I Paid for a Male Escort, Only to Discover He’s the Lycan King

Chapter 1

KAT

“You look perfect, Princess Katerina.”

My fists clenched tightly in my lap. I had to make a conscious effort to breathe and calm myself.

Perfect. I looked like a doll. The kind meant for display, pristine and never touched. The useless kind. Pale porcelain skin with the finest makeup applied so expertly that it looked seamless. Big blue eyes with lashes that didn’t need extensions. Plump red lips with the usual polite smile.

“Thank you,” I answered, nodding at the makeup artist.

“They’re waiting for you downstairs. Should I call your brother to accompany you?”

My fists balled again. Lordswood Castle was more secure than any fortress. Bugs couldn’t get in without stringent vetting and permission, but even that wouldn’t be enough to get them into the inner keep.

Yet they still accompanied me everywhere like a child.

Still, all of this was for a good reason. Every sacrifice would be worth it in the end.

“That won’t be necessary. Thank you, Alanna,” I said as I stood.

“But the Alpha said—”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” I interrupted, maintaining the smile so deeply ingrained in me it felt fused to my face.

I straightened the long skirt of my dress and adjusted my posture, although this was easy to do thanks to the corset. It was as stiff as a board; I couldn’t slouch even if I wanted to.

Only sparing a glance in the mirror, I nodded at the team of women who’d dressed me and headed out of my dressing room. I did look perfect, I had to give them that. Not a single strand of blonde hair out of place, shoulders straight, head held high. And every piece of clothing on my body was worth more than most people made in a year.

I was the prize.

The one raised to be envied. To complete my true mate’s life. To be a trophy.

A prisoner.

My smile slipped, and my steps faltered at the door to my bedroom. I was being unfair. My life was a privilege; I had to be grateful. My parents loved me and gave me everything, and my dear brother, Kostas, would burn the world down for me if I asked.

“Why do they even bother? She’ll be eighteen soon; I doubt a true mate will fall in her lap anytime soon. They’ve set their expectations too high; she’s just an omega.”

My shoulders stiffened. They must have thought I left already.

Omega. Weak. Doomed to submit to every wolf, a burden to the one I’d mate, yet the most treasured in my pack. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

“Quiet! If you want to survive here, keep such thoughts to yourself.”

“But everyone says—”

“You’ll be out of the castle before lunchtime if you finish that sentence. Prince Kostas will make sure you never step foot through the complex gates again.”

There was silence after that, but I wanted that woman to finish what she was about to say. Everyone said what? I was stuck in the inner castle most of the time, and no one dared say a word out of place. Gossip hardly ever reached my ears, but when it did, it was the boring type.

I bit back a huff. It was unladylike. Mother would have a fit if she heard me.

Squaring my shoulders again, I stepped out into the wide hallway alone. There was still a chill in the air outside as we welcomed the spring, but all the rooms in my wing were nice and toasty. My father hated it if I so much as sniffled. He hardly let me out in the winter.

But spring was here. The flowers were starting to bloom. And that meant long walks in the gardens, and the Spring Ball. Some excitement after a long winter. Anything was better than sitting alone with my thoughts.

My steps were steady as I approached the two guards in all black combat uniforms at the end of the hallway, and I almost laughed when they turned to me and stiffened. The panic on their faces was priceless.

“Your Royal Highness, please wait here to be accompanied,” one of them said with a small bow.

I knew they would mindlink my brother the second they saw me, but I was prepared. I quickened my steps past them and turned into the next hallway, where several other guards waited. It was overkill, but what was a girl to do? I was assigned more guards than the king and queen. How far could I go this time? The entry hall, perhaps?

I half jogged past the guards, and was almost at the staircase when my brother's head appeared as he jogged to the top.

Damn. I’d almost made it.

Sighing, I slowed my steps and met my brother’s scowling face.

“You didn’t wait for me, Katerina,” he said.

“I walked down two hallways by myself, Kostas. If I can’t even do that, how will I ever take care of my mate?”

Predictably, the scowl deepened, and I almost giggled. My brother was a handsome man. He was the complete opposite of me. Towering height, brown-eyes, curly brunette hair, and there was nothing delicate about him. He was a warrior, the Lordswood Pack beta, second only to my father with his intimidating aura. I’d been told that was true even if he stood in a room full of alphas.

“He will have to take care of you,” Kostas said firmly. “And don’t forget, this castle will be your home.”

Of course. How could I forget that even after the mating ceremony, I would live within the same walls? Maybe a new face would change things. Shake me out of the monotony. There were only so many languages and musical instruments I could learn, and I was growing tired of all the law, financial, and economics books. Perhaps once I was mated, they would allow me to apply my studies in practice.

Or even learn something else, like training with the rest of the pack. Now that was a dream worth holding onto.

Kostas linked our arms and started walking.

“Remember what I told you about today,” he said. “There are others on the list, but this one is a good candidate.”

They’d said that about all of them. I’d been meeting ‘candidates’ since I was five, first under the guise of playdates, and then openly as my potential future mates. Over the past few weeks, I had a date every day, sometimes twice a day.

Mother was in panic mode. My parents were ready to seal my fate.

Resisting the urge to sigh again, I smiled up at my big brother.

“If you say he’s right for me, then he must be,” I said.

“Of course he is. He has a bright future ahead of him. Currently top of his class and excels in his training. Only someone like that could be your true mate,” Kostas said, his scowl vanishing.

He beamed down at me, and I felt the warmth of his love and protection. Every misgiving I had about these dates deflated as I squeezed his arm.

“I bet he will make an excellent addition to our pack.”

Maybe mating wouldn’t be so bad, after all. I knew my parents wouldn’t pressure me to have children too soon. They just wanted to make sure I was settled in any eventuality. The whole pack would respect someone they approved of, and a true mate would never hurt me.

We descended the grand staircase slowly, into the entrance hall. It was almost noon, so the servants should have been busy preparing lunch or cleaning the hundreds of rooms within the great stone structure. But there was silence. Too quiet. A ‘mood’, no doubt orchestrated by my mother. This new date must have been very important to bring things to a halt like that.

Or mum was just desperate.

“The sun’s out today. We’ll meet him in the courtyard,” Kostas said.

I gasped and stopped walking, gripping my brother’s arm.

“Really?” I asked, holding my breath.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Kostas said gently with an indulgent smile. “You should see the first blooms with your future mate. I already told them to prepare your cloak.”

I ignored the optimism in his words and half-dragged him through the halls on the lower floor. The courtyard. How I’d missed that. Even if the date didn’t go as planned, sitting in the open with the sun on my face would make up for it.

“Mum and Dad have official business, so they will meet him later for tea. Your chaperones are already waiting,” Kostas said, then added with a chuckle, “Slow your steps. Don’t be so eager.”

Right.

I had to be proper. I was Her Royal Highness Princess Katerina Lordswood of Kingsland. There should be nothing to criticise about me.

