek and he pushes a strand of hair away with the tip of his forefinger. The slight brush makes me gasp. A ripple of pleasure shoots down from my neck to my toes.

What is this?

“ You are here, are you not? Out of so many men in this bar, you have chosen to come to me, Princess. What does it mean to you? ” His finger trails a path down my cheek and caresses my jaw. The feathery touch blinds me to the people and sounds around me.

“ I didn’t— ”

His finger moves to my ear, tracing a teasing path around the shell. I clench my hands into fists, losing my will to fight this.

“ To me, it means you want me to make you feel good tonight. ” His deep voice is a compelling sound that injects liquid heat into my veins.

“ More. ” I whisper, surprised at my request.

What’s wrong with me?

This is wrong. So very wrong.

“ More what, Princess? ” His sultry voice eradicates the guilt.

“ What—Whatever you want. ” I lean into his palm, finally feeling the warmth seeping into my freezing body.

“ You want more of me? ” He chuckles above my lips, drawing my attention to his mysterious eyes.

“ Yes. ” I utter without registering it in my head.

For a night, I can be free. I can just be Ava.

********

After a while, my blood is rushing faster to my head and that’s why I am dizzy, I tell myself. It is not because we are entering a room and the man is right behind me.

His gaze sears my skin which is tightly wrapped in layers of clothes. I gasp every time little electric jolts run up the length of my arm, rendering me unable to process why it feels so good.

His aura is cold and indifferent. In contrast, his skin is warm. It’s enough to make me shudder.

Oh Goddess, what am I doing?

“ You look like someone from a noble family. Are you sure you should be here, Princess? ” He says smugly and tugs me back.

Like a lifeless doll, I stumble into his arm. My head tilts back as my eyes meet the pair of grey eyes again. The alarms blare louder in my head, but the next moment, my eyes are finding his thick lips.

Will it feel good to do it with him?

My hands fall on his chest while I try to fight this line of thinking. There is something about him that pulls me in and the desperation is growing stronger as time passes by.

“ Yes. We should get on— ”

Suddenly, he leans in. I close my mouth as my eyes widen in fear. This is not the kind of fear that paralyzes me. It’s the kind of fear that makes my body buzz with energy. It’s the fear of liking this too much.

“ Tell me something. ” His warm breath ghosts my lips. “ can you even handle me? ”

My cheeks flare in both, embarrassment and thrill. Judging by his build, it won’t be…that easy, right?

Electricity cackles in the air, raising my temperature and speeding my breaths. He waits for an answer, his dark gaze pinning me on my spot and making me restless.

And his lips. I can’t get my eyes off them.

“ I wonder, will you cry when I am deep inside you, Princess? ”

I raise myself on my toes and smash my lips against his mouth. My judgment goes out of the window as the sparks rush to the forefront.

Surprised, I pull away and drop on my heels. What was this sensation just now?

“ I won’t cry. Never. ” I struggle to breathe.

His grey eyes seem to darken under the shadows of the dimly lit room. Like a hungry beast, he drops the act and grips the back of my head harshly.

“ You asked for it. Remember this later. ” He utters, in a voice that is soft but equally dangerous.

I am not thinking rationally. I know. But the moment he pulls me into his body and kisses me like a starved man, my mind shuts down completely.

His lips are not gentle and he has no regard for my pace. I gasp against his smooth lips that devour me and turn my body into liquid heat.

I am no stranger to what happens in interactions like these, but this is the first time a man is touching me so intimately and…roughly.

One of his hands tightens into my hair, pulling at my scalp cruelly while the other roams down my side to loosen the strings keeping my cloak in place.

My nipples harden under the dress I am wearing as the cloak slides down my body and pools on the floor. Momentarily, he detaches our lips. I suck in a few desperate breaths while trying to fight off the lightheadedness.

His kiss has turned my mind into mush and my heart into a horse that is running a blind race with no finish line in sight. His hand drops to my waist as he looks into my wide, surprised eyes. My body is so sensitive to touch that his warm palm on my clothed skin makes me tremble.

“ I don’t do soft. ” His gruff, wild voice whispers above my lips.

