His Crimson Mate

Second-Hand Embarrassment

(Janessa's POV)

Was it petty, me asking Hadeon to get rid of his bimbo? Absolutely. Do I care? Hello no! I felt great about myself at the moment and I was curious to see how this was all going to play out. I wasn't expecting Hadeon to agree to get rid of her but I am happy he did. Let's see if he sticks to his word. "He will. He cares for us," Hera responded to my inner thoughts. I rolled my eyes at her optimism.

It was now after lunch and I was back outside working. I was in awe at the progress these wolves were making. The best-case scenario is that we could have a large number of these wolves off of the front lawn by the end of next week! Suddenly, people began rushing towards the pack house. "What's happening?" I asked no one in particular. "Drama near the packhouse," an Omega exclaimed as he rushed forward. I sucked my teeth and shook my head. We wolves love some good ol' drama and gossip.

I slowly followed behind everyone until we reached the front lawn of the pack house. There was Hadeon and his stupid chosen mate out front of a car. She was a crying, blubbering mess. "But-But Hades, how could you? You are embarrassing me!" she wailed. "No Cami, you are embarrassing yourself. Please get in the car," Hadeon stated calmly. I shouldn't have cared but I was catching second-hand embarrassment by the way she was acting in front of half of the pack.

I made my way up front toward the spectacle that had formed near the front steps. I tried to stand back and stay out of it but Ms. Pissy Pants had to drag me into it. "You!" she shouted in a fury while pointing her trembling manicured finger in my direction. "Me?" I questioned in feigned innocence as I pointed to myself in shock. "So-So is this why you are sending me home?" she shrieked in horror.

"Cami, please. Let's not make this more than it needs to be. Go home and I will send for you after the Death Moon," Hadeon stated as he opened the car door, grabbed her bag, and tossed it inside. She turned her blazing eyes toward me and approached aggressively. I held my ground, not even batting an eye.

"Listen you cheap w***e, I will be back and you will be dead and all of my problems will be over! Remember your place!" Madam Desperation screeched in my face. I smirked and walked over to Hadeon's side. I had Hera driving me to claim our mate. I wouldn't do all of that publicly but this b***h kept pressing my buttons. I wrapped my arms around Hadoen's arm and snuggled myself into his side. Even though this was all for a show, I have to admit I felt instantly at peace, even amongst the chaos.

I looked back at Hadeon's fake mate and gave her a lopsided grin. "I think we all know where Haddeon wants to be. I will not argue with you over a male. Go home, you are embarrassing yourself," I told her as I stared into her eyes. She screamed in yet another tantrum.

"Daddy will hear about this and you will pay! You will all pay!" she bellowed while looking around rapidly. "Okay, well you take care, Cathy," I said sweetly, as I gave her a wave. She screamed once more before throwing herself into the car and slamming the door.

As soon as the car pulled off, I quickly pulled myself from Hadeon's comforting arms. "Not so fast," Hadeon growled lowly as he snatched me by my waist and pulled me closer. He looked around at the crowd menacingly, making everyone disperse before he leaned into my neck and took a deep inhale. My knees shook but I tried to remain strong. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked as I placed my palm on his firm chest and stepped out of his grasp,

"I'm ready for my reward," he whispered slyly as he slammed me back into his chest. "W-What reward?' I asked breathlessly.

"The one where I get to kiss that pretty pink p***y of yours now that Cami is gone," Hadeon growled lowly in my ear, making a shiver go up my spine. "Don't speak that pathetic b***h's name around me!" Hera made me growl aloud. Hadeon smirked. "Jealous?" he asked with amusement in his tone. "You wish," I scoffed, annoyed and embarrassed by my own outburst.

"Come," Hadeon stated as he gently grabbed my hand and led me into the house. For some odd reason, my heart was pounding loudly in my chest. Why was I so nervous? Oh yeah, because if I let him near me I know I will allow him to devour me, mind, body, and soul, and I just can't let that happen.

We walked into Hadeon's office and he quickly shut the door and locked it. "Okay, take them off," Hadeon demanded as he eyed me hungrily. "Excuse me?" I asked in confusion. His scent, along with his sexy aura and the way he was looking at me had me completely out of sorts. "Your pants. Take them off. I'm ready for my kiss," he said as he licked his lips in anticipation. I had to rub my legs to gather to stop the throbbing from growing.