“Sorry, brother.”

I lowered my head as my chaperones approached, and one of them draped my warm cloak over my shoulders.

“I’ll be close, so don’t be afraid,” Kostas whispered, kissing my forehead before he stepped back.

His words sent a chill down my back, but I brushed them off. I was going outside!

My first genuine smile since I woke stretched across my face as the doors were opened, and I finally felt the sun directly for the first time in months. I didn’t mind the slight bite on my cheeks as we stepped out into the cold. I was eager to meet the next man on my parents’ dating list, just to walk around the gardens.

My step remained surprisingly steady, and I kept my hands together in front of me and my head lowered. A lady walked with grace. An Omega with humility.

We walked along the paved path by the pond towards the main seating area until we reached my favourite cherry blossom tree right in the middle of the yard. My smile widened. The tree was blooming. Soon, the whole courtyard would be filled with the lovely scent of the flowers.

A little boy stood beside it, admiring the tree, hands in his pockets. He was dressed in a suit, as most visitors did. I wondered who his parents were. Perhaps they were the ones the King and Queen were entertaining.

I stopped beside him and breathed deeply.

“Your Highness,” the boy said, stepping back from me and bowing.

“No need to be so formal,” I said, smiling at him.

He was curly-haired and pimply, his face suggesting he was no older than twelve or thirteen. He probably hadn’t shifted yet, but his alpha blood was undeniable. In a few years, my wolf would submit to his, despite my royal bloodline.

I looked away from him and suppressed that thought.

Happy thoughts only. Today was a good day.

“What’s your name, little boy? Are you here with your parents?” I asked.

Did my tone change to that annoying one adults used on babies? I cringed slightly when I saw the tick in his jaw and the way his fists balled up. Even his grey eyes grew colder. His anger was almost like a slap on my cold cheeks. Weird. He must have been too young to start learning how to control himself. It was more important for alphas, considering how much damage even their auras could do to weaker wolves.

“I’m not a little boy, Your Highness. I’m fifteen. My name is Justin.”

He looked at me expectantly. Was I supposed to know him? Were his family members of the court? My father’s business allies? I’d been memorising names and faces for so long that sometimes they just blurred together.

Still, I couldn’t be rude.

“Nice to meet you, Justin. Perhaps we will see each other again soon. I’m here to meet someone. My brother won’t be pleased if he finds you here.”

I almost giggled at the thought of Kostas’ reaction once he found out someone had slipped past him. The inner courtyard was sacred. My gaze darted across the manicured space, eager to meet my millionth date and take him for a tour. Despite Kostas allowing me outside so soon, my time would be limited. I’d make the most of it.

“I’m who you’re meeting, Your Highness. I’m your date.”

My smile dropped.

My face twisted before I could stop it, my eyes widening as I looked at the boy who probably still had his nose wiped by his mother.

What. The. Actual. Fuck?

Chapter 2

KAT

No. No, no, no. This couldn’t be real. This had to be a prank. A test. I’d gone through so many dates that the pool must have shrunk to almost nothing, but there was no way my parents thought this snotty little boy was suitable for me. Goddess forbid if there was actually a spark of a bond with him.

What the hell were they thinking?

I’d be eighteen in a few days. This wasn’t just a bad match; it was illegal!

“Princess Katerina?”

His babyish voice cut through the horror spiralling in my head, and I quickly smoothed my expression, forcing it back into something polite. Something practised.

“M—my apologies, Justin,” I said, looking back at the two chaperones nearby.

One of them looked away, her mouth twitching. They knew. They knew I’d been buffed and fluffed for a mere little boy.

Was I a joke?

“Please,” I said, remembering my manners. “Let’s sit.”

One of Mother’s best tea sets was already laid out on the table, and a servant waited at a respectable distance, ready to serve. As if the day wasn’t cursed enough, the sun slipped behind a cloud, taking its warmth with it.

Justin smirked as he dropped into a chair across from me, his eyes drifting lazily around the courtyard. His earlier tantrum seemed forgotten as he slouched in his seat and chuckled to himself. Obviously, he knew nothing about etiquette. Nothing about him stood out besides his alpha aura.

There was no way this kid excelled at anything.

“This place is really cool,” Justin said, lifting the delicate teacup like it was a soda can. “I thought you’d be mated before my turn came around.”

My cheek burned as embarrassment rolled through me. His turn? Anyone who made it on my parents’ list was privileged. Saying they were taking turns sounded too vulgar. It was as if I were some box to tick off. Like he was doing me a favour.

I looked away and sipped my tea, too. There was a whole meal coming after that, but I’d lost my appetite, and I suddenly didn’t feel like walking with this boy.

“You’re only a child. It was obviously a mistake,” I said calmly, keeping my voice even.

I wanted to storm back into the castle and demand answers, but Mother had drilled it into me—poise, no matter what. I had a guest, so I had to entertain him, even if he was fresh out of nappies.

I almost snorted, but swallowed it back. I had to endure this. So much for going for a walk. It would be like babysitting, and I really wasn’t in the mood for that. Still, this was better than the dates I’d endured the past week.

A shiver rippled down my spine, and my hand trembled. The teacup clattered softly as I set it down, the uneven sound echoing across the courtyard.

No. Not now. There was no point in dwelling on the past.

“I’m not a child,” Justin said through his teeth, the earlier temper peeking through.

Something about the flash in his eyes tugged at my memory. Why did that look so familiar? That thought brought me out of my head as I studied the kid again. Had I seen him at a ball? In the background, at a pack gathering I’d spied on from one of my windows?

“But at least I’m getting this out of the way quickly,” Justin continued. “Gives me better odds of finding my mate when I shift.”

Frowning, I met the brat’s gaze head-on, breaking another of my parents’ rules.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You know,” the boy shrugged.

I didn’t. Wasn’t he there to see if he was a match? Then why was he still thinking of finding a mate when he shifted?

Not that I would even entertain that thought, but what the hell?

“Which pack are you from?” I asked, fingers curling in my lap.

He was clearly uncultured to act like I wasn’t good enough for him. I was a princess! What could he possibly object to?

“Ironbridge,” Justin answered, glancing around again before reaching into his pocket and pulling his cell phone out. He pointed the camera towards the cherry blossom tree as if it were a sightseeing tour.

Unbelievable.

The scenery was more fascinating to him than I was! At least he didn’t try to take a picture of me. How he’d snuck that thing into the castle was beyond me. Kostas banned recording devices because, in his words, “not everyone deserves to gaze upon your beauty.” I used to roll my eyes at that, but now I was grateful.

I’d studied enough cases to know exactly how wrong it could get when someone captured the wrong kind of image.

A guard materialised from some hidden place behind me and snapped the phone out of the kid’s hand.

“Aw, come on,” Justin whined. “It’s just a tree.”

The guard thumbed through something on the phone, frowning, and then slipped it into his own pocket. Guess the brat was shit out of luck.

