C H A P T E R 1 0

Willow and I looked over our pack as we watched them attack the rogues. They seemed weak even at first glance, so we chose to stay back and monitor their fights. One trio was leaving out one wolf from protection, while one group of 10 was covering every member of their group.

Willow shifted her gaze at me from the combat. "That one group isn't helping their other wolf, Lilith. What do we do about them?" She whispered.

I heaved a sigh as they caught my eyes once more. The other two are very coordinated with their attacks, but they've been leaving the other girl out. If not for her ability to move away quickly, the rogue was actually ready to scratch her.

"I'll try talking to them through the pack link, Willow. I don't want them to get used to this type of teamwork. They're obviously being selfish." I replied.

I did as I said and tried communicating with the trio through the link. "I've been watching the three of you, wolves. If you don't stop leaving the other girl out, you will be punished accordingly." I threatened.

The two looked in our direction as soon as they heard my voice and immediately made their way closer to the she-wolf that they'd been leaving out.

Willow chuckled as soon as she noticed. "What did you say to them, Lilith? It worked pretty fast. I thought they'd be stubborn."

I crossed my arms as I continued to monitor the Leurunas. "I told them that they'd be punished if they didn't stop leaving their friend out. I bet they're scared of the extra training sessions." I said, smirking.

While the other group stood out for abandoning a friend, the other group stood out for their commendable teamwork. There were more of them in the group, and they were taking on two rogues at a time but they seemed more composed compared to the other three. Willow and I watched as they ran toward the rogue, aiming their claws at its heart, which they successfully carried out.

I couldn't resist smiling in relief when I saw how both of the groups managed to defeat the three rogues. Although some of them were still a little awkward and careless in their attacks, their unity allowed them to prevail.

I walked towards them as they collapsed into the ground, panting.

"Nice work, wolves. You've done great for your first encounter with the rogues." I greeted.

They smiled. "We're sorry that we complained, Heiress. I think I learned a lot better about their weakness now that I've faced them. I'm sorry for being such a coward earlier." One said.

I patted their shoulders in response. "You're OK, Leurunas. Just please remember the importance of your teamwork when you're in a battle. I've seen one group earlier that was not helping one of their members. Selfishness among your comrades would not bring you anything good in a war, wolves. Keep that in mind." I replied, pertaining to the group of three earlier.

The wolves involved quickly turned their heads downward and remained silent. I would pull them aside for a talk right now, but I wouldn't want them to be blatantly yelled at in front of their peers. I should probably let Atticus handle them later.

…

When Willow, I, and the rest of the pack, finally made our way back to our territory, I suddenly felt a familiar presence just right behind our boundaries.

I looked over at Willow and grabbed her by her shoulders to turn her body towards me. "Dusk is begging me to go for a little run, Willow. Do you think you could tell Father for me?" I asked, smiling sweetly.

Although surprised by my sudden approach, she nodded. "Of course, Lilith. Anything for the Heiress."

I thanked Willow and kept a grin on my face as she slowly slipped out of view. Yet as soon as I left our zone once more, the fake grin I was wearing disappeared.

Eligor is here. I felt him.

I moved toward the rear of the acacia tree knowing it was a blind spot for the male wolves of the Leurunas and spotted Eligor leering as I approached him. I rolled my eyes and walked towards his position, crossing my arms.

"You're getting rusty, Eligor. Did you really think that this was a good hiding place?" I asked, frowning.

Eligor laughed and grabbed me by the waist. I maintained my composure. "Or maybe I just actually wanted to be found by you, Asteria." He whispered.

I put our hands between the two of us and glared at him. "That's fucking risky, Eligor. I know you don't have anything to lose considering that you're a rogue but please, don't assume that I'm like you. I could easily get exiled by my pack just for meeting with you!" I angrily replied, trying desperately to lower my voice.

He smirked. "That'd be better for me then, Asteria. I could have you join us and you can just be my little sex toy." He seductively uttered.

I stared at him in despise. This man is literally evil personified from head to fucking toe. I've always thought there's always good in people, but I don't think it applies in the slightest to Eligor.

"I'd rather die than be your fucking toy, Eligor. Can you please just go back and leave my turf for the night? I really don't have the energy to deal with you right now." I said, almost killing him through my glares.

Eligor's eyes rapidly shifted from being playful to enraged as soon as he heard the disapproving tone in my words. I stared at him in confusion. What's with the sudden change of mood?

"Don't try and push me away now, Asteria. I've seen what you've fucking done with that useless alpha of yours. Did you have fun playing with him? You've been so fucking complacent that you forgot I was watching last night, do you?" Eligor suddenly uttered, pertaining to my date with Alpha Khai.

