Chapter 17

EZEKIEL

A week has slipped by. Olive’s been acting distant ever since she asked about my dad’s death.

She’s been giving me one-word answers. She doesn’t meet my gaze when I try to talk to her. Our late-night near-kisses are a thing of the past.

I only get to hold her when she’s asleep and I can sneak over to spoon her. It’s pure agony. Blade is going crazy. He wants our mate marked and mated immediately.

Trust me, I want the same thing, but Olive deserves a patient mate. I want her to crave me as I crave her, to need me as I need her.

I can’t figure out why she’s pulling away. Things were going so well!

~Because you lied to our mate!~ Blade growls.

~I didn’t lie. I~ am ~a monster. Only a monster would kill their own father,~ I retort.

~You did what you had to do.~

~There must’ve been another way—~

~What’s done is done. Leave it alone. Stop torturing yourself.~

I know Blade is right. I can’t change the past. I need to move on, but I don’t know how.

How do I move on from killing my own father? Some nights I wake up drenched in cold sweat. I can still taste his blood in my mouth.

I can still hear his screams as I ended his life, and I can still see the light fading from his eyes as death claimed him. The last look he ever gave me wasn’t one of love or pride…

It was a look of betrayal.

I pull myself together and put on my cold mask when I hear a knock on the office door—a trick my father taught me, a handy tactic for any alpha. Dinah peeks around the door.

“Hey hey hey! I thought I might find you in here,” she chirps.

“Why the long face?” She frowns, settling into the chair across from me.

I forget that she has this annoying knack for seeing through my cool facade. Maybe it’s her witch heritage, or maybe it’s just Dinah.

I drag my hands down my face, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Do you want the truth or a sugar-coated version of the truth?” I ask.

There’s no point in even trying to lie to Dinah. Her intuition would catch it in a second.

“Have you met me? Always the truth!” she replies with a playful tone.

I chuckle lightly before speaking. “It’s Olive. She’s been cold and distant this past week. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

“Ah, mate problems! I know all about that,” she jokes sarcastically. “Well…what happened last week?”

I hesitate. “She…asked about my father’s death.”

“Aaaand what did you tell her?” Dinah prods.

“I told her that I’m a monster—she said she didn’t believe that,” I answer nonchalantly.

“Well, there’s your problem right there!” she exclaims, frowning and punching me in the arm.

“Okay, but where is the problem?” I ask, confused.

“Because you haven’t answered her question. She’ll feel like you’re holding back on her, that she’s not trustworthy enough to know this kind of information.

“How would you feel if Olive, your lovely mate, hadn’t told you about her true heritage after being told, huh? Just kept it a secret from you even when you asked.

“But no, she kept it quiet until she could tell ~you~ first because ~you~ are her ~mate~!” Dinah rants.

I grunt in response, knowing she’s absolutely right. It would feel pretty shitty knowing that my own mate was holding back on me.

“What if she hates me for it?” I ask gloomily.

Dinah walks around me and places a comforting hand on my shoulder, coming down to my seated level.

“Hate you? You are her mate; she will not hate you. I was there. I saw everything. It’s my burden to bear too, yet here I am, still standing by your side as your beta,” she reassures me.

“Anyway, want to know how to make the poor girl a bit happier?” she says, trying to lighten the mood.

Chuckling softly, I respond, “Please, tell me, oh wise one.” I press my palms together, pretending to beg.

Dinah laughs.

“Okay, for starters, you can stop that! But seriously, you need to let the poor girl leave your room without so many damn guards on duty. She can barely take a shit in peace!”

“But how am I going to keep her safe? I can’t always be there to protect her.”

“Oh, honey, you did not just say that,” Dinah says sassily.

“From where I was standing, Olive can take care of herself. Not one of your guards or even me were particularly ~much~ help against those rabid demon dogs.”

“Hellhounds,” I correct her.

“Whatever! The point is, she doesn’t need you to guard her constantly. Let her have some freedom, let her live her life a bit.

“Think about what she was doing before you. Give her some of that life back. It’s a big change for the girl.”

It’s a pain in my ass having a beta who’s not afraid to say whatever she wants to me.

But she can also keep my ego in check when I need it, and an alpha, especially a king, needs that trait in his beta.

“Thanks, Dinah. You’ve given me a lot to think about,” I say sincerely.

“You’re welcome. I actually happen to really like this mate of yours, so don’t fuck it up!.” She smiles before leaving.

~Hmm, so what was my little wolf up to before I came here?~

~I hope nothing to do with other wolves!~ Blade worries.

~Hey, we’re no angels!~

Blade grows quiet at this, flopping down and sulking in my mind.

I pull out Olive’s pack member file to look through again.

~So, she’s moved a lot. That’s not news.~

~She’s labeled as “quiet” and “keeps to herself.” Well, we know why…~

~This is interesting. She’s always signed up for combat training in every pack she’s been in. My mate likes a good fight.~

~She’s enrolled in high school for pack law and politics. She’s smart. She likes to use her brain.~

That evening, I head back to my room, excited to see my mate. As I open the door, I see her sitting by the window.

