Chapter 4 - Bound

Tavius

The water is cool as it runs down my face. Just how I like it. I can't remember the last time I touched warm water. It reminds me too much of a time long past.

A time where I was happy and whole.

There's shuffling back in the bedroom, and I take my time cleaning up so that by the time I'm done, they'll be gone. I've gotten my release already, so they're of no use to me anymore. Maybe until another night that I need to forget and drown myself in fleeting pleasure.

My men should be on their way back from their journey to one of the outer border packs. I'd told them to ensure that the Alpha didn't live to see another sunrise.

Why? He was keeping Breeders against the usual protocol, selling them in secrecy to rich wolf families and hoarding the profits gained. I also learnt that he was even trading girls that weren't up to eighteen. He also evaded taxes, and refused countless times to come here and answer for his misdeeds. I gave him enough chances to redeem himself, and he kept spitting in my eye.

I don't forgive easily, and I don't take kindly to disrespect. Maybe because it's been a while since I went on a raid myself, he thought that I'd somehow become soft.

I finish cleaning up and leave the bathroom, returning to the bedroom area.

One of the women is still on the bed, body splayed on full display. When she catches me looking, she bites her lip and positions herself invitingly.

"You were in there for a while," she says in a husky voice. "I missed you."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, keeping myself from growling at her. "Get. Out." The tone of my voice leaves no room for argument.

She sits up immediately. The sly smile drops from her face as she scurries around, picks up her clothes, and exits the room.

I sigh once I'm finally alone in the room, and swallow my daily dose of self-loathing as I get dressed.

————

I miss her.

The thought comes to me quietly, like a thief, and sits on my shoulders.

Since my mate died two decades ago in that terrible fire, I've never been the same man. Losing her was like losing a part of myself that I could never get back.

Not that I want to. What use is life without her?

They had said that she'd been trying to rescue the children from the fire, and although she succeeded in getting them out, at the last moment, a flaming beam fell on her, and trapped her in the building. By the time I got there, all that remained were her ashes.

The entrance door opens, pulling me back to the present, and I straighten myself on my throne. I need to pull myself together.

I put on my cold mask, and regard my men as they file into the room, dragging along young women that look like they rolled in mud.

When the last of them come in, the door closes behind them.

My men step forward, and fall to their knees. All except Anton, my right-hand. He simply bows his head in respect, and crosses an arm over his chest.

"My King. We have carried out your orders. Unguibus pack is no more." He gestures to the females huddled together and shaking with fear. "These are the breeders we managed to rescue."

I raised a brow. "Managed? Do you mean that these ones," I point to the cowering females, "gave the strongest men of my pack trouble?"

Anton turned to Ragnar with narrowed eyes. "Well, not exactly, but some of us took . . . liberties, resulting in unnecessary deaths."

Ragnar sputtered. "They attacked me! I'm of the belief that if they can't be docile, they have to be eliminated."

Reeling in my irritation, I took a deep breath. He always gets on my nerves, and one day, I will show him the side of me reserved for those unfortunate to see it. The only reason why I tolerate him is because once upon a time, he wasn't so . . . vile and full of hate. Like me, he also lost people dear to him, and has become a very different man.

"Ragnar," I say, intentionally enunciating my words perfectly. "This will be the last time that you act out of order. You are in no position to make such decisions."

Ragnar's eyes flash with the spark of defensive argument, but he seems to think better of it, and simply nods. "Apologies, my King. It won't happen again."

"It better not," I say, and finally put the full weight of my attention on the females.

I can tell that some of them have already soiled themselves. Most of them avoid my eyes, looking away the moment they see me looking.

One girl though, doesn't. She holds my gaze, staring unabashedly with green eyes that seem to look deep into my soul. Eyes that are eerily familiar. Her dark long hair is full of dried leaves, and resembles a bird's nest, but I'm sure that after proper cleaning, it would be lush and vibrant.

Something comes alive in my chest, and sends warmth shooting through my veins to every part of my body. Like I placed my whole body in a furnace.

It can't be . . . I don't understand . . .

How?

The same effect seems to happen to her as well, and she gasps, placing a hand over her chest. She leans forward on her knees, breaking our eye contact.

I get out of my seat and stomp over to her, feeling like if I don't break the distance, she will simply flutter away and disappear.

"Tavius?" Anton calls, but I don't respond.

I have to know. I need to know that it's not just a figment of my imagination. That I'm not losing my mind.

I grab her by the arm and pull her up to her feet. She screams, and terror thunders through her body.

"Please, leave me be," she begs, trying weakly to pull away.

Even her voice sounds so much like . . .

I pull her along with me, and hand her over to Anton. "Take her inside. Get her cleaned up. This one is mine." I try my best to not focus on her too much, because my control is slowly slipping away.

To Darius, another one of the men I trust, I say, "You're in charge of the others. Take them to Lily. She'll assign them rooms and duties."

He bows. "Yes, my King," and leads the rest away.

I watch as Anton takes the girl away. She looks back at me, still crying and begging to be set free. Her soft voice rings in my ears like a bell.

Either the Moon Goddess is pulling my leg, or somehow, by some strange turn of events . . .

. . . I've been given a mate for the second time.