Liz’s POVI decided a trip to the kitchen was a good idea. I was hungry now and would only get lost if I tried to escape. Sure, I knew enough not to venture into the desert. Other than that my sense of direction was hopeless. Orienteering was a complete mystery to me. And the Alpha would only drag me back, personally or otherwise.He had granted me the right to keep in daily communication with our Beta so I could serve them remotely. It may just be enough until any takeover.Hoping I wouldn’t receive a hostile reception, I headed downstairs in the jeans he seemed to dislike and a long sleeved blouse. My hair was piled up in a messy bun, though there was little I could do about the dark circles. I’d brought cosmetics but didn’t feel inclined to use them now, not when I was probably going back to bed afterwards.The Alpha had mentioned a garden. Perhaps I could sit out there, though I wasn’t about to test my boundaries tonight.I encountered Beta Lucas in the corridor.“Going somewhere,
Liz’s POV If there’s one thing I can’t stand among all nature’s creatures it’s a snake. Sure, spiders fall into the creepy crawly category and I hate close contact with them but by and large we go our separate ways. A reptile isn’t cold blooded for nothing and tends to strike first and fail to regret later. “Is it poisonous, Alpha?” “Very. If you hear a rattle … ” “Stop winding her up, By,” Mo said. “Oscar’s harmless and ancient. He’s a milk snake, they’re non-venomous.” “He likes his rodents, though.” Was he testing me? I decided it wouldn’t hurt to respond in kind. “You’d better watch out then, Alpha,” I said. Mo covered her mouth with her hand, trying to control her spluttering. “Right,” he said. “Upstairs with you. Now!” And I realised I’d crossed a line. “Lighten up, By. Liz didn’t mean to insult you.” “Yes, she did. You know I don’t accept that from anyone. Especially when there’s a witness.” “What are you intending to do to her?” “Make her handle Oscar,” he said.
Liz’s POVByron wouldn’t allow me to return to my room other than to fetch a nightie. I was dreading having to share his bed. He’d vowed not to take advantage but I doubted he would be able to keep his hands off me simply because I was female and available.Maybe I was doing him a disservice, but Ricky wouldn’t have hesitated to claim one thing and do another. It had happened before to several unfortunate Omegas within our pack and even the late Gamma’s daughter had to be consoled by none other than yours truly. The only fortunate thing was that his liaisons hadn’t resulted in any illegitimate pups so far. Or maybe that was a worrying thing in terms of our pack’s future.Yet if we were to merge on my marriage or even before and Alpha Richard was still missing, would it really matter?I bit my lip, feeling bad for thinking like that. Tossing and turning, the covers corkscrewed around me, I was unprepared for the tirade from my mate on waking. It was four a.m. and he hadn’t had a wink o
Byron’s POV“What are we doing today, Alpha?”Her soft voice roused me from my bitter thoughts and fetched the imp to the surface.“I will be drowning in paperwork, as usual. You, Lizzy, will be sunning yourself in the garden.”“Oh?”She raised a barely-there brow which I guessed was down to her colouring rather than a salon.“Mo’s bringing the pups out of confinement. I thought you might like to join them.”“Of course. That sounds delightful,” she said.I sensed her enthusiasm was real and only hoped it wasn’t because she wouldn’t be spending all of the time with me.“Philip will be close by, either him or Ned. I can’t remember now.”“Ned?”“One of the guards who brought you here.”“Okay. Should I change again?”I considered that.“Just add an apron.” Which brought me to the devilish part. “You’ll be cooking later, Lizzy. We have important visitors coming for dinner tonight. I want you to prepare a soufflé.”The look on her face was priceless.“Alpha, I may be no stranger to the kitc
Liz’s POVHis eyes had darkened to stormy now. I turned and ran but it appeared he was able to lock the outer door remotely. I heard a loud click just before I grappled with the doorknob.“Please, Byron, don’t do this,” I begged.“We’re mates, Lizzy. I need to introduce you to my tastes.”So all this was a test? Not one I was keen on passing in any way.“Are you going to whip me in there?”“I knew it,” he said. “You’ve been in this kind of dungeon before.”“Not willingly,” I told him.It was hard to admit but I didn’t want him to think I enjoyed this type of thing. I didn’t.His eyes narrowed.“Do you have a safe word?”“There was no point.”His growl was frightening. I took a step back.“I’m not angry with you, Lizzy.”“You could have fooled me,” I muttered.“Come closer.”He beckoned me with his finger, much like my uncle used to do. I had so many triggers yet, somehow, the dark side of Byron – Seb – didn’t repel me. Why was that? I wondered.His lips grazed my neck as he instructed
Byron’s POVI knew it would be wrong to smirk and employed my best poker face.“No, because you’re bound to get things wrong again. Hopefully on purpose, just like the bratty sub you are. And if you’re not, I’m going to train you up to be one. Because that’s what I like and I think you will, too.”“Is it because I’m stubborn? Ricky always says that.”I closed my eyes.“Please tell me he wasn’t a part of it in any way.”“What? Goddess, no.”“I prefer to say you’re mine to shape,” I said. She seemed to like the sound of that. “Drink that water.”I was pleased to see she didn’t hesitate. It made me proud.So, most of my burning questions had been answered. I had still to discover if we were compatible sexually. There was no rush. I told her that, adding that I could always summon one of the Omegas to satisfy me.Liz surprised me considerably by objecting strongly.“I would hate knowing you were with someone else now that I know we’re fated mates. They say it’s painful.”“Does this mean y
Liz’s POV“Do I have a choice?”I was becoming concerned that Tanya would come to the fore and that I would shift. It had never happened before but she was stepping out of her comfort zone and it made me uneasy.“She hasn’t said no,” he said, as if addressing a third person.I glanced behind me but we were the only ones in here. Unless he had a viewing room. I had to ask.“Is anyone watching us?”“Why, are you intending to be naughty?”“No, Byron.”“That’s a shame. I can assure you the wall mirror isn’t hiding an audience in another room. But you’ve just given me an idea. Do I have your consent?”I sighed.“Yes.”“And you remember the safe word system?” I repeated it back to him and told my Alpha mate I was good to go. “Stand up, pet, and face the mirror. I want to make you feel positive about your body.”“How?” I asked, seeing the mole on my thigh and the bags beneath my eyes.Byron came up behind me without warning and began to caress my hip. He was bare chested and I was conscious
Byron’s POVI stared at my Beta letting him know I wasn’t exactly pleased to be disturbed. Not now. Not when I was about to indulge myself even further.“This had better be good,” I growled, hoping he wouldn’t notice the bulge in my pants.“There’s a delegation here from Moon Tides.”I narrowed my eyes. “If this is some kind of joke … ”“Well, an Epsilon and one of the Omega females.”There was a thud as Liz’s head struck the underside of my desk.“Send them up,” I said, waving him away.Lucas could take a hint, though he smirked when he saw the yellow dress abandoned on the carpet and couldn’t resist a snarky comment.“Shouldn’t their acting Luna be present for this?”“I’ll see to that. Go.”She emerged when I indicated the coast was clear and quickly covered up.“Do I look okay?”I couldn’t resist. “Pretty flushed, otherwise fine.”Liz was wearing full make-up today and I had learned to my surprise it was one of her interests. She hadn’t overdone it, either, still looking natural ye