“Tell him to give me back my phone. I don’t know why they treat you like you hung the sun in the sky. I’m just like you, I’m a prince, too. My dad won’t let it slide if I say you stole from me.”

“You’re an alpha’s son?” I asked, even though comparing any other alpha in the kingdom to Father was treasonous.

But Mother branched into the farther territories years ago. This brat could very well have been a real prince, a son of one of the neighbouring three kings.

Justin leaned back, folding his arms as if he owned the world.

“Yeah. Alpha Carter. You don’t want to piss him off.”

A sharp noise cracked the air. I blinked. The handle of my cup had snapped in my hand.

I loosened my grip and let the pieces fall onto the table while my eyes widened at the boy before me. My pulse pounded in my ears. I couldn’t breathe past the lump forming in my throat.

A memory flared. A different date. Hair pulling. Greasy hand on my thigh. Rising further. That laugh when he told me what he would do to me.

Twisting my hands together, I looked back at the guard. Of course this kid was a Carter. Not a real prince, not even close. Alpha Carter would never be an alpha king in any lifetime. No wonder this kid looked familiar.

“You should have followed the rules,” I said. I was surprised that my voice remained steady. “They’ll check it and give it back to you at the end of our... meeting.”

No way was I calling this a date. Especially now that I knew who he was. Anyone from that vile cesspit of a pack wasn’t worthy of setting foot through our complex gates, never mind sitting across from me. Didn’t Kostas think so? Had I really been reduced to this? Having him there felt like a betrayal.

“My brother Aaron said you’re insane. I see it now,” Justin sneered. “Said you smiled like a robot no matter what he said to you.”

My hands twitched. Aaron had said a lot.

“And Samuel said there’s not much between your ears,” he continued.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

Samuel had the body of an alpha and the brain of a potato. He didn’t look or talk like he’d ever read a book in his life. Perfect gentleman when he wasn’t leering, but I struggled to keep my eyes open.

“And Jake...”

The smile dropped off my face completely. My skin crawled like a hundred baby spiders had just hatched on me. Justin saw it and laughed, glancing behind me, obviously calculating how much he could get away with.

“Jake said you’d only be good for one thing.”

My gaze snapped back to his. Blood rushed in my ears, and my vision sharpened. Only a few weeks until my first shift, and already the beast within me was stirring. If I lost control now and shifted, I could tear this degenerate pup apart. Because he was unshifted, he’d be defenceless. It would be like toying with a human.

“If your brothers said all that, why are you here?” I asked.

Behind me, I sensed my chaperones edging closer. Did they hear him?

“You really don’t know?” Justin laughed, clapping his hands as if this was entertaining. “There’s a saying. Life isn’t complete until you’ve dated the princess. If you want to find your true mate, you have to dump her first.”

Behind me, one of my chaperones—the one who’d struggled not to laugh when I met Justin—giggled. She knew!

My cheeks flamed again. Humiliation rose in my chest. I dated these boys for a reason, for the good of the kingdom, but this was what they thought of me? My chest compressed, and I felt my heart shatter.

Did my parents know?

Did Kostas?

The fury I’d been swallowing all morning while my maids wrapped me up for this boy returned a hundredfold, forcing me to my feet.

“Mr Carter, we’re done here.”

Justin stood, still laughing, and gave a mocking bow. Every part of me called out to slap that smug look off his face, but my hands remained clasped in front of me.

Proper.

Still perfect.

Even as an inferno burned within me.

“I wasn’t staying here long anyway. We’re obviously, thankfully, not true mates,” he said. “Hand me my phone back and wish me luck for my future, Princess.”

“Good luck, Mr Carter,” I said, a smile still on my face. “You’ll need it to find anyone who’ll put up with that stench of manure coming from your mouth. You talk a lot for a child who’s mediocre at best. Unsurprising considering who your father is. I’ll remember your name fondly the next time Alpha Carter bows at my feet. Goodbye, little boy.”

Chapter 3

KAT

“Katerina, open this door.”

I glanced up from my textbook, waiting. Was today the day Kostas finally lost his patience and broke it down? I’d avoided him for a week, hiding behind Mother’s endless matchmaking. She’d ramped it up again, so much so that it felt like that was all I did. Wake up. Dress. Date. Get humiliated. Start again.

My fury still simmered inside me.

My skin itched, ready to burst from the unfamiliar emotions I’d been struggling with, yet I knew what they meant. It was almost time.

I wanted answers, a reason for this humiliation, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. My omega wolf was already cowering. Hiding. Submitting to my family’s will, like I’d been taught my whole life.

Kostas knew what the Carter boys had said and done. I was under no illusion that those guards who appeared out of thin air to save me during my date with Jake hadn’t reported everything.

But he’d still set me up with another boy who had Carter blood running through his veins.

My head was a jumbled mess. I'd never once doubted my family's love for me until my date with Justin; those questions kept circling my mind. All week, I’d caught the glances from the servants. Saw them whisper. I couldn’t hear them, my wolf hadn’t surfaced yet, but I felt their words.

My humiliation was constant. I felt naked.

“Katerina!” Kostas growled, louder now.

Swallowing, I stood slowly, smoothed down my dress, and pasted my smile back on my face.

“I’m sorry, Kostas. I had my music on,” I lied, pulling my earbuds out for show.

My brother frowned, silent for a while, before he stepped into my room. He didn’t buy it. I'm sure he already knew I was avoiding him.

“It’s the Spring Ball tonight. Mother prepared your dress and mask.”

He sounded anxious. Uneasy. Why? I’d been attending for years, secretly at first, when I hid behind the curtains in the grand hall. When I turned fifteen, I was officially presented—fully masked—and finally allowed to accompany my parents and brother.

Behind the anonymity of the masks, I gained a little freedom.

“I know,” I said. “I'll be ready on time, you don't need to worry.”

“Your birthday is in a few days. Are you feeling... anything?”

“No,” I lied again.

Did he see through that? His gaze didn’t linger on my face. Kostas sighed and walked over to my pile of textbooks. Even on such a day, my work had to be completed.

“Everything I do is to protect you, Katerina,” he said, running his hands through his hair.

“I know.”

I just wasn’t sure anymore what they were protecting me from.

“You didn't meet anyone you liked this week?”

No. No stirrings of a true mate bond. They had all dumped me, the same as the ones who’d come before them. The same as the Carter boys.

“No, but I’ll tell you the moment I like someone,” I said, smiling as I reached for his hand. “I'm sure I'll find my mate soon. Don't worry, Kostas.”

“I would prefer it if we found him now. Before your wolf presents herself,” Kostas said.

So that was the reason for the overkill with the dates? My birthday? Had I run out of time? Would they choose any wolf, rather than my true mate? Anyone would be forgiven to think some great calamity was going to fall on me if I didn’t get marked and mated before then. But what greater calamity was there than mating a wolf who would not respect my boundaries or look past the limitations of my wolf?

