I square off with I.N's new, mysterious comrade as the threat of an all-out war looms closer.
"Who are you?"
"(Y/N)—"
"No. I want answers."
The older man stares me down, a golden fire raging in his lycan eyes.
His power…it's like nothing I've felt before.
"Answer. Her."
Yeosang glares up at the man from the floor, practically paralyzed with weakness and confusion after he revival. The mysterious stranger glares at Yeosang and I step between them, matching the burning look in his eyes.
"What is your name?"
"(Y/N), he's an ally. You can trust him."
"Then answer my question."
I.N opens his mouth, but a sudden explosion knocks us all back as the door to the room detonates. Through the dust and debris, dozens of enemy wolves stalk slowly into the room, cornering me.
Shit. How did they get in so easily?
I ball my hands into powerful fists.
"Come any closer and I'll paint this floor red and your blood."
Their grotesque, confident smiles slowly spread. I bend down low, prepared to fight.
"Bravo, (Y/N). I love the performance."
We all stiffen as the wolves part to reveal Dimitri, slowly clapping as he advances.
"But I'm afraid this is the end of the show. Time to take your final bow."
"Dimitri. You ever get tired of your own bullshit?"
"I could ask you the same question. But I won't have to. Not when I bring you to your knees here and now."
"I will never submit to you."
"Submit? Oh, no. I'm afraid that option's off the table."
His words make me pause. I feel I.N and his comrade tense as Dimitri steps closer, pulling a sword from his belt.
"I just want to sink my metal into you. I want to watch true fear and pain flash in your eyes as I kill you."
He licks his sword, his eyes crazed with blood lust as he swings the razor-sharp blade through the air.
"It's true you're powerful. But I don't need you to take control of these packs. Just look at the pathetic creature on the floor."
Yeosang grits his teeth. He tries to stand, but he can't. He falls back to the floor, clutching his chest.
"Your little undead king couldn't command an army right now if he tried. But I'm sure he can tell you—you can look forward to more pain and agony than you've ever imagined when your soul leaves your body."
"You son of a—!"
But Yeosang's words are cut off as Dimitri swings his sword…right for my chest. At the last second, I bend back, his blade slicing a stinging cut into my arm as I dodge.
At least it's not my heart.
"(Y/N)!"
I.N's comrade pulls a small dagger from his coat, slamming it against Dimitri's broadsword. Sparks fly with the force of his block.
What? Why would he—
But before I can give the man another thought, a terrifying sound erupts outside. The howling of thousands of wolves. I look to the window. From my position, I can see Dimitri's whole army, poised at the barricaded door.
"Only a few of us could get in through the back. But no matter. I'm sure they'll all join us very soon."
In unison, the wolves leap at the door, causing the whole castle to shake.
If they get in, everyone will be in danger. The Omegas, the children…everyone could die.
"Get BACK!!!"
San's unmistakable roar knocks the wind clean from my lungs. I run to the window. Leaping out of the fray to block the front door, my bastard Alpha snarls, completely covered in blood.
"Just try me. I dare you."
His silver eyes glint murderously as he shifts down to his wolf form, ready to fight.
No. San, that's exactly how Yeosang died!
"(Y/N), the plan."
Yeosang's voice is only loud enough for me to hear. It snaps my focus back to the task at hand.
Right. We just need to create a poisoned gas using this wolfsbane. Then we can knock out the whole army.
I look down at the cut flowers, piled high on the floor next to the firewood.
We don't have time to start a fire and boil water. How can we—
My eyes fall on the adjoining bathroom. The room where Dimitri poisoned me with the very same trick.
Of course. I just need to turn on the hot water in there.
Unsure of what to do, I focus in on I.N.
Here goes nothing.
"I.N, don't try to fight them! Put your weapon down!"
"What?!"
All of the men turn towards I.N, creating an opening for me. Leaping through the enemy line right at that moment, I avoid any blows and tumble right into the bathroom.
"What are you—?"
