10. Before Daybreak

Demi

I wokeup sore and sated, my pussy thoroughly used. I couldn't remember the last time I felt this drained. It was amazing.

Lying on my side, I stretched out my hand, searching for Max, but all I found was a cool pillow. My wolf immediately whined, panicked.

"Alpha?" I lifted my head, searching for him.

"I didn't mean to wake you," Max said, securing his belt buckle. I hated that he was dressed. "Go back to sleep."

"What time is it?" I glanced out the window. It was still dark, but the sky was edging gray, dawn quickly approaching. "It's still early." I rolled onto my belly so the thin blanket would fall away. Cool air danced across my exposed ass, making me shiver. "Come back to bed," I said, hoping to entice the alpha.

Max drank me in, admiring the curve of my hips, the dip of my waist, all the way up to my mouth. The front of his pants grew tight, bulging out at me. "You are a dangerous woman," he rumbled.

"Come here and I'll show you how dangerous." I bit my bottom lip, thrilled when the alpha moved to me.

"Did you not get enough of me last night?" He gripped my arm, forcing me onto my back. I loved how rough he was, handling me like I weighed nothing. "Are you not happy unless you have a cock inside you?"

"I only crave yours." It was one of those dirty things I had said many times over the years—alphas loved hearing it. But Max's reaction was a bit different. He didn't fall into me, fucking me like an animal. Instead, he hovered his mouth over mine while his hand slipped up my inner thigh, grazing the seam of my sex, his fingertip resting against my entrance.

"I don't think you crave cock." He slipped his finger between my folds, playing in the wetness that was quickly gathering.

"What do I crave?" My back ached as he slowly pushed two thick fingers into me. I moaned, then whimpered when he held them still.

"You crave praise." His breath was so warm and his words rumbly.

"Maybe." I smirked, then wiggled my hips. "Call me pretty while you curl those long fingers. Let's see if I can come a little harder."

"I want nothing more, my stunning…" he pumped his fingers inside me, "beautiful," pump, "mouthy," pump, "little beta." He placed a gentle kiss on my lips. "But we both have to work." Then he removed his fingers from me, making me frown.

I hated his intense control.

It impressed me at first, but now it was just annoying. Alphas were animalistic creatures, fairly easy to manipulate, but not Max. He held full power over himself—even when fucking the barmaid. He was so restrained and careful with her. Was he that careful with me?

Was there a way to get him to lose himself?

I wonder how wild he would be if he let go for one moment.

"Do you really find it so easy to walk away from me?" I lifted my hips, wanting him closer.

"It's agony." He scanned the full length of my body. "You might be the most stunning creature I've ever held. But, unfortunately, duty calls, My Lady."

"Might?" I pretended to be offended, pushing myself into a sitting position. "What man or woman do you find more enticing?" I glared at the alpha.

His lips twitched as he brought his fingers to his face. They were shiny and wet with my arousal, glistening in the quickly rising sun. "There isn't a man or woman in this land that is as alluring as you, and you know it." He slipped the wet fingers into his mouth, then he sucked. "Fuck," he growled, licking them clean. "Even your taste is perfection."

My wolf let out a dreamy mewl, thrilled that the alpha liked my taste. She had never cared what alphas thought of me in the past, but today, she was in a complete state of bliss.

"Demi." Max moved his hand behind my head. He held me, squeezing the base of my skull in a firm, possessive way. It felt so good. "Stop teasing me, get dressed, and come with me up to the packhouse. And don't wear any underwear." His eyes flashed and my thighs tensed.

"Are you hoping to corner me in an empty room again?"

He stood and I followed him, pressing my chest to his. Heat radiated off of Max's big body, making my skin flush hot. "I can't say what I'll do to you today." He smirked, playing with me.

"You know I'm a dedicated professional," I said with a teasing lilt as I moved my hands up his bare chest. His skin was velvety soft, stretched across firm muscle with puffy little scars. I wanted to lick each and every one. "I won't be tempted to abandon my station. So don't even try." I batted my lashes.

"I wouldn't dream of upsetting you," Max said, but the look on his face had shifted. He wasn't teasing me anymore. He was admiring me. His eyes sparkled, one dark brown and the other soft white. I had never noticed before, but his wounded eye had a faint ring in the center.

Footsteps moved down the hall, and I froze up. "Florence is up," I whispered, praying he hadn't overheard us. The last thing I needed was for him to lecture me about fraternizing with the staff. It wasn't against the rules, but nothing annoyed Florence more than when other people had fun.

