Chapter 21: Beyond Control

MORANA

I gasped in response, my hands pressed against the wall, feeling his large, warm body press against mine. I had to fight to suppress a moan.

I could feel everything. His scent, his heat, his long, hard excitement pressing just above my butt, threatening to overpower my reason and self-control.

I closed my eyes, trying to ignore all the sensations.

"You can't do this," I said, my voice sounding huskier and lower than I would have liked.

"I smell them on you," he growled into my ear, causing a shiver to run through me.

What? Their scent? Was he referring to the scent of Olcan and Lowell? Our dance must have been enough for their scent to be ingrained in me now.

But why did this bother him? Why was he feeling possessive over me? Was it just because he had saved me? Maybe because I had let him touch me in that way.

It didn't matter. I couldn't let him do this to me again. He was crossing the line.

"I don't know what you're thinking, but that's not going to happen again."

"Mine," he growled, sending a vibration through my entire body.

I clenched my eyes shut, struggling to resist the effect he had on me. He really was losing control.

"I'm not yours," I growled back, hating how the simple word could affect me so.

He growled louder, pressing me harder against the wall.

"You can't do this," I protested. "I did what you asked just to prevent someone from getting hurt."

"Good girl," he said, sounding pleased.

The way his voice sounded low and deep made me shiver and was enough for me to know it wasn't Volk speaking, but the animal within him, wild and possessive. He was proud that I had obeyed him and acted as if I belonged to him.

Realizing this made me hesitate. Defying him was dangerous. He might end up killing me if he completely lost control. I couldn't trust the animal inside him.

However, I also couldn't let him use me in that way again just to regain control. I needed to find a way to bring back his reason.

"It must be hard for you... having to control yourself when you always get what you want," I provoked.

It took him a few seconds to respond as if he had to struggle to find the words.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure. My apologies, Your Majesty," I said sarcastically.

"Stop. Trying to provoke me will only make things worse."

"I thought it was working."

"Not the way you want," he said, shifting his hips just enough for me to understand.

I took a deep breath, feeling how he seemed even more aroused. I contained a moan.

How much longer could I endure this? As much as I tried, I couldn't contain my arousal, and it was making me increasingly irritated.

"You need to learn to control yourself," I growled through clenched teeth, unable to contain my anger.

"You know that's not possible."

"That doesn't give you the right to touch me this way."

"I'm sorry... It's not me," he said as if he genuinely felt guilty. "This has never happened before."

"It doesn't matter, but this will have to be enough this time."

"Just give me some time."

*Time.* He needed time, but for me, each second was a challenge, torturous, fighting against my wildest instincts.

Closing my eyes, I remained still, my hands pressed against the wall, trying to think about anything but the sensation of his body against mine.

The sound of our breathing filled the environment amidst the silence, and the tension seemed to grow more with each second, slowly driving me insane.

It was long minutes of torture that seemed to last an eternity until I finally noticed his arousal slowly diminishing, like mine.

The force with which he pressed my body also lessened, and when he moved away, finally freeing me from his grasp, I turned to face him.

I felt a bit embarrassed by him touching me in that way, but it was he who should be ashamed.

"It seems that was enough this time," I provoked sarcastically, crossing my arms and feeling the cold hit my skin now that his warmth had left me.

"Was that easy for you?" he asked, equally sarcastic.

"It doesn't matter. Now we're even."

"Even?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Yes, consider this a repayment for helping me escape; now I owe you nothing."

"What exactly are you considering as repayment? Allowing me to embrace you?" He narrowed his eyes scornfully.

"I wouldn't call that an embrace. But yes. And I hope you enjoyed it, because if you ever lay your hands on me again..."

"You're welcome, for saving your life. Twice," he said with irony.

"I think I already thanked you, before you cornered me acting like an animal, twice," I retorted.

"What's your problem with me? You seem to have a lot of aversion to me for someone who was willing to marry me."

"Despite everything your uncle forced me to do, I'm glad it didn't happen."

He shook his head, sighing with frustration.

"Just try to stay out of trouble, if you can," he said, turning his back to me.

"Then stay out of my way," I shot back, making him stop and turn to face me again.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but everything I've done all this time was trying to help you."

"Help me? Sure," I scoffed. "Like when you did nothing as your uncle decided my fate, and when you tried to humiliate me during the fight earlier."

"I didn't know what he was planning, and as for Lyall and the others, you shouldn't have been there."

"That's not your business."

"Yes, it is! Because you're just dead weight. That's your problem. You have too much courage for someone so weak."

What? How dare he? Anger bubbled within me.

"Why should I care about the opinion of someone like you? You're nothing but a useless coward, making your father turn in his grave," I hissed between clenched teeth.

In a blink, he advanced, making me back up to the wall again. Placing a hand beside my face on the wall, he cornered me.

My words had hit him, leaving him furious. His eyes glowed with rage and his jaw was clenched—a sign of his contained anger. The tension filled the air again, making it hard for me to breathe, but I didn’t hesitate; I held his gaze.

"Don't you dare talk about him," he growled.

"Get away from me," I growled back.

"And if I don't want to?" He said, the challenge shining in his eyes.

His lips were inches from mine, and I could swear there was something more than anger in his gaze.

"You won’t like what I’m about to do, Your Majesty," I threatened.

"Why do you hate me? Were you offended by being rejected? Don’t worry, when I'm king, it won’t matter whether you're an impure blood or not," he taunted.

"Never. Not even if you were king of the universe," I growled, pushing against his chest, but he didn’t budge.

He stared at me for a few more seconds, then backed off on his own, giving me space. He continued to walk away but suddenly stopped, throwing a look over his shoulder.

"I will still be the Alpha, and even if you hate me, you'll be mine if I want it," he declared with palpable arrogance.

What? He couldn't be serious. Stunned, I watched as he disappeared down the street, leaving me behind.

Maybe he wasn’t so different from his uncle after all. Did he really think he had that right? Or maybe he had just said that to provoke me.

It didn’t matter, it was never going to happen. I couldn’t stand him, and I hated the things he made me feel. And, although I didn’t have many memories, I couldn’t believe that we had any kind of friendship when we were children.

Yet, he had saved me and helped me escape. Why? I couldn’t understand. It was clear he thought I was weak, *“dead weight.”* Remembering his words was enough to bring the anger back.

But in the end, it didn’t matter what he thought, I had already realized my weakness and tasted the bitter shame when I couldn't protect myself from those two.

However, I was willing to change that. I might be weak now, but I was smart and determined to become strong. Nothing was going to stop me from regaining my freedom and deciding my destiny.