I was nervous. I couldn't let him get anywhere near my hidden treasure or I was a goner. I only said it originally to talk s**t. I didn't actually expect him to get rid of the trash in that way. And so publically. How was I going to get out of this? I eyed the door, trying to plan my escape. "There's no escaping this, juicy," Hadeon stated as he gently grabbed my face and sparks erupted everywhere.

"Juicy?' I questioned. "Yes, because you have the wettest p***y I've ever had the pleasure of coming across. And with its sweet, dripping goodness, I can't seem to think of anything else but your juiciness and I need more," he exclaimed, and I felt a gush of wetness drip into my already-soaked panties. Yeah, I definitely needed to get the hell out of here!

Suddenly, I thought of a great way around our deal. "Well go ahead and kiss it then, I'm waiting," I said. Hadeon's handsome smirk faltered slightly. "Take off your pants and I will," he responded with dark, hooded eyes. "That wasn't a part of our deal. I said you could give her a little kiss. I never said with clothes off. Now hurry up, I have to get back out to the houses," I stated matter of factly, as I placed my left foot on the coffee table to give him better access. He growled in frustration and I chuckled at my tiny victory.

Hadeon reluctantly stalked over to me and dropped to his knees. Seeing this mighty Alpha on his knees in front of me was doing things to me that I didn't care to admit. Hadeon gripped my ass roughly through my sweatpants and placed his nose on my crotch. Before I could say anything, he took a deep breath and inhaled every ounce of my lingering arousal.

He stayed like that for a few moments before he leaned in for a kiss. The fabric of the sweatpants was enough for me to feel Hadeon's mouth on me as he somehow managed to suck my c**t in between his teeth. I threw my head back and a moan accidentally escaped my lips. Damn him! He finally let go of my c**t through the fabric of my pants and pressed a kiss on it. "Cheater," I exclaimed breathlessly. "You know I don't play fair," Hadeon smirked and almost made my knees buckle.

I pulled from Hadeon's grasp, and on shaky legs, moved towards the door. "Where are you going?" Hadeon asked with a hint of desperation in his voice. "I told you I had to head back to help out. This is a big project and we need all hands on deck. You can help if you'd like," I responded. "Okay, but what do I have to do to get you alone?" he asked in a husky voice that spread heat across my body.

"Is it all about s*x to you?!" I shouted in annoyance. "W-what? I-I thought... That was our deal. What do you want from me?" Hadeon asked, and I almost caught a hint of sincerity in his question. "I'm not just some cheap lay, you know? You have to wine and dine a woman like me," I stated smugly, which wasn't true at all. Milo and I had screwed around for two years and never had stepped outside of headquarters together unless we were headed on a mission. It was strictly s*x, and I prided myself on being able to stick strictly to s*x without feelings getting involved.

Unfortunately, with Hadeon, I crave more than just s*x. I know for a fact it is only this stupid mate bond talking. It pulls me in toward a wicked person. He is no fitter to be someone's mate than he is fit to be this pack's Alpha. Why has the Goddess punished me in such a way? I heard Hera purring in my mind and I wasn't sure why until I felt sparks and tingles erupt across my cheek. I looked into Hadeon's eyes and I wanted to throat-punch him and fall into his arms all at the same time. This bond was so confusing.

"Are you listening to me?" Hadeon asked gently as he gazed longingly into my eyes. This bond was clearly affecting us both because I knew he didn't want me just as much as I didn't want him. Right? It could never work. "What did you say?" I asked, my mind lost in deep thought. "I said, Let me spend some time getting to know you. Honestly, even though I want s*x, I just want to be around you," Hadeon proclaimed, and I was at a loss for words. Why was he saying that?

I began to vigorously shake my head no. I stepped away from Hadeon but he was invading my senses as he stepped closer to me and pressed his body against mine. "Listen, I don't know what I am doing either, but don't you crave to be around me, even just a little?' he asked desperately. I swallowed the lump in my throat but refused to answer his question, or meet his eyes for that matter. He grabbed my chin and lifted my head so I could look at him. Goddess, his touch was so addicting.

"What do you want?" I all but whispered, my breath fanning his lips. "Just spend some time getting to know me. I don't know why, but I feel stronger around you. Like I could be anything. Maybe even a better Alpha," Hadeon stated timidly, and for the first time, it felt like I really saw him. It wasn't the arrogant, manipulative, destructive Alpha that runs the vicious Death Shadow pack, but a pup, still trying to find his way in life, and for a brief moment, my heart melted.

