RAVEN

I was doomed. It was the only thought that ran through my head as the wolf locked eyes with mine. Could it smell my fear? Could it smell that I was lying about my identity? He was huge, easily reaching almost five feet.

It prowled towards me, gaze unmoving, I forced myself to move but my foot stayed rooted to the ground.

It growled suddenly, body jerking to the side, I noticed it had been hit with a dart. Another shot, and it jerked again, its descent slowing.

That was when I noticed the king holding a dart gun and a displeased expression on his face. He fired another and finally the wolf went down, its head hitting the ground with a loud thud.

"Escort her grace to the prince's chambers." The king's voice rang out.

I flinched back in surprise as two men appeared before me.

"If you please, your grace." They gestured for me to follow. With one look back at the feral wolf laying on the ground, I turned and followed.

Was I a bad person if I wished for him to remain that way towards the foreseeable future?

The men escorting me stopped at a door after passing several in the hallway.

"This is the prince's quarters, your grace, please make yourself at home." One of them pushed the door open.

I took hesitant steps into the room as I admired the dark walls and the black leather chairs that adorned the living room, of course the floor was made of marble.

"Yes it looks depressing, but wait till you see his room." I flinched, jumping back in alarm as a figure emerged from behind me.

"Pfft, I'm not that scary am I?" A boy about the same height as me, stood before me, his pale gold eyes twinkling as he smiled.

He ran a hand through his hair and jumped on a couch. "I'm the one who's supposed to be staring you know." On instinct I tried to apologize. He waved it away. "It's nothing, I'm Denis."

He looked at me expectantly. "I'm Raven.' I said, trying to make my voice sound as feminine as possible.

"Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business." His playful gaze turned serious.

"After the ruckus you experienced, you must have some questions so here's the run down. Yes prince Eilís has no control over his shift, yes he is locked up in the castle every full moon, and yes he might hurt you but not on purpose."

I just stood there, not knowing how to react.

"Prince Eilís will be back in a few hours after he wakes up and this is what is expected of the both of you. "He is to claim you...yes, that means bite you, don't worry you'll be okay and that's if you survive it, you're expected to consummate the marriage before you would be considered part of the pack. I'll leave you to rest, and by tomorrow morning I'll come to get you started on your wolf royalty training." He made air quotes. "I'll be your guide, your go to guy for any troubles you might have, I'm basically your wolf attendant."

I managed a thank you and Denis beamed. "I like you already, and I really do hope you survive." He waved his hand as he exited, the door clicking shut behind him.

The beast was going to bite me, he was going to claim me.

A shiver ran down my spine as the wolf's glowing eyes lingered in my mind, its hot breath still seeming to mist the air

EILÍS

As I pushed open the door to my chambers I was surprised to see it empty, after I had woken up from my forced slumber, I was told my bride was waiting in my room. I narrowed my eyes at the door leading to my bedroom, could she have run away? Did I terrify her that much? I walked towards the door and pushed it open, my breath hitching at the sight of her sitting on the edge of the bed, head lowered and hands held between her legs.

I frowned at her posture. "What are you doing?"

She flinched like she hadn't expected the sound of my voice. "I'm at your service my prince."

My frown deepened. "Why do you sound like that?"

Her hand went to her throat, coughing a little, she replied. "My lungs did not develop properly, my voice has been like that since I was little."

"Oh." I sighed, wondering how I was going to bring up the conversation of claiming. I had sent Denis here to prepare her as much as he could.

"I won't touch you without your permission, I'll only go as far as you allow, but you have to take the bite, it's no exception."

Her head snapped up at my words, the surprise evident in her gaze.

I couldn't help the disgust in my voice. "What? Did that come as a surprise? Not being the brute people assume I am?"

"No my-"

"It's alright." I cut her off. "I took no offense, let's just get this over with." I approached her slowly, feeling grateful when she tilted her head to the side. With my expression tight, I bent down and knelt before her.

She jerked back, eyes widening in alarm. "What are you doing?"

"This is part of the ritual." I answered.

"I submit myself before you Raven of Dierna now Raven Caravia and ask that you give me the honour of accepting both the man and the wolf before you as your mate and husband."