Dimitri moves to follow me, but I.N and his comrade block his path, daggers at the ready. Without hesitating, I turn on every faucet I can find. Every sink, shower and tub. Quickly, the room fills with a thick steam, swirling out into the main bedroom to find the flowers. I sprint back into the main room.
"I.N, Yeosang, cover your mouths, you—"
I skid to a halt. There, at the center of the room, I.N, his ally, and Yeosang are all shoved to the ground, pinned by masked wolves.
"Did you really think it would be that easy? You dare use my own trick on me."
"Shut up, you filthy—"
Dimitri slams his foot down on I.N's head, crushing him against the floor.
"No…don't touch him!"
"I'm simply repaying him for his loyalty to you. Every one of your hard working comrades deserves his reward."
Dimitri reaches down and pinches Yeosang's nose.
"You can watch each of your beloved allies breathe in your poison. What did it feel like again? Knives in your lungs?"
Yeosang writhes under Dimitri's torture, trying hard not to open his mouth to get air. Outside, I hear the unmistakable whimper of San's wolf. The sound is so similar to when Yeosang died.
This can't be happening. I can't lose everyone like this.
The pain in my heart threatens to rip me clean in half. It tugs horrifically at every part of me. But then, it changes. It gets brighter, wrapping around my heart like a firm barrier, traveling up, until it reaches my eyes.
I won't let Dimitri win. Not after all he's done.
I feel my incredible power finally re-surface in me, churning like a dangerous tide, ready to break upon the shore. Just as Dimitri starts to pry Yeosang's jaw open, I throw out my hands, summoning my light like twin whips.
"You forgot one important detail, Dimitri. I'm not so easy to take down."
"What?!"
Before Dimitri can react, I throw my white whips of darkness at his hands, cracking against them as he releases Yeosang.
"(Y/N)…"
I barely register the look of awe in Yeosang's face before an ancient instinct takes over, as deadly as it is bright.
"This ends now."
I cast my whips out, blowing Dimitri's men off of my friends and ripping the masks from their faces. They gasp and choke.
"Y-you can't—"
"Can't what? Win? I already have."
With that, I suck the light back inside me, gathering it to build within me. Everything is perfectly silent as a storm of lightning grows within me, thundering with the promise of death.
"No…!!!"
"…YES."
I release the energy at Dimitri and the wolves holding my comrades. It blows them backward at the window, shattering it in an instant.
"DAMN YOU!"
Dimitri disappears over the ledge. As my enemies plunge the deadly poisonous gas leaves the room, sweeping out over the army. The thousands of enemies all scream and cough, falling on one another in a shocking instant.
I…I did it.
I look down at the floor. Yeosang, I.N and the older man are all knocked out, but breathing.
They knew not to inhale. I hope San did the same down below.
The last of my power leaves me and my knees buckle, all of my energy drained from the effort.
Is it…finally over?
I start to crawl to Yeosang's limp body, straining with the effort.
"Not so fast, my little bitch."
I freeze as Dimitri's pale, clammy hands claw at the edge of the window. He pulls himself up and slithers back into the room.
"You forgot one important detail. I'm immune to wolfsbane."
Damn it. That fall didn't even scratch him.
He rises to his full height, grinning with blood staining his sharp, wolfish teeth.
"That was a clever trick in the end. Please allow me to repay you…FOR RUINING EVERYTHING!!!"
Pulling his sword free once more, he swings down at my shoulder. I duck and roll as it slices into the floor.
"You've taken so much from me. My women, my key to power, my eyes."
His milky eyes glare around the room, enveloped in a darkness I created.
"I'm sorry I didn't make you eat your own eyes."
"You fucking cunt!"
He swings his sword again and I jump to avoid it. But his sense of smell is far too strong. Sensing where I am in a single breath, he pins me against the wooden post of the bed, his blade trained on my throat.
"I should have stuck this sword in between these perfect breasts the day I met you."
He glides the tip of the sword down over my chest, pressing just hard enough to draw a bead of blood. I glare at him, careful not to show the pain that is blooming beneath his blade.
