I climbed the stairs deep in thought, on my way to my room. I heard voices screaming at each other. It was not uncommon but there was something about one of the voice that drew me towards the door.

Then I heard, Sylvester's voice. What was he doing in Christopher's room in his absence? What kind of question is that? I asked myself. He is the Alpha and Christopher is his brother! He can go into any room he chooses especially his own brother's room.

But what he said as I got to the door stopped me cold.

'Like I said earlier, I do not feel as angry towards her like I did in the past. I am also sorry for deceiving her into helping me preserve my throne. But that's that. What I feel might just be gratitude or just likeness. It is not something you should be bothered about!' Sylvester said and I knew instantly who he was referring to. What other female was going to help him secure his throne?

'Thank you so much', Cathania said and placed her arms round Sylvester's neck, kissing him. And he was kissing her right back. Then Cathania said,

'You know, your brother is really wise. He left because he knew we are love birds who needed privacy to explore each other. Let's not disappoint him. Let us use this privacy judiciously'.

Not that I was surprised to hear this nor see them together. Not at all. It wasn't the first time. I had known he was deceiving me or rather, he felt he was deceiving me.

I wanted to sneak away but Sylvester got up and looked towards me. He swore and Cathania looked to see what was causing distress to her lover. When she saw me, she was shocked at first but recovered very fast and smiled smugly at me.

I ran away before Sylvester could recover sufficiently enough to stop me. I ran into my room, locked the door and flung myself on the bed. I did not do this because I was jealous. Far from it. But I had to a t like I was, else how would Sylvester think that I really liked him? Though I am beginning to think that I may not need him to achieve my goals since I now have Christopher. I would still be the Luna if I married Christopher.

I saw Cathania's face again, smiling smugly and I wanted to wipe that smile of the bitch's face.

The garden and other secret meeting places were no longer enough. They had to come into the palace, without showing any respect to the Luna - to - be!

And what was that she said about Sylvester's brother being wise and giving them privacy? Was Christopher in with them on this deception of theirs? But of course! I have always known that he was the same as his brother or even worse. He just got here the other day and has been trying to charm his way into my heart, pretending to be sincere when all the while he was in cohort with his brother to deceiving me into securing their throne. Well, they haven't seen anything yet!

'Are you serious right now?' Milly again!

'What, now!' I snapped angrily.

'Why are you angry? Is it that you feel deeply for Christopher and are hurt that he may have betrayed you? Or is your anger directed at Sylvester for cheating on you with Cathania?'

I was shocked at her assessment but maybe I shouldn't be, she was in my head and knew my thoughts. I was angry that Sylvester was not only cheating on me but was now doing it in the open with no thoughts whatsoever about how I'd feel, assuming I was actually falling in love with him like he so arrogantly boasted to Cathania in the garden. I was hurt that Christopher may be working with them as well. We're his professed feelings for me affected then? Was he feigning his attraction for me?

'You are impossible, Millicent, do you know that?', Milly said incredulous.' You feel it too, the bond. Can such a thing be feigned? If it is, then you are feigning what we have been feeling as well!'

'If he is to be trusted, then why did he leave the room for them?' I screamed in my head.

'Isn't it obvious?' Milly asked reasonably. 'He wanted to give them privacy while he goes in search of his mate. And will be you! He might have felt that if he could make these two realise they belong together, then you could be with him. You have led him to thinking that you can't be with him because Sylvester!'

That made sense but I was not about to give up, not just yet.

Then, 'Knock, knock, knock ', sounded on the door. I knew who it must be but I wasn't going to open the door.

'Open this door, Millicent, please', Sylvester pleaded.

'Go away!' I said. 'You cheat!'

'You don't know that, do you?' he asked. 'Open up, let me explain!'

'You mean so you can weave more lies to me?'

'Open up, and after listening to me, you can decide it my words were lies or not!' he said, tensely.

I wanted to remain stubborn but I relented, got up from the bed and walked towards the door. At the door, I sighed before turning the lock and opening the door. Here we go, I thought. Getting ready to listen to his lies.

'Millicent', he started holding both my hands and pulling me towards a chair, as soon as I opened the door.

I flung his hands off me. It was not hard to do that because apart from being angry with him for his duplicity, his touch irritated me.

'Do not be angry.Christopher...' he started again.

'Oh, you are going to blame this on Christopher?' I asked, looking at him with disgust.

