Antiope

What did the hell happen? What the hell actually just happened?

"More, more, more, more," Maximo is leaping in my head.

"Calm down. I can't think."

"What's there to think? Our mate is skilled and he made us feel good and we want more. Now!"

I sigh in frustration and desperately try to gather my thoughts. But as I am about to form a reasonable argument, Magnus takes off his t-shirt and goes for his belt. Goddess, please no. I mean, I am not ready. Mentally. My body is more than ready after that...

"Yes, yes, yes, yes," Max has a completely different opinion.

"In for a night swim, Antiope?" Magnus leans closer as he gets rid of his jeans.

"Huh?"

He smirks, then grabs me from my armpits and tosses me in the water. I go under and for a few seconds I feel calm and serene. A smile forms on my lips and I break the surface for air. Magnus is already in the water and comes closer.

"I like it when you smile, little girl," he says in that low voice of his that makes the water boil.

"Thank you?" I am too confused for clever retorts right now.

"I take it you are satisfied. Good," he goes underwater and grabs me from my ankles.

I yell before I am drawn under and I kick around to get back at him. My tense body relaxes. This is playful. I can handle playful. Playful is safe.

When we are both above water, I see his cocky smile in place. I will never say it out loud but I like it when he smiles too. But now is payback time. I dive suddenly, drag him under and step on him to keep him there. But he is stronger, much stronger, so he pulls me close and keeps me there, tightly against him. I fight to free myself but it's fruitless. When he needs air, he comes back up with me in his arms.

And he holds me even closer. No, no. Go back to playful! But he doesn't, he just glances down my lips and his eyes are shining brightly under the moonlight. When he leans in, I lean to meet him no matter how much I hate myself for doing that. It's as if his kisses are a drug. It's wrong and bad for me but they make me feel so damn good.

"We should head back," I say as I push him slightly away.

"Yeah, sure," he nods but I see the disappointment in his eyes.

And for some mysterious reason, I leave a light peck on his lips just to see that spark in his eyes before I head to the shore. I shift, take my clothes in my mouth and run back to the house. I go straight to our place and I hear him right behind me. I shift back and rush through the open balcony door. Without looking back, I run up the stairs and straight to my room, closing the door behind me.

After a while, I hear him come up the stairs and I brace. If he comes in, naked and alluring, I will cave again and hate myself for it. His steps are getting closer and he stops outside my door.

"Antiope?"

I hold my breath. The doorknob turns but then it stops. I hear his hand on the door and then a deep sigh.

"Good night, little girl," Magnus says softly and goes back to his room.

Good night? He has to be kidding me.

***

"God morgon," Magnus looks up to me when I emerge from my room.

I reply nothing and I go down the stairs. I know how this is going to go. Big, bad Alpha didn't get his way so he is going to pretend this didn't happen and we are back to business as usual which is shutting me down each time I talk about Celia.

"It would be so much easier if you let me do this," Max triumphs.

I ignore her and I enter the kitchen to pour myself some coffee. I need it. I didn't sleep all night. I was confused and... well, aroused all the freaking time. And I barely held back from going out the balcony when I heard him do so.

"Antiope?" He demands.

I take a deep breath and I look at him. Slowly, painfully so, I look up into his eyes. He is making some kind of eggs and he regards me seriously. Here it goes...

"Antiope, if I made you... uncomfortable last night, I do apologize."

My jaw drops.

"But," he takes one small step to me, "I am not going to apologize for the way you make me feel."

I wish he could just go back to the cold Alpha he was the last time this happened. I could deal with that guy. A few harsh remarks, some witty comments, full-on cold shoulder and we would go on. This? I cannot handle this.

"Antiope?"

If the weapon of his choice this morning is brutal honesty, I have one in my arsenal.

"Magnus," I steel myself, "I cannot deny the way my body reacts to you. My wolf..."

"Maximo," he adds.

I frown.

"Henrar, my wolf, and she have become close."

"Traitor," I hiss in my head.

Max howls in defiance.

"Yes, Maximo," I look at him. "She seems taken. By Henrar at least. But me, Magnus, I cannot get past the fact that you are holding my sister in silver chains," I try to state coldly.

His face gets a bit hard and then he focuses on the eggs for a few moments. His breathing is calm but his perfect face is scowling furiously.

"If I could do it all over again, Antiope, I would do it differently."

"Differently?" I scoff. "You mean you wouldn't hold my 18-year-old innocent sister in your prisons or you wouldn't blackmail me into being your mate?"

"Both," he raises an eyebrow to me and smiles.

He is going to kill me with those smiles of his. For the millionth time, I wish he was that brooding asshole he was. Because my resolve is taking a major hit by having to face that smile over and over again.

He takes out the eggs and serves into plates and then he beckons at me to get the rest of the things he has prepared for breakfast and for a while we are setting the table. Right when I was putting down the bowl with fruits, he grabs me and pulls me onto his lap.

I gasp but he wraps me tightly and leans to my ear, letting his lips caress it softly. My insides go to mush instantly and my core clenches. My own body is betraying me now.

"I don't like it when you lie, little girl," he growls in a sensual way.

"Lie?" I try.

"It was Maximo last night, I know. But not only her," his nose traces my neck and I shiver. "It was you too. You wanted it, you enjoyed it, you came for me, little girl ."

Bastard, I scream. Internally. Externally, I am barely breathing. His touch gets more demanding, more scorching, more conquering. His hand kneads my thigh and he goes higher and higher, making me spread as he goes. His lips find again that spot low on my neck that makes my toes curl and this time, he bites down softly. And under me, his erection is growing. Goddess!

I don't know what to want, what to feel. I feel fear and excitement, enthusiasm and resentment all at the same time. And anger. Not with him, not anymore. I am angry at myself that is sighing so deeply as his lips continue their conquest, at my legs that don't stop his advance to my most hidden places, at the impatience that comes over me.

"I want you, Antiope," he almost begs.

I want you, too, I bite my lip down to stop my treacherous mouth from spilling those words. I am not that girl, not that helpless victim, not that brainless female that falls for a sexy Alpha.

"And I..." I breath out.

"Yes, little girl?" His hand is pressing me between my legs.

"I want..."

"Anything for you," his fingers go in my locks and his lips hover over mine.

"I want to see my sister," I look straight into his eyes.

He stiffens and his assault is cut short. I expect an explosion, a growl, something to show me he is the monster everyone thinks he is. But he does none of these things. He just nods to himself and regards me with a proud smile on his lips. Then he pushes me off his lap and takes a deep breath.

"Not yet, Antiope."

"Not yet?" I hold but my scream. "So, if I climb on you and fuck you, would you then permit me to see my sister? You made her and me a prisoner. I am guessing you are not beneath making me your whore."

There he is! The Alpha Ulfisson I know, the Killer of Rogues, the second in line to be King. His eyes go hard and cold, his whole body coils, ready to strike.

"Sit down and eat your breakfast!" He orders.

"Fuck you and your breakfast and your mind-fucking games, Ulfisson," I am shaking. "Let me see my sister. Now!"

"No!" He gets up and hits the table with such force that it breaks in half.

The food, the coffees, everything is spilled on the carpet or sent flying across the room. His jaw is twitching and Max cowers in fear. Fury is radiating off him and I take one step back. He is menacing and dangerous right now.

"Council meeting at 1 o'clock in my office. Do not be late!" Magnus warns me and then leaves.