"I should have thrust this deep into your heart before thrusting the rest of me between my legs.
He comes in close. I can feel his erection press against me, harder and harder as his blade works its way in deeper.
"You're going to regret this."
"Let me show you just how wrong you are."
He draws his sword back, then thrust hard at my heart. I don't have time to move.
"No—!"
The blade slices deep, cracking my chest open and leaving me in worse pain than you've ever felt before.
"AHHH!!!"
"That's it. Scream for me."
He twists the blade, torturing me as he moves it slowly toward my heart. San flashes before my eyes.
"(Y/N)."San calls
"(Y/N)!" Yeosang yells.
The deadly blade stops sinking into me and I open my eyes. Yeosang is in front of me, holding the blade with two blood-soaked hands, straining to keep it from taking my life.
"Yeosang stop! You're hurting yourself!"
"No…go…!"
His teeth clench as he struggles with Dimitri, the blade slicing into his palms.
"I won't let you steal her from me!"
"She's not yours to have!"
With a final burst of strength, Yeosang frees me from the sword and tackles Dimitri to the ground. Blood sprays as they fight.
"You fucking false King. You can die AGAIN!"
Dimitri presses his sword against Yeosang's throat. I see fear flash in Yeosang's crimson eyes.
"What circle of hell do you think you go to a second time, little prince? Let's FIND OUT."
He strains against the force of the blade, covered in blood and still so weak. Then, his blood finds my nose. The roiling metallic smell of him mixes with my own, and my powers reawaken once more. My eyes flash gold as my power courses through me with new life. New determination. I stare at Dimitri, the light pounding in my veins with deadly force. It's as if the very sun is urging me to kill him.
This man—this thing—only lusts for pain and blood. He won't stop with me or Yeosang.
"He won't stop until the world bleeds at his feet."
As easy as breathing, the light crackles at my fingertips. I rise to my feet as Dimitri shoves the blade down on Yeosang's throat.
"(Y/N)…"
"It's OVER."
I won't let him hurt anyone. Ever again.
With all the force of an Alpha, I summon forth my whips of light. The white ropes sling tight around Dimitri's limbs and throat, lifting him high into the air, off of Yeosang.
"This is—impossible—"
"You only think it's impossible because you only see power for what you can take from it.
I stride toward Dimitri, stoic and whole.
"You don't have respect for the things greater than you."
"I see now that I made a mistake in making your death slow. Even if I did like your screams."
He thrashes in his bonds, trying to tear the white bindings from his body. I tighten a fist mid-air, willing the tethers of light to squeeze tight. They answer my call, closing in on Dimitri's throat. He struggles to breathe.
"Apologize, you bastard."
"For what?"
"For everything. For imprisoning those women, for this war, for torturing me, for killing Yeosang! Apologize. And I'll make this quick."
I flick my wrist and the whips squeeze him tighter. He winces.
"I'm…sorry… For not doing more."
My mouth falls open at his words. He flashes a bloody grin and laughs.
"I'm sorry I didn't make Yeosang's death slower. I'm sorry I didn't fuck you on top of his corpse. And I'm sorry I didn't kill that bastard of yours, either. I would have loved to make you drink his blood."
He spits in my face. I wipe it away, a vicious heat rising in my soul.
This monster is responsible for so much trauma. I can't even count the number of people he's hurt. This isn't how things are going to end. He's not going to win, even with his final breath.
"You think you know the meaning of the word 'suffering'? Just by inflicting it? I'll show you true suffering."
"I'd like to see you try, you little—"
His insult is cut off when I hurl my light into his mouth. Tears prick his eyes as I hold it steady in his throat.
"What's the matter? Does it BURN?!"
Then, I lift him higher.
Tear him apart. Make it last.
I whisper to my vengeful light, urging it on. It glows brighter at my words. Then, the tethers pull on his body. His back arches in pain.
"What's that? I can't quite hear you."
I bring the burning light down, deeper into his stomach. A hole forms there, bursting through his gut.
"GGAAAHHHH!!"
