Chapter 5 Misjudged

I didn’t know I could feel this way. I never knew my body was capable of responding like this. It would have been embarrassing even if I wasn’t in such an animalistic frenzy. My hands were roaming all over him, and I couldn’t get enough. His tongue was attacking mine, and it wasn’t enough. I wanted more, and I could tell he did as well. Finally, he lifted away from me, panting, but his eyes looked angry. I listened to his growl and then he snapped his head toward the door.

“Get the fuck out of here, Lyle!”

“Yeah, I can’t do that.” Lyle chuckled and I watched as Darren lifted himself completely off of me to turn and glare at him.

“You alright there, angel?” Lyle asked me. I could feel the heat radiating off my face as I nodded. I sat up, not making eye contact with either of the men. I could hear Darren’s low growl and it seemed they were mentally communicating. I didn’t know what was going on, but I felt like it had something to do with me.

As their mental argument continued, I felt the familiar pain seize me. The pain I had been having for two months. I knew now that it was from Alfred cheating on me. I let out a small whimper and hunched over. Immediately, Darren moved to sit next to me, his arm around my shoulder.

“Gods ...” The agonizing sensation seared through my body like a thousand hot needles, causing me to whimper again in pain. My insides felt as though they were being ripped apart, as if the gods themselves were punishing me.

“You can’t mark her, Darren!” I heard Lyle growl out, and those words brought me out of the fog of my pain.

“I don’t have to. I can still help. This weak mark on her neck can get purged. I am her fated mate.” Darren listened as Lyle snorted.

“You have to ask for permission! You can’t just take and do whatever you want. She isn’t an object,” Lyle snapped.

“I can help you ... if you let me.” Darren’s hot breath whispered near my ear. His touch alone seemed to make the pain weaken. I nodded my head. Yes, just take the pain away. I didn’t want to feel this anymore. I wasn’t expecting what he did next. His lips covered the mark on my neck and he began to lick and suck at it.

As if by magic, the intense pain evaporated, replaced by a wave of pure pleasure that rippled through my body like electricity. Every nerve ending seemed to come alive with sensation, tingling and pulsating with delight. It was as if I had been transported to a state of bliss, where all worries and troubles faded away into insignificance. The feeling was so intense and overwhelming that I couldn’t help but let out a gasp of surprise and ecstasy. In that moment, everything else faded away as I was consumed by the magic he was doing to my body.

“Better?” he whispered against my neck. Better? I didn’t want him to stop. I wanted to tell him no so he could ignite that magical fire inside of me again.

“Yes.” My voice was just a breath, the only sound I could muster.

“Let me know when the pain happens. I can help with it. Once I mark you, you’ll never feel it again. I’ll make sure I mark you before we kill ... that man who left his mark on you. I don’t want you to feel that pain.” I could hear the annoyance in his voice as he refused to mention Alfred being my mate. Well, I guess he wasn’t my mate anymore. Even though I still had his mark on my neck.

“Listen, I know he can be overwhelming, but you have to use your voice, okay? If he’s moving too fast, just tell him. Even if he is intimidating, he won’t hurt you.” Lyle squatted down in front of me, looking into my eyes. I felt Darren’s possessive arm scoop around my waist as he let out a low growl.

“I told you I wasn’t forcing myself on her. Little brothers need to stay home.”

“I’m also your beta, Darren, so shut up!”

Wait a minute ... brothers? So Lyle was the prince of the lycans, but was also his brother’s beta. And, from the sound of it, he was accusing his brother of taking advantage of me. I chewed on my inner lip, wanting to disappear. How did I say that I was just as much at fault? Just like that? What did that say about me? What did it say about him if I didn’t speak up?

I took in a small breath and looked at Lyle. “I appreciate your concern. I’m more than capable of speaking up for myself and shutting down unwanted advances. I admit, things did get a bit carried away there, but I’m just as much to blame.” I found my voice and made sure I spoke clearly and concisely. No matter what light this put me in, it was the truth. I watched as he lifted his hand up to rest on his forehead.

“You shouldn’t have said that,” he grumbled as I stared at him in confusion. “You still need to take things slow, Darren. That isn’t a green light!” He snapped his head up to look at his brother. I turned my head to the side to see his beaming face. The king’s face was an adorable red shade with a huge grin plastered all over it. He looked embarrassed, but also happy.

These two men didn’t seem scary at all, not like the rumors I’d heard. I was beginning to think they had been misjudged. But only a minute later, everything changed.

“NO! I need to speak to her!” I heard the familiar sound of Bastian’s voice as he ran into the room. A moment later, Lyle had him by the throat and Darren was towering over him.

I didn’t scream or yell. Isn’t this what a normal person would have done? Instead, I must be insane. I growled. I pushed myself between the men, knocking Lyle’s arm from his throat. I took a defensive position in front of Bastian, defending my pack member and daring them to reach for him again. Was this suicide? Absolutely. But this man was a member of my pack. And regardless of the situation, I had been his luna, and at this point I still felt the weight of that responsibility.

What was I expecting at this moment? Did I honestly think that because I was mated to the king, he would smile and say it was a misunderstanding? Did I think he would apologize? No, but I wasn’t expecting him to growl back at me. His eyes turned dark as he curled his lips up in a snarl.

I noticed that Bastian had bent his head in submission, exposing his neck. It was the aura of the king forcing him. But this aura wasn’t forcing me. In fact, it was making me irritated.

“Stand. Aside.” He enunciated his words as he glared past me.

“I won’t allow anyone to hurt my pack members.” The voice was much stronger than the anxiousness I felt inside. “I was promised that none of them would be harmed if I gave myself up freely. I have.”

“DO YOU HAVE A THING GOING ON WITH HIM?!” he roared at me.

I felt like he was about to snap at any moment. This wasn’t the sweet, gentle man I had my arms entangled around moments earlier. He might not realize it, but his words were offensive. That was a direct attack on my character. Lycan King or not, I would not tolerate it!