Ember of hope
Karl and Lexi
She had tears in her eyes when she knelt before him and took him in her mouth. Karl knew her religion was against it, yet, he had let her go through with it. She used her lips just like he had told her to, but she did it with fear written on her face. No matter. Before the night was over, those tears would no longer linger when he showed her what she and her tribe had been missing.
Karl and his wife, Lexi, had been married for two months, and all that time, he had not had sex with her because of her view about sex.
Lexi was taught to believe that women were mares, meant to be mounted and ridden. "A horse," Lexi had said, "should feel the ache and pain of its riding, and the rider is to feel the pleasure."
"I guess you've never ridden a horse," Karl had said. "People normally get sores from riding horses, and since women aren't horses, they shouldn't be ridden like horses. They are beings of pleasure, meant to feel ecstasy, the shattering euphoria of climax, the point all should reach. They should be treated like glass, gentle to hold and feel, and consumed with pleasure like fire."
They had argued again and again about it, but Karl had stood by one argument. "If I can't give you multiple climaxes, then, I won't make love to you."
Karl had found that the sight of her naked always turned him on, stirring up an urge he usually found hard to extinguish. Save for the fact that Lexi was always shy to be naked around him, she also thought it unholy and totally avoided it.
Karl, half consumed with passion, looked down to see rivulets of tears run down Lexi's face. Then, he felt her pain and his passion died.
"Stop," Karl said. "Stop. I can't make love to you like this." He separated himself from her and used a sheet to cover her.
Lexi took to her feet sniffing. And with her face to the ground, she asked, "What did I do wrong?"
"What did you do wrong?" Karl asked, unbelieving that she had asked such. "You were crying like I was about to rape you. Why was that?"
"Rape would have been better," she said. "My mother said it's a man's way over a lady during times of war."
Karl laughed a little. "War? Rape? You think rape is better than this?"
Lexi nodded, still not looking at him with her face to the ground. She looked like a slave, and he hadn't married a slave.
"Look at me," Karl said gently. He walked up to her and held both of her shoulders and she flinched. "Look at me."
Lexi raised her eyes to look at his briefly, then she settled it just beneath his, enough for him to see the violet in her eyes.
"What do you fear?" Karl asked.
"I've told you before?" she said. "It's against my religion. If caught, I'll be killed."
"And what would happen to me?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. They would let you go. They would blame it on the woman. Eve was the cause of the fall of creation. The woman is dangerous. Give her little power and she would lust after more. She is not to be trusted."
Karl nodded. "Okay. Do you know when a man marries a woman, they literally become one?"
Lexi nodded.
"Then, if I'm married to you and we're one, why would they want to harm you separately, and spare me?"
"I don't—"
"Don't answer. Your people are naive. Your men are brash, and your women are suffering."
"Don't insult my people. They are good people. They—they—they help with—"
"I didn't mean to insult your people. I was simply telling the truth," Karl said. "Now, your father gave you to me. He wanted to give you for free, like something of no worth. I could see the glee on his face. He was pleased to be rid of you. I, however, wouldn't have you for free. I paid dowry bigger than anything that would be charged for the most expensive girl in your tribe. I did that because you hold value to me. Now, you're mine. Mine." Karl slightly shook his head. "And I'm not sharing you with anyone, not even your people. You're not the first woman I've been with, but you're the last I ever need, and I need you to understand that. I won't have any other lady except you, and if you fear your people so much, then, we can leave."
Karl saw the look of uncertainty on her face. He didn't know how else to convince her.
Lexi boldly looked him in the eye. "It's been two months. Two months. Usually, when a man takes a woman as his wife, he has her immediately, and in two months, she starts showing signs. I've seen how it is done. The chief sometimes has sex with his wife in the center of the village to show us how. Other men too. Have you seen this before?"
Karl had seen this barbaric practice countless times and he nodded. "I have," he said.
"Why not just take me like that?"
"Don't you see the women usually hurt, and sometimes bleed?"
"It's all part of the process. It's how it was meant to be."
Karl released her shoulder. "I guess that's why you came to me today. Because your mother asked if you're pregnant."
Lexi had shame written on her face as she lowered her gaze. "Yes. I'm not cursed. My people think I am."
"Well, if for any consolation, I don't think you're cursed either."
"I was willing to compromise."
"You had tears on your face," Karl said. "Aside from the fact that my people are more civilized than yours, I am a gentleman, and I can't force myself on you, or please you in a way you wouldn't like."
"I don't like all you've said we should try. It's not customary."
Karl curtly nodded. "Okay. When you're ready for me to really make love to you, let me know." He brought his lips to her forehead and kissed her there. "I'm going out with my men. I'll have your tent guarded so no one seeks your life, since that's what you fear."
And with that, Karl donned on his dress, and he walked out of the tent.
