Page 7 of Arranged Bullied Mate
If I’m being honest, it’s not just her heat and the pheromones it causes; it’s Ava herself who’s distracting as hell—she always was. Her heat isn’t even in full force yet, and I can barely control myself. I think I’m still in shock about her return. I never thought I’d see her again, and, quite frankly, I’d tried not to care. The pack means everything to me, and she’s from a family of traitors, so I shouldn’t even want her. And yet, the moment I saw her on the stage, I went into autopilot.
All the feelings I’d buried since she left came flooding back, and I was right back there in the forest with her years ago. We were so carefree. She was one of the only people I ever really felt like I could be myself around. She accepted me completely. I let her slip away once; my wolf wouldn’t allow me to lose her again.
The pack appears to have accepted my decision on the whole, but I still feel judged for it. Few would be brave enough to say anything to my face, but I’ve heard whispers questioning her right to be luna, or whether I’ll allow her family to return. Which I won’t.
Maddox is the only one making any public jibes, but then, that’s Maddox. He’s a jerk, and always has been. I know Jacobwould have me knock him down a peg or two, but then, Jacob has never been interested in playing politics, which is why he makes the perfect beta and my greatest ally in the pack. Jacob doesn’t see that handling a problem like Maddox requires more than brute force.
When Maddox’s father died, my father was devastated at the loss of his friend and beta, and elevated Maddox’s family within the pack, effectively taking Maddox under his wing. I think he envisioned us becoming close, almost as brothers. That Maddox would, one day, be my beta, just as his father had been. However, Maddox isn’t particularly suited to that role; perhaps he would have been if led by his own father, but his elevation in status has only made his wolf hungry for more.
Maddox is the only wolf who nears mine in size, strength, and ambition. But he lacks the natural leadership traits of an alpha, and despite his cocky self-assurance, I sense the beta within him, even if he doesn’t. Jacob senses a battle coming, and I don’t disagree, though I hope he changes course before it’s too late. I loved his father, too, and although I don’t like Maddox, he could be an asset to the pack. I’d prefer to honor my father’s wishes than banish him, but I will if it comes to it. If he keeps deliberately pushing my buttons over my choice of omega, that day will come even sooner.
Pushing my buttons while also openly staring at her lustfully—he may not be an alpha, but I see the effect she has on him, too. And that may be the thing that finally breaks the peace I’m trying to keep between us.
However, right now, the problem I have to deal with is in my own home. I know an omega's scent is designed to be alluring; it drives our wolves to covet them and breed them, after all. But Ava’s is on a different level. Perhaps it’s because I wasalready drawn to her; I’d pursued her when we were younger, before her heat cycle even began.
I could have my pick of omegas, and any other female, for that matter—and, to be fair, I have. But there were still families that were frowned upon, those who existed on the edges of pack life, causing problems, breaking the rules. Anyone of status knew to keep clear of those, and I tried, but Ava was different; she drew me in from the beginning. Her soft blonde hair and curves shouldn’t be so enticing when shifters typically value females with more athletic figures, and yet, it’s those curves that drive me crazy; she has the largest breasts I’ve ever seen, and when I finally took her in the forest, it was the best fuck of my life.
I thought I’d move on, find other women, but none of them compared to her soft, tight body. My longing for her is a problem—longing for someone from that kind of family feels like a burden. I chose her, I brought her here, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone see that I doubt my own decision, but I need to get a grip on this desire. I need to control it. Control my reaction to her and make sure the whole pack sees that an omega like her has no control over me—I can keep her in the shadows, breed her, let the pack see her creating new heirs for Starcreek, but nothing more.
They’ll respect that.
Once I get her first heat out of the way, I’ll be able to think more clearly. The damn pheromones that are starting to fill the house are just a distraction. I’m not even alpha yet, not until the ceremony, and I need to stay on top of pack business, not be driven by my wolf and dick.
I know that if I start mating her now, we won’t stop for days, maybe longer. I’ll fuck her until her heat ends, knottingher. The thought makes me pause. I’ve never knotted a female before, never fucked with the intention of breeding. It’s always just been for fun. I find myself wondering what it will feel like to knot her, locked together as I stuff her full of seed. My mind begins to wander, remembering the feel of her breasts spilling out of my hands, her tight channel clamped around my cock…my hand slides under my waistband and firmly grips my rock-hard cock. To my surprise, I find I’m already leaking precum at just the thought.
