Chapter Twelve

Kiandra

Alpha Cartan had moved us from the floor to the bed, but he showed no signs of stopping our mating until the sun's rays streamed through the windows. By then, I was utterly spent, my muscles trembling, and my strength depleted. Still, I couldn't resist burying my nose in his neck, searching for that powerful Alpha scent. He remained nestled between my legs, knotting me so deeply it felt as though I could barely breathe. However, his purring filled my ears, providing a sense of calm and security that I craved.

I had no idea what the future held, where we would go next, but I knew Alpha Cartan wouldn't stay on the Rocky Island. He belonged in a much warmer climate, among the clan leaders and in the Black Desert. So, I felt content with my choice. If I had to belong to an Alpha, he seemed like the right one. He had led his army, and he would return without having lost a single Alpha. He had conquered our city, claimed an Omega, and mated with her—a rare and sacred achievement that would likely earn him great respect among the other Alphas. Yes, he was undoubtedly the right choice.

However, I could use a small break. I wasn't sure how I would keep up with Alpha Cartan's stamina. He seemed only more ravenous after each release, and I wasn't sure how much more I could take.

"Tell me what you did to your scent," he growled, pulling back to look at me.

I met his gaze but remained silent.

"Now!"

His demanding tone left me with no choice. I realized that his Alpha instincts felt cheated because he couldn't properly scent me.

"Herbs," I finally replied.

"What kind?"

I hesitated, biting my lip, and he growled once more.

"What kind?"

"They are called Dark Lilacs. They mask our scents," I explained.

"Does it wear off?"

"It will within three weeks if I don't ingest more," I revealed.

He nodded in approval, then fixed me with a dark glare. "Do not take more. I want to be able to smell my Omega," he ordered.

I nodded, agreeing outwardly, but inside, I couldn't promise to honor my word. Those herbs also ensured I wouldn't get pregnant. I had no intention of carrying this Alpha's child, and considering his insatiable appetite, I knew he would want me as often as possible.

Alpha Cartan pulled away from me abruptly, and I gasped as our bodies disconnected, feeling his seed sliding out of me and making an even bigger mess on the already dirty sheets. He retrieved his pants and left me on the bed, my strength drained, and I had no energy to rise. I let my head fall back and finally closed my eyes.

I couldn't discern how long I had slept, but eventually, the doors opened once more. I quickly covered myself, but it was just a group of young Beta servants who had come to help me prepare for our departure. They assisted me out of bed and into a room with a small pool. They bathed me, gently washing away the remnants of last night's activities, and the warm water provided a welcome relief to my aching muscles.

Alpha Cartan hadn't bitten me back, marking me as his, but he had left swallow marks with his teeth wherever he could. I was uncertain why he held back. I couldn't recall in any books that an Alpha didn't want to fully seal the mating bond, but somehow he had restrained himself.

As I left the water, another servant stood ready with a dress more my size and shoes for me to wear. They got me dressed before ushering me from the room and leading me down the lengthy hallways. It was an interesting experience to suddenly walk around as if I truly were a princess now.

However, it seemed I couldn't hide anymore. Yet as we descended the floors, I paused on one of them, realizing the library was not far away. My own desires couldn't be controlled, and I slipped away, hurrying to the room and wondering what I should take with me. I knew I couldn't bring everything, but I should have the most essential things, should I not?

However, just as I reached a ladder so I could take one of my favorites with me, a powerful voice cleared itself behind me. I turned around, seeing Alpha Cartan there, his eyes narrowed as he ran them up my body.

"Were you not informed to come straight to me?" he asked, his voice dark.

"I can't leave yet."

"That is not for you to decide," he growled.

"But I—"

He stormed forward and easily grabbed me by the waist, pulling me down from the ladder.

"Just a few!" I pleaded.

He shook his head, then took hold of my arm and led me away.

"When I give you an order, even if it doesn't come from my lips, you follow it," he snarled.

I discreetly rolled my eyes, but his keen senses noticed it, and he stopped abruptly. He turned me to face him, gripping my jaw with his large hand and moving closer.

"You do not roll your eyes at your Alpha," he warned in a low voice. Yet I could barely hear his words as my gaze fixated on his lips, remembering how they had felt on my body. It was shameful to admit how quickly my body reacted, but it recognized all too well what the Alpha in front of me could do.