“I’ll try,” I smiled, “but could we forget about that for tonight? Can we just have fun?”

His smile returned, faint and wistful.

“Sometimes I forget how young you are. Of course, Princess. Let your hair down tonight,” he said. “But be careful. Things outside our walls aren’t as settled as I’d want.”

Kostas never talked about anything outside our walls. Could this be what had my family anxious? Lordswood was, after all, the largest pack in father’s kingdom, and our kingdom was the largest of the four. Our complex was like a city; we were self-sufficient. It wouldn’t be the first time another kingdom thought they could help themselves to what we had. Was I too arrogant to assume they were all anxious because of me?

“Finish your homework. They’ll come to help you soon.”

After he kissed my forehead, he left, and my burning questions remained unasked. I was almost afraid to hear the answers.

An hour later, several maids came into my room, my new dress and accessories in tow. Usually, I loved this part, but this time, lead settled on the centre of my chest. I was too anxious. I didn’t care about the layers of sapphire silk, the delicate silver-threaded mask, or the jewels for my hair.

My chest still hurt. But I didn’t dare ask the stupid questions.

Did everyone attending the ball know about this saying? Did they all secretly laugh at me?

I had no idea how I got from my dressing room to meet my parents at the top of the main staircase.

“You look beautiful, Katerina,” Queen Maria said, taking my hands in hers.

I couldn’t see her face behind her mask, only her red curls piled on top of her head, but tears shimmered in her green eyes just as they had all week. My head switched from my simmering fury to concern for her. But it switched back just as quickly when I remembered the Carters and all the other recent dates. They’d all been carefully selected by my mother’s own hand.

“Thank you, Mother,” I smiled. “So do you.”

Both my parents did. Father was a typical alpha, towering over all us, even Kostas. He looked more dignified with his blue royal mantle draped over his shoulders.

“Don’t forget yourself tonight, darling. There are too many eyes watching.”

Her words fed the dread that had been brewing in the pit of my stomach. All those eyes would indeed be on me, just as they had since I was presented. But would they be laughing behind their masks?

“Yes, Mother.”

“If you get into any trouble, return to your room. Kostas will take care of it,” Father said, his voice low but commanding.

King Christos didn’t need to raise his tone to make people obey his command. His aura could silence armies; which was how he’d earned the right to rule all the packs in the north. I’d yet to meet anyone who was as strong as he was.

Or as gentle.

As if he’d known that he scared me, he gently patted my shoulder.

This was why my parents wanted a true mate for me. So he could soothe me when I was in distress. So he could protect me.

So he could keep me caged within these walls with the servants whispering behind my back.

“Let’s go,” Father said softly. “Our guests are all here.”

We descended together, my father leading, Kostas behind us. Perfect. Regal. I was sandwiched like the fragile princess I was.

This was my life. Privileged. Beautiful. Like a colourful bird in a cage.

My chest welled, almost unable to push this thought back down. Behind the mask, the smile was gone.

I was a prisoner.

I had to leave.

The music swelled in the great hall, and couples twirled in the middle. But the colours blurred around me. I forgot all the things I loved about the Spring Ball as that decision echoed in my mind.

Was I really doing this? I knew nothing beyond these walls. How would I survive?

I left my mother’s side, picked a drink, and slipped away. I didn’t stop walking until I was in the main courtyard. Sighing, I drained the drink in one go and looked up at the sky. For years, I’d imagined what it would be like to walk out of the castle. To find myself so I could be my own person. I’d even planned every step of it. I already knew how to get the suppressants from the hospital and which clothes I’d pack. But I was not capable of anything else beyond that.

I was not my own person.

“If you sigh any louder, people might think I’m doing something inappropriate to you.”

I froze.

My breath hitched as I turned to the voice. He sat on one of the chairs along the wall, legs crossed, hidden in the shadows.

A stranger, yet that voice sent a jolt down my spine. It was deep and velvety, the gentle chords almost pulling me in like a rope. Everything else faded into the background as I stepped closer to him.

Who was he?

There was something different about him. Something dangerous. I didn’t feel an alpha aura around him, yet I sensed his power.

“There she is. I wonder if that’s her next date.”

The familiar voices behind me pulled me back. Carter voices. The laughter that followed sent the fury crashing back into me. My hands clenched as I turned back inside.

That was it.

I was done.

I was leaving.

Chapter 4

HUNTER

That scent.

Molten amber, smoked vanilla, and something unexpected. Chocolate peppermint?

It drifted closer, teasing my senses. Faint, missing the earthiness of a wolf, yet no less intoxicating. I dragged in a lungful before I could stop myself.

But the woman turned from me in a swirl of silk, her chin high and back stiff as she stormed back towards the pretentious castle that the king of the north called home. Golden hair coiled like a crown caught the light, almost matching its brilliance to the jewels adorning it.

I almost growled, the beast within me urging me to go after her. My grip tightened on the chair’s arms hard enough to hear the creak. This wasn’t why I was here. I had to focus.

The laughter of some teenagers drifting back inside after the girl trickled past me.

“I can’t believe they think anyone will want her,” a boy snorted. “Even with her dowry, she’s going to weaken any pack she bonds with.”

Was that her? The elusive princess of Lordswood? The one paraded like livestock by that irreverent king? That kid was disrespectful, but he had a point. Her reputation was in ruins. No self-respecting man would sign up for this, whether he was a true mate or chosen.

Sighing, I leaned back. With a flick of my fingers, Elijah stepped from the shadows, silent as ever, and handed me a file. The useless Lordswood shadow guards likely wouldn’t even know he’d been there.

“You were right. He’s here,” my beta said.

I didn’t need to open it. Of course I was right. Only a psychopath would dance beneath the king’s nose with a target on his back. But was he acting alone? That part wasn’t clear yet. The bastard was getting under my skin.

I stood and passed him the file.

“Should I follow you? They are watching you. It seems they’re expecting you.”

“He won’t make a move tonight. He’s taunting me,” I growled, adjusting my suit. “And I don’t care if they’re watching me.”

Who would dare move against me?

“Will you take your turn with the princess?”

My head snapped to Elijah as he vanished back into the shadows with a chuckle.

My turn? The fact that King Christos even dared to put my name on that list was insulting.

My mask was a gold skull, and possibly the most ridiculous thing I’d ever worn. Christos Lordswood had made such things mandatory since he presented his ‘precious’ daughter, and it was another kick in the balls. I’d ignored the invite for years for that reason. But this time, lives were at stake.

But no one would believe that when they walked through to the grand hall. It was pure decadence. Gold, silver, and royal blues everywhere. Priceless ornaments and jewels displayed like trinkets. A live orchestra played trending renditions, while servers floated by with glasses of wine that most packs couldn’t afford in a lifetime. I’d bet the feast laid out was just as ostentatious. Christos had no respect for the suffering of others, and it seemed neither did the other alphas.