It’s the damn pheromones.
I remove my hand and slam my fist on the counter, spinning around when I hear a tiny gasp from behind me. Ava’s standing there in a thin sundress, hands twisted together in front of her, and fear etched onto her face as she clearly regrets walking into the kitchen. She’s staring at me, and I’m about to apologize until I see something else in her eyes; she’s warring with herself, and something more primal is winning. The heat.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I snap.
She physically shrinks for a moment before an unexpected fire flashes in her eyes. “Isn’tthiswhy you brought me here?” she says, her voice shaky but almost defiant, “You know I’m going into heat, isn’t that what you want?”
Her eyes are glassy, and I can see that stupid reluctance etched into her features. I’ve exposed a weakness to the pack by choosing an outcast, and she’s not even grateful. It’s like she wants to make me look stupid right when my dominance matters the most. I step closer, wondering if she’ll stand her ground or back down. She takes one tentative step backward, but doesn’t get far before I’m right in front of her.
“It’s what you want, isn’t it?” I sneer, grabbing my cock through my pants. “It’s why you embarrassed yourself bycoming back here and getting on that stage. You wanted this again? I can smell it on you…you want it.”
Ava looks stunned for a moment. “I-I…” she stutters, her cheeks blooming crimson before she falls silent.
She takes another step back, realizing too late that her back is now against the wall. I step closer, my breath stalling as her large breasts brush against my stomach. I place one hand on the wall next to her and lean down to whisper in her ear. “I’m not going to waste my time knotting you until it’s time to breed,” I say, more for her benefit than mine. “We both know you’ll come begging me for it then, slick and half crazy to ride my cock. And I’ll give it to you then, and you’ll be grateful for it. I’ll fill you full of seed, and you’ll fill this house with pups. And you’ll be fucking grateful for it.”
I push off the wall and step back, looking down at her as a single tear rolls down her cheek. I’ll be damned if she doesn’t look even more beautiful this way. Her shoulders shake slightly with unshed emotion, and the small movement makes her chest heave, pushing her soft breasts even further out. I stare for a moment, the blood rushing in my ears as I debate ripping her dress clean off despite everything I’ve just said.
Determined to keep some control over this situation, I turn and walk away before either of us can say anything else. I keep walking until I’m out the front door, the fresh air diluting some of Ava’s pheromones and allowing me to breathe more clearly. I have no idea how I’m meant to sleep in that house and not fuck her all day long. I start walking toward the pack hall, my mind filled with images of sinking into her soft body.
I should probably just start the mating cycle and get it over with. Hell, I probably would have done it by now if she’d appeared even slightly happy at being chosen. Her lack ofgratitude is pissing me off and making me feel stupid. The last thing I need is to be doubting myself just as I’m becoming alpha. The least she could do is reciprocate after I publicly chose her instead of looking crestfallen every time I see her.
I become vaguely aware of someone calling my name behind me and turn to see Jacob jogging to catch up. “I was starting to think you were ignoring me,” he laughs as he falls into step beside me. Catching my expression, he winces. " Everything okay?”
I roll my eyes. He’s been asking some variation of that question nearly every time he’s seen me since the ceremony. I know he knows everything is not fine, but I’ll be damned if I’ll admit it.
“Never better,” I say, and Jacob gives me the look, the one that meanswe’ve been through too much for you to bullshit me.
He snorts, slowing his pace and glancing sidelong at me. “How’s the new luna?” There’s no sarcasm in his tone—just the sturdy, unmovable curiosity of the only wolf who’s never cared about my rank.
I shrug. “She’s…adapting. I think it’s going to take a while.” I don’t mention the part where I nearly lost my mind thirty seconds ago. Or that I left her alone in the house, probably scared out of her mind, because the alternative was doing something I’m determined not to do until she’s fully in heat and fucking begging for it.
He gives me another sideways glance but doesn’t comment further. Instead, he takes a breath before launching into the only other subject I’d rather not discuss. “We need to talk about Maddox,” Jacob gets to the point, voice pitched low as we approach the hall. “He’s been at the training field every day this week, running his mouth to the younger wolves.He’s framing it like he’s just joking, but the message is clear—he’s telling anyone who’ll listen that the council rushed your ascension, and that you’re…distracted. That maybe you’re not ready to be alpha.”