I close my gaping mouth, tasting his mint breath over my lips. Our eyes remain locked, making me hyperaware of the height difference between us.

“ I am not…looking for anything like that. ” I utter weakly.

This is happening.

Oh, this is such a bad idea.

But…it feels…

He drags his hand up and cups my left breast from above my dress. The rough squeeze of his big palm causes my head to drop back. An unconscious sound slips from my lips, leaving me an embarrassing mess.

It feels so good.

“ Do you know me, Princess? ” His lips touch mine, just slightly and my thighs clench together as wetness pools between them.

AVERY

“ N—No. ” My back arcs.

“ Ask my name. ” He demands in an amused tone.

I can’t focus on whatever he wants. I can only feel his hand in my hair and on my breast. Calloused fingers kneading my skin, and making me breathless.

“ Ask me. ” His lips press onto mine again, just enough to make me yearn for more.

If I know his name, will I…seek him again?

I…can’t.

“ I don’t want to know. ” I shudder helplessly.

“ What do you want, Princess? ” His breath hits my cheek before sliding to my exposed neck.

He pulls at my hair, making me arc more for him. His lips press into the crook of my neck, sending chills down my spine.

“ I just want you to, Ah…make me feel good. ” I blurt hesitantly.

He chuckles against my skin. My fingers dig into his muscles, feeling the hardness and imagining his body over mine.

The tingling sensation between my thighs is driving me crazy. I open my mouth to demand him to hurry up but his hands behind my back stop me.

With a tug, he rips the back of my dress. Buttons fly in the dark, as the dress helplessly falls to the floor.

Now, I stand in front of him, naked and flushed. His hands claim my skin possessively and drag down my sides.

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to fight the moans threatening to spill out of my mouth. He runs his fingers under the breasts, tracing the exposed lining.

His lips meet mine again. The bruising force behind the kiss makes me stumble but he catches me and tugs me back in. My naked body presses into his clothed one as he parts my lips and dives in.

All thoughts drop out of my head and the sensations take charge. One kiss leads to another, then his lips are on my neck—Kissing, sucking, nibbling, and leaving marks on my skin.

I can’t stop the moans anymore. The hot sounds echo in the room, and my hands grip his shirt tightly.

Abruptly, I am pushed into the bed and he is hovering above me. My eyes blink open to find his heated gaze fixed on me. My heart jumps into my throat.

Under the dim lights, he looks like the definition of masculine beauty. The darkness he radiates is unique and tempting.

My thighs clench harder as his gaze drops to my hardened nipples. He places his hands on my thighs and spreads my legs. My back curves and my nipples brush his shirt.

Instantly, I moan and then close my mouth. His dark gaze sweeps over my body and meets my eyes again.

A warm hand slides between my panties and another moan escapes my lips. My toes curl as the pad of his middle finger presses into my core.

This is happening.

Oh, Goddess.

Without a care, he slides the finger inside me. The uncomfortable feeling spreads in my lower half, but it goes away the moment he pulls it out and then plunges it back in. I don’t have the time to be surprised by the ease with which his fingers slide into me.

He pulls them out and leans away. Instinctively, I squeeze my eyes shut. My core is throbbing and aching with the need to get something inside me.

It’s like my body is betraying me completely. The alcohol has made me blind and the strange sparks only aid whatever this man is doing.

He slides my panties down my legs which have a mind of their own. His muscular frame settles between my legs again before he leans in and kisses me roughly.

The movement of his lips is aggressive and demanding. It’s different from the previous kisses. It’s more intense, and deeper. His tongue explores my mouth, as his fingers slide between my folds once more.

Like a brainless fool, I moan into his mouth and spread my legs wider for him.

We part for a moment and he removes his shirt hastily. I pant as I reach for his neck and tug him back in. Our lips meet with the same intensity that knocks the breath out of my lungs.

His hands fumble between our bodies. I hear the noise of the zipper, then feel something hot and hard sliding between my wet folds.

Pleasure courses through my veins, making me unable to register anything else.

His teeth tug my lower lip harshly before he pulls away and sits on his knees.

“ Look at me. ” He commands in a powerful tone. Warmth pools in my belly at the way he speaks.

