Alethea(Zoe)
I can’t let myself give in to the temptation of telling Kayla the truth about who I am. A part of me aches to trust her, to share the burden of my secret, but another part screams at me to stay silent, to protect myself.
I toss and turn in bed, the thoughts pressing down on me. It feels like hours before sleep finally claims me.
But it doesn’t last. Just minutes into sleep, a strange sensation prickles at the edges. A shadow moves in the corner of the room. My eyes snap open, and I sit up abruptly, gasping for air as my gaze darts around.
There it is. A figure, standing in the darkness.
I clutch the duvet tightly as if it’s some kind of shield. My heart pounds in my chest, and my breaths come fast. Yet deep down, I know exactly who it is.
Alpha Asher.
I remind myself he wouldn’t hurt me-he couldn’t. But then a cold, mocking voice whispers in my mind: ‘Don’t be so sure.’
Before I can process anything further, the figure shifts, and in the blink of an eye, he transforms into his human form.
He stands there, his presence overwhelming, commanding the space without a word. His green eyes pierce through me, unreadable and intense.
“Alpha Asher,” I whisper, his name leaving my lips before I can stop it. My head bows slightly in instinctive respect, though my mind races with questions.
He didn’t move closer, but his gaze felt heavy like he was unraveling every secret I’d fought so hard to protect.
He crouches down before me, and as my face tilts up to meet his, his unbothered expression sends a shiver through me.
His hand cups my cheek, and the unexpected warmth of his touch makes my breath hitch. Sparks spread through my body like wildfire, igniting a reaction I can’t control. My knees press together, hoping it will stop the arousal dripping from my body.
“There’s something off about you,” he murmurs, sending vibrations through me. “And I would’ve preferred if you told me yourself.”
His words feel like a challenge, a dare to confess, but I can’t bring myself to speak. His green eyes lock onto mine, holding me in place, and I fight the overwhelming pull.
I want to be angry. Furious. I want to push him away and demand he stop. But my knees feel weak.
I bite my bottom lip in frustration, trying to ground myself, but the small gesture only draws his attention. His gaze drops to my lips, darkening with an emotion I can’t name.
I take a shaky breath, but before I can fully process what’s happening, he closes the distance between us. His lips capture mine in a swift, commanding kiss, and my mind suddenly blanks. My mouth parts at will, allowing his tongue to explore, as if it has always been meant to.
A small moan escapes my lips, betraying me, as his hand tangles in my hair. He tugs gently, tilting my head back, deepening the kiss with a passion that consumes every thought I’ve been holding on to.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. And yet, as he kisses me harder, I find myself drowning in the fire he ignites.
My hands instinctively rise to his chest, I’m weak as I try to push him away to create space between us.
Instead of pushing him away, my fingers clutch his shirt, twisting it in my fists, and to my shame, I tug him closer.
He smirks against my lips and tilts his head to deepen the kiss. His lips press firmly against mine, sucking and tasting as if he’s claiming me.
A shiver runs through me as heat pools low in my stomach, and I struggle to hold onto the fragments of my sanity.
His lips are soft and commanding; it feels as though they’re crafted to match mine. It’s almost terrifying how perfectly we fit, like two halves of a whole.
He nips at my upper lip, before pulling back abruptly. The sudden pull makes me gasp for air, my chest heaving, and my lips tingling from the intensity of his touch.
Our gazes lock, his green eyes hold me captive with an unspoken truth that neither of us can escape.
Then it happens.
‘Mate.’
The word echoes through my mind like a thunderclap, strong and undeniable. My body freezes, my breath hitching in my throat.
No. It can’t be. I told myself I’d never hear that word again after his rejection. But the bond is there, pulling me toward him like a thread I can’t sever.
And he knows it too.
His eyes are dark, filled with lust, and it scares the hell out of me.
“It looks like you want me to devour you,” he says, his deep and hot voice, sending a shiver down my spine.
I know this is wrong, but the bond between us pulls me toward him.
“You miss me, right?” His voice is rough like he’s struggling to keep control.
“Y-yes,” I stutter, shivering against him.
My core tightens at the thought, my knuckles going white as I grip his shirt.
He tugs at my hair, pulling me closer. I can feel his minty breath on my face and his overwhelming scent.
“I’m sure you’re wet for me right now,” he says, his voice vibrating in my chest, pulling at the strings of desire deep inside me.
His eyes drop to my chest, and my nipples harden beneath the thin fabric of my pajamas. He has control over me, and I feel like I’ve lost all power to resist.
His hand slides from my knee to my thigh, sending sparks and tingles that overwhelm me. My mind is a blur, my body surrendering to the sensation. I feel weak, unable to fight the growing desire taking hold of me.
I’m wet, aching for his touch. Every nerve in my body screams for more, craving his hand, his mouth, everything he could do to me.
A moan escapes my lips as his rough hand brushes against my inner thigh. My breathing quickens, and my body trembles with need. His knuckles graze my wet folds, and I jerk forward, overwhelmed by the sudden jolt of pleasure.
“Wet for me?” he murmurs, his voice low and sinful. “Do you want to grind against my hand and come?”
My mind spins. Do I want him? The question barely forms before his hand circles my clit in gentle strokes. All my reason dissolves, replaced with pure, raw desire.
“Say yes,” he commands, and his tongue trails down to my lower lips. My heart leaps to my throat, I’m completely undone.
“Yes,” I whisper, but he pulls his hand back, leaving me hanging on the edge of desire.
“Maya is waiting for me,” he says coolly.
He straightens his shirt, our eyes locked. “You’re mine, Ally. The sooner you accept it, the sooner I can show you the world you deserve.”
Humiliation washes over me. How could I let him go this far? How could I let him touch me? ‘Fuck this cursed mate bond that refuses to break, even after he rejected me.
My hands balled into fists, and I craned my neck to glare at him. My body is still wet. I hate it. I hate him. And yet, I can’t deny what I feel.
“Get out,” I finally manage to say, though my voice is barely more than a whisper. My body shakes with anger and shame.
He smirks, that infuriating, knowing smirk, and then he turns and disappears into the shadows without another word.
I gasp, jolting awake, my chest heaving as my eyes dart around the room. It was a dream-a cruel, tormenting dream. My heart pounds so hard it feels like it might burst. But deep down, I know this wasn’t a dream. Alpha Asher was here.