'No, you are not giving me a chance to explain!' he said. 'I was having a discussion with him, about the mate issue. You must have realised by now that we are both mated to you', he paused, looking at me as though waiting for me to say something. So that was why they were in Christopher's room! I had wondered why Sylvester did not choose his own room to mate with Cathania. When I didn't respond, Sylvester nodded and continued. 'When Cathania barged in on us under the pretense of having heard us arguing. From there, she started asking about you and how I felt about you'.

'I know how you feel, Sylvester, - gratitude for what I want to help you for, something about your throne, what do you mean by that?' I asked feigning ignorance.

'Oh that, forget it. It was all a means of getting Cathania to leave me in peace. She started crying when I told her I loved you. If you had arrived earlier, you would have overheard me confessing it to Cathania. She started crying and I hate to see a female crying. So I tried to pacify her and her way of showing gratitude was to kiss me'.

'And you kissed her back!' I said. 'You spared no thought to how I'd feel if I got to know about it!'

'Were you jealous?' he asked ' because if that is the case, then I am flattered because it means you care for me', he smiled and at that instant, he looked so much like Christopher that I caught my breath.

'Do you believe me?' he asked and I snapped out of my day dream. Damnation! It was bad enough having feelings for Christopher. Was I going to start transferring feelings from brother to the next? Then, I shall be truly cursed!

'It's okay. May I get a little rest now?' I asked.

'Have you forgiven me? he asked.

'I just said everything was okay. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to relax'.

He wanted to say more, but thought better of it and walked out the door, shutting it gently behind him.

Millicent's POV

After the incident where I saw Sylvester making out with Cathania in Christopher's room, I tried as much as possible to avoid all of them

I ate in my room and rarely showed my face.

Of course Sylvester did not like it and tried to make me join them at the dinning table but I always had one excuse or the other handy.

Christopher himself came to speak to me and talk me out of isolating myself from the rest of the pack but I wouldn't heed his words.

'I just need some time to myself', was what I told him. I was not ready to tell him yet that I was angry with him for the part he played in encouraging Sylvester to cheat on me with Cathania.

I found another pleasurable way to fill my evenings, which was walking to the stream to feel it's cool breeze and peace.

I was at the stream on day, lost in the serenity of nature. The wind blowing and the cool breeze from the stream making it calming on the skin like a soothing balm. Oh Peace! If only that were how my life was, but I was not at peace. My mind and heart were unsettled. I did not know what I was feeling and I was confused and angry with myself for feeling. I was also angry that I had made no progress with my plot against the cheating heartless bastard called Sylvester.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I did not hear him approach until he spoke.

'This place is so peaceful. I understand why you come here'.

I opened my eyes which had been shut as I tried to feel the peace around me, and turned around with a jerk. It was Christopher and my heart leapt. Damn! I was doing this too much lately, cursing that is.

'This was also my favourite place when I was growing up', he added.

I turned back, trying to calm my racing heart. Why did he have that effect on me?

He came closer and sat beside me on the sand, throwing rocks into the flowing stream.

I looked at him, when I felt I was calmer. 'Christopher, why will you not leave me alone?' It seems to me that you are tailing me!' I said, looking at him with narrowed eyes.

He looked at me for a while and smiled.'You know the answer to that. You are my mate and I feel the mate bond pulling me closer and closer to you everytime', he said, looking away into space. 'I can't even fight it. I would have tried to because my brother is also mated to you but I just can't and I don't want to either because I want you for myself. I want you desperately. I have never felt this way for anyone before'.

I understood what he was saying but all he was talking about was want and mating, I had thought he would say something like...

'Too bad, because I do not feel the same way!' I said and jumped to my feet, wanting to leave him there.

'Oh, but you do. Should I show you?' he asked, standing as well. Before I knew what was happening, he had me in his arms. He was really fast. As soon as our bodies touched, all I wanted to do was melt into him. No! I could not succumb to this. I have to fight. I cannot be weak! I balled my hands into fists, and hit him, trying to fight my way out of his arms but he held on tighter and my half - hearted resistance soon ceased and my hands flayed out on his chest as his lips caught mine in a gentle kiss. He gave me another short hot kiss and kept giving me short hot kisses that were proving devastating to my senses and soon, I was responding, my hand going round his neck and a tiny moan of pleasure escaped me. He groaned at my capitulation and deepened the kiss. Our heads turning this way and that as we kissed, our tongues playing with each other in our mouths and our lips were not spared in the duel. My body felt all tingly. His hand crept to the back of my head to draw me closer as we kissed while the other pulled my waist closer to his groin. I could feel his arousal and it excited me. As his hands became more frenzied, I felt it was time to break this embrace but my body would not stop touching him nor would my lips stop kissing him back. His mouth moved to my neck and found a very sensitive spot which he kissed, his warm breath fanning my heated body. 'Ohhh...'

