ANNE MARIE’S POV:
One second Nix is running ahead (she knows where the Moon Goddess is leading us) and the next she just vanishes.
I’m instantly downloaded into some scene like it’s the matrix. My feet ache in these cheap flats and the smell of industrial bleach makes my nose itch. That’s when I feel it: this is familiar. I know exactly where I am.
"Ladies," is all my co-worker says, her eyes wide, then: "Ooo. He's here."
She doesn't say his name. She doesn't have to. Marcus Walker is walking up to the doors. My father's old friend. The guy I stared at from a distance when I was a teenager in Lakeview. Sienna and I basically picked Wolf Springs University for this. Now we are twenty four. Sienna is grinding herself into the dirt to be a doctor; I just settled for medical assistant and some business credits. We basically built our lives as traps to stay near the men we want.
Sienna is the brave one. She interns under Dr. Greyson. I didn't even apply to Walker Industries because I'm a coward; I just followed my cousin here to the medical institute. I just take the scraps of time he spends at the hospital.
"He is a looker," a nurse says, her eyes scanning him.
"How tall is he…?" another asks.
"I bet his pickle is impressive," a third adds, fanning herself with a chart.
I feel a heat crawl up my neck. I know what he looks and feels like. I remember the rough wood of my porch and the weight of him against my palms, throbbing all those years ago. Stroking him like some afterthought when I knew Sienna did Greyson first. She’s always first to do something. Even if that something is naughty. Bitch.
"You wanna know, Anne Marie," my co-worker teases. "Don’t you?"
"Stop," I say. "He's a Superior Beta. Women like ‘us’ don't..."
"But you're a pack princess..." someone interrupts.
"Exactly," another says. "If anyone can hook’em..."
The automatic doors hiss open. Marcus walks in. His sandy-blonde hair is slicked back and his suit fits tight across his broad shoulders. Oliver (his assistant) follows him with a briefcase and a big box. Marcus just takes up all the oxygen in the room. Always does. The air smells like heavy perfume from the women leaning around me, looking at him. And yet his scent is suffocatingly rich, cutting through the beehive of fumes. They think he's here as the financial advisor. But I kinda know better.
"Do you smell that, Annie?" Nix asks in my head. She sniffs. "Our mate!"
He smells like expensive cologne and something arousing (like wet earth, pine and mint) that seems to stick to my skin like a scent marking.
"No, Nix," I mutter in my brain. "He's not..."
The memory of my eighteenth birthday feels like a splinter in my skin. It burns. Our wolves never called out to each other.
"That doesn't mea..." Nix growls.
"Maybe we haven't found ours yet," I tell her, just to shut her up. "But we can still play while we wait."
Nix chuckles, amused. Marcus has been watching me for five months. That’s why he’s here once again (thrice in a week). His mind brushes mine in a way that feels like a heavy blanket. Always mind-linking me. He makes me feel owned, wanted and protected.
The smell of old coffee makes my head throb as I finish my paperwork. Marcus walks down the hall; his gray blue eyes scan the room. But I ignore him; acting as though I don't notice he's headed my way. Nix stirs under my skin. I feel a dull heat in my stomach. He’s a nine thousand year old shifter with a frame that makes the corridor look narrow. I stay seated because my knees feel like wet paper, ready to give out any moment now.
The room goes quiet. He smells so delicious. Oliver nods at me while security blocks the way. Marcus locks onto my gaze; his stare feels like a physical weight pressing down on my shoulders. I sit behind the ER desk and tap my fingers on the keyboard. His security detail looks for threats that aren't here.
Marcus is a werewolf from the old world; he is a king among shifters and second only to his brother. Deadly is his middle name. So he definitely doesn’t need the protection.
His guards ignore me. Which is what they should do. Only Oliver dares to nod. But he’s allowed to. Marcus doesn't like to share; the last guy who flirted with me lost a tooth. Nix purrs in my mind. I keep my head down and pretend these files are more interesting.
"Anne Marie." His voice is smooth, with a British accent. "How are you this morning?"
"I'm well, Mr. Walker. Thank you for asking." I keep it professional, even if my stomach feels like it's full of flapping wings.
He looks at my mouth. Onyx, his wolf, growls in my head. Nix answers with a lazy purr. He smells of heavy musk, his arousal bleeding into the mix.
"Annie." He leans in and his voice sounds amused. "I noticed you missed..."
