“You look like a dog who’s been threatened with a wash.” I’d turned the taps, moaning indecently as I’d trailed my hand under the hot water. “What’s not to love about getting warmed up together?”
I hadn’t been able to hide my smile at the thought of Moon’s long limbs wrapped around me in the bath, whilst I’d leaned against his hardness.
He’d lifted his eyebrow. “No fair, I’m missing out on your daydream, and it looks like it’s fun.”
I’d shrugged out of my cape, draping it across a chair in the corner. “Trust me, not as fun as the real thing would be.”
To my surprise, Moon had blanched. He’d studiously avoided looking at the running water as he’d ducked his head. “This dog doesn’t take baths. I saw a tap outside. I’ll wash up there.”
“Hey,” I’d caught his arm, as he’d turned, “are you trying to freeze your balls off and become that eunuch?”
Moon had smirked, but it’d been more fragile than I’d seen before. “My balls are used to it, and I’m not a eunuch yet.”
As soon as the water had filled the bath to its lip, I’d poured in the ylang ylang oil that I’d found in the cabinet, which had misted the bathroom in a heavy floral scent. I’d sighed, sinking into the heat.
So much had happened since I’d arrived in England. I’d known that this supernatural world existed as a kid, but for the last decade I’d lived isolated amongst the non-magical and alone with my magic. It was freaking fabulous to become close to others who understood how I felt and the difficulties of being different. But at the same time, it was terrifying to have such sudden responsibilities: A legacy.
I hadn’t wanted anyone to be hurt because of me. I couldn’t lose anyone again like I’d lost my parents.
Yet I’d sighed dreamily because Moon was mine… I’d grinned at the thought of my teeth in his throat. Was it weird that it’d made me want to slip my hand under the water and stroke myself between my thighs, whilst wishing it was Moon’s fingers touching me? I’d grabbed the wash cloth from the side because at least I had to have some pretense that I’d be, you know, washing…but I hadn’t been able to help the sudden joy at the memory of hunting Moon and then catching him.
I’d moaned, sliding my hand lower, whilst I’d laughed, resting my head back and singing “I Touch Myself” because I always sang in the bath and why not go with the obvious…?
Then there’d been gentle rap on the open door.
Moon had slouched in the doorway with a black fluffy towel wrapped low around his hips. His hair had hung in wet curls around his face, and his eyes were half-lidded. When he’d shrugged one shoulder, teardrops of water had traced down his chest.
How the holy hell did he manage to look more naked wearing that towel than he had earlier in the clearing?
And sexier.
I’d shrieked, scrambling up and half-sloshing the water out onto the floor in a tidal wave.
Moon’s lips had quirked. “Anything I can help you with, Crimson?”
I’d sunk back into the water, crossing my arms over my chest. My cheeks pinked. “Me and my wash cloth were doing just fine, until a rude wolf turned up to embarrass us.”
Moon had slunk closer to the bath, dropping to his knees beside it. His nose had wrinkled at the rich scent of the ylang ylang. For a moment, I’d thought that he might be sick. “More embarrassing than being naked and dominated in front of your entire family?”
I’d pouted. “You win.”
Moon had sunk his hand into the bath, snatching the wash cloth, before drawing it up my leg.
I’d flailed. “Woah, w-what are you doing?”
Moon’s expression had been fierce like it’d been a battle for him to touch the scented water. Wow, he seriously hated baths. “Will you leave off fussing, single skin, I’m washing you, that’s all.” When I’d sniffed at his curls, they smelled of carbolic soap; my scent of strawberries and cream had been washed out, and I’d wanted it back. He’d slid the cloth higher, missing the good parts in my opinion, then up my stomach. I’d quivered, gripping the sides of the bath. “This is what perfect Omegas do.”
I’d met his amused gaze. “And what about rebel Omegas?”
He’d thrown down the cloth with a splash and gripped my shoulders. When his head had tilted towards mine, my lips had tingled in anticipation, as my shadows had thrashed.
He’d been finally going to kiss me…
Instead, he’d whispered against my mouth, “You’ve bitten me now, Charmer, so I guess you’ll have to wait and find out.”