How it happened, I cannot really tell but I found myself on the grass beside the stream, with Christopher beside me, still kissing, his hands working furiously as he unbuttoned by shirt. He was not patient with the rest of the buttons that were proving too difficult to unbutton by his impatient hands and he tore the shirt off, buttons flying in all directions. I had no bra on and upon gazing on my bare breasts, with a growl, he brought down his head on one, pulling one nipple up into his mouth. The contact of his warm wet mouth around my taut nipples caused me to cry out in pleasure. I had never felt anything like it. One hand was busy kneading the other nipple and causing havoc to my senses. After a while, his mouth caught the other nipple and he gave it the same treatment and I knew I was soon going to burst into flames, I was so full and hot...

I wanted more, my hands were trembling and I unbuttoned his shirt, I wanted to touch him, I could not think except for the feeling coaxing through me. His mouth left my breasts and the cool breeze blew on them, making my nipples harden the more and making me feel bereft but his mouth was going lower, to my navel, his expert hands replacing his mouth immediately on my breasts as he continued to stroke and knead them alternatively. I was moaning, throwing my legs apart, wanting him to go lower, wanting more, wanting...

All of a sudden, he pulled away, straightening, his breathing was laboured. I opened my eyes to find him trying to control himself or that was what it seemed to me, his eyes very yellowish as I knew mine must be. He moved away from me and I cried in protest. Milly howled in disappointment and for once I agreed with her.

'What...?'

'Not this way!' he ground out. 'I want you in my bed, willing and submissive. I do not want to have to prove anything to you. We are meant for each other, you need to accept that'.

I was disappointed and angry because my body was crying in frustration because of unfulfilled desire.

'You say you want me and that we are meant to be together, yet you stab me in the back!' I said, rising to my feet as well, pulling my shirt about me, and buttoning up as best as I could with the buttons that were still intact. The reason for the missing ones brought a blush to my face.

'How so?' he asked, puzzled.

'Sylvester and Cathania were making out in your room, were you not the one who said they could use the privacy of your room?' I spat out.

'Oh, that!' he said, smiling. 'Don't tell me you got angry when you saw them. Were you jealous?' he asked.

I kept quiet. 'How can you be jealous when I did it for us?' he asked.

'You mean, you did it for yourself?' I countered. 'You encouraged your brother to cheat on me and you say you did it for me?' I shouted.

'Okay, listen... you don't have to shout', he said, hands raised towards me, moving up and down slowly, in a calming gesture. 'Cathania came in when we were having a conversation about you know what...'

'I don't!'

'Well, we were discussing about the mate issue and things got out of hand as she decided she must have Sylvester. I told them they were love birds and that I would give them their privacy. Will it not solve our problems if he chooses Cathania all over and I have you solely to myself?' he asked.

I looked at him and shook my head. By now I had made the shirt look decent enough, tying up the lower part that had the loose buttons and it looked good tied up that way with my jean trousers. Without another word, I walked away, leaving him staring after me in bemusement.

Christopher's POV

Millicent has been avoiding me since our last encounter. Was it because of the kiss we shared or was it because of its effect on her? I know that she must have felt that unbelievable pull like I did. I raised my hands and wiped my face with my palm in frustration. Even now, as I thought about her, I could feel my beast rising. I wanted her desperately. It felt like my life deepened on mating with her. I have never felt anything like it.

I have noticed that she goes off to somewhere most evenings and I got my Beta, James to find out where. He reported his findings to me and I felt she needed her privacy. I usually go to the same place in the past whenever I wanted to be alone.

But I couldn't refrain from following her this time because I felt an overpowering need to be with her. I had missed her so damn much!

I got to the stream, and was not disappointed as I met her sitting in the sand, her eyes closed as she took in the serenity of her environment.

'This place is so peaceful. I understand why you come here', I said. She looked at me with surprise and there was a question in her eyes, so I hastened to explain, 'This was also my favourite place when I was growing up'.

She turned back towards the stream and I took it as an invitation to sit with her. I complied, throwing stones into the water like I usually did in the past.

'Christopher, why will you not leave me alone?' It seems to me that you are tailing me!' she said, looking at me with narrowed eyes.