Sienna. Patrick. One stormy night of sex. The bite and the blood sucking. I remember Sienna's flushed skin and the way she described Patrick's fangs marking her. Marcus knows. He and his brother share everything. So yeah… dinner we missed. Or more like avoided having with them.
"Mr. Walker," I say, "I had personal matters to..."
"Hope you and Sienna are well," he rumbles, cutting me off. My knees shake under the desk. "We'd love your presence this evening."
I nod. A strong pulse hits my throat. This dynamic makes it difficult to run from them. Our parents sent her and I to live at his brother’s place (Greyson Estate), heavily guarded and locked like a fortress behind the ironclad walls of their royal compound. Perfect for two precious Rightfield princesses. Only to study at the University of course. And also to beat the traffic between Lakeview and here for our interning.
Now here he is, baiting me. He wants me to coax Sienna back for his brother. He wants me back too. He just stands there until Onyx flickers in his eyes. He summons Oliver with one head nod.
The nurses watch as Oliver walks over with a black box tied in a pink bow. Oliver holds it out. "Mr. Walker wishes you to have these, Miss Rightfield. They’re hand selected..."
My fingers shake as I take the box. It feels heavy.
"For me?" I ask. Like as if I didn’t know already. Why else would he be handing me this gift?
Marcus smirks. "Yes, open it..."
I pull the ribbon. Lift the lid. Inside is a white box with chocolates on velvet trays. They smell like cocoa and burnt sugar. My coworkers gasp behind me. I pick up a dark chocolate piece with nuts and look at him.
"Please? Indulge yourself..."
I bite into it. It tastes of bitter cocoa and sticky caramel.
"These are incredible," I say and lick my lips. I continue chewing as he watches me.
Marcus then looks at Oliver. I can’t believe he actually picked these out for me instead of focusing on his empire. His usual order of business.
"I'm glad you like them, Annie. I had them specially made..." Marcus rumbles, low.
The tension in the room escalates. Everyone's watching us. Then Marcus looks at his watch. Oliver looks blank, eyes glazing over; the mind-link is hitting him with an update.
"I'm afraid I must go," Marcus says. "A board meeting with Dr. Greyson in ten. Tell Cee-Cee I..."
"Oh. Alright. I will." I swallow my disappointment. "Work calls..."
He nods. His voice drops. "But fear not, my sweets. I'll find you..."
He winks. I watch him walk away. I can see the shape of him through those expensive slacks; it reminds me of how he felt in my hands years ago. I haven't tried that again. Oliver follows him like a shadow, and the security team trails behind. Their presence makes a lot of noise about how important he is, which just leaves me alone, staring down at a box of fancy chocolates. His scent stays in the air. Nix wags her tail in my head; she knows he will be back.
For the rest of the morning the ER is a mess of shouting and beepings behind the glass. I just want lunch. My thoughts keep looping back to Marcus; I can almost smell that heavy cologne and feel the heat of his skin. Then my inbox pings. Marcus Walker. Subject: Urgent. Read Immediately. Oliver is copied.
I double-click it.
"Miss Rightfield, I require your assistance immediately in my office. Report to the top executive level now."
My heart skips. Getting called up there isn't new, but this feels different. Like I stepped over a line I can't see. Nix is buzzing in my head. I swallow a knot of nerves.
I head up. Security lets me through, and the elevator ride feels like it takes an hour. My palms get sweaty. The doors open to a floor of cold marble and dim lights. Portraits of the hive leaders stare at me from the walls (his is one of them). To one side are the offices of Dr. Greyson and the Knoxes; the other side is for the board members.
Straight ahead is Marcus Walker's office. My sneakers squeak on the floor. The door is heavy wood, which is a change from the white walls downstairs. I knock. The golden nameplate says Marcus Walker, CFO, Hive Beta.
"Come in," he says. His voice sounds like gravel.
I turn the knob and push the door open. Marcus is behind his desk with the city skyline behind him. His fingers hit the laptop keys with a clicking sound. He smells like that cologne, wolf musk, and old leather. My knees feel weak, so I grip my clipboard against my chest.
"Anne Marie," he says. My name sounds heavy in his mouth. "Thank you for coming so quickly..."
"Of course," I say, trying to keep my voice flat. "How can I assist you, Mr. Walker?"
His pupils are wide, turning his eyes almost black. In a flash he’s from behind his computer. He steps closer and runs a finger along my chin, tilting my face up.
"I think we both know why you're really here. No more fancy titles, my dear..."
"Yes, of course," I say, looking away.
