How Should I Punish You.

Avery's POV

“You don’t need to pretend anymore,” he murmured. His voice seemed to crawl across the floor, a low, dry rasp that sounded like dead leaves skittering over stone. “Lucian already used you.”

His grip tightened.

“So stop acting like you’re untouched. Just give me a chance. Let me fuck you to stupor.”

“I want you to choke on my cock, and then spread you wide with my fist.”

I struggled against him, twisting hard, but his hold didn’t budge. Rage burned hotter than the fear crawling up my spine.

“Don’t make a sound,” Raith breathed, tilting his head, his gaze sweeping over me like I was prey.

“You’re insane!” I spat, the words muffled under his hand.

A low chuckle left him.

“You think I care?” Raith growled. “You’re already his. What’s a little more between us?”

His hand shifted slightly against my mouth.

That was all I needed.

His skin was rough and abrasive against my lips. I sank my teeth into the flesh between his thumb and index finger. Hard.

He jerked instantly.

A sharp hiss tore from him, as blood and the saltiness of sweat filled my mouth. His grip loosened just enough for me to tear free.

“Get your hands off me.”

Raith stared at his hand for a second, blood welling between his fingers. Then his head snapped up.

His pupils had blown wide. A look that said he was hunting. Calculating.

“You bit me,” he said, voice low—too calm.

I stepped back immediately, chest rising and falling hard, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Touch me again and I’ll do worse,” I shot back, my voice sharp despite the way my body still trembled.

A muscle jumped hard in his jaw, a rhythmic throb. For a second, neither of us moved; we were like two statues.

Then he laughed. It was a low, humorless sound that didn't reach his eyes. “You really think that changes anything?”

He moved closer.

I took a step back, my heel stepping on a stray pebble, but my eyes never left his. Each time I retreated, he filled the space I left behind.

He didn't rush; he simply loomed. My breath hitched as my back hit the pillar. Trapped.

His hand shot out again, gripping my chin this time, forcing my face up toward him.

“You walked out of his room barely able to stand,” he murmured, thumb brushing roughly over my lip. “Don’t act like he didn't fuck you.”

Hot anger climbed up my throat, pushing everything else away but the urge to strike.

I jerked my face sideways against his grip. “I said don’t touch me, you doghearted miscreant!”

My knee snapped up, his palm clapped down hard against them, a sharp, stinging blow that drove my leg straight back toward the floor.

He stepped into my space, his thigh slamming against mine and pinning my leg against his own body.

He looked down at my trapped foot, then back up at me, a slow, predatory grin spreading across his face. “Nice try,” he purred.

His fingers tightened on my jaw again, squeezing hard enough that my teeth clenched painfully.

I jerked my head back, teeth flashing.

“You won’t get away with this,” I spat, voice trembling with rage.

His laugh was low, sinister. “Oh, I already have.”

He dropped his head until his forehead brushed the sensitive line of my collarbone. I felt the low rumble of his lingering chuckle against my skin, a vibration that sent an involuntary shiver racing down my spine.

He lowered his head. His lips pressed against the side of my neck, moving in slow motion that traveled upward toward my ear. His teeth bit down firmly against the side of my neck.

“Raith.”

The word was soft but deadly, slicing through the tension like a blade.

Raith froze mid-motion.

Lucian stood at the far end of the corridor. His cane was not in his hand. His shirt was not fully fastened. There was still blood on his forearms, dark and drying, claws flexing, eyes like twin storms. His presence didn’t just fill the space. It devoured it.

His head was tilted at that particular angle that meant he had heard everything. Every word. Every struggle. Every sound I had made against Raith's hand.

He had been there longer than either of us knew.

"Touch her again," Lucian said, taking a slow step forward, "and you will watch me drive a rusted nail straight down the only hole your worthless manhood has left."

His voice did not rise. Not once.

"And I will not stop until you choke on the pain and beg for death. It seems you’ve forgotten… She's my property.”

Raith's hands dropped from my body instantly. I stumbled forward, catching myself against the stone wall, gasping.

Raith straightened. His voice came out carefully. "Alpha. I was only—"

"I know exactly what you were doing."

Another step forward. Slow. Deliberate. The blood on his arms caught the torchlight.

"You have been my Beta for eleven years," Lucian said quietly. "And you chose to do this."

Raith swallowed audibly. "Alpha, I—"

"Do not speak again."

The words landed like a door closing.

Lucian stopped walking. He was close enough now that Raith had taken an involuntary step backward.

"Leave my sight," Lucian said. "Before I change my mind about letting you walk away.”

Raith did not hesitate. His footsteps retreated fast down the corridor and disappeared.

I stood against the wall, heart hammering, still trying to catch my breath. Lucian had not moved. His head turned toward me slowly.

“You were outside my door.”

My stomach dropped.

He took a step closer. Then pain exploded in my wrist. Lucian’s hand wrapped around it, yanking me forward.

I crashed into his chest.

“Running from me now?” he murmured against my ear.

His grip tightened.

“After seeing what I do to men who disobey?”

Instinct screamed at me to run—but my feet wouldn’t move.

His bloodied hand lifted slightly, curling under my chin, forcing my head back.

“Tell me, little wolf… how do you think I should punish you for that?”