"I'll slip out your window." Max stepped away from me, and I followed as if I were his shadow. He silently opened the window, then slipped one leg out, resting on the sill. "May I come and see you again tonight?"

I leaned into his side, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Definitely," I purred.

"Oh, Demi." Max hummed, holding my waist tight. "You are a very welcome distraction."

My wolf shimmied with excitement, and I kissed his lips. "Demetria," I said, wanting to share a bit of myself with him.

"Demetria?" Confusion twisted between his brows.

"It's my formal name." I slipped the tip of my nose over his. "But don't tell anyone. It's a secret."

A brilliant smile filled Max's face, and the scar on his cheek pulled tight. It was silver and shiny, making the alpha look fierce. Impressive. Sexy.

"Demetria," Max said as if testing it out.

No one had called me by my formal name in years. I left home at fifteen and never looked back. Since then I was simply "Demi". But it felt good to hear Max say it. It felt safe in his mouth.

"I'll see you soon, my sweet beta." Max kissed the back of my hand.

And then he was gone.

He slipped from the window, and before I knew it, he disappeared into the trees.

Calia had several meetings throughout the morning.

The poor omega was determined to open a beta den within the village. Casin was almost all alphas, with very few betas and omegas. She wanted to encourage close connections amongst betas, making it easier for them to meet one another and possibly mate. It was a fairly good idea, but one that required a lot of work. Especially since the elders didn't seem thrilled with the idea. Apparently, a cluster of betas could be a security risk if the village was attacked again.

"Are you okay?" I asked, once the last elder left. "Can I get you anything?" I placed a tall glass of water on the table in front of Calia. I was glad she had decided to work from the dining room today. It allowed the poor omega to sit while everyone else crowded around her, arguing about how a beta den was a horrible idea.

"I'm okay." Calia sighed, admiring the intricate stitch work on the front of my gown. It was a stunning royal blue with shimmering details. She often complimented my clothes, wishing she could wear the heavy fabrics, but they were too scratchy for her delicate omega skin. "I'm just tired," Calia said.

"Did you not sleep well last night?" I asked, rubbing her back.

"It's not that." She gave me a pointed look. Dark circles lined her eyes and her forehead was lined with worry. "I just don't understand why this damn village fights any and all change. Things are settling. The orc attacks have stopped, and the streets are safer, but it's as if no one wants to see that." Her shoulders fell, defeat setting in. It wasn't like her.

Calia was usually eager to stand her ground, determined to get her way. But her body was going through a lot of changes. I was sure the physical demand of making a babe was weighing heavily on her.

"They'll get there, My Lady," Max said, pushing a calming scent into the room. I normally didn't notice it when he tried to actively soothe Calia, but today he was the only thing I could smell—warm oak, like a sweet fire.

A swift knock rapped on the dining room door. "Omega?" The Pack Alpha stepped into the room and Calia smiled up at him. His dark eyes were zeroed in on his mate, with deep worry etched between his brows. "Is everything okay?"

"Are you checking on me?" Calia asked, a deep blush moving over her cheeks.

"I could feel your tension from the other side of the village." Davon moved to her.

Silence filled the room, while the pair stared at one another. I was sure they were sharing a full conversation through their bond. I often wondered what it would feel like to share a connection like that with an alpha, but betas struggled to form those kinds of mental bonds. Even when mated, our emotions didn't connect with alphas the same way an omega did. It was one of the reasons omegas were so highly sought after in my old village.

"I need a word with my mate. Alone," Davon said to me, and Calia huffed.

Max immediately moved to the door, holding it open for me.

I hated leaving Calia when she was so agitated. My wolf knew that her mate would calm her much better than I could. That, and I needed a breath of fresh air. Calia's scent was getting a bit overwhelming. It was thickly sweet and sharp to the point that it made my head hurt.

Once in the hallway, I leaned against the wall next to the doorway, sucking in the tranquil smell of the house. Aged wood with a hint of pine, mixed with the familiar fragrance of cleaning oils.

A member of the service staff walked past us. The young woman's work shoes clacked against the hardwood, and I wiggled my toes. I used to wear tall heels, adorned with stunning gems, but since becoming a maiden, I found simple slip-ons were much more practical.

"You look deep in thought," Max said. He stood on the other side of the doorway, hands tucked behind his back and his eyes focused intensely on mine. My wolf snarled at the space between us. "What's going on in that gorgeous head of yours?"

"Shoes." I lifted up onto my toes, bouncing once.

"Shoes?" Max chuckled. "What about them?" He looked down at my blue satin slip-ons. They perfectly matched my dress.

