22. Aksel

22

AKSEL

T he acrid scent of blood hangs thick in the air. Adrenaline courses through my veins while I stand over Tor's motionless form, his blood pooling around his body. My knuckles throb from the force of our violent clash, a grim reminder of the depths I've sunk to protect what's mine. Father got his wish after all—there can only be one alpha male.

A movement in my peripheral vision catches my attention. I whirl around to see Zara backing away toward the door.

I swiftly move to block Zara's path, my primal instincts taking over as I grab her arm. She lets out a gasp, her eyes widening in fear.

"Let me go!" she cries, struggling in my firm grasp.

Immediately, I loosen my hold, though I don't release her completely.

"Zara, wait," I rasp, my voice still ragged from the fight. "You don't understand."

"You killed him!" she accuses, glancing over at Tor's lifeless form. "Your own brother!"

I swallow hard. "Half-brother," I correct her quietly.

She looks at me in horror and disbelief.

"I had no choice," I say urgently. "It was either Tor or me. That's the way it's always been."

I can see the questions swirling in her eyes. She deserves to know the truth, no matter how dark and twisted.

"There are things you need to understand about my past, about my family," I tell her. "Things I've tried to leave behind, to erase from my memories."

I release her arm and rake a hand through my hair.

"My father was a monster," I continue. "The kind of evil that leaves deep scars passed on through blood. He pitted Tor and me against each other from birth, determined to breed only the strongest alpha male."

Zara shakes her head, struggling to comprehend.

"We were just boys," I say bitterly. "But in my father's eyes, we were animals. Creatures meant to fight and dominate."

I meet her gaze steadily. "Tor gave me no choice tonight. It was self-defense, kill or be killed. That's the legacy my father left us."

Zara looks down, processing my words. I can't begin to imagine what must be running through her mind.

"I'm not asking you to forgive or forget what you witnessed here," I tell her. "Only to try and understand that this blood feud wasn't of my making."

I reach out and tilt her chin up gently so she meets my eyes again.

"Since the day I left home, I've tried to forge my own path, separate from my father's twisted legacy," I say fervently. "Meeting you, knowing you, has only strengthened my resolve to leave that darkness behind for good."

Zara searches my face as if gauging the truth of my words.

"I know you're scared and confused right now," I say gently. But I give you my word: I'll never intentionally harm you."

I pause, letting my promise sink in.

"Will you at least let me try to explain?" I ask. "To help you understand the demons of my past?"

Zara hesitates, conflicting emotions playing across her delicate features. Finally, she gives a small, tentative nod. Relief washes over me. This is my chance to break the chains of my past, to step into the light with her by my side.

I step closer. The darkness that has shaped my very existence hangs over me. But as I gaze into Zara's eyes, I know this is the reckoning moment. The time has come to lay bare the secrets that have haunted me for far too long.

"My father was an animal, a savage ruled by primal desires," I begin, my voice low. "From the moment I was old enough to understand, I saw how he used his role as the alpha to take whatever woman he wanted."

I pause, old memories threatening to overwhelm me. Zara watches me intently, her body tense.

"He would force himself on the women under our roof in front of me and Tor from a young age. At every turn, he would exert his dominance. My mother, my aunts—no one was safe from his depravity."

I run a hand over my face, shame creeping through me.

"When my aunt, his sister, became pregnant with Tor, I felt a sick relief that the child was male. Had Tor been born a girl..." I trail off, bile rising in my throat at the thought of my father fucking a possible sister before me.

Zara's eyes widen in understanding, her skin paling.

"My father ruled our household like his personal harem. The women were conditioned to obey his every command, no matter how vile. The boys were taught in his image."

I meet Zara's gaze, seeing my anguish reflected in her eyes.

"Tor and I share the same cursed blood, bound by the sins of our father. But I vowed long ago to break that cycle, to claw my way out of the darkness that shaped me."

My hands curl into fists at my sides. Zara's eyes are wide, her lips parted in anticipation as she awaits the darkest truth of my existence.

"When I came of age, my father summoned me," I begin, my voice hoarse. "He looked at me with those cold, dead eyes and said there could only be one alpha."

I swallow hard, the memories threatening to overwhelm me.

"It was a battle to the death. Kill or be killed. Much like this one with Tor today. That was the only way to assume the mantle of leadership in our twisted household."

Zara's hand flies to her mouth, stifling a gasp. I can see the horror in her eyes, but I press on, needing her to understand."

I fought with everything I had, driven by a primal instinct to survive. In the end, I emerged victorious, my father's lifeless body at my feet." I pause, the weight of that moment still bearing down on me, even years later.

"But the true test was yet to come," I continue. "My mother, aunts, and the other women all looked at me with expectation."

Zara's brow furrows.

"They wanted me to assume my father's role, take them as my mates, and breed them like animals."

The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, but I force them out, needing Zara to understand the full scope of the darkness I've escaped.

"The thought of continuing that cycle of depravity sickened me to my core. I couldn't bring myself to become the monster my father was."

I take a shuddering breath, the memories threatening to overwhelm me.

"So I left. I turned my back on that twisted household. I vowed never to return, never to perpetuate the cycle of abuse and subjugation. However, I did take with me a dark blood lust that I struggled to satiate."