Alpha sweet dare
I wonder what he would think now if he saw his sister acting like a bitch.
Probably nothing.
He acted like nothing had happened that night, by the lake, but it is, and he knows it, like I know that too.
I guess he would thank her, for acting toward me the way she is.
Ugh, Agatha has always been like a nice person, but now, since her brother has gone to a higher school to take over his father's role as Alpha, she is impossible, and it has lasted for 2 years now.
Especially for me.
I don't have more nerves or strength for anything, I mean, Alpha Tod is a good man, but he doesn't know all that his wife or daughter does, especially when omegas are involved.
I wasn't always an omega, no.
My parents were the main warriors in the Shadow Creek pack, but they died when the cruelest rogues Alpha attacked us, and I was only 14.
I said to myself, that I would not fight, but I trained secretly when no one was around.
So, Luna Mary decided that I should be degraded into an omega, and I bet Agatha had everything to do with it.
Alpha Tod couldn't refuse anything from his Luna, or daughter, and now I'm a servant in the kitchen, nice work though, a humiliation in every step, not from others, just from her, although, once, we were good friends...
I decided to finish high school and go to college.
I had enough savings from my parents, which will help me at the beginning until I find a part-time job, to pay my rent and food, while I'm there.
No way I'm going to stay here and be Agatha's target, no way.
Also, Drake is coming back, to take Alpha's role from his father, and that is something I don't want to see, or feel.
I hated him.
He humiliated me, and broke me at that point I felt useless, and now, when I'm turning 18 in a month, I will find a mate, my mate, which is something I don't want.
I could hear my wolf inside me sometimes, talking to me and whining, yes, Tess was sometimes annoying, but I still haven't transformed.
I don't want to, I guess, or I just can't, I don't get why, though.
I guess I should be a black wolf like my parents were, but I don't care, I'll go to the human world and stay there, being in a pack and a werewolf doesn't interest me, not now, or ever, thanking Richardson's family.
I had enough bruises and shit from her, not that I couldn't defend myself, I could, that was the problem, but she was Alpha's daughter, and I could get killed if I harm her.
And Drake...
Shit!
I was 16 when that happened.
Losing my family and being degraded into an omega, hurt me more than I could imagine.
Omegas were always treated well here, at the pack, but never got the chance to succeed, never, even though few could, but they were just servants for all that been needed.
Now, I was one of them, working in my old jeans and T-shirts, and saving my wardrobe for school.
I was humiliated in every way that I could, not knowing why everything had changed, that broke me, but I never showed that.
I guess I was so proud, or it was in my blood...
That's why I never imagined that He would look at me the way he did, although he wasn't drunk...
But, I couldn't tell, what could I know then about anything?
If there was someone to talk to me then, besides burning my parents, saying their sympathy, and continuing with their lives, as if I wasn't important anymore.
I was lost, broken, and sad to the point I couldn't think, just do things as a robot.
That same night he changed me even more.
I felt worthless after, not knowing why he avoided me, or my, until then, my best friend ignored me, becoming rude to me, and humiliating me, in every way.
Maybe he told her, or she was just embarrassed because I wasn't a warrior as my parents were, but just a simple omega now.
It was his 18th birthday and I was serving them, as usual, that was a part of my job, together with cleaning and cooking, and all other hard work besides that, but I was okay with it.
I knew that one day things would change, and the fact gave myself to him, that night, made my decision firmer.
To leave.
Because I was broken inside.
When I finally finished my work, I went outside, near the fountain in the garden, to get some fresh air and clear my mind.
There was peace and no one could see me or disturb me, or so I thought.
He was standing there, just like he was waiting for me to come, which was scary.
When I saw him, I took a step back, hoping that he didn't see me, until I heard his firm and deep voice.
"Stop right there, Lotta!"
Damn it!
His voice made my skin crawl, and my legs just stopped listening to me.
He was an Alpha, my future Alpha, and his voice was my command, but still...
I had never had that feeling before, especially when I heard him saying my name.
I was weak as never before, and that hadn't happened to me ever, which made me feel strange.
Yes, he was hot, and a dream, for most of the girls in the pack, but not for me.
He was tall, and muscular, with skin that was made darker from the sun, which made his black eyes darker, just like his messy hair was.
"Are you disobey your future Alpha?" He asked, with a mocking tone in his voice.
"Come here", his voice was softer, but I was angry about his behavior toward me.
He wasn't still my Alpha and he won't be at least a few years, but that's not why I didn't run away.
I was an omega, and the second thing was that I was feeling strange.
His golden eyes were looking at me like I was his prey and I was shaking while coming near to him.
"With all due respect Drake, you are not my Alpha, still", I tried to keep my voice firm, even though I knew that, after this, the dungeon probably waiting for me, but, I was stubborn, and couldn't take this tone of voice from no one, without a reason, I was a warrior's child.