IN BED WITH THE WRONG ALPHA

18

ROBYN

"I now pronounce you Supreme Alpha and Luna."

The high priest proclaimed, and the crowd erupted into applause before I'd even fully processed them. My hand was still laced through Kane's, and he held it like this truly meant something to him.

Then he grabbed my face and pressed his lips against mine, like there was no one else except us. His mouth moved over mine slowly, and heat unspooled low in my stomach before I could stop it, spreading out until my fingers curled into the front of his jacket just to have something to hold on to.

The crowd roared louder, and I barely heard it.

When he finally pulled back, my breath came out unsteady, and the look in his eyes told me he'd felt it too — whatever that was.

It had been days since his coronation and the incident with Leon. We had not touched each other since then. And now my whole body was awake, wanting him more than ever.

The reception started almost immediately, with pack members from all four territories drinking, laughing, and toasting to a marriage most of them still didn't fully understand. I was midway through a glass of wine, letting myself breathe for the first time in hours, when a hand landed on my shoulder.

I turned to see Elder Vincent. Beside him were two more elders whose faces held no trace of merriment.

"A beautiful ceremony," Vincent said in a clipped tone. "Now that the formalities are behind us, there are matters of duty to discuss."

Kane's hand found my back, and he pulled me closer to him, almost crushing me into his side.

"What duties?" Kane answered for me, his brows furrowed.

"The duties of the Luna," one of them said. "Now that the marriage is sealed, an heir must follow. Tradition dictates that it happens before the first full moon following the wedding passes."

I blinked. "I'm sorry — what?"

"One full moon," Vincent said, like he was explaining something to a child. "That is the window a new Luna is given to conceive. It has been the way of this nation for generations."

I nearly choked on my own breath.

"I'm in my final year of university. I can't get pregnant before I finish school."

The third elder's face twitched, and he muttered, "Oh. She talks back. Women of these days."

Kane's jaw visibly ticked as his eyes bored into the man.

"She has no choice in the matter," Vincent said flatly, addressing Kane instead, like I wasn't standing right there. "A Luna who fails to produce an heir within the appointed time may be dethroned. It is written into the founding law of this pack, Alpha. You know this."

Heat crawled up my neck, and my eyes found Kane's.

"But I do, as her Alpha. We can talk about kids when she is done with school." He raised my hand to their faces, planting a kiss on it. "I need to enjoy my wife first."

My stomach turned in an unpleasant way.

"Alpha, with respect—" the second elder started.

"There is usually a plan drawn up," Vincent cut in smoothly, "for the days the Alpha and Luna will be undisturbed, in order to produce heirs."

My throat instantly dried up at what I heard.

"I'd like to enjoy my own wedding, Vincent," Kane said flatly.

The elders exchanged looks, murmured something to each other, and finally dispersed back into the crowd. I snatched my hand away from Kane instantly, marching off into the house, past the string lights, music, and laughter.

I walked with no direction until I finally made it to the throne room, slamming the door shut. My hands went to the necklace at my throat, and I yanked it off the second I walked through the door, letting it drop onto the nearest table.

"Robyn!" Kane yelled as he opened the door, letting it bang loudly as it closed.

"I want to be alone." I muttered, not looking at him.

"No." He closed in on me, and I turned to face him, my back nearly against the wall. "It's your wedding night. You should be out there enjoying it."

"Enjoying it?" I forced a laugh. "Enjoying what, exactly? Being treated like a commodity? A baby factory?" My voice broke. "I agreed to this to get protection from Leon. That's all this was ever supposed to be. And now it's costing me a hell of a lot more than what I signed up for."

"I told them no, right?" He grabbed my shoulders. "And I am saying it to you now — I am not going to get you pregnant."

I shrugged his hands off my shoulders.

"Just like you promised not to marry me!" I screamed in his face. "And look where we are."

"That's different."

"Is it?" I shook my head, blinking back the tears in my eyes. "What happens the next time the elders decide something has to happen, and you decide it's different again? What then?"

His lips were pressed in a hard line as he glared at me.

"I don't want a timetable," my voice went low. "For s*x with my husband. Maybe I can't have love out of this. I made peace with that a long time ago. But I at least want to enjoy the sex." My eyes found his. "It was part of the deal. To satisfy me. And I don't want to be on a schedule, or boxed into some stupid, ritualistic sex."

A short laugh broke out from his lips, and my brows furrowed. Then he sighed, cupped my face, and kissed my lips.

For one second, I let myself go, leaning into it. Then I pushed him back.

"Kane—"

"I won't let anyone control when we have s*x except us." His eyes found mine, and he brushed his thumb along my cheek. "Just tell me when you need me, and I will be here."

My mouth opened to speak…