"I was just thinking about how much I loved them." I stepped a little closer to the alpha, wanting so badly to scent him. I had always found Max's aroma to be pleasant, but I swore it had shifted these last few days. It was thicker. Richer. Deeper. It was like a magnet, drawing me in. "I used to wear the prettiest heels made with silk and leather. I even had a pair covered in lace."

"Betas do love their shoes," Max said with a smile as he glanced up and down the hallway. "I personally never understood the allure."

I looked down at his enormous bare feet. I found it so amusing that alphas hated shoes so much. I understood why—they hindered their ability to shift quickly into their wolves—but it was still silly.

"Don't you ever crave the feel of grass between your toes?" Max squinted as if trying to figure it out. "Shoes are pointless. Even omegas reject the awful things."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Omegas wear boots in the winter," I reminded him, threading my fingers together. I wanted to touch him so badly. "I personally think that betas adore shoes because we have a better appreciation for the finer things."

"The finer things?" Max cocked a crooked smile, and my wolf purred. "What kind of finer things?"

"Oh, you know." My hardened nipples brushed against the side of his arm, and my whole body tingled. "Intricate fabrics, decadent jewelry, and wild love affairs with sexy alphas."

Calia let out a breathy moan from the other side of the door, but we both ignored it, staring intensely at one another.

Max's voice dropped, deep and rumbly. "I'm pretty sure omegas love alphas, too."

"Really?" I gasped, pretending to be surprised by the fact.

Max glared at me, fighting a smile. "Did your past lovers enjoy your unruly mouth?"

"You seemed to enjoy my mouth last night." I stepped right in front of him, forcing the alpha to feel the warmth of my body.

Max sucked in a deep breath, inhaling the air around me. "Beta," he said in warning, clearly getting worked up. But I wanted to push him even further. I wanted to make him wild with the need to put me in my place.

"Would you prefer I was an omega?" I teased him, pushing up onto my toes. I wanted so badly for him to kiss me. "Soft and pliable. Eager for you to control me?" I slowly licked my lips, and his eyes fell to the motion. "Would you prefer it if I didn't speak my mind?"

The overlapping sounds of Davon's growls and Calia's gasps intensified. The hallway was filled with the slapping sounds of wet sex and heated bodies.

"Do you get off on provoking alphas?" Max asked, tension building in his shoulders. He looked ready to snap in the best possible way.

"Perhaps I should release you." I took a small step back, feigning innocence. "I should let you find an obedient omega that will happily do your bidding." I dropped my voice to a throaty purr. "One that will let you fuck her on the dining room table while the whole packhouse listens."

Max's jaw ticked as his scent intensified. My sex clenched, and I held my breath, waiting for what he'd do next.

"Watch yourself, beta," he said, staring at my mouth. "The Luna would be very upset to hear the insulting things you say."

"Admit it, alpha." I pushed in, pressing my soft breasts against his firm chest. "You've thought about what a warm, wet omega would feel like seated on that fat cock. Haven't you?"

Max smirked, leaning down. He hovered his lips right over mine, and the air between us crackled and pulsed. "No," he rumbled softly. "I don't want an omega." His gaze fell down my body, and his tongue swiped across his bottom lip. "I'm quite happy with what I have."

I quirked a brow, eager for him to kiss me. "Do you have me?" I asked with a breathy lilt.

"I had you last night." Max glanced up and down the hallway. Acting like he was looking for threats, but I knew better. He was making sure we were alone. "I'm just sorry I didn't get to have you again this morning."

"Should we remedy that?" I bit my bottom lip, hoping to entice the alpha to take a quick break. Well, maybe not too quick.

Max smirked, then opened his mouth. But before he could say a word, the dining room door popped open and Davon stepped out. A very flushed Calia was snuggled up in his arms, fast asleep.

I took two quick steps away from Max, hoping Davon didn't notice how close we were.

"The Luna isn't feeling well," Davon said to me, before turning his attention to Max. "I'm going to sit with her for the rest of the afternoon."

"Yes, sir." Max bowed his head.

"Should I be nearby in case Calia needs anything?" I asked, trying to get a better view of Calia's face. Her eyes were closed, but I was sure she was pretending to be asleep. She always struggled to look anyone in the eye after being rutted by her mate. It was kind of cute.

"No, need." Davon held his omega a little tighter. "I'm sure Florence will be nearby. Enjoy your afternoon. Max," he cut the guard a stern look, "I'd like you to attend the meeting again tonight."

Max bowed low, not rising until Davon disappeared around the corner.

"Well." I turned to my sexy alpha. "It seems we both have the afternoon free."