Now I glanced out over the grand feast, which had been put on just for me. I’d never had a party that’d been all mine before. In the Hamptons, I’d been the poor orphan relative of my cousins who’d been reluctantly invited along to the gatherings of the rich elites. I’d hated the sense of never being good enough. What did they know of my mansion and inheritance back in England or my powers? They had no clue who I truly was; I was just beginning to understand that more myself.
I was the Wolf Charmer, for whom three kingdoms could be summoned to her party…to sacrifice their princes.
The Wilds sat either at the head table with me or crowded at the back of the hall. To the right-hand side of the hall was the delegation from the kingdom of the Gods like beams of moonlight. Their Omegas were naked but painted in glittering silver and white, whilst their Alphas wore shimmering transparent dresses. Their collars were platinum interconnected moons, which were as fairy beautiful as the rest of the Gods. They hadn’t brought their Betas, and I wondered why. Yet I barely looked at them, however, because their queen sat like a rigid statue in their midst with her long waterfall hair and aristocratic nose, whilst her crown of crescent moons glowed in bone-white contrast to her black hair…and she had to give up her son to me.
This was different to choosing from the Training Center because now I could see the prince’s family. I was stealing him to atone for his parents’ crime.
That was justice, right?
I was desperate to look between the ranks of gorgeous Omegas and work out which one would soon become my Charm, but there was something squirming in my gut and hey, look, that was how guilt felt.
I shifted in my seat.
Rhona leaned closer, patting my hand. I fought not to recoil. “Welcome to the family, furless. You honor our traditions by Wolf Biting, as well as taking my son as your Charm.” She chuckled. “Even if you needed a bite to your own behind to motivate you.”
Morag snorted. “By my fangs, she’s well suited to Om then. He never did anything without a bite to his behind.” She clasped her arm tighter around the pretty Beta with curly gray hair who balanced on her lap. She pulled off a strip of pork, before feeding it to him by hand. He nibbled at it delicately, at the same time as her other hand rubbed over the hardness in his trousers. “Will you know how to get him to behave now?”
I grinned. “Oh, I’ll have no problem biting him again.”
When I glanced down at Moon, however, I hated the way that he hung his head. Yet I also noticed that the king who knelt next to him at Rhona’s feet had silently shuffled closer to his side. When the king stroked his curls, Moon jerked backwards in surprise. Then his eyes gleamed like he was holding back tears at his dad’s tentative smile.
I hurriedly looked away because it was too private. Yet I’d have done anything to have my dad alive and here to look at me like that, and if Moon had gained his dad back through this, then maybe it’d been worth it.
There were advantages to being an optimist.
Morag snarled, shoving the Beta off her knee and dropping him as hard as the pretense that he was precious. He tumbled to the floor with a whimper. Then she wiped the back of her hand across her greasy mouth with a glare that felt like she was assessing my battle weaknesses. Honestly, she’d never forgotten that she and I were enemies.
I stiffened, dragging my red back from Moon in case I needed to defend myself, even at my wedding reception.
Suddenly, a bass
and kick-drum burst out of speakers around the hall and the Wilds’ Alphas howled as they leapt up to the music (although not the Alphas from the other kingdoms I noticed). I gaped, whilst the Alphas stalked out onto the dance floor in a sensual tide in front of the head table.
How was there a freaking dance floor in this ancient Wild Hall? And why were werewolves dancing to freaking Billy Eilish?
Except, that was only my witch prejudice. Why shouldn’t they dance to modern pop-trap, rather than some Scottish tribal beat? Even if Morag’s forehead was streaked with war paint and the hall was smoky with the scent of roasted pig.
I nudged Moon with my knee. “Please, tell me there’s no first dance.”
Moon grinned. “You single skins and your weird traditions.”
I lifted my eyebrow. “This isn’t weird?”
“Aye, of course it is.” When Moon cocked his head, his curls fell over his eyes. “You didn’t like the biting?”
I flushed. “Kind of personal.”
“Kind of my neck.”