My eyes snap open and meet his gaze. The corner of his mouth quirks up but I find myself staring into his eyes that hold a hint of fury.

Why is he angry? Is he mad at me? Does he not like it?

“ Keep your eyes on me. ” He orders, and breathlessly, I obey.

I have never—

My train of thought comes to a halt. He pushes inside me roughly. I hiss and clench my teeth. My lower abdomen throbs with pain as if something has split me in half. Unconsciously, my eyes roll back into my head as I struggle in agony.

“ Eyes, Princess. ” He says hoarsely.

Immediately, my gaze finds his face again. A wave of electricity goes down my spine and makes me squirm to adjust him.

I want this, I want him. I need this desperately.

He is watching me, writhing in pain and the subtle pleasure. I clench the sheets while trying to not make it so obvious.

“ First time? ” He lowers his hand to my stomach, feeling the tensed muscles.

I bite my lower lip but refuse to answer him. His eyes flash a threatening black, making my eyes widen in horror. Slowly, strange dark red veins pop under his eyes and in his cheeks.

This can’t be. Only the eyes of Lycans ever flash black. And what are those veins? I have never seen this before.

Roughly, he pushes his length inside me. I wince, as my head rolls back into the pillow. This hurts like hell.

“ Princess. ” He pushes further in.

I try to squirm away but his hands close around my waist and pull me to him.

“ You will take all of me tonight. ” He groans, pushing all of it in.

My insides cling to him while pain makes me shake my head repeatedly. I should ask him to stop.

I should ask him to stop—I repeat to myself, but the pleasure that his throbbing cock inside me brings surpasses the pain. The sparks that surround my body and make it tingle make me numb to the world.

“ P—Please, move. ” I grumble through my gritted teeth as he stays still.

“ So tight. ” He pulls out.

“ And wet. ” Thrusts back in. I grip the pillow and moan recklessly.

“ And eager to get fucked. ” Another thrust and the gravity of his voice makes me forget about the pain.

His hands move to my breasts, squeezing and pinching my nipples. I turn my head to the side and bite the pillow but it’s not enough to keep me quiet…or sane.

The slow thrusts become hard, and fast, and then quicker. His groans become an aphrodisiac, giving me a satisfaction I never felt before.

Every sensation heightens the moment his lips find the skin of my neck, my shoulders, my breasts. His lips are everywhere, and his hands are holding me down as he takes me mercilessly.

The moment I forget the pain, it becomes all about the hot pleasure that buzzes in every inch of my skin. Something builds deep inside me—Something that threatens to leave me shattered underneath him.

And then, I come undone with a shallow scream in his neck but he keeps going. My mind tells me to stop this. I am done.

But the thought of his pleasure, the pleasure he will take from my body…is intoxicating. I want him to feel the same. I want him to shatter and lose his mind.

Every desperate thrust and every desperate sound of pleasure brings me closer to another orgasm. He flips me to my stomach and slides back in before he takes me in the familiar quick strokes.

The stretch burns, and he goes deeper. But it feels so good.

Somewhere during it, I forget my name, and my identity and only remember the man who is inside me like he owns me.

I only come to my senses when I feel his teeth over my neck. He bites a little harder than necessary, and a force sweeps inside my head. I scream due to the pressure before I feel the warm liquid inside me.

What did he do?

I struggle to grasp the reigns of sanity but it’s impossible when the pressure in my head grows.

The thrusts come to a halt as he pants close to my ear, his heavy breaths making me dizzier.

“ What…did…you— ”

My tongue loosens in my mouth. I press my forehead into the pillow while trying to understand what just happened.

He sinks his teeth in the lobe of my ear, sending a sharp pain in my flesh. I try to grab the pillow but it slips from my hold. I feel so weak.

“ You… ” His deep, angry voice whispers something into my ear. “ Mine. ”

I gasp a final time and desperately try to hold onto my consciousness but I am already slipping. I am so sleepy and tired and—

“ Princess. ”

I think he is laughing to mock me. I try to blink my eyes open but it’s impossible.

“ Remember. My name is… ” I hear him say and then feel him pull out of me.

I try to make out what he said, but everything goes black.