She just stared at me. "You're supposed to say you accept."

"I accept,"she answered.

I held back her hair as she tilted her head to the side.

I swallowed at the sight of her pale and fragile neckline, The scent of cedar wood and honeysuckle even more apparent, I resisted the urge to breathe in her scent.

I could feel her holding her breath as I bent my head towards her neck. "I'll try to make it less painful." I whispered as my fangs descended.

With no preamble I pierced her skin, not stopping until my fangs connected. She screamed, her body trashing as she tried to push me away.

I held her down using my other hand. "It hurts!" She cried. I ignored her getting lost in the feeling of her blood trickling down my throat as I accessed her memories. It was one of the main reasons for the bite, the power to enter the mind of one's mate, ensuring that mates couldn't keep secrets from each other.

I froze as I came across a memory of her -no, him, standing before his father and was told to take the place of his sister to become my bride.

The pressure behind my eyes pulsed - the familiar fracture spreading. I had seconds, maybe less.

I jerked back, my fangs releasing his throat as I took two steps backward, staring at him in disbelief. "You're... a boy,"I whispered, the words feeling like they'd torn their way out of my throat.

This chapter contains triggering scenes.

Please skip if uncomfortable!

RAVEN

I stumbled back in shock, my eyes widening in fear, how did he figure that out? What gave it away? My gears hit overdrive, the pain in my neck now so far beneath my worries. I optioned for denial.

"I'm female, my prince, where is this coming from?" At this rate, with the way my heart beat increased I wasn't far from dying from a heart attack. I was praying he found it convincing.

He growled, the sound menacing. I immediately knelt down and bowed my head.

"Forgive me my prince and tell me my sin so I may atone for it."

He scoffed, going down on his knees next to me. "Why don't I confirm myself." Fisting my hair with his left hand, he jerked my head up. I gasped, wincing in pain as strands of my hair pulled out.

With his right hand, prince Eilís flipped up my gown, his hand going underneath.

I could feel his hand sliding up my thigh as we stared at each other, his gold eyes burning. My body was frozen, the fear holding me down, my limbs locked and refusing to move.

His hand reached my groin, my face flaming when he took hold of my cock beneath the underdress.

"I'll ask again, what's your gender?"

"Male." I gasped when he squeezed to the point of pain.

"Do you realize what you've done? Do you know what the punishment of your deceit will be?"

His voice was eerily calm as he asked, it added to my fear, it was like the calm before the storm.

"Let me answer that for you, it's death...death by hanging."

His hand tightened on my shaft. I groaned in pain, tears dropping down my face as I blinked. "I plead for mercy."

He laughed, the sound maniacal.

He sounded different from the man who'd promised not to hurt me or touch me without my permission.

He released my hair, his hand going to my dress. He yanked, sending the sapphires tumbling and the gown ripping. I gasped again at the sight of his large hand between my thigh, his eyes followed mine and a twisted smile appeared on his lips.

"That's a pretty sight." He licked his lips. At that moment my limbs decided to unlock. I scrambled up in an attempt to run.

He hauled me back by my waist, pushing me to the bed and laying atop me as I tried to fight him off.

He moved back, holding me down with his left hand on my neck.

I struggled to breath and at the same time tried to remove his hand from my throat.

He ripped what remained of my clothes leaving me bare with nothing to cover.

"A gorgeous sight indeed."

"I thought you preferred females." I asked in between gasps.

"A misconception on your part, why would I choose when I can have the best of both worlds?"

He collected saliva from his mouth, once again wrapping his hand around my cock. He jerked up and down, repeating the motion without stopping. I gasped in disbelief as a sharp burst of arousal made me arch upwards, still in disbelief I hesitated in my struggle as I watched my cock rise in response to his stimulation.

He let go, collecting another drop of saliva as he spread my thighs with his knees between mine. This time his fingers went to my hole, gently caressing it before pushing in a finger.

I renewed my vigour, thrashing on the bed and tearing at him in a desperate attempt to escape as the sparks of pain increased. I could feel when he added the second and third finger, the pain doubling as I sobbed, still not giving up in my escape attempt.

