CHAPTER 49: ALONE

Emira woke up in bed alone. Once again, she was naked, but at least this time there was no one standing over her or watching her and she was not tied up. She hurriedly pulled the sheets aside and looked around, her eyes darting across the room, but it was empty.

Only silence greeted her. Her body felt cool against the air, no longer flushed or burning. For the first time in days, she did not feel feverish or weak. Instead, there was a strange energy humming inside her. It seemed the unbearable heat that had tormented her for the past five days had finally subsided. She let out a long breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. Relief spread through her chest. Finally, she was free from that mindless animal frenzy that had ruled her body and mind at least for a month.

She pushed herself up slowly, brushing her tangled hair out of her face, and stepped down from the bed. Her legs trembled faintly, but they carried her well enough as she made her way across the room. She thought of Prince Zen’s words.

According to him, she would soon learn about her new duties and what was expected of her within the Stormhold Pack. There was supposed to be an interview of sorts—just a simple test to what it was she was suitable for.

But as she walked toward the bathroom, her thoughts stumbled and she froze. She caught sight of her reflection in the tall mirror and stopped cold. Her breath hitched. Her entire body was covered in little bite marks- faint red circles scattered across her skin from her neck down to her thighs. It was as though someone had painted her with teeth instead of ink. The sight made her cheeks burn. She did not need to guess who had left them. They were Prince Kael’s doing.

Memories from the previous day came rushing back, muddled yet vivid enough to make her shiver. For some reason, she had been out of control, clawing for release as if her own body were not her own.

She had begged, pleaded, and pushed herself against them, but the one thing she had wanted most had been denied. Even though the princes had made her shudder and break apart again and again with their hands and mouths- and even made her come using her own hands, there had been no true satisfaction. Because the biggest reason for mating was to find someone compatible and then mate with them to reproduce.

At one point, she had even begged them aloud, desperate and shameless, but still they had refused to fu*k her... if she were to use Prince Kael’s words.

Their reason? She had no idea. And she was not sure she wanted to know or understand. She should have been grateful that they had abstained from taking her. She had never wanted that.

According to Prince Zen, she was not ready yet. His voice had been calm, final, as though he had already decided her limits without asking her.

Prince Kael, on the other hand, had been far less patient. From the way he looked at her, it was as though he thought that if she dared to touch him, he would somehow become stained or soiled. He had kept himself away from her in that one regard, but in every other, he had not spared her at all.

Every inch of her skin had felt the press of his mouth and the scrape of his teeth. It was him who had turned her into this canvas of red marks, leaving her body a map of his control. But she had not been allowed to touch him. And that, made her wolf restless.

She scoffed at her wolf. The foolish animal was angry that she had not touched Prince Kael and that he had not claimed her. But she... She was thankful.

Prince Kael, scared her. Even though he had been the one to save her from Alec and punish him on her behalf, there was something about him that scared her. Being with Prince Zen only was much more comfortable.

She shook her head as if to chase away the foolish stirrings of her wolf. It wanted both Prince Zen and Prince Kael, wanted to be claimed but she knew better. If she had to make a choice, if she had to bind herself to one of them when the next heat came, she would rather it be Prince Zen.

Around him, she felt she could breathe. Kael, on the other hand, unsettled her too deeply. His presence was sharp edges and shadows. Even his silence was dangerous. No—if she ever had to establish that kind of bond, it would be with Zen.

She turned from the mirror and entered the bathroom, scrubbing her face with cold water and forcing her hands to stop trembling. After a while, she wrapped herself in a thick bathrobe, knotting the belt tightly around her waist as though the fabric could shield her from more than just the chill in the air. She drew in a breath, steadying herself, and stepped back into the room.

But the moment she pushed the door open, her heart lurched into her throat.

Prince Kael was standing there.

She almost screamed. Her hand flew to her mouth as a shiver shot through her, every nerve in her body on edge.

Without a word, he placed a few bags down on the table and then ordered coldly, "You should change into these. Then come down for breakfast. Now that your heat period is over, you are safe to step out."

Emira nodded at the words. She had quite a few questions to ask, but she dared not ask Prince Kael. She would definitely ask Prince Zen all those questions.

Hurriedly, she walked to the bags and then as she took out the things, she gulped. She could not help it. The clothes were beautiful. So soft. She caressed the dress with trembling fingers. She’d never had anything like this to wear... It seemed that what the old witch had said was indeed correct. In some places, Omegas were indeed treated with kindness.