Morag slunk between each dancing Alpha like their commander to the taunting vocals of “Bad Guy”, rubbing against them indecently with an intent, captivating gaze, whilst they slid to their knees. There was no doubt that they were all sort of in love with their princess. If Morag hadn’t been a cruel bully Alpha, it would’ve been hot. Oh, plus my Wolf Bitten’s sister.
I wanted to look away but it was mesmerizing.
Then a fluttering movement caught my eye on the left-hand side of the hall. The Kingdom of the Alphas (and what kind of elitist claimed to be more Alpha than the rest of them?), had stood for the entire feast, refusing to sit like the rest of us. Now their Alphas swayed like butterflies in each other’s arms. They were dressed in every color of the rainbow in billowing silk robes that spun out like wings. Their collars were nothing more than pretty twists of silk that could merely be chokers. Unlike the Gods and the Wilds, they had no Omegas with them.
Figured, considering their smug name.
Then I noticed a single flash of golden hair at the side of the Alpha’s delegation. He stood alone, rigid and with his hands clasped behind his back but he wasn’t kneeling or naked. Perhaps, the Omegas in the kingdom of the Alphas were treated with some respect, at least…? He wore a suit that matched his hair with an embroidered waistcoat and robes that billowed over them like the wings of an even larger butterfly.
Tall, golden-haired, and hot enough to make my breath catch. I wasn’t checking him out… OK, so I was sort of checking him out. It was unfair how sexy these shifters were and how much I wanted them. He looked like the lord in a historical romance novel and as if he knew it too.
Why was this one so special that he’d been brought here tonight? My wedding gift was from the Gods, not the Alphas.
As if he could tell that he was being watched, he turned to meet my gaze. Then he raised a sardonic eyebrow. I pinked, whilst I couldn’t help fiddling with my curls because there’d been nothing to defrizz them in the log cabin. I hurriedly looked back at Morag, who was slithering up and down one of the warriors on the dance floor, before sneaking another glance at the Omega with golden hair. He was still watching me but this time with a grin. He’d picked up a tankard from the nearest table and toasted me with it.
The cocky bastard.
Two could play at that game…
I coolly picked up my own tankard and toasted him back. Then I took too deep a swallow and choked. Moon leaned up, patting me on my back, as beer dripped down my chin.
Oh, that was smooth.
Across the dance floor, I could see the golden haired Omega laughing, until one of the Alphas swiped his tankard, snatching his wrist much tighter than I was happy with, before dragging him towards the back of Wild Hall. Of course, that also shielded him from me behind the wall of rainbow silk Alphas.
You’d think that I was the big bad wicked one.
“You can’t mean that you like that bastard?” Moon growled, nuzzling his head under my chin. “Aye, he looks like Prince Charming, but I promise you, he’s more the bad boy who’ll let you down when it counts.”
I caught Moon’s chin, tipping up his head. “I take it you know him?”
“I hate him.”
I startled, but before I could ask Moon what in the witching hell he meant, Morag clapped her hands and stood. The music shut off, and the Alphas prowled back to their seats.
Morag perched on the edge of the head table, grabbing my tankard from me and tossing back the last of the beer in the cool move that I’d been going for.
The arrogant asshole.
“On Goddess Moon, let the Kingdom of the Gods offer their gift: the sacrifice of their prince to the Wolf Charmer.” Morag’s smile was too sharp as she turned to the queen who remained seated amongst her people.
My pulse quickened, and I clutched my arms across my chest. I couldn’t help scanning across the God’s Omegas in anticipation. My second prince was about to step forward; my foot jittered with nerves.
This time, I didn’t get to choose, any more than the prince did. We were joined to appease both the witches and the wolves and to keep the peace between both our people, even if war was likely because of the killing that I couldn’t solve.
In front of all three wolf kingdoms, I’d finally be meeting my second wolf prince.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A Wolf Charmer only needed one beautiful beast to work her powers. I’d already Claimed Moon. It struck me as I tapped my foot against the straw floor of Wild Hall (because hey, I was nervous about meeting the Prince of the Gods), that this second prince was Tribute, sacrifice, and toy.