My gaze meets Zara's, and I see the tears glistening in her eyes.

"That's the truth, Zara. The ugly, twisted truth of my past. I know it's hard to comprehend, but I needed you to understand the depths of darkness I've escaped but not been untouched by."

I reach out, my fingers brushing her cheek gently.

"You're the only reason I've ever had to fight against the shadows that threaten to consume me. And I promise you, I'll never let that darkness touch you, no matter what it takes."

Zara cups my face gently, her touch sending a shockwave of tenderness through me. Her eyes, those emerald pools of light, shimmer with unshed tears as she gazes up at me.

"I'm so sorry, Aksel," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "No one should have to endure the darkness you faced as a child."

Her words are laced with empathy and understanding, piercing through the walls I've erected around my heart. "You've been through hell," Zara continues, her thumb tracing the sharp line of my cheekbone. "No wonder you're consumed by darkness after witnessing such depravity."

I swallow hard, my throat constricting with emotions I've suppressed for far too long.

"You don't have to apologize," I rasp, my voice hoarse with the weight of my past. "The sins of my father are not yours to bear."

Zara shakes her head, her golden tresses swaying with the movement. "But I can help shoulder the burden. Let me be your light, your beacon in the darkness."

I gaze into her eyes, searching for any hint of fear or revulsion, but find only warmth and acceptance.

Before I can speak, Zara rises onto her tiptoes, her warm, curvy body pressing against mine. Her lips find mine in a searing kiss, a desperate embrace that speaks of her unwavering devotion.

I respond with fervor, my arms encircling her, pulling her closer. Our kiss deepens, a passionate dance of tongues and shared breaths, a merging of souls transcending the physical.

The hunt is over. Her scent, a heady mix of vanilla and roses with an underlying musk, fills my nostrils as I stand over her. My breath comes in ragged gasps, my heart pounding with primal desire. She's mine now, the spoils of war.

With a growl, I tear at her clothes, exposing her creamy skin. Her eyes follow my every move. I can't wait any longer.

Hoisting her up, I lay her back on the hunting bench, her skin marred by smears of my blood. She looks wild and beautiful, her blonde hair tumbling around her head like a halo.

I shed my clothes, leaving me bare and hard, my cock straining with need. I position myself between her thighs, eager to claim what's rightfully mine.

"You're so fucking beautiful," I rasp, my voice thick with desire. "My victory prize."

I stroke her inner thigh with my thumb, a smile curving my lips as she shivers in response.

"Do you know what victors do to their spoils, little bird?" I ask.

She bites her lip, a nervous gesture that only fuels my arousal. "No," she breathes.

"They take what's theirs," I growl, leaning in close so my breath fans her ear. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do."

I kiss her neck, reveling in the feel of her soft skin against my lips. My hand slides up her thigh, inching higher, teasing her.

"You're so wet for me, baby girl," I murmur, my hand cupping her pussy. "Your tight little cunt is mine now."

She lets out a choked gasp as my fingers slide inside her, stroking and teasing. I smirk at her reaction, loving her responsiveness to my touch.

"That's it, take my fingers," I encourage, my thumb circling her swollen clit. "You're going to come all over my hand, and then I'm going to fuck that pretty pussy raw and breed you so many times that my cum will be spilling out of you."

"Oh God," she moans.

"Don't call out to God, baby. I'm the only power you'll bow to." I bite her shoulder so hard I break the skin and then lap up her blood like a man starving.

Her hands grip my shoulders as I plunge my fingers deeper inside her, her hips thrusting upward to meet my rhythm. My free hand tangles in her hair, tilting her head back to expose the delicate line of her throat.

"I'm the only man you'll ever fucking spread these legs for," I declare, claiming her mouth in a brutal kiss. "Mark my words. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be ruined for anyone else."

Her body bows off the table, her back arching as I bring her to the edge. Her walls clench around my fingers, signaling her release. I growl with satisfaction, feeling her muscles pulsing.

Without warning, I withdraw my hand and position myself at her entrance. The tip of my cock teases her wet heat, both of us savoring the anticipation. She moans, eyes locking on mine. "Please, Aksel."

"Fuck," I breathe, fighting for control. I thrust forward, burying myself to the hilt. "You feel so fucking good with your tight little cunt wrapped around me like this."

Her eyes meet mine as I stretch and fill her. Her nails dig into my shoulders, leaving stinging tracks as I move.

"That's it, little bird," I encourage. "Wrap your legs around me. Take every fucking inch." Her legs lock around my waist, her body rising to meet my savage thrusts. I drive into her, my hips slamming against hers, our flesh slapping together. I growl, pulling out almost completely before snapping my hips forward, burying myself deep. "Tell me you love my cock."

"Yes!" she cries out, her nails raking my back. "I love it!"

Her words make me thrust harder, pounding into her with wild abandon. The hunting room echoes with the sounds of our union, the slap of skin, our labored breathing, and our animalistic grunts.

While we fuck, the shadows of my past recede, eclipsed by the radiant light that is Zara. Her love and acceptance are my salvation, a lifeline pulling me from despair.

With Zara wrapped around my cock, I find solace, a sanctuary from the demons that haunt me.

And in that moment, I know that no matter the challenges, I will never again be alone in the darkness.