Kaidon's POV
I stormed out of the room, my teeth clenched so tightly that my jaw ached as I tried to control my impulse.
I had been close—too close to losing control.
Her scent had overwhelmed me the moment I stepped into her room, that intoxicating blend of earth and wildflowers, a scent uniquely hers. It stirred Rowan and the mate bond up so badly that I feared I would have descended on her if I hadn't left. Why did I even go there in the first place?
*Rowan, calm down this instant!* I growled at my stubborn wolf, trying to push down his growls and snarls.
But trust this bastard to be relentless. He roared in my mind like a caged animal, struggling to break free.
*She is ours!* His voice thundered in my mind, giving me a splitting headache. *You can't resist forever, Kaidon. She belongs to us!*
I gritted my teeth harder, walking faster through the dimly lit corridors. Rowan was still tugging at my control… and the mate bond, that damn connection forged by the goddess herself, seemed to be helping him as they worked in tandem to rile me up.
*You think you can resist forever, Kaidon?* Rowan's voice took a dark edge as he taunted me. *You felt it, didn't you? You wanted to mark her. She is our mate, our true mate! Why do you deny me? Deny us from claiming what belongs to us!*
I barged into my chambers, slamming a fist against the wall, the impact leaving a massive crack that snaked its way up to the ceiling. *Because she will die, you bastard! Have you forgotten so soon about the curse Seline, the Moon Goddess, placed on us?*
*I haven't!* Rowan snarled. *She's our mate regardless. The Moon Goddess wouldn't be that cruel to take her away from us. The bond will protect her! We need to mark her!*
*Are you insane?* I was in shock at the stupidity of my wolf. *Who do you think creates the mate bond? No… I will not claim her unless the goddess lifts the damn curse.*
I started pacing around my room, trying to drown out Rowan's constant growling, but it was no use. He was relentless, riling me up, making me yearn for her touch. I needed a distraction, and fast, before I did something I would regret.
*Get me Amelia now.* I mind-linked the nearest guard without a second thought.
*Yes, Alpha.* The guard responded immediately before I cut off the link. As soon as I did that, Rowan roared in fury.
*How dare you! You're calling for another woman? While our mate is here? You dare to seek satisfaction elsewhere when the one meant for us is right here?*
*This has nothing to do with you.* I ignored his rants, waiting patiently as the moments ticked by while I gazed outside at the moonlit sky.
Then I heard a soft knock on the door.
"It's me… Alpha. I'm here." Amelia's voice came from behind the door.
"Enter," I responded.
She entered, and the room was immediately filled with her scent. She was dressed in a long, silky, see-through gown that revealed… everything, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Alpha… you wished to see me?" She purred as she approached, swaying her voluptuous figure. Her arms draped around my neck, her fingers brushing the back of my hair with ease as she placed her lips inches away from mine.
"Alpha…" she whispered again, "You seem distracted… let me take your mind off things."
*What is wrong with me?* I thought in frustration. On a normal night, I wouldn't have hesitated to tear the see-through dress that clung to her skin and have wild sex with her. Amelia knew exactly how to handle me, how to give me sexual pleasure that no woman had ever come close to matching. The mere sight of her was enough to get me in the mood, but now…
*That's because you've found your mate. You're doomed to feel nothing for another woman—not even Amelia!* Rowan rejoiced at my situation with such fervor that I wished I could physically slap him. I zoned him out completely and focused on Amelia.
Amelia's lips crashed into mine, sucking on them hungrily, but I still felt nothing. I nearly pushed her away but caught myself just in time.
*Just get on with it,* I told myself.
She continued her relentless assault on my lips, pressing hungrily against me, wanting a reaction or a response. Her hands slid down my chest, slowly making their way to my abdomen before finally finding their way to my long, thick shaft, expertly massaging and kneading it like she had always done.
My phallus throbbed under her touch, and she broke off the kiss, smiling as if proud she had gotten a response. Slowly, she slid to her knees, her hands reaching for my lower garment, intending to take it off and take my shaft into her mouth.
My hand shot out instinctively, gripping her wrists before she could reach them. I glared down at her in fury, and that bastard Rowan growled, obviously pleased by my response.
"Alpha… Kaidon… what's the matter?" Amelia looked up at me in confusion.
"Leave," I snarled, turning away from her.
She blinked, unable to process my command. "What? What's wrong with you? You asked for me… why are you acting like this?" she asked in frustration, trying to make sense of my rejection.
I sneered in response, turning toward the window, taking deep breaths to calm myself.
With stubborn determination, she made another move, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around me from behind.
"You must be stressed, so… allow me to make you feel better," she whispered into my ear, her hands moving lower again, seeking to grab hold of my phallus.
This time, I was fully livid.
My patience snapped as I spun around, pushing her away with enough force that she fell to the floor. My gray eyes turned blood-red as I felt my control slip, allowing Rowan to take over for a brief, terrifying moment.
"If you don't leave now," he said through my lips, "I will tear you apart limb from limb and feed your corpse to the rogues."
Amelia's face paled as she stared at me, frozen in fear. It took her a few more seconds to realize that I wasn't bluffing.
With a terrified look, she scrambled to her feet and stumbled toward the door.
Without another word, she fled, the door slamming shut behind her.
*That's more like it,* Rowan snarled in approval as he retreated back into my subconscious.