They stood apart, surrounded by their own, the facade of unity glaringly obvious. The Spring Ball meant nothing when their egos filled the entire hall.

Christos was the king of no one.

They all liked to pretend I didn’t exist.

Alpha Carter’s gaze flicked to me, and his pasty face turned paler. Smirking, I raised a flute to him, and the spineless alpha looked away.

Sighing, I got back to work. Weaving through the guests, eyes and ears open, I caught nothing but useless conversations. No one would whisper about bloodshed within Christos’s polished walls.

A flash of blue caught my eye, and I stopped moving. It was the princess no one wanted. She glided through the room, accepting the way the crowd parted for her as if it was her right, and stopped beside her brother, another unbearable prick.

The Lordswood pack was full of them.

“Are you alright?” Prince Kostas whispered.

I caught his words even above the music and chatter.

The princess nodded but didn’t speak. Still no voice. Her sighs had been soft and breathy, like the start of a moan. I shook that thought loose, but the curiosity didn’t let go of me. What did she sound like? Whiny? Arrogant?

“Tell me when you have enough. We’ll head back, I can have dinner sent to your room,” Kostas said, resting his hand on the top of hers.

My gaze narrowed at the protective way he touched her hand. They were siblings, right? Kostas had beaten the living shit out of anyone who breathed wrong around the fragile princess. Overkill, for sure, but what did I know? I didn’t have any siblings.

“Did you meet anyone... special?” Kostas whispered.

Oh.

Was the ball another meat market? Another chance to find this elusive true mate?

Shaking my head, I set down my drink and prepared to leave. There was nothing for me there. I was better off watching my suspects as they went. Masks concealed everything, and I had no scents to track.

Then she spoke.

“No. But I’d like to dance before I go back to my room.”

Fuck me.

The whispered words snapped my head back to the princess. I’d expected her voice to be soft and shy, but it was low and firm. Measured. Like honey dripping off a silver spoon. A contradiction.

My beast reared up, focusing on the princess again.

“There’s no one here worthy of a dance with you,” Kostas said. “Shall I have this honour?”

No one worthy?

Oh?

Grinning, I stepped forward, ignoring the alphas and lunas who hadn’t bothered to greet me, until I stood in front of the siblings.

“Your Highness,” I said with a bow, “may I have this dance?”

The princess looked at her brother like she was waiting for his permission. Would the great Prince Kostas Lordswood let his baby sister dance with the devil? My aura was buried, but I had no doubt Kostas knew who I was. He knew everyone within a mile of his sister.

Sure enough, when I met the prince’s gaze, there was enough ice in it to burn. And fear? His temple throbbed above the phantom mask covering half his face.

Would he defy me?

“Kostas?” the princess asked, pulling his focus.

“It’s up to you, Katerina. I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

She hesitated, and then the princess released her brother’s arm and held out her lace-covered hand. Kostas’s mouth twitched, and the air around him cracked with unrestrained power.

Until Katerina whimpered and flinched.

Of course. The fragile little omega. She couldn’t take any discomfort.

Kostas smiled and masked his aura as he rubbed her back.

“Go on,” he said gently. “Dance. I have some people to talk to.”

Katerina half turned, as if she would follow her brother, but I caught her hand in mine. With her full mask, I couldn’t see her expression, but her body stiffened. The tempo of her heartbeat jumped. Blue eyes clashed with mine. Fire flared in her eyes briefly. Maybe it was a flash of light, because she lowered her head submissively and allowed me to lead.

Like a good little omega.

I almost snorted at my thoughts as I brought her to the centre of the room and turned to face her.

And then that scent hit me again.

Fuck. Why the hell had I allowed Kostas’ words to provoke me? I didn’t give a shit if the prince thought me unworthy. But there I was, drawing the princess closer, inhaling her scent like I would die without it.

I didn’t miss the eyes on us. The orchestra played on, but the room went quiet. The dancefloor cleared, and just like that, it was just the two of us in the room.

She was small. Fragile. Barely up to my chest, I could see the top of her head. My hand circled her waist, settling on her lower back, pulling her close. The beast almost purred. Why did she smell so good? Feel so good? Beneath the layers of her dress, the warmth of her body seeped into mine.

The princess gasped and stepped back, head bowed. The music drifted to my ears again, reminding me of where I was. I was being inappropriate. Sullying the precious jewel of Lordswood.

“Pardon me, Your Highness," I said, reclaiming her hand.

This time, I kept a respectable distance. We moved through the steps, flowing seamlessly. Goddess, she fit perfectly in my arms. If I just leaned in, if I pressed my mouth to her neck and—

No.

My grip tightened on her lower back even as I tried to ease away from her. What the hell was this?

She was unshifted. Too young. Inexperienced. Even though I was at least eight years older than her, I’d shifted way before my time.

Besides, she was that fucker Lordswood’s spawn.

The music changed, snapping my attention back to the room and the omega who still refused to meet my gaze. I didn’t want such a spineless woman in my bed. The packaging was beautiful; no one would doubt that. But the blood in her veins was rotten.

“I suppose I can consider this my turn,” I said, my voice flat.

The princess’s head snapped up. Blue fire spat at me, this time unmistakable. Her shoulders squared, and she clasped her hands in front of her.

“Yes, please do. My brother was right, you are not worthy. Enjoy the ball, sir.”

She turned and walked away like she ruled the realm. And fuck if that didn’t make my beast howl.

Chapter 5

KAT

I calmed my breathing before stepping into the family dining room. Mother and Father sat together, holding hands and laughing softly. Kostas stood at the window, wine glass in hand, eyes distant. He didn’t look like he belonged in the same scene. He was too still. Too serious.

The moment Mother saw me, she rose with practised grace and opened her arms.

“Darling, come here,” she said brightly.

Kostas turned, the frown gone like it never existed. The three of them smiled as if they hadn’t seen the way the guests had avoided me at the ball. As if I hadn’t been the only royal they all pretended not to see.

I returned Mother’s embrace, letting her subtle scent smother me. She wore an evening gown, dripping in crystals, despite it being a rest day. I’d gone simpler. No corset and no full face of make-up. Mother’s subtle frown at my dress didn’t need words. But I didn’t offer an explanation.

It’s not like they’d ever given me one.

“You were the belle of the ball last night,” Mother said, guiding me to a seat beside her. “I have a good feeling about your upcoming appointments.”

My fingers twitched in my lap, but I kept the smile on my face.

“Oh? Did you notice anything?” Father asked her before quickly turning his gaze to me. “Has your wolf shown herself, Katerina?”

“Not yet,” I said, too quickly.

“She doesn’t need her wolf now,” Mother said, brushing it off. “She’s so close to shifting, her true mate would have sensed her already. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone comes calling very soon.”

My heart twisted. A true mate. The dream I was raised to chase. Yet...

“You can’t be sure, Mother,” I said, sipping my wine. I was surprised my hand didn’t tremble.