She doesn’t move, just keeps staring outside with a gloomy look. Her long chestnut hair flows down her back like a waterfall.

Her legs are bare, except for some pajama shorts.

Is she trying to provoke Blade into possessive mode, knowing this guard has seen so much of her slender, sexy legs?

A possessive growl escapes from my chest. I order the guard on duty to leave us immediately. He nods quickly, obeying without a word.

I walk over to my beautiful mate and place my hands on her shoulders.

I feel her tense under my touch, but she stays still, looking out the window, avoiding my gaze.

I start to gently massage her neck and shoulders before leaning down to her ear.

“I have a surprise for you, Little Wolf,” I whisper.

I feel her shiver involuntarily before she responds, “Oh?”

“Yes. Starting tomorrow, you’re a free woman… No more guards.” She sits upright, still looking out of the window.

“Hold on. I’m not done yet. You’ll resume your studies in two days, and I’ve signed you up for combat training.

“I’ve arranged for Dinah to travel between the palace and here to support my gamma when needed—until you’re ready to come back home with me, of course.”

She turns her head to look at me, her mysterious chestnut eyes flicking between mine, searching my soul as if she’s waiting for me to say I was joking.

“Are you serious?” she asks. I can’t tell if she’s annoyed or excited.

I nod, smiling, hoping for the latter.

She jumps out of the window seat, squealing, and leaps into my arms. Her legs wrap around my waist and I’m instantly hard.

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” she screams before cautiously stepping back down to the ground and awkwardly clearing her throat.

I’m still holding her around her waist, not wanting to lose this physical contact. I feel like I can finally breathe again after being starved of oxygen.

“Sorry...but thank you,” she says awkwardly.

“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have trapped you with so many guards. I realize now that it was wrong. I thought I was doing the right thing. Can I take you out tomorrow, to make up for it?”

She places her hands on my shoulders, looking up at me from under her long eyelashes. She bites her lip before nodding.

~Goddess help me. This mate is going to be the death of me.~

Without thinking, I lean down and press my lips against hers, pulling her by her waist so that she is flush against me. I’m sure she can feel my excitement.

At first, she is rigid, but then she melts into my embrace. She reaches up and holds my neck, pulling me to her as if her life depends on it, devouring me with need and passion.

I slip my tongue between her luscious, full lips. Our tongues dance with desire and fight for dominance.

My beautiful mate tastes amazing. With every kiss, it feels like my body is on fire, a fire that only my mate can put out.

I place my hands on her firm ass and lift her up so that her legs are wrapped around my waist again. I quickly walk to the bed and throw her down.

We’re both panting, hard. I stand for a moment, taking in my flustered and sexy mate before crawling onto the bed slowly, like I’m stalking my prey.

I stop and kneel by her feet, quickly removing my shirt. I notice Olive eyeing my bare chest. I can’t help but smirk.

I lean forward, grabbing her ankles and pulling her toward me. She lets out a little squeak.

I spread her legs open with my hands before positioning myself in between, pressing my hard cock against her core.

My cock is throbbing to escape the confines of my tight pants. One hand slips under her shirt, slowly moving up her skin.

I can feel goosebumps forming on her skin as I glide my hand up to her breast. I squeeze her breast, making my mate moan beautifully.

Leaning down, I take her hard nipple into my mouth. I lick, nip, and suck.

Her hands tangle in my hair, pulling it hard. She moans loudly. The beautiful sound coming from her mouth is driving me insane.

I quickly pull her shirt over her head, revealing her fully naked torso. I sit back on my knees while I slowly start to lower her shorts.

We’re staring at each other, our breaths ragged and primal. She arches her back to help me slip her shorts off.

Every inch of this goddess is perfect, stunning, beautiful. Mine.

I start to rub circles on her clit. Her fluids are flowing.

“You’re so wet for me, Little Wolf,” I say huskily. I part her folds with my fingers before slipping a finger into her core. She’s so wet and tight.

She throws her head back, moaning louder.

I start to thrust my finger slowly at first before picking up the pace and slipping another digit in, gently curling my fingers upward while I continue to thrust.

I feel her starting to come apart beneath me. “That’s it, baby, cum for me.” Her legs begin to shake and her breathing becomes short pants before she screams out in ecstasy.

I continue to thrust into her to ride out her orgasm until she starts to relax into the bed.

“Oh, Little Wolf, we aren’t done yet.” I smile wolfishly.

I slip off my own pants and boxers, my hard cock springing out. Olive has propped herself on her elbows, taking me in.

I catch her licking her lips then smiling while she bites her lip. Then she lowers herself back down to the bed.

I position my tip at her entrance, ready to thrust inside, when there is a bang on the door.

“FUCK. OFF!” I roar.

~Who the hell is trying to ruin my moment right now?~

The guard’s voice trembles from behind the door.

“My king, I apologize for the interruption. But your presence is urgently required,” he stammers.

“What on earth could be so damn important that it can’t wait another minute?” I snap.

“A demon has been sighted at the southern border, my king.”