He’s right. In private, he has been Marcus to me since I turned eighteen. But here, even alone, the professional act feels like a stiff, regal gesture.
The office is very large, meticulously clean; I have never seen a side of him like this. I look at the mahogany desk, the plush chairs and his leather couch.
"Look at that view, Annie," Nix says in my head.
"I see it," I mutter, looking at the cityline through the window.
"No, silly," she growls; her tail flicks in my head. "Lower. At..."
I look down. His erection pushes against his dark dress pants. He tilts my chin up (again), and my skin prickles like a mild burn where he touched me. He wants me to look at him. Keep my gaze only on him. He yanks my scrubs, pulling me forward, and his mouth hits mine. His hands move over my waist and breasts; he smells like expensive soap and that cologne. Nix whines, and I jerk away; the clipboard hits the floor with a loud clatter.
He steps closer.
"You’re so beautiful," he says against my neck; his teeth scraping my skin. I think of Patrick marking Sienna. I wonder if he wants to do the same.
"I can’t wait to claim you..." he rasps in my ear.
My nipples harden. Heat pools between my thighs. The idea of belonging to a Superior Beta makes my head spin. He sweeps his arm across the desk. Papers slide everywhere. He lifts me onto the wood; he shoves my scrubs up, yanks my pants down and unhooks my bra. His jacket is gone; his tie is loose, and his pants are open. That damn wolf-speed makes his movements hard to catch. His cock springs free, thick and straining.
"Marcus," I gasp.
"You’re mine, Annie," he snarls; he grips my thighs. "Mine to protect. Mine to cherish..."
He pushes my legs apart. The heat of him presses against my core. I whimper. He laughs; it sounds sinister. He looks hungry. The chocolates from before were not a gift; they were a warning. Now I know.
He presses one hand into the small of my back. I part my thighs reflexively. His chest brands my nipples with heat. He slides his cock free from his boxers. The lace of my panties rips when he forces them aside. I dig my fingers into the edge of the desk; the wood bites into my palms.
"You’re going to scream, howling my name, Nix," he promises my wolf; like as if I’m not even here. His only focus is her.
Nix snarls with approval in my skull. I tremble. His hips snap forward, and I gasp as he splits me open. The stretch burns; my muscles clench. His rhythm is relentless (in, out). Each movement pulls a whimper from my throat. My flesh yields. He leans down. When he sucks my nipple, I arch my back. He uses his tongue exquisitely until my breathing gets ragged.
Heat pools in my belly. I rock into him, chasing the feeling. He hisses; his teeth graze my taut buds.
"You’re so fucking tight, darling..." he murmurs, his voice trailing off.
"No, Marcus..." I moan as he switches breasts, licking, sucking, swirling his tongue. The warmth makes me shiver.
His hips never slow. Each thrust drives me harder against the wood. It gets slicker, gliding easier. I squirm, but his grip is tight. My own wetness blends with his. When he scrapes his teeth over my nipple, a sharp sting hits my core. My walls clench around him, and he groans.
He releases me with a wet pop from his mouth. His eyes are black.
"You’re mine," he growls. "Now... say it, Annie. Tell me..."
But hold back. He fucks the answer out of me. The desk creaks. My vision goes white as an orgasm hits; my body tightens violently.
"Say it!" His voice is a roar. "Don’t make me fuck you from the back..."
The threat sits low in my belly. My voice shakes. "Yes, my Beta."
"Just call me Marcus." He tightens his grip.
Another orgasm tears through me. His slide back in is obscenely wet.
"I’m yours," I choke out.
"Good girl, Nix." He brushes his thumb over my lip. "I’m your daddy now. Never forget..."
He seals his mouth over my nipple. His tongue flicks the peak. I writhe. I am lost in the push and pull, the way he stretches me, the scrape of his teeth. Onyx prowls my mind.
"Tell me, Anne Marie... Can you feel it? The bond..."
I want to resist. But his mind is in mine, and his hands lock my hips. I am pinned between him and the desk. He thrusts deeper. My breath catches.
"No, no... no," I whisper; I sink my nails into his shoulders.
I know what comes next. His alpha knot swells, locking him inside me. He’s a Beta only by choice; but an Alpha in every way. The size of it pulses against my walls. The desk creaks in the silent office. Someone could hear this. Especially with that goddess-forsaken wolf hearing half the execs possess.
"Yes, yesss... my love," he breathes. He presses his mouth to my neck. His breath is hot, smelling sweet and honeyed. "Your body doesn't lie. You feel it too, don't you...?"