“We had the best of the best from all the territories under one roof. Of course I’m sure,” Mother said, placing her hand in mine. “Trust me on this.”

For the first time in a long time, Mother wasn’t twitchy or close to tears. Could she really have sensed something?

But no. She said the same thing about a dozen times a year. My happiness had depended on the queen’s fluctuating moods for as long as I could remember. We were always either ecstatic or disappointed.

I was tired.

“I trust you,” I lied with a soft smile, just as the servants arrived with dinner.

Across the table, I met Kostas’ gaze. He hadn’t said a word since I came in. He hadn’t said anything since the man on the dancefloor had humiliated me in front of everyone. In front of all the ‘best of the best’ in the wolf territories.

His turn, he’d said. That bastard was no different from Justin and his brothers.

Kostas looked away from me and picked up his cutlery to start eating.

“When your mate reveals himself, we’ll throw the grandest wedding,” Father beamed. “I’ll walk you down the aisle, just like I always dreamed. Kostas, have you finished overseeing the housing project? Every unit must be furnished.”

My father spoke like it was a done deal. My true mate would live in the castle with me, and his pack would join ours. But what if he chose not to? What if he didn’t want my brother as their beta?

My gaze drifted back to Kostas. He didn’t look at Father as he said, “Yes, everything is under control.”

But Kostas was the smartest person I knew. Hadn’t this thought crossed his mind?

Hadn’t it crossed any of their minds that no one would want to live with the joke of the kingdom?

“Perfect,” Mother said, clasping her hands. “Our little butterfly will have everything.”

I tuned them out after that. Mother’s endless plans for the wedding. Father’s constant tweaking of the security plans and living arrangements. I’d participated in the conversations enough times to know them by heart.

By the time dessert plates were cleared and we moved to the lounge, I could barely keep my mask in place. My stomach twitched with nerves, and my pulse echoed in my ears.

This was it. The last supper.

Would I ever see my family again? Would they understand why I had to do this? Would they forgive me?

How disappointed would they be when they learned that I didn’t want the life they had so carefully crafted for me?

“Are you alright, Katerina?”

I smiled at my brother over my book.

“I am. But you seem tired, though.”

Was he burning himself out again? When I left, who would remind him to take care of himself?

“Things have just been a little hectic, but I’m fine.”

Was he lying?

“If it’s about my birthday, we don’t have to make a big deal of it. The Spring Ball was grand enough.”

“Nonsense,” Father said. “It’s not every day a wolf turns eighteen.”

As if triggered by my anxiety, my body started to betray me. My skin itched, nerves flaring under the surface like a thousand sparks. The lights pierced my eyes, and every sound stabbed into my skull. The world sharpened until I could make out the silver strands in my father’s blond hair. I could smell the blood in the steak we’d just eaten, still clinging to the air.

And then it was gone. Cut off. Silent.

“What will you do if this doesn’t work out?” I blurted.

The room stilled. I watched that panic return in my mother’s gaze before she forced a smile.

“You will find one, Katerina,” Father said, voice firm. “Even if I have to knock on every door on the planet.”

I clenched my wine glass until my knuckles ached.

I wanted to scream. To ask why this mattered more than how they let those boys treat me. How they let people whisper about me and turn me into a joke.

Instead, I smiled, as if I were grateful, and sat in silence as the conversation returned to my birthday. When my parents decided to retire to their wing, I held on a little tighter than usual. Kissed their cheeks a little longer. Memorised their warmth.

By the time Kostas walked me to the door, my cheeks were numb, and my tears were seconds from bursting out.

“Rest well. Tomorrow will be busy,” Kostas said.

“I will.”

“That man you danced with last night,” Kostas started.

My fists balled before I could stop myself. That grey-eyed bastard. I shoved my memories back quickly and composed myself.

Now was not the time to remember how he held me. Or the way his scent messed with my head.

“Did you feel anything? Did your wolf stir?”

“Thankfully not,” I lied. “He was insufferable.”

I couldn’t quite forget the way his scent tangled with something inside me.

My brother exhaled, and I saw the tension drain from his body. Was that the reason he’d been so quiet all night? He never worried without a good reason, so my assessment of that man must have been right. He was just a scoundrel. Someone not good enough for me. Such a man would never be my mate.

“If you ever meet him again, walk away,” Kostas said.

Well, that was easy. I didn’t even know what he looked like.

“I’ll never be in the same room as him,” I promised.

Kostas paused, and I thought he might say more, but instead, he hugged me tight and pressed a kiss to my temple.

“It will get better. I swear it,” he whispered before he released me.

He didn’t linger after that, and my chest ached when I watched him walk away. My dear brother. Would he be okay?

Dragging my feet, I walked into my room without bothering with the light and sank into my couch. The tears came, falling silently as they had done many times before. I sat for hours, unable to stop them, unable to stop the stabbing pain in my chest.

When the castle finally fell asleep and the guards started their change of shift, I rose and crossed to the back of my dressing room. My bag was packed full of suppressants, and I’d swiped a change of clothes from the laundry room.

There was nothing else left for me to do. There was nothing for me in this castle.

In this kingdom.

My only chance at freedom lay beyond the border, in the human world. With my steps light, I hid in the shadows until I slipped through the cracks of the life they built for me.

I wasn’t their butterfly anymore.

Chapter 6

KAT

The mirror was cracked and too small to show much, but the green-eyed redhead woman staring back at me didn’t need a full reflection to know she looked damn good. Green eyes sparkled beneath the uneven bangs of my pixie cut and my smile was wide.

I turned back to the mess behind me. Clothes piled on one side of the bed, textbooks and files on the other, and somewhere behind all that was my defunct kitchen.

It didn’t matter. I was finally moving out of this shithole.

Squealing, I plopped onto the clear patch of my single mattress and picked up my envelope for the hundredth time.

My bonus.

My big, fat, life-changing bonus.

Eighty hours a week, blood, sweat, and tears for almost two years, and those higher-ups at the Bureau of Non-Human Affairs had finally noticed me. My name wasn’t on the case file, but I cracked their case. I was their fucking hero. I deserved this.

Besides, I hadn’t worked so hard just to write my name down on some file. I’d done the impossible. Permanent hire before graduation? Done. Youngest recruit? Also done.

All that homeschooling had come in handy after all.

The smile faltered. My chest tightened. Tears threatened, but I shoved the thoughts away. Today was a good day. I was done surviving, I was ready to live.

Grabbing my keys, bag, and helmet, I kicked dirty clothes out of the way and headed out. I guess I’d have to deal with the mess before I officially started work on Monday. I was down to my last office outfit.

Or fuck it, I’d just buy new clothes.

My laughter rang out in the hallway as I walked to the stairs. I was still laughing when I reached the basement parking lot. I’d buy enough clothes that I didn’t have to repeat the same outfits every week. An apartment with enough room to swing a cat. A double bed without a thin, lumpy mattress!