I closed my eyes in nervousness as I thought of an excuse. I did say that I wasn't interested in Khai so that he'd leave me alone that night, but I'm sure he saw how I and Khai was getting cuddly and comfortable if he was really watching. Shit, I fucked that up big time. Maybe I shouldn't have reassured him or something, cause now he's fucking mad.

I feigned a smile at Eligor as I removed my hands between the two of us. "I don't know what you're talking about, Eligor. We literally did nothing that night." I replied, my voice getting small from the nerves.

Eligor glared at me and raised his brows. "Don't try and fucking deny it, Asteria. I was watching when you let that man hug you to fucking sleep. Did you really think that I'd let you go on that dumb date without following you? You're just so fucking naive for a future Luna, aren't you?"

I heaved a sigh before wrapping my arms around his nape. "Can you just tell me what you fucking want and stop nagging me, Eligor? Why on earth are you even upset over a hug? It's not like you actually have feelings for me! It's just the mate bond for Pete's sake." I replied, exhausted.

Eligor tightened his grip on my waist and slowly grazed his canine on my marking spot. My breathing hitched in surprise. "It doesn't matter if it was a hug, a kiss, or full-blown sex, Asteria. I've sunk my canine into your flesh, so you're no one but fucking mine. Do you understand?" He said in a low voice, strangling me.

My eyes widened in shock, while I gasped and searched for air. Eligor took notice and smirked as he quickly crashed his lips into mine. My body went into shock, and it took me a moment before I succumbed to his kisses and their movement.

"Eligor…" I couldn't help but moan.

To my surprise, Eligor grunted and guided my hands to touch his hardness. His mouth immediately parted in need and I made sure to suck and bit on his lower lips as I moved my hands to pleasure his shaft.

"Shit, I missed your warmth, lover." He whispered, his hands now roaming their way inside my tank top, pinching and playing with my hard nipple.

"You're making me so fucking wet, Eligor… " I accidentally said in a low voice, whimpering in need.

Eligor stopped for a moment and smirked against my neck. He kissed and sucked the skin on my navel, turning me on even worse. "Does that also make you wet, Asteria?" He seductively whispered, biting into my ear lobe.

My eyes closed in pleasure. "Yes, Eligor…" I responded.

Eligor chuckled and parted my lips with his two fingers, making me suck on them as he looked straight into my eyes. I was taken aback for a moment but I still obliged and sucked on his digits. Eligor continued strangling me as he pushed two of his fingers into my pooling center through the lowered zippers of my jeans.

My lips immediately parted in need. The feeling of my throat being choked by his hand, and his thrusting fingers inside of me made me almost cry in pleasure.

"Ah! Fuck! Faster, lover!" I couldn't help but whimper.

Eligor was obedient and moved his fingers faster inside of me. So when I felt him hitting my G-spot diligently, I completely lost my wits and bit my canines into his neck.

Eligor grunted and bit me back, and I was instantly brought back to the time when we marked each other. It feels absolutely painful, but it turns me on as much as Eligor's maneuver when we sunk our canine on each other. I bit my lower lips as I started meeting the movement of his fingers. Eligor gazed at me in my eyes as I was moaning his name and panting in pleasure. In that instant, I felt his length harden even more.

"You look so fucking hot cumming and moaning my name, Asteria." He whispered, desperate to make me finish. My eyes widened when I finally felt the coming of my release. My legs started shaking in pleasure, and my breathing became so fast-paced that I had to hold onto Eligor's shoulder for support.

When I realized that I had squirted all over Eligor's fingers, I was already weeping and quivering with pleasure while our eyes were still stuck onto each other. Eligor bit my lower lip in enjoyment and pushed his fingers once more before removing them from my wet entrance. My knees started to tremble right away, but Eligor was quick to grab me in his arms.

"See? Even your body knows that you're mine, lover."

…

I sneaked into our house as I finished my endeavor with Eligor. It felt illegal to even go past our living room, soaking wet from my juices. I heaved a sigh as I realized that I failed yet again to decline Eligor's approaches. I was quite determined to reject any of his moves toward me before his visit, but he touched me once and I completely crumbled under his glory.

For a moment, it actually felt like I was truly Eligor's and that I was merely deceiving myself that we only became mates because he stole me. I have started doubting myself, and I am honestly starting to be desperate for answers. I don't even have the slightest idea why my mate became a rogue, the same way that I have absolutely no means to know why he frantically wants to destroy my pack.

I'm so perplexed by Eligor that it's getting harder and harder for me to distance myself away from him. He always makes me wonder, and it seems as though my entire universe began to revolve around him the minute I first saw him.

I inhaled deeply as I made my way to the restroom, ready to get rid of his smell. In order to prevent my father from abruptly waking up, I made sure that I was walking and moving lightly. But all was in vain—the moon goddess must have enjoyed sending me to my fate.

At the sound of the door opening from behind, my entire body froze.

"Lilith? Is that you?"