NINE
1825 Words
LILY:
Vergil’s eyes burn into mine, darkening. The air between us thickens every second, dragging taut like a drawn bowstring. He doesn’t say a word as my words seep in, and I try to appear brave.
Suddenly, his grip on my wrist tightens.
“Let go of me!” I demand, attempting to yank my hand away, but his fingers dig deeper into my skin.
“You don’t get to speak to me like that, because it seems like you’ve forgotten who has the power here!” he growls.
I let out a small chuckle.
“Power? You think you still hold it? We’re locked in this fight, Vergil, and I’m not the one scared of losing. I was born into nothing, and if I lose, then so be it.”
His eyes flicker as my words sink in. For a heartbeat, I think he might say more, or even lash out. But before he can speak, Olsen’s voice cuts through the hall.
“Alpha Vergil, I…”
He pauses when I tilt my head to the side and he sees Vergil is not alone.
“I see it’s not a great time. I came to pay my respects. That is all.” As Olsen says this, Vergil’s grip on my hand loosens, and before any of us can snap a finger, his fists shoot forward.
A crack echoes, and Olsen staggers with his head snapping backwards, landing on the floor.
“Stay the f**k away from my wife!” Vergil growls with venom in his voice.
He stands in front of Olsen, his jaw tight, and I rush towards Olsen.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I yell, stepping between them.
Olsen struggles to stand, and I try to help him, but Vergil’s grip closes around my wrists like iron, yanking me back until my spine hits the cold, hard wall. My breath hitches as his eyes drill into mine, dark and dangerous.
“You are leaving right now!” he growls.
I have never seen him this angry, and it scares me, but I need to apologize to Olsen for dragging him into this mess.
“Are you deaf?” Vergil roars, and I open my mouth to speak.
Before words leave my mouth, my legs lift off the ground and I am on Vergil’s shoulder.
He walks fast until Olsen’s figure becomes a ghost.
He takes me through the back of the building, storming past the gates of the palace until he is outside where a black car is waiting.
“Put me down, you lunatic!”
He ignores me, moving like a possessed man.
The driver lowers the window of the car as he gets closer.
“Get her out of my sight,” Vergil growls.
He yanks the back door open, and before I can brace myself, he shoves me inside like I’m some child misbehaving. I stumble over the seat and twist to glare at him, but he slams the door shut with a loud thud.
“I’m not done with you, Vergil!” I scream, pounding on the glass.
He leans in through the lowered window, eyes like thunderclouds.
“Get her to the central palace, and do not f*****g stop!”
**
VERGIL:
It’s been over thirty minutes since Lily left, but still her presence haunts me. My jaw ticks with each second, and my fists itch. The woman is driving me to madness no matter how much I try to deny it. It’s not the kind of madness I like, because I have overstepped boundaries today.
What I did to Olsen is unacceptable, but that child had the nerve to hold my wife that way. I pause in my thoughts, running a hand across my face as I try to shake off the weird feeling in my chest. I couldn’t possibly be jealous that she was with him. Wetting my pants with c*m around her is normal because I am a man and my body is naturally reacting. So I am definitely not falling for her, and I mean, it’s been what? Two nights together.
The ceremony in the palace is slowly dying down, and the house is almost empty, but my mind is somewhere else. I need to meet with the elders of the pack ahead of the coronation. It is almost in my grasp, so I have to keep my calm, and thank the goddess that woman is out of sight. Mathew didn’t attend the funeral, so I guess that is a win for me.
My thoughts are cut short as someone clears their throat. It is one of the guards.
“The Pack Elders are waiting in the west chamber.”
A sigh leaves my lips, and I gulp down what is left in my glass. I place it on the table with a clink, then adjust my cloth, walking to the west chamber to meet them.
As I walk in, six pairs of eyes lift to meet mine, and not one of them smiles. This tells me there is trouble in paradise. I am not used to being anxious, but I want to be so calm until I get what I want—then they will all see.
“Alpha Vergil,” Elder Killian begins slowly, before I can take a seat.