Kat Munroe was moving up.

“Looking good, Kitty Kat.”

Rolling my eyes, I didn’t turn back as I secured my crossbody bag across and put my helmet on. Leather booty shorts, matching jacket, thigh-high boots, and a top that could pass for a bra. Not a corset in sight.

“Where are we going tonight?”

The voice sounded closer, so I had to look. I hadn’t made it this far by being stupid.

Two guys, the usual suspects, walked out from behind two pillars like they were villains in a D-list movie. Long-haired jock types. The type of human trash the Bureau usually handed down to the local agencies. It was a pity they couldn’t handle humans themselves or I’d have turned them in for being assholes.

“Todd. Sam,” I greeted with a nod. “Just going for some groceries. Why are you lurking in a dark basement?”

The two delinquents grinned and came closer.

“You promised we’d hang out, Kat,” Todd drawled. “You’re not going back on your word, are you?”

“Forget your groceries,” Sam added. “We’ll feed you something better.”

Creepy. Did that shit ever work on anyone?

“Maybe tomorrow night,” I said, turning back to my bike and swinging my leg over it.

The two were on either side of me before I could grip the throttle.

“You keep brushing us off, Kitty Kat,” Todd said, grabbing the handlebars. “You think that will work forever?”

My motorbike was my pride and joy. Gleaming red and black with polished chrome, and an engine that purred like a beast. I’d skipped meals and rent for her. How dare this bastard put his hand on her?

“We promise you’ll enjoy it,” Sam added, grabbing the other handle.

I’d had enough.

Removing my helmet, I ran my fingers through my hair and then smiled at one and then the other. Television was a great thing. More educational than the mountains of books in my father’s library. In three years, I’d learned that using brute strength wasn’t the only way to win.

But it sure did help.

I swung my helmet and cracked it hard against Todd’s head. Then a punch to Sam’s ribs made him swear and stagger back. The engine roared to life beneath me, and I peeled out before the losers could react. My laughter echoed in the parking lot, rising with the growl of the engine.

Three years ago, someone would have come out of the shadows to handle those two.

But I wasn’t that girl anymore.

I couldn’t be.

I sliced through the Friday night traffic with that ache in my chest. As always, guilt tore at me. Had they stopped looking for me? Were they okay? Did they hate me?

If I went back now, would they accept the new me?

The bright lights of the city flashed around me as I parked my bike and took my helmet off. I couldn’t dwell on that. I was finally about to get the life I’d designed for myself. Now wasn’t the time to falter.

Pulse stood like a beacon in downtown Greenville, with a line already forming at the wide doors. A crowd spilt onto the sidewalk, and I could already feel the thumping of the bass from outside. When it was my turn, I proudly took out my ID before they could ask me and grinned at the bouncers.

Twenty-one. My birthday. In the human world, I was now old enough to drink.

The bouncer looked between my ID and my face before he gave a low whistle.

“Happy birthday, Kathrine Munroe.”

“Damn right it is,” I said with a wink.

The velvet rope lifted, and just like that, they let me into the heart of the beast. Bass, bodies, and neon lights hit me all at once. The air was electric, and energy pulsed through the air. It was chaos, and I loved every second of it. I threaded my way through the crowds towards the bar, my body swaying to the music. This was freedom. The opposite of every ball I’d ever attended.

Except in one way.

So many people, so much laughter, yet I was still very much alone.

Finally leaning against the bar, I waited for the busy bartender to notice me before I slid a twenty across the counter.

“Whiskey. Neat,” I shouted above the music before I leaned back on it to scan the club.

As much as I loved the freedom to drink without restrictions, that wasn’t why I was there. I’d been too busy juggling my degree and my internship, and now I was about to get busier. This weekend was the only time I could let my hair down.

The only time I could feel... something.

Kostas would lose his shit if he knew. Instead of making me panic, a thrill shot down my spine. I was my own person. I could make my own choices.

I scanned the room, my eyes skimming past the boys trying to be hard on the dancefloor, the men leering at the women from the walls, the ones being too loud, attention-seeking.

Until my gaze stopped at him.

He leaned against the far wall, half in the shadow, half under the flickering lights. Dark shirt unbuttoned just enough to hint at the muscles underneath, and pants tight enough to make my heart flutter. No loud colours like most of the men around him. No attention seeking.

He didn’t blink often as he watched the crowd. He just stood still. Like he was waiting for something. Like he was hunting.

My body lit up like I’d finally found the piece I’d been looking for.

I picked up my whiskey and headed straight for him without hesitating. The closer I got, the more my body reacted to him. It had been so long since I’d felt anything remotely similar that I almost panicked.

But I shoved those thoughts back. This had nothing to do with my beast. Those suppressants had worked for three years, and they would continue to do so.

The man’s head snapped towards me, and fuck. I couldn’t stop the gasp. He was beautiful. Hair cropped short, stormy grey eyes smouldering, and a five o’clock shadow. Older than me, for sure. More experienced. I could tell by the way his gaze dipped slowly, dragging over me, before he met my eyes again. It felt like a caress. The heat that pooled in my stomach was instant. How did a man do that with just his eyes?

I stopped in front of him and tossed back the rest of my drink. Liquid courage.

“Seen something you like?” I purred.

His mouth curved, just barely.

“Maybe.”

His voice was deep and smooth, and it struck something inside me. Had I heard it before? At work? Or in my lectures?

I tilted my head to look up at him. I would have remembered if I’d ever met someone like him. Despite the chaos of the club around him, he remained composed. Restrained. If this weren’t a human club, I would have suspected he was something else. Was he hunting for a little something for the weekend, then?

I was more than ready to be his prey.

Stepping closer, letting my gaze eat him up like he’d done to me. Yes. Yes, he’d do.

“Then what are you going to do about it?” I asked.

“You tell me,” the man said.

This was my cue. I’d studied all those smutty television shows just for this moment.

“I’d like to buy you for the night.”

His brow lifted slightly, and his mouth curved again.

“You’re very blunt.”

I shrugged. “It’s my birthday. I’m celebrating. If you’re not available, I can find someone else.”

The little smirk fell off his face, and the air shifted. He stepped away from the wall slowly. Deliberately. I felt very much like his prey. My heart slammed against my chest when he stepped into the light.

Goddess. He was even hotter up close. Sharp jawline, tall, broad shoulders. I felt his presence all around me.

“And what exactly do you expect from me, birthday girl?” he drawled.

My breath caught. Electric shocks zapped down my spine, and I almost stepped back.

But this was what I wanted.

“Surprise me,” I whispered.

The man licked his lips. Then he reached for my empty glass and set it on a table next to us.

“Come with me.”

And I did. I followed the stranger through the crowd like I hadn’t watched hundreds of true-life documentaries about what could happen to me. Not because I was drunk.

This wasn’t about rebellion.

This was because, for the first time since I left home, I was going to do something I could never undo.

I was going to give myself to someone other than my true mate.

