Taming the Huntress
Saviour’s POV
My leg feels warm between her thighs, her rapid gasps pull me in, like a beast on a leash. It's the way she shivers under my touch, the feverish bulbing of her throat, the sheer fright in her eyes.
She smells like a garden bathed in the morning dew. So sweet.
I lean in, taking one quick sniff.
“Fucking dog! What the hell are you doing?” Raven struggles.
It's like a cat trying to get away from the claws of a wolf– useless. But just as I reach out with my fang the door opens.
Victor's scent invades the room at once. Pine and smoke quickly ruin the floral scent. A pity, that's what it is.
“What do you want?” I ask, keeping my hand in Raven's soft hair.
Victor steps closer, his voice calm when he speaks. “There’s a meeting. The Alpha King demands your presence,” he says.
What a fantastic way to soil my mood. She's still struggling under my hold when I pull away, throwing her to the ground. She lets out a cry, cradling her head.
I must have pulled too hard. Not that I care.
“What is it about?” I question, quickly grabbing my coat from the chair, ignoring the distasteful thundering of my heart. I spare a glance at the young woman panting heavily on the floor, her eyes watery, her face flushed.
I can make you pant for a whole different reason. Definitely with less clothes.
Frustrated by my own thoughts, I run a hand through my hair.
“He didn't say, Saviour. But I do believe you'll want to fix that before…” his words trail as he points down at my crotch.
My pants are shamefully tight, a painful reminder of what she does to me… what she is to me.
A mate I never wanted. Something I should hate.
I ignore it, knowing I just need to be out of here to fix it. Victor follows right behind me, striding into the hallway.
His next words grate on my nerves. “It will only get worse, Saviour.”
“Can you not?” I growl, heading towards the meeting hall.
“No. You like ignoring the obvious. What happens when her heat kicks in?” I keep him silent but Victor being Victor doesn't quit. “You risk the whole pack discovering your connection to her.”
I pause in my track, “When that time comes, I'll handle it.”
Victor stays silent as we get to the meeting hall. Guards pull open the doors, granting us access with a bow.
“You are the last to arrive, Saviour.” Father says, wearing his usual frown of disappointment.
I bow, hiding my annoyance. “Forgive me Father.”
“Take a seat.” He says, placing his elbow on the large table.
With a piercing gaze flickering between all of us, he proceeds.
“Saviour.” I tense up at his steel tone. “The huntress, have you tamed her yet?”
I open my mouth to speak but he raises a finger cutting me off.
“You see, your mother told me I wasn't giving you enough room to express your ability to lead, to tame a pack. But I do hope she wasn't mistaken when she said you were more than capable.”
My throat tightens. Mother was the one who convinced him to impose that stubborn witch on me. He doesn't trust me yet. More confident in my failure than my strength. If I don't prove him wrong, he'll never let me rule.
My knuckles are clenched so tightly they sting. The words are out before I can rethink them. “Yes, Father. She’s… compliant.”
The image of her baring her teeth at me mocks me but I push it down.
Father lifts a brow then nods. Even at that his skepticism is obvious. “Then she’ll eat with us tomorrow night. I want to see how well you’ve tamed her.”
I nod feigning indifference. “As you wish.”
Putting a knife to my damn throat would’ve been much nicer.
Not noticing the storm in my head, he turns to Callum.
“And you,” he growls, suddenly furious. “Beating a maid to pulp? Do you think that earns you respect among your pack?”
Callum shrugs like it’s nothing. He never really takes anything serious. “She threw herself at me. I told her I wasn’t interested.” he spits, clearly upset at the subject. “If these women can’t understand that, I’ll keep beat sense into them.”
Proud fool. Of course women will want you. You are only a coward if you result to punching and kicking them even when they've caused no harm.
Father maintains his calm. “Next time,” he says harshly, “touch one of them without cause and I’ll break your arm myself.”
Empty threats.
This should be Callum’s third warning on this issue and he never gets punished. If it were to be me, I wouldn't be blessed with a warning.
Callum grins insanely alongside Leo who tries to hide his smile by sipping on a cup of wine he must have brought with him, as it's the only cup on the table.
He speaks once he has finished the last drop. “Well, at least I’m the only one without any drama.” he says smugly. But that smile drops like the fall in father's tone.
“Keep your cock in your pants.” he commands, pointing straight at Leo's chest.
Leo is what some people will call a sex addict. None of my business if you ask me. I have better things to worry about.
“If I hear you’ve been near another teenager, I swear on the blood moon, I will banish you myself.”
Leo’s grin fades, Callum sits up straighter. My hands fist beside me.
“What are you talking about. Leo!” I growl, disgust coiling around my skin.
Callum frowns, clearly furious. “Do you have any shame?”
“Yo, yo!” Leo rises from his seat, his hands raised in the air in defense. “Guys chill, ask Pa, I didn't go all the way. I didn't even do anything I swear. She was all over me and I just… it was only a kiss.”
“You are fucking disgusting.”
“Well if father had given me the huntress I wouldn't be enticed by the appearance of someone similar to her.”
“You fucking piece of shit!” I growl, rising to my feet.
“Enough.” Father orders, his fist slamming into the table.
Immediately, all of us stop, allowing silence.
“You are all my blood,” he says. “But only one of you will rule. You know the law. The first to find and mark his mate takes the throne.”
His eyes land on me as he adds, “No shortcuts. No excuses.”
I swallow.
I will never get the throne with a mate like Raven. I'll be disqualified faster than I can blink.
I know what I must do. But for now I need to plan how to tame my crazy pet before dinner tomorrow.