“Your coronation is in two days.” My heart calms knowing they are not pushing it backwards.
“I am honored about that,” I reply politely.
Elder Timothy speaks up as I sit.
“The entire Hound Pack is watching, and lately since Alpha Sebastian passed, there has been chaos in Snow Hound.” I swallow hard at his words, waiting for him to finish.
“The display today at the funeral was not Alpha-like! People saw you lose control over the actions of a woman!” His voice shakes the room.
Another elder scoffs.
“An Alpha that cannot control his Luna, how does he intend to rule the pack?”
Their words hit below the belt, but I try to remain composed, imagining what I will do to Lily when I get back.
“She’s reckless, and we do not expect anything less from someone from such a background.” This time his words strike a nerve that hates him belittling Lily.
“You married her in haste, and we cannot undo the damage because all eyes are on us, but…”
“This pack will never fall. Luna or not, no one controls me,” I cut him off, staring him in the eyes.
The room falls silent for a few seconds, and I stand.
“I will rule this pack as I should. My father trusted me before his death, and I have met the criteria required. Besides, who better than me? Mathew?”
I watch them swallow their words.
**
Soon I am back at the central palace, burning hotter in fury. For some reason, I couldn’t stand them belittling her, but still I am mad about her humiliation, and I know I am partly at fault, but she should have known better.
I head upstairs, putting together my points to end this stupid feud, but halfway through, I hear her voice bouncing off the walls. She is on the phone.
Only one name crosses my mind, but I try to push it away, and then I hear her speaking.
“I am sorry for what happened, Olsen. I swear I didn’t know it would end up that way.”
Rage ignites in my body, and I forget the truce. My legs move before I can stop them, pushing the door open.
She turns around forcefully, and I march up to her with no words, grabbing the phone.
“What the…” Before she can finish, I end the call, tossing the phone on her bed. It slips, landing on the floor.
“Vergil, my phone!” she exclaims, rushing towards it.
“I can get one million of it.” My tone drips with arrogance, but I do not care or stop, because I am angry. I can’t even tell why it bothers me so much.
Her brows wrinkle as she picks up the phone.
“Don’t speak to him again.” I stare her down, gritting my teeth.
Her eyes blaze with fury.
“You don’t get to tell me who I speak to.”
Her defiance snaps something in me. The words of the elders echo from earlier, and my hands ball into fists as I approach her.
“I told you to stay away from Olsen.”
I expect her to step backwards, but she takes a step forward, solidifying the fact that she isn’t afraid of me.
“And he is my friend. You do not own me, Vergil.” Her voice doesn’t waver, and I realize she has no ounce of respect for me.
“I own you. The contract says so, and you must abide by it. There are consequences, Lily.”
She lets out a cold, mocking laugh, cutting through my chest.
“The only reason Olsen didn’t rip your damn head off is because he’s a gentleman. Something you clearly know nothing about and will never relate to.”
Hearing her praise Olsen rides over every other thing I am angry about. I do not know how, but the moment she attempts to walk past me, I grab the back of her neck, yanking her back to me.
She gasps but doesn’t back down, not caring if she is breathing.
“Let go of me!” she yells, but I don’t.
“You think you can embarrass me in front of the Elders? Threaten my authority? Walk around like the crown already sits on your head?” My voice shakes the entire house. “You forget your place, Lily. I am doing you a f*****g favor, and you have to act like it!”
Her face pales as she slaps my wrists, struggling to breathe. But I am far too gone, allowing the anger to take over me. I hate how her actions are controlling me.
I am Vergil Storm, and I take orders from no one. I must exert my authority wherever I am.
My eyes glow as I let my wolf take over, pulling her closer to me. She shoves at my chest, but her hands are weak compared to my wolf.
“You want to threaten me with another man?” my wolf growls. “Then you’ll wear my mark.”
Before she can answer, and before I can stop myself, I sink my fangs into her neck.
Her body arches in shock, her fists pounding against my chest before freezing totally as the bond begins to take place. The taste of being in control grips me, and I keep going. I am not marking her for love, but for power, so that she can know her place…
- Writer