"That's right. Scream. Scream like so many of your victims screamed. AND APOLOGIZE."
With a final surge, I encase him in light. I feel it seizing every inch of his flesh.
"You joked about the way Yeosang died, ripped apart, piece by piece, by your fucking mutts. Let's see how you like it, Dimitri!"
I pull your arm back. The tethers tear his skin from his body, ever so slowly.
"AGHH PLEASE!! I'M SORRY!!"
"That's what I thought. But too fucking late."
Bending my whole body back, I commit the final act. His flesh is torn clean from his bones, with painstaking patience. Every inch of him contorts in pain. He writhes there, screaming, begging for it to end. Yeosang smiles. After several long, glorious minutes, Dimitri finally dies. With that, I let go. The light of my wrath bursts in a sparkling, painless blast. Exhausted, I fall backward, into Yeosang's waiting arms.
"(Y/N)—"
Suddenly, the room spins. The voice that has so often eluded me drifts back into my ear.
"…(Y/N)…"
"Who are you?"
"What?"
I think I see an outline of a person before me. A woman around my age. I reach for her… Then, the door bursts open, and powerful arms pull me into a warm, familiar chest.
"(Y/N)."
"San? You're alive?"
"Yes. Yes, I'm alive."
He takes my face in his hands, pressing his forehead to mine. Tears rise in I eyes.
"Thank God."
"Jesus. Look at you."
San goes pale. I follow his eyes down to my chest, where the wound from Dimitri's blade drenches me with blood. In one horrendous wave, I finally feel the pain. My body goes cold from the lack of blood and I know I'm about to fall. I look from San, my war-weathered bastard, to Yeosang, my newly revived Alpha King. I stagger and reach for San. He easily folds me into his embrace, pulling me against his bare chest.
"Easy now."
"San…"
I can feel San exchange a look with his brother. So much churn between them, left unsaid.
"Come here. I've got you."
"Are you sure you don't need—" Yeosang begins to ask.
"No. I'm good. You rest." San smiles reassuringly.
San lifts me effortlessly into his arms and carries me down the hall to my bedroom at breakneck speed. As soon as the door is closed, he presses me against the wall and starts to tear at my shirt.
"Hey, I'm tougher than I look."
"You aren't tough enough to survive a stab wound to the chest. You could die. And if that happens I'll—"
His words catch in his throat as he tears your bloody clothes clean in half, but I grab his wrist.
"Look. It didn't pierce my heart. I'm already mostly healed."
His breathing is ragged as he stares at my chest, already mostly restitched. He shakes his head in disbelief.
"You…you almost…"
"But I didn't. I'm okay. See?"
I take his hand and press it between my breasts. He stiffens as I guide his fingers over my flesh.
"Feel my heartbeat?"
"…Yes."
His growl is like a whisper, backing me up against the wall. He looks up, his eyes burning with relief. Something in his gaze makes my heart beat faster under his touch.
"(Y/N)…I can't…"
He caresses my cheek, his touch sending a tremor through my body, relieving me of my pain.
"I can't keep doing this. Almost losing you."
"Thank you, but please don't worry about me."
"It's too late for that."
"You have enough to worry about. Enough enemies and obligations. I'm—"
His grip on me tightens as he presses me tighter against the wall.
"Don't say you're nothing. You're not nothing, nae simjang."
"I'm nothing compared to all you have to fight for. And stop using words I don't—"
With lightning speed, San takes my face in his hands. And he kisses me. The fear, the pain, the confusion, it all disappears beneath his lips.
"(Y/N)."
He holds me fast, his kiss passionate and all-consuming. His hands slide down my body.
"I told you, you're not nothing to me. Do I have to show you?"
San tangles his hand in my hair and gently pulls my head back, exposing my neck to him. He presses his lips to the hollow of my throat. My skin prickles with each tender kiss.
"You matter more than any obligation. More than any vengeance or sense of honor."
He drags his tongue over my healed wound, the tingling sensation of his tongue spreading between my breasts.
"Do you understand me?"
"I'm starting to get it."