He pegged something inside me and I arched up involuntarily as pleasure raced up my spine, the pain disappearing in an instant.

He mercilessly continued, targeting that particular spot that turned me into a mumbling mess as my brain attempted to get used to the new sensations wracking my body.

My body reacted traitorously, heat flaring even as my mind screamed no.

I moaned and gasped, my body moving on its own, chasing the curve of his fingers in my ass so it relentlessly pressed against that pleasure spot. I felt high with the new found pleasure I was receiving.

He removed his fingers much to my body's disapproval and unbuttoned his trousers. The sight of him taking out his cock jolted me back to my current predicament. He was long and thick, the crown leaking as he stared at my hole in what was akin to anticipation.

"You promised not to touch me." I said in a last attempt to reason with him.

"I never made that promise, Eilís did."

"You're Eilís!" I shouted, taking in bursts of deep breaths when his hand released slightly from my throat.

He smirked at me as he pushed in. "I guess I am."

I screamed.

This wasn't Eilís anymore. This thing looked through his eyes, but it wasn't him.

"It hurts," I said, grabbing at his wrist where it rested next to my hip and digging in my nails as if for revenge. "It feels like you're tearing me apart."

He checked to be sure, pulling his cock out the three inches he'd managed to insert it before shaking his head. "No blood. You're fine."

I gaped at him.

Then with a grin, he thrust forward, pumping his cock into me straight down to the root. His balls, slapping against my ass.

I was crying and now both my hands were struggling to shove his shoulders and push him away.

"Breathe through it," he instructed calmly. "You got this."

"I fucking do not!" I ground my teeth. "I also fucking hate you!"

"You hate my cock," he corrected, "but that'll change in a minute. Trust me."

He gave a tentative roll of his hips.

A long, drawn-out moan slipped past my lips before I could stop it.

He smirked and resituated himself so that he was holding himself up on his forearms at either side of my head.

With no other warning but that, he gave into his nature.

His cock pounded into me over and over again, pummeling my insides with rapid strikes. On each inward thrust he buried himself as deep as he could go.

I screamed beneath him, eventually wrapping my arms around his neck for purchase as my body was forced into the bed.

My dick was caught between us, being rubbed against the trail of wiry black hairs that led down from his navel to my swollen cock.

I was digging my nails into his shoulders and gasping by his ear.

My thighs squeezed around his waist.

"Come for me," he ordered, bending down to deliver a possessive kiss, biting hard on my bottom lip at the end.

Maybe it was the inkling of pain, or me simply liking to be dominated.

Either way, one of those things shoved me over the edge, and in the next instant, I was crying out, my trapped cock spurting between us.

I twitched, eyes rolling back and my mouth parting on a silent scream.

He came, driving his cock into my hole one final time and keeping himself there.

As my eyes closed, the stress wearing me down, Eilís's twisted smile lingered, his breath whispering against my ear, "The fun is just beginning."

I awoke to a stinging pain on my lower back, I winced as I tried to sit up; my vision swimming for a moment.

Gods, what had he done to me? No one told me this was what it felt like, even my neck hurt from the claiming bite.

My back went rigid when something moved. Slowly turning to look, I flinched back in surprise at the sight of Eilis on his knees. It suddenly felt like déjà vu, this was the second time the feral prince was on his knees in front of me.

"I'm sorry." He said the words like it physically pained him to voice it. "You didn't deserve to be treated like that."

I blushed as I remembered all that had transpired between us. I shifted, biting my lip as it felt like the pain spread to my foot.

"It was part of the claiming my prince there's nothing to be sorry about." My voice was small, barely audible. But that was what I could manage as I tried not to break down.

"Don't say that." He hissed, "I knew what I did was wrong. You gave me no permission."

I could see he was sorry, by the way his expression tightened, he looked angry at himself. But what was I supposed to say? You shouldn't have claimed me? I hate you?

I opted for the truth. "I don't think you were in your right mind when you did it."

Eilis flinched, his eyes closing as he took on a breath. "I think I owe you this much, you're right, I wasn't in my right senses, my other half took over."