I make a noise in my throat. My stomach feels like it’s twisting into a knot.
"Y-yes," I say.
He is hard and slick. He pushes into me, and the desk underneath us makes a loud, creaking sound again. He digs his fingers into my skin to hold me in place; while tilting me back so he can get deeper. I feel the friction of the wood against my back; it is rough and scrapes my skin.
I am too weak to fight him. He moves his hips in a steady, heavy rhythm that makes it hard to breathe. He nips at my neck, his teeth pressing into the skin without breaking it. I feel a warm pool of fluid gathering between my legs. He licks the spot for claimings, then rubs his thumbs over my nipples. They feel tight and sore.
"You like that?" he asks. He sounds like Onyx is speaking through him. "Huh...?"
Nix purrs in my head. I nod and scratch his back. My legs are shaking.
"Good," he says. "Now cum..."
Something snaps. My vision goes white as he hits a spot deep inside me. The desk rattles against the floor. He drives into me one last time, hard and heavy. Then he sinks his teeth into my neck. I missed his fangs dropping. It all just went so fast.
"Marcus!" I yell. My back arches. He fills me with something hot and thick (his cum). He drinks my blood, his fangs locking into place. I feel a pull in my chest; it feels like a heavy chain. He pulls away.
When he finally slides out, it is messy. I am wet and shaking.
"You're really mine now, Nix," he purrs, ignoring me once again and focusing on her only. He licks the mark on my neck. "My fated..."
The words feel like a lead weight in my chest. A fated bond is supposed to be gifted by the Moon Goddess, but my ceremony passed without anything happening. Nix says fate is late for us, but my stomach feels like it is full of his seed. And my neck is bitten with his claim now.
"But we're not..." I start.
"We are," he says. "You just can't feel yet..."
He has that feral grin. His eyes are dark.
"What about the hive?" I ask.
"They'll adapt," he says. He kisses my mouth, his tongue pushing inside.
He does not let go. He lifts me up and carries me to the black leather couch. My scrubs are a mess; my pants are around my thighs and my bra is hanging by a strap. His cock is tall and glistening. He breathes hard and rubs my back. He is much bigger than me, keeping me steady on his lap.
Someone knocks at the door. My heart jumps. Maybe it is Father (Sir Ivan) and Uncle Isaac. Are they here visiting from Lakeview as they usually do like clock work? Always checking-in on Sienna and me.
I try to move, but my muscles feel like jelly. He wraps an arm around me to keep me still.
"Come in," Marcus says. He does not bother to cover himself.
Oliver walks in with a tray. There are sodas, subs, chips, olives and pickles. He looks at our bareness and his nose twitches at the smell of sex in the room, but he does not blink. He sets the tray down.
"Your lunch, Sir... Miss Anne Marie."
Marcus makes a low sound in his throat. "Good boy..."
I press my chest against him (hiding my swollen buds) while Oliver puts a napkin over my lap. It feels strange.
"Thank you," I say.
Oliver nods and leaves. The air hits my skin and makes my nipples peak. I reach for the sandwich. It has turkey, bacon, mayo, mustard, oil, and vinegar.
"Mmm... you remembered?" I smile. It’s a small thing, but he remembered my order from the Knox Cafe. I can’t believe he even ordered one for himself.
"Of course," he says. He has that rough, British accent. "Good, good, good... I like it..."
He eats like he has not seen food in days. Then everything goes dark.
"Annie? Annie?" Nix rumbles in my skull. "Come back..."
My eyes snap open. I see the omega suite of the Timmons-Von-Dracula estate. I am eighteen again. Sienna is lying across the room in her bed. Wolfsbane makes my limbs feel heavy and numb. The house is pitch black.
"Nix... what was that?"
She nudges my hand in my mind.
"The truth, Anne Marie," she says. "This has all happened before. Stolen away with the fate re-alignment."
I fight the weight on my eyelids. Their glued shut again.
"We were his?" My voice sounds thick.
"Yes..." She moves ahead, dissolving into the haze. "Come now, we have no time to waste. It won't be long before it takes root again. Gaia has more..."
The witch's potion feels like thick roots sinking into my veins. I know she obeys the Moon Goddess. So I follow her. My bare feet press into the damp, cold earth of the Wolf Springs woods. This is where Onyx and Nix ran together in my psyche. Especially after Marcus bit me in that dream. I remember it now so clearly. A ghost of a past that someone wanted erased.