"Seems you still need a lesson or two."
San slides his hands down the outline of my body, tracing me as he pulls my clothes down.
"What are you—?"
He lowers himself to his knees in front of me, his lips just inches from where I am hot and throbbing.
"You're going to spread your legs for me and let me take the pain away."
"What?"
"You heard me. You're going to give in, let me taste you. Let me make you forget all about the horrors you've been through until it's just you…"
He grazes his teeth up my inner thigh.
"…and me. You're going to truly understand how much you mean to me. I'll make you."
Oh my God.
"Well, (Y/N)?"
"Yes. Please taste me there."
"That's my girl."
San starts off teasingly light, tracing his tongue around the edges of my pearl to prime me for what's to come.
"Mmm."
Then, just when I'm starting to get used to the sensation, San flattens his mouth against my slit, ravaging me.
"San—!"
He swirls and sucks. Pleasure unlike anything I've ever felt begins taking hold. Desperate, I dig my hands into San's thick, soft hair, arching for him. He growls with approval.
"Holding me here, huh?"
He doesn't relent, circling my clit with his tongue, leaving you helpless to his pleasure.
"San—!"
The rough heat of his tongue plunges deeper, practically inside me. He pulls something new and euphoric to the surface of my body.
"I'm going to—"
"Yes."
He sucks down hard then, throwing me over the edge before I even have time to brace myself. But it's clear he's not done. I barely catch a breath before he drags his tongue against me once more. There is no end, no mercy, just climatic waves of pleasure crashing through my oversensitive body.
"Oh my God! San, please!"
"More…"
His voice is stern, commanding, lusting for more of me. He pulls me in, sending me over the edge again. Breathless and weak from release, I collapse against the wall. San leans over me.
"I'm sorry. Did I take you too far?"
"No. I could never have enough."
"Yeah? Me neither."
San stands, running his thumb over my lips. I can practically read his mind.
"San…I've never…tasted you either."
"No. You haven't."
He nips gently at my bottom lip, and a heady rush of heat floods through me.
"But I don't want to overwhelm you, love."
I just survived a war. He thinks I can't handle this?
I can feel his desire pressing against me, hot and pulsing through his pants.
"It's my turn."
I move my hands down to his pants.
"You want to?"
"Yes."
I kiss San's neck, pulling him up so I am on my knees before him. I pull down his zipper…and release his thick, throbbing shaft. I can barely wrap my hand around his searing length as I rub up and down. San shudders in my grasp. I kiss the warm tip of him, and he swears. San tangles his hand in my hair and I press his cock into my mouth. I open wide, luxuriating in the feeling of him there.
"Oh, God. (Y/N)."
I swirl my tongue around him and suck his intoxicating thundering length. His breathing grows ragged.
"Fuck. You are incredible. I've never—"
I suck harder, moving him in and out of my mouth. He groans and leans back, his hands tangled in my hair.
"Fuck. I can't—!"
As he hits the back of my throat, he goes rigid, cumming hard.
"Never. Never in my life have I felt something that good."
Breathless, San pulls me up and kisses my tender lips.
"(Y/N), I don't think I can hold back any longer."
"I don't want you to."
He grabs my wrists with sudden fervor, pinning me to the wall. His eyes flash silver.
"I need to claim you. Really claim you."
"San…I'm already yours."
He huffs, rolling his hips so his strained, slick cock presses up between my thighs. I press my forehead against his chest and he laughs, his voice low and husky. He tips your chin up.
"Flushed. Sweaty. Short of breath. You must be having a good time with me."
"I couldn't have pictured it any better."
"You don't think it can get any better? I can't have that."
He runs a rough hand up my body, cupping my breast.
"I have a reputation to uphold."
I feel him wedge a powerful knee between my legs and I gasp. He catches my open mouth in a kiss. As his tongue hungrily searches my mouth, his knee presses harder against me, raising me off the ground.
"I'm going to take you now, (Y/N)."
His grasp is firm on me as he searches my body with molten, hungry eyes.