I looked at her for a while, wondering that she could even ask that and smiled. 'You know the answer to that. You are my mate and I feel the mate bond pulling me closer and closer to you everytime', and looking away into space, I voiced my feelings, 'I can't even fight it. I would have tried to because my brother is also mated to you but I just can't and I don't want to either because I want you for myself. I want you desperately. I have never felt this way for anyone before'. I felt that she would see the sincerity in my face and accept me.

'Too bad, because I do not feel the same way!' she said and jumped to her feet, wanting to leave.

'Oh, but you do. Should I show you?' I asked, standing as well. Without giving her time to respond, I caught her lips in a kiss. 'Oh, my God...', I thought as I felt again that delicious pull. It was pulling my inside to her and Zara was struggling to come out.

I felt her fisted hand hitting me on the chest as she struggled to get out of my arms but I held on tighter. Then I gave her another wet kiss and another and I kept going because I could not stop myself it felt so good, no - great! Then I felt Millicent's hands go round my neck as she succumbed to the pull as well with a tiny moan of pleasure. I groaned and deepened the kiss when I heard her sweet moan. The kiss became passionate as a duel. My hands went round her head and her waist, pulling her closer, I wanted to feel myself moving deep inside her, I wanted us to be one. I was growing fuller and harder very fast.

My mouth dropped to her neck and I kissed a spot that was pulsating there, my breath coming harder as my excitement grew.

'Ohhh...' she moaned echoing my silent I manoeuvered us to lying on the grass while I continued kissing her. My control was slipping, I could not bear to hold back any longer so I started unbuttoning her shirt. I did not want any barrier between us. Some of the buttons were not coming open as easily as I wanted, so I tore the shirt of her and did not care that the buttons came undone and flew in different directions.

I gazed on her braless breast, saw how pale and firm they looked with pink nipples and I knew I had to have them in my mouth and I growled as I indulged my desires. I could not get enough of those breasts. They were like fountains feeding me with the milk of life.

With each suck on her breasts, my desire increased and I felt like I was going to burst into flames, because my blood became so heated that I knew I had to have the whole of her or expire. I went lower and found her naval but that was not really where I wanted to stop despite how exquisite it was kissing it.

Millicent threw her legs apart and I went out of control. I fell on her wanting to drive myself into her, knowing that if I continued, I was going to go all the way, which was what I wanted but with a supreme effort and a frustrated cry from my beast, I pulled away from her, trying to bring myself and my beast under control.

'What...?' Millicent said in surprise, dazed eyes fluttering.

'Not this way!' I said through gritted teeth, in a bid to get some semblance of control because Zara was pushing me to continue what I had interrupted. We were at war, my beast and I. 'I want you in my bed, willing and pliant. I do not want to have to prove anything to you. We are meant for each other, you know it and need to accept it'.

'You say you want me and that we are meant to be together, yet you stab me in the back!' she said to my shock and confusion, rising to her feet, and pulling her shirt on, trying to make it decent.

'How so?' I asked, my eyes following her actions, wanting to do the opposite - get her naked again and writhing in pleasure under me.

'Sylvester and Cathania were making out in your room, were you not the one who said they could use the privacy of your room?' she said angrily.

'Oh, that!' I said, smiling, my voice husky from my indecent thoughts. 'Don't tell me you got angry when you saw them together. Were you jealous?'

When she didn't respond, I asked, 'How can you be jealous when I did it for us?' Did she really not know why I did it? I thought.

'You mean, you did it for yourself?' she countered. 'You encouraged your brother to cheat on me and you say you did it for me?' Her voice was now raised and I didn't want it to carry and bring anyone to this place.

'Okay, listen... you don't have to shout', I said, raising my hands to calm her. 'Cathania came in when we were having a conversation about you know what...' Before I could say more, she interrupted.

'I don't!'

'Well, we were discussing about the mate issue and things got out of hand as she decided she must have Sylvester. I told them they were love birds and that I would give them their privacy. Will it not solve our problems if he chooses Cathania all over and I have you solely to myself?' I asked. To me, that was the reasonable solution. Fuck the moon goddess with her ideas of a joke!

She looked at me and shook her head, leaving without another word.

'Damn! This girl was very stubborn. I thought as I looked after her longingly, admitting to myself that the way she tied the ruined shirt was very becoming, accentuating her tiny waists and firm buttocks. But if Millicent was stubborn, I was more so and I was going to pursue her relentlessly.