I sighed as I reached up and caressed the light stubble of his beard. "It will never work. Some day soon you will try to destroy the world and that will be the day I will have to kill you," I stated sadly as I looked him in his eyes. The challenge I saw in his gaze made my stomach nervous and excited at the same time. "And when that today comes, at least we will both know how it felt to be with our fated mate," Hadeon responded huskily as he ran a finger along my neck and across my making spot.

My knees went weak and Hadeon pulled me flush against his body. His inebriating scent made me want to make terrible decisions. This could only end badly. "Not if we really give it a try. What's the worst that could happen? We change him completely and live happily ever after?" Hera stated in my mind.

Hera was team, mate, all day. She would follow her mate to the ends of the earth without reason. I truly felt bad for her. "The worst that could happen is he tries to destroy the world and we have to kill him after developing feelings," I responded privately. Hera didn't have much to say after that.

"Why don't we have a movie night, just you and me?" he asked. Now he was talking my language. My family and I had movie nights at least once a week during my puphood. "You all have a movie theater on packgrounds?" I asked excitedly. "Well, no, but I have an eighty-five-inch flat screen up in my chambers with a massive movie collection," Hadeon responded sheepishly. I should have known they didn't have a theater. Back home at Blood Moon, we had one right on the first floor of the packhouse.

"I didn't know you liked movies," I said while not hiding the shock in my voice. I was surprised he enjoyed more than just pillaging and plundering. "Well, there is a lot you don't know about me. Come up and watch a movie with me tonight," Hadeon asked, using adorable puppy dog eyes. I almost wanted to give in but knew I shouldn't be left alone with him. "I actually promised to go over to Evi's tonight. Sorry," I responded with feigned remorse.

Hadeon smirked his knee-buckling smirk and dropped his arm from around my waist. It was now or never! I quickly moved around him and ran straight for the office door and my freedom. His presence confuses my thoughts and I had to get out of there. I unlocked the door and all but ran toward the exit of the packhouse.

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(Hadeon's POV)

I smirked to myself. I was under her spell and I knew it. We might not be able to be together, but I would enjoy her while I had her. It was harder to get into her good graces than I anticipated, but I should have expected nothing less from my stubborn mate. I can understand why she doesn't want to be near me. This bond, with its euphoric scents and tingles as well as the safety and comfort it brings, becomes addicting. I know my father would deem me weak to the mate bond, but only for a moment.

For once in my life, I would like to feel complete and utter weakness before I finally achieve the unthinkable. Before we destroy the world as we know it and my beautiful mate hates me. At this point, I am pretty sure I can't sacrifice her. There has to be another way. Zeus growled at my thoughts and I sighed inwardly. "Come to my office," I mind-linked Lucas quickly before cutting the link.

A few minutes later, Lucas knocked and entered my office. He sat on the couch and looked at me expectedly. How do I put this without coming off weird or desperate? "So, I heard Janessa was coming to your chambers tonight to hang out with Evi," I stated. "Yeah, I heard Evi mention something about that. Is it a problem?" Lucas asked me curiously.

"No, of course not. I was-uh- just thinking we could have a movie night tonight," I stated nervously. s**t, I suck at this. "Oh, umm, okay! We haven't had a movie night together since we were pups, but I think that will be fun. We haven't bonded in a while," Lucas replied with a sly smirk. "Not us you i***t! I'm talking about the ladies," I responded exasperatedly.

"Oohh, with the ladies," Lucas exclaimed with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smirk. "So you're saying you want me to do you a favor and put together a movie night so you can trick Janessa into spending time with you since she won't do it on her own?" he questioned, hitting the nail on the head. He received a growl in response.

"Listen, just convince them to come up to my chambers for a movie tonight," I told him, sick of his antics. Lucas began laughing hysterically. "Do you really believe Janessa will come up to your chambers? No, don't be a d**k. We will have it in my chambers tonight after dinner, around 7 pm. I will have Evi set the place up all romantic-like," Lucas responded with a cheesy smile. My heart skipped a beat at the thought of a romantic evening with Janessa.

I have to admit, Lucas's idea was better than mine. "Okay, make it happen. And it goes without saying, you and Evi's discreetness on this matter is greatly appreciated," I told him, making sure he let his mate know not to go run her mouth about our little movie date tonight. "Of course, Alpha," Lucas smirked as he stood from the couch and exited my office. Maybe it was wrong to trick Janessa into spending time with me, but at this point, I had to take what I could get.