His other half? Like he saw the confusion in my face, he answered. "When I went feral and was cured by the priests I didn't come back alone. A part of the feral side came back with me. I call him the wolf.

I don't remember what he does when he takes over but I'm sure it was bad looking at the state of you."

My back stiffened, a sudden flush overtaking me as I remembered the real reason I'd been in the situation in the first place.

"No one must know I still lose control." He continued, "I'll keep your secret if you keep mine."

The opportunity raced in my mind. This was a deal that could grant me life.

"The pack would put me down for losing control and my father will see you hanged for the betrayal, this deal is in our favor."

"I agree." I said at last.

"Good." He replied, standing up from the floor, "I have told the servants to just help with water and food, you'll wash yourself, better to be discreet than take the risk of someone finding out."

I nodded in understanding, not that I had servants at my beck and call in my father's house anyway.

"Continue pretending, try to speak less, and don't stand in a place for too long. The people will stare, they'll analyze you, so you must do your best they don't find anything amiss."

I nodded. Still sitting on the bed.

"I'll send the servants in now." He pivoted, heading towards the door.

Immediately it clicked shut, I tried to get up. At least the rumours about his bedroom activities had some truth in them.

___________

Denis arrived a while after I'd taken my bath, his face a ray of sunshine in the otherwise gloom of my own mind.

Calani had dressed me in a silk blue gown that flowed all the way to the floor and covered most parts of my shoulder except the claiming bite, at least it covered the marks and bruises.

"I'm so glad you survived your first night, how are you feeling?"

Was he to be trusted? Could I be free with him? I shrugged, going for friendly. "I feel fine, just tired." My right hand trailed to my neck, stopping just beside the claiming bite. Denis' eyes followed it, his eyes dimming into what seemed like pity.

"Wow, that's....that's rough."

I frowned, did it look that bad?

"Don't get me wrong, it's great..it's just-it looks like a vigorous claiming. It's screaming possessiveness, and that's a good thing."

Why did I feel like he was lying to make me feel better? My neck suddenly started aching again, despite the fact that Calani had put in soothe cream to reduce the pain for me.

"The wolves would know to stay away from you." He grinned. "We'll start with court training today, cause I'm sure the king will throw a ball to welcome the prince's mate into the family.

"Lesson one." Denis started, as we sat opposite each other, his legs spread across the chair, while I attempted to maintain my image by sitting as still as possible in order to avoid triggering the pain in my ass. "Do not, for anything, show fear."

"I think I'm managing alright." I shrugged.

He scoffed. "It reeked of you last night."

Yes, maybe because I was going to get claimed like an animal. I didn't say that though, I didn't know if Denis was a potential friend or enemy.

"Lesson two." He continued, "Never question Eilis in front of an audience, no matter how much you want to protest."

I blinked, did that mean he could do anything he wanted and I could do nothing about it?

"He's your prince first and foremost, the mate comes after. Think of it like this; If the kingdom were to be in danger and Eilis is asked to choose between his mate and the kingdom, he's expected to choose the kingdom."

I snorted before I could stop it, like the prince cared about me anyways.

"Lesson three: no matter how much someone pisses you off and just want to tell them to shove their opinion up their ass, you have to do it politely, for example." Denis brought his legs down from the chair to face me fully. "You say: I appreciate your concern, but I will consider it in private."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"Exactly." He said pleasantly. "It's just wrapped in silk.

"And if I don't." I had to ask.

His smile was slow and sharp. "Then they decide you're impulsive, dangerous and unfit to be by the prince's side."

_______

"Your back is too stiff, you should try to relax more." Calani muttered as she tightened the corset.

"Says the person who told me the rumours in the first place." I said under my breath.

Calani was helping me get ready for the ball, Denis had been running right. The king was throwing a ball to welcome me to the family.

"At least you survived the night, that's a good beginning, now you just have to survive your first court session." Calani argued.

I shivered. "They're going to eat me alive."

I'd heard the nobles used the opportunity of court to get under ones skin, and I had a lot of garbage under mine. What if someone notices I'm not a woman?