Cartan noticed the change in me as he smelled the air, and he pushed me against the wall behind me before turning me and pulling my hips toward him. None of us said anything, but words weren't necessary. We couldn't resist the sudden need to be together, and when he thrust inside me, I cried out in a mixture of delight and pain. It felt so good that tears welled up in my eyes. I was thoroughly used, and yet I seemed to crave more.

Alpha Cartan picked up the pace, his hands gripping my hips so hard that he tore my dress slightly, but he didn't stop. His thick cock continued to slide in and out of me, creating wicked noises, while he leaned closer to bury his nose in my neck. I knew he sought my scent, but there wasn't much to find, and it only fueled his punishing thrusts. However, that seemed to tear an even more powerful release from me, and I dug my nails into the wall, feeling like I could barely see as the pleasure stormed through me, reducing me to a quivering mess held together only by Alpha Cartan's powerful grip. He wasn't far behind me, my body urging him to come, and he thrust into me a few more times before knotting himself to me, making me gasp at the sensation.

We remained locked in that passionate embrace as we both recovered from the intense mating. Through the one-sided bond, I felt Cartan's hunger growing. How was it possible for him to desire me even more? Yet it was a thrilling sensation, and I squeezed around him, eliciting a groan from him. He wrapped an arm around me, burying his face even deeper in my neck, trying to capture any small trace of Omega scent into his nose. It made me shudder with delight, and I mewled, shocking myself with the needy sound.

"High Alpha," a voice called, and I let out a small scream as I noticed someone else in the hallway with us.

A dark, threatening growl rumbled from the Alpha behind me, and I saw the other turn his side to us, sighing a little as he did so. I placed my hands over my face, feeling so embarrassed, but Alpha Cartan was firmly knotted to me, and neither of us was going anywhere.

"What?" he growled, his voice slightly changed.

"We are ready to depart. You can continue on the ship," the other Alpha informed us.

I could sense a sharp, powerful anger coursing through me, and it stung so badly. Omegas weren't accustomed to such rage, and I lowered one of my hands to rub over the spot where my heart was, but it wouldn't dissipate. What was wrong with me?

"Go. We will follow," Alpha Cartan ordered.

I listened to the other man leave before one of Alpha Cartan's hands snaked around my body, one of his fingers finding the sweet spot.

"Time to release me, little one," he purred in my ear as he played with my clit.

I moaned, wanting more and forgetting about the mortifying incident, but then I felt my body grow more relaxed as Alpha Cartan released himself from me before pulling away and getting dressed. I let my dress fall as well, slowly turning toward him. Such a confusing mix of emotions flowed through the one-sided bond, and I didn't know how to handle them, so I constructed a mental bridge between us to try to calm the storm. It worked somewhat, yet the Alpha kept scrutinizing me. He looked at me as if he were ready to devour me on the spot.

"Weren't we leaving?" I asked.

His whole body seemed to tense, but then he made a curt nod and grabbed my arm once more. Despite his grip being so firm it almost hurt, there was a strange sense of satisfaction that spread through me from feeling it. Was it because it almost seemed to be a possessive act? I knew his signs of possessiveness would ensure even more protection, but why did I feel this satisfied? I couldn't forget what he had done to my home and family. If he thought I truly wanted him, he was sorely mistaken. This was purely for survival.

We walked outside where a group of Alphas was waiting for us. As Cartan took the lead, they followed behind us, all of them watching me with intrigue in their eyes. However, one growl from Cartan and they all found other interesting spots to focus on as we walked through the city. I saw many of the people there, poking their heads out of the windows or backing away from the streets when they saw us approaching. I knew they had no idea who I was, but I had completely forgotten to question how Cartan knew of my existence. He didn't appear surprised to see me with my sisters. How much did the Alpha beside me truly know? I was about to ask when I noticed the angry look on his face, and I knew it was better to wait.

We continued out of the city, the old Beta advisors standing by the gate and bowing their heads to him as if he were not the one who had taken over everything and left with one of the Omega princesses. I wanted to curse at them, and I knew Cassia would have said something before spitting at them, but I was not as fiery as her. Instead, I allowed the Alpha to lead me away from everything I knew. Glancing behind me as we reached the harbor, I gazed up at the castle. This was likely the last time I would ever lay eyes on it, so I absorbed the sight for as long as I could.

Even as I was directed onto the ship, I remained where I could still see my home in the distance. Luckily, Alpha Cartan kept himself occupied with getting the crew to work, allowing me to stay on the deck near the edge of the ship, watching as my home gradually disappeared from view.