Chapter 7

HUNTER

The girl sauntered around my hotel room, hips swaying enough to taunt me, leather shorts moulding her ass like a second skin. Her fingertips grazed surfaces as she walked past. I’d bet she was calculating how much she could take me for.

Buy me? That was a first. Usually, they played the damsel and expected me to play their saviour. This one looked the opposite. Dangerous. Those shorts and boots were designed to bring a man down. To ruin them. What game was she playing?

“Are you going to dance around me all night?”

She turned to me and smiled, and my heart lurched in my chest.

Fuck. I hadn’t felt anything like this in years.

“I’m paying you. Shouldn’t you take the lead?” she asked, sinking onto the two-seater couch and crossing her legs like she belonged there.

Brazen little thing. And stupid. Didn’t humans teach their young not to go off with strangers? She was lucky she wasn’t a wolf, because she would have been exactly the type that monster was hunting.

“That depends on how much you’re paying me,” I said, stepping closer. “I aim to please.”

“Name your price. I’m feeling very generous.”

She slipped her jacket off, revealing the top that barely qualified as clothing. My gaze instantly lowered to her chest. She didn’t leave much to the imagination. I immediately pictured my face buried between those generous mounds.

“Hundred,” I said immediately.

Fuck it. I could take the night off and scratch this itch. Her tricks wouldn’t work on me anyway. Humans overestimated themselves.

“Done,” she grinned.

How many times had she done this? That sly look told me she did it often, despite her young appearance.

Still, I dragged my shirt over my head and tossed it aside.

When I met her gaze again, the grin was gone. Her eyes were on my chest, her mouth slightly parted. Raw, undisguised hunger. It was all I saw on her face.

“Like what you see?”

She cleared her throat and met my gaze again.

“Of course,” she admitted. “But I’d much rather you stop wasting time and do what I’m paying you to do.”

A smirk tugged at my lips. It had been so long since anyone—human or otherwise—thought they could boss me around. But I’d bite. How far would she go?

My fingers went to my zipper, and her eyes followed like a magnet, her hunger undisguised. I’d heard her heart race since we walked out of the club, and now her arousal was thick in the air.

When was the last time anyone wanted me that much?

My beast stirred, snarling in my chest, his attention now completely on the small woman in front of us. The last time he’d been interested in a woman was at that masquerade ball. Maybe he just preferred smaller women. This one looked about the same height, but that was where the similarities ended. She smelled of cheap perfume, and her emerald eyes were nothing like the blue ones that had haunted me for years.

By the time I’d kicked my jeans off, I swear she was drooling. Her arousal washed over me, intoxicating me. My cock stirred, pushing against my boxers like I’d never seen a woman before.

“What’s your name?” My voice cracked a little. If I didn’t know better, I’d have suspected she put some kind of spell on me.

She hesitated, then whispered, “Call me Kitty.”

“Then come here, Kitty.”

She rose smoothly with a grace I rarely saw among the humans and stepped closer to me.

“Take off your clothes.”

There was no hesitation. Kitty whipped her top over her head, leaving her breasts bare. Confidence looked good on her. My cock twitched, and I swallowed. She was perfect. All thoughts of the game she was playing flew out of my head when she met my gaze head-on. Not a shred of fear or any sign that I intimidated her.

No submissive bone in her body.

Just the way I liked it.

She unzipped her boots and kicked them off, still holding my gaze. Then she unbuttoned her shorts and slowly pushed them down, leaving just a pair of black, lacy thongs on.

Fuck me.

The beast growled his approval.

What was she doing to us?

As if pulled by a magic string, I dropped to my knees. My hands ran up her thighs, trembling slightly, the heat from her body calling to me.

“What now?” she asked, breathy.

“Anything you command, Kitty,” I growled, sliding her panties down slowly. “But first, let me earn my keep.”

She was clean-shaven. Prepared. The thought that she could have taken someone else home instead of me briefly crossed my mind, but my mouth was already on her.

Kitty gasped and grabbed onto my shoulders.

“What are you... Maybe we should just...”

She stepped back, but I gripped her hips and brought her back to me, latching onto her as if she was the very air I breathed. Air saturated with her lust for me. I’d never realised what an aphrodisiac that was.

Her taste hit the back of my tongue, and my head spun.

Goddess. What was this?

I lifted her leg over my shoulder, opening her up to me, and feasted. My cock throbbed in its silky prison, and my mind blurred.

“Yes,” Kitty moaned, head falling back.

And the sound zinged right through me to my already hard cock. She was going to kill me.

Growling, I picked her up, still feasting on her, and carried her to the couch. It was too small for me, but the bed was too far away. Desperation clawed at me, heating my blood and making the beast restless.

With her leg still over my shoulder, I released her and kissed up her body, tasting her skin until my mouth was on hers. Kitty opened up to me, allowing me to devour her. She tasted like whiskey and temptation.

Like something I was supposed to stay away from.

Yet I freed myself from my boxers and gently slid along her drenched slit. Even that felt too good. Like I could come without doing anything else.

But that was a travesty I couldn’t allow to happen.

I pressed into her.

And met a barrier.

The beast roared, a primal satisfaction filling me at the realisation. I was her first.

She was mine.

Ours.

Groaning against her lips, I pressed further, breaking through. Kitty tensed for a moment, and then her other leg wrapped around me, pulling me deeper.

She was tight and slick around me, gripping me as I thrust. Deeper. Harder. The couch creaked under our weight, but the only sounds that mattered were the moans from her lips.

“Yes. Oh my god, yes,” she cried.

My balls tightened. I rocked forward, jerking while I fused myself against her, burying myself as far as I could. And then she shattered. Her muscles spasmed, milking me, while she cried out over and over again.

My release followed, my cock pulsing inside her even with her grip on me. I spilt into her, coating her walls until there was nothing left. Until the woman beneath me had stripped me of everything I thought I knew.

How could sex be that good?

My body trembled as I struggled to hold myself above her, resting for a moment while my beast curled inside me, content. A mere human had weakened us. My breath was harsh and fast when I met her gaze.

“Wow,” she whispered.

“Yeah,” I breathed.

“I didn’t know it could be like that.”

Me neither. That primal satisfaction welled in me again.

I gently pulled out of her and lowered her leg before I wrapped my arm around her and shifted us. I was intrigued. My beast purred, while I looked down at the woman who fit so perfectly on top of me.

A trap? If it was, I was willing to walk into it again. And again.

I’d just caught my breath when she slid off me.

“Well, that was fun,” she said, reaching for her clothes. “I get why people get so fixated on that now.”

I blinked.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

She glanced back like I’d asked a stupid question.

“We said a hundred bucks, right?”

My mouth dropped open. I watched her pull notes out of her bag, still stunned into silence. But she pressed the offending notes on my still sweaty chest and smiled at me.

“I’ll wash up and get out of your hair. Thanks.”

What the fuck just happened?