I’d already created Okami, yet even he was a prankster, rather than a slave. I was honestly not in the market for anyone unwilling (strike that: seriously enthusiastic), and one wedding a day was my limit. But if I didn’t follow this tradition, would it break the peace treaty, as well as let down my aunt and the other covens?
I was meant to be Liaison to the Wolf Kingdom, ensuring that there wasn’t another war. Why then did it feel like Stella had simply thrown me to the wolves? Although, these wolves were wickedly hot.
When I clenched my fists on top of the head table, Moon rubbed his cheek along my knee, before nipping kisses up my thigh, until my shoulders relaxed. Our gazes met, and his was steelier than I’d been expecting. Although, just as wickedly hot, of course.
Moon seemed to have caught my thought and raised his eyebrow, as he traced the bite on his neck and shuddered. The sneaky asshole…now all I could think about was why he wouldn’t kiss me…and when could I bite him again…?
Way to take a girl’s mind off the next prince, but I guess that he’d been going for that all along.
The Queen of the Gods didn’t even glance at me or Rhona, merely inclined her head. Then the back doors of the hall were thrown open with a bang that made me jump. Next to me, Moon’s fingers suddenly gripped my knee with bruising force.
When sweet classical music sang from the speakers like we’d unexpectedly time traveled into a Jane Austen novel (and I was leaning forward hoping to catch sight of my own Mr Darcy striding through the hall’s doors), Morag studied me with an amused expression on her pointy face.
“By my hide, you’re already panting.” Morag laughed. “What a shame that our Om can’t dance.”
My eyes widened. “Hey, I didn’t think that I’d have to dance. Seriously, my aunt and uncle didn’t bother with ballroom lessons. I mean, I can kind of waltz—”
Rhona patted my head. “Calm down, furless, no need to have a panic attack. You’ll not be the one dancing. This is Mozart’s ballet Little Things. The Prince of the Gods’ ma told me that it’s his favorite, so the wee Beta created a special tribute for you.”
Beta? I’d simply assumed that the prince would be an Omega. Did that mean that the sacrifice was higher status, different, or did they merely have no Omega prince?
I hadn’t seen any Betas with the Gods. So, where was their prince? I felt like a
n asshole but I couldn’t help the excitement that I’d get to claim a Beta wolf this time who could become both genders because I’d never seen that magical ability before.
Morag slipped off the table, wandering closer to her mom, before shooting over her shoulder at me, “So, you’ll see his dancing, as well as his pretty behind.”
Rhona’s gaze darkened, as she shooed Morag into the corner. “Your second Charm will make a fine sacrifice, just like my son.” For the first time, she fully turned her attention to Moon, who stared up like she’d finally give her blessing. I clenched my fists. Don’t open your Alpha dickhead mouth… “By my hide, a finer sacrifice because the God’s prince is properly trained.”
Moon looked away, hunching his shoulders. I slipped my red around him like a cocoon, stroking over the bite mark on his neck. But I couldn’t stop myself staring entranced at the second prince, as he posed in the hall’s doorway, and I wasn’t the only one.
Every single wolf in the hall gazed at the angelic beauty, wrapped up in a body of pure sin and every wolf wished that the Prince of the Gods belonged to them. Except, the wolf in shimmering white satin tights and flowing satin top, with a mane of black hair that made his alabaster skin look even more translucent belonged to me.
His music, his dance, and his body…all because I was the new Wolf Charmer.
Why did the Beta have to be so crazy gorgeous that my heart thundered? Then he spun, and my heart pounded even faster because in America my cousin had been into ballet, so I’d been dragged to Swan Lake and enough performances to know that the prince wasn’t just good, he was spectacular. In front of an enraptured audience, he danced like every emotion in the music bled through him, until I could understand each movement as words. I could see his soul in every leap and pirouette.
Also, every muscle and yeah, his pretty behind because his tights left nothing to the imagination…
My shadows swayed around me, caressing and sighing along with the music.
Only Perfect Omegas: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance Series (Rebel Werewolves Book 1) Page 13
