This chapter contains triggering scenes.

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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?

My gaze took in the suffocating opulence of the hall. Gold leaf clung to every surface, reflecting the harsh glare of a thousand candles until the room felt like a polished fever dream.

The air was heavy with the cloying scent of lilies and the rhythmic, predatory pulse of the orchestra. Between the shimmering silks and brittle laughter, I saw the court for what it really was: a sea of masks, each one more dangerous than the last.

They were watching me the way I was watching them. With barely disguised contempt and a hunger for the smallest slip-up.

I was prey in the midst of hunters.

Nobles came to greet me and offer their congratulations, a few lingering long enough to stare at my throat and whisper at each other when they thought I wasn't looking. It was rude, but I couldn't do anything about it.

A figure approached me, long after they'd left me alone. Her smile, which looked fake, gave me shivers. Here comes the first test.

"Hello my Lady." Her smile widened. "I'm Lady Solvra of Jearna."

Ah, the daughter of a noble Duke indeed, the Jearnas were known for their snobbery.

I made sure my bow was low. "Nice to meet you my Lady." I managed.

She laughed out loud. "Come on now your grace, I should be the one bowing, after all I'm not the one mated to the prince." Her eyes narrowed on my neck. I felt the urge to cover the bite mark but restrained myself.

"The sound of your voice must be a whole new tone for the prince I'm sure." She was showing more teeth.

If she hoped to get under my skin by indirectly mocking the depth of my voice, she was playing a dangerous game.

"A whole new tone, indeed," she purred, her eyes flicking to the pulse in my throat.

"One wonders if the Prince prefers his... consorts to have such a command over the lower registers. It's almost masculine, wouldn't you say? Or perhaps it's just the strain of trying to hit the right notes."

I didn't flinch. If she noticed the way the heavy silk of my bodice hid the straight lines of my frame, or the way I kept my chin tilted to mask the strength of my jaw, she was keeping it for the kill. She was daring me to speak again and prove her right.

"It's a lung problem." I offered a smile. "Dear me and my daddy have tried absolutely everything to fix it. But the gods have willed it so. Besides, the Prince finds my voice... grounding. Perhaps you should ask him why he prefers it over the shrill tones of the court?"

She nodded, her expression changing to one of pity. "Poor you, having to go your whole life with a voice in-between a woman and man."

"Yes, poor me." Gods, how do I get rid of her?

I cheered in my heart when a servant bowed to me. "Your grace, the king would like a word."

Better the king than this vulture, I turned and smiled at her. "If you'll excuse me." I pivoted, following the servant, as she led me towards where the king was.

The music dulled as we passed into a quieter alcove draped in velvet.

The king stood alone near a tall window, hands clasped behind his back. When he turned, his gaze settled on me-it wasn't sharp or unkind, but thorough.

His eyes traced my face without apology, lingering the way many others had tonight. There was no hunger in it, only appreciation, like one might give a rare object finally seen up close. His eyes moved to my neck, lingering for a bit before offering me a smile.

I bowed to him and awaited his order. "Lift your head." He gestured lightly. When I did, his mouth curved. "Tell me, Raven... do you find our court to your liking?"

I hesitated, then remembered Denis's voice. Silk, not steel. "It's... lively," I said. "And I'm grateful for the welcome I've received."

Another smile, this one sharper. "And my son?" he asked, as if the thought had only just occurred to him. "How do you find Eilís?"

There it was.

"He's been considerate," I replied, choosing each word. "More than I expected."

"Mm." The king turned slightly, looking out the window. "He can be difficult at times, withdrawn. His wolf also complicates things, it makes him seem a little different each time." His eyes narrowed on the last part.

Was he indirectly expecting me to spill a secret?

"I don't find him difficult," I said before I could stop myself.

"Hmm." He nodded, looking back at the window.

Silence stretched between us, I stayed where I was, hands folded, breathing measured.

The king studied, more closely this time, as if weighing not just my words but the way I stood, the steadiness in my voice.

His eyes flicked once more to my face, my hair, the line of my throat. Approval settled there, quiet and unmistakable.

"I'm sure you've noticed Eilis is not in attendant tonight."

I nodded, wondering where this was going.

"I do apologize for him, he has a bit of a hassle to handle in the northern boarder."

"I understand Sire."

He stepped aside then, gesturing toward the hall beyond the alcove. "Enjoy the evening, Raven. Let them admire you. It does us no harm for others to see what stands beside my son."

I felt heat rise again, but I kept my expression calm. "As you wish, sire."

As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me once more.

"And Raven," he added lightly, "should you ever find yourself uncertain... remember that honesty, when offered sparingly, can be its own kind of power."

I inclined my head once more and stepped back into the light, the music swelling around me again. Eyes found me immediately, curious, appraising.

I kept my shoulders straight and my expression composed, even as a thought bothered me. The king never asked about my voice.