Maya's POV
Damien's fingers wrapped tightly around my throat as he shoved me against the wall. My heat roared like wildfire. I couldn't smother it anymore, and my gown started getting wet.
"Look at her," Damien spat as his fingers dug into the softness of my skin through the gown. "Grimridge's little whore, wet for me."
I tried to slip away but he again backed me up to the wall, his breath stinking hot against my neck, "Get down on your knees."
"No," I panted, weakly pushing at his torso with my hands. "Please, Damien, just stop. You've bullied me enough."
He chuckled, cupping my chin to force me to look into his eyes. "Your body's aching for me, you little slut. Feel that?" His hand moved down further, and he grabbed me through the gown.
My heart pounded, and that made me furious; my body's response to his cruelty was arousal, and this pleasure was my shame. This was my worst nightmare!
Damien's friends laughed wildly, one of them pointing to the wet stain on my dress. "She's soaking through!" the taller one jeered.
"Bet she'd spread for anyone," the other one chuckled. "Even a homeless old wolf."
"Please, let me go," I begged, tears rolling down my eyes. Damien's hold only grew stronger, emboldened by my protest. His hand moved up my thigh, nudging the gown higher.
"Let you go?" He grinned, his fingers circling the slick skin above my knee. Under my stepmother's orders, I had scrubbed myself today and the skin was still soft and raw.
Damien's violating touch made my stomach turn, making my horror more intense. "I am giving you what you ask for, Maya. Relief. You should thank me."
He pressed himself closer, his lower body clashing against mine. I could feel his erection against my wet thighs as he whispered into my ear. "Say it. Say you want me."
"I don't," I gasped helplessly. I couldn't get him to move away, but my heat roared louder. Damien moved his hips and hit me in just the right spot. My body convulsed with the invasive contact and I let out an involuntary moan.
One of his friends mocked my voice, and the other lingered by me, next to Damien, and sniffed me all in.
"Worry not, you'll start enjoying it soon," he hissed. I felt his breath on my neck. "Once we all gang up and just take you, one…by…one."
Damien chuckled and slid his hand higher onto my butt and grabbed a handful tightly. He grabbed me forcefully and flipped me around, rubbing himself up against my hips. My gown was already ripped.
He whispered into my ear. "You turned me down once. Do you remember, Maya? It was a mistake. No one dares reject me. Look at where you ended up. I will collect with interest. I will own you while everyone hears you scream."
I opened my mouth to holler for help, but his hand stifled my cries. My body shook, wavering between desperate desire and creeping panic. Damien nipped at my shoulder with his teeth. His drooling lips touched me, and I knew this was it. This was the end for me.
Suddenly, a howl cut through the air like a whiplash. Who was it? Damien's hold slackened as his gaze shifted away, and I took advantage, yanking myself free.
My shoes skidded on the marble as I ran toward the ballroom. I was miserable—my gown was torn at the hem, and I shook with craving and shame.
"Damn it!" I heard Damien curse, chasing after me. "Get back here, you bitch!" he roared. "I'm not done with you!"
The crowd's heads turned toward me. Werewolves from every pack stared at me in confusion and surprise as I staggered into the middle of the ballroom. I was panting, and my copper hair fell loose from its pins.
I collapsed to my knees as the heat overwhelmed me. My body shook as arousal soaked through the gown. My mind went hazy. The wolves closed in, laughing and taunting. To my ringing ears, their voices were poison.
"Yuck," spat a female from Silvercliff. "She's practically fucking the floor."
"Grimridge whore," sneered a Bloodfang male. "What a disgrace! Bet she'd ride anyone these days. Just look at her, wet and on her knees begging for it."
A Duskmire wolf guffawed. "No Alpha's claiming that piece of ass. She's made to be fodder for the Wastes, not to be a mate."
The words sliced like jagged rocks, each one stripping me bare. I curled into myself, my palms against my face, "Stop," I whispered, on the verge of a breakdown.
Damien elbowed his way through. "You can't escape me, Maya," he said with a taunt, taking hold of my arm. "You shameless bitch! Look how you're humbling your father."
My vision blurred as I scrambled to my feet. The heat made my body scream for release. The crowd laughed, some of them chanting "Whore! Whore!" as Damien tugged at my arm with brute force. He wanted to drag me to the corner again and let his gang have their way with me.
I felt like a lamb in a den of wolves, and there was no one to come and save me.
With my last ounce of strength, I shook free of Damien and bolted. But the second I ran a few steps, I collided into another wall of muscle. The impact was so shocking that I was knocked to my knees.
The man had appeared from nowhere. His sudden arrival silenced the room. I wheezed to catch my breath and looked up, expecting him to be another predator.
A pair of strong hands took hold of mine. Their grasp was not cruel, but steady and tender. The man helped me to my feet with such gentleness that it stunned me. Who was he?
I blinked rapidly to restore my vision. I could see raven-black locks, uncombed and disheveled. My eyes caught a signet on his finger—a crescent moon parading a star. My heart stopped as I realized who it was.
Alpha Kael. The Lycan King of the Starfang Throne, the highest authority in the Dominion. The room grew eerily silent, every wolf's head bowed down. Damien's mood shifted too, his face draining of colour as he lowered himself.
Kael's hand lingered on my arm. His touch ignited a spark that sent my heat flaring in a different way. My body shuddered involuntarily, as I could not hold back my desperation anymore.
"I…I'm sorry," I managed to stammer. My body staggered for a moment, and I began to fall.
Alpha Kael caught me. A soft moan slipped through my lips as he touched me, making my cheeks hot against his gaze. The heat pulsed, now rhythmically. Something was different.
My arousal was still evident, making me afraid the Alpha would turn his nose away. Or worse, punish me for coming in contact with him.
However, Kael didn't even cringe. In fact, he pulled me closer, his gaze more overpowering than his manly scent. What was this strange feeling?
"Don't apologize," he whispered as his hand grazed my cheek and wiped away a tear.
His thumb lingered on my face, and I felt an unnatural pull. His touch was a plug-in of raw energy. It felt like a trance as our faces drew closer. His lips were so close to mine, just inches away, and then…
"Maya?" A voice shattered the moment. Strangely, I recognized it.
I turned in that direction and my eyes widened. There stood Finn with his sandy curls, hazel eyes, and dimpled smile. My childhood friend, gone for years, now bowing low to Kael, "My Lord, I…"
Kael's eyes hardened, mildly irritated that the moment was gone. He set me free, and took a step back. "Enough of this chaos!" he thundered to the crowd. "Behave like proper wolves!"
Alpha Kael did not say another word. He turned on his heels and marched away with authority. Every wolf jumped out of his way, forming a boulevard.
I was paralyzed, my body throbbing with pain. I had gone through such bizarre experiences in such a short time that it drained me. Finn grabbed my arm. "Maya, you're okay, right?"
But his words barely registered in my ears. I was thinking about something else, someone else.
If I wasn't mistaken, the Lycan King looked at me differently. It felt like he wanted me as much as I wanted him.