"I'm going to take you fast and hard. Until you forget all the pain."
His knees spread my legs apart and I gasp.
"Open for me, nae simjang. Let me have you."
I inhale sharply, caught between the cool wall and the heat of San's body. I wrap my arms around San's neck and whisper into his mouth.
"Fuck me. Fuck me hard."
Suddenly, San spins me and presses me up against the wall. I hold my breath, exhilarated, as he steps up behind I. He slips his hand up into my hair, his breath hot on my back. He rubs his cock over my slick entrance and swears.
"Are you ready for me, beautiful?"
"Yes. Do it. Do it now."
He gently tugs my hair back, and as he does, he sinks himself deep within me. I gasp. With a low moan, he thrusts hard. I shut my eyes, swimming in the feeling of fullness, in the feeling of him inside me. Gripping my hips, he lifts me, withdrawing and then slamming into me again. I cry out.
"Shh. You don't want us to get caught, do you?"
San fucks me hard, driving his long, hot cock in and out, in and out until my vision blurs. He kisses my back and reaches between my legs. I am completely unprepared when he rubs my clit and thrusts.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
My orgasm hits in a fierce wave of intensity, crashing through my body and rippling out in my fingers and toes. San holds himself deep as he rides my orgasm and basks in his own. I feel his hair at my back as he gasps for air.
"God, you're perfect. You're so fucking perfect."
San turns me around. He kisses me through each shuddering aftershock.
"I can still feel you inside me."
"Yeah? That's because I am still inside of you."
"What?"
"I want to take you to bed. I want to look in your eyes when you lose yourself over me."
He bites my ear gently, whispering into it.
"Come on. Once more, (Y/N)."
I bring my wet lips to San's and whisper to him on a breathless kiss.
"Take me to the bed, San."
"Hold on tight."
Still buried deep within me, San carries me to my bed. I fall onto the mattress. He crushes himself against me with his war torn body, his cock slamming deep.
"Oh, God!"
San rolls his hips and slowly eases into me until I feel him bottom out. He thrusts again, harder. Then again. I drop my nails along his sweat slick back, clutching him. I rock my hips to take him deeper. He swears into my hair. San grips my thighs, pulling me close as he picks up speed, overtaking me. The pressure builds. I moan.
"That's it. You're getting close again, my girl."
I try to control myself as San props himself up. He looks down at me as he thrusts harder, over and over.
"Cum for me, beautiful."
As if obeying his command, a rush of pleasure fills my body to the core. I arch against the soft mattress and cry out. San holds himself deep, going rigid within me. I stay like that for a long, blissful moment. Sated, I go limp in his arms. He slowly eases himself out of me, wiping wet hair away from my lidded eyes.
"Are you okay? You're shaking."
"Relax, I'm not made of glass. You act as though I'm going to shatter after a little playtime. I can handle a lot more than that."
"You're right. I know you can handle a lot."
San folds himself against me, pulling me into a warm outline of his body. I shut my eyes and breathe deep. But soon, voices carry up from below, high and frantic in tone. My heart plummets.
"Come on."
San helps me dress quickly and fixes my hair. His touch is soft and kind, so different from the raw power he wielded moments before. He takes my hand, and I head down the stairs in the main hall, where I hear a horrified scream. The Queen and Jongho stand amidst the wreckage, staring at Yeosang with stunned looks on their faces.
"Brother, are you really—?"
"…Yes."
"How. How are you alive?" The Queen asks.
Yeosang looks at San and I. When I feel San shrink away, I square my shoulders and step forward.
"We brought him back."
The Queen narrows her eyes at me, seething with anger as black as the night.
"How."
"Using…"
"Using fucking silver-eyed witchcraft?!"
Her words sting San and I and we flinch. It is a small gesture, but it is enough for Roslyn.
"You did, didn't you? My God."
"My Queen—" San goes to explain
"Don't. You will not speak to me again, you fucking bastard."
The Queen draws herself up to her full height, looking at San, Yeosang, and I.
"For this crime, all three of you will pay… With your lives."