Page 6 of The Princess and the Pack

She’s unsure, my Ivy. She’s exposed and vulnerable, and hell if I don’t want to take all the uncertainty from her. Our mate should feel every bit the queen she is with her alphas’ rapt attention on her body.

Sensing the same hesitancy, Cillian strokes her cheek and presses a soft kiss to her neck.

“You’re a treasure, darling. Such a good girl, letting your alphas see you like this,” he coos.

She melts like warmed wax at the touch, at the soft assurance in his tone. Still, she keeps her eyes on me. Those deep blues pierce right into my bleeding heart, and I’m renewed in my determination to bring her pleasure until she can no longer stand it.

“I’m going to kiss you everywhere, love,” I say, cupping her heaving breasts and running my thumbs across her nipples. “First, these tits, then your wet cunt. And you’re going to come so good on my tongue. Do you understand?”

Ivy whines, tilting back her head in a moment of unfettered need. She’s desperate for me to pin her down and fuck her with my tongue until she’s spent and dripping. Her omega nature demands that she submit to us, and the alpha inside me calls to her—beckoning our mate to give herself over.

“He asked you a question, darling,” Cillian tsks, grabbing her hips and settling her onto his lap.

The way her perfume blooms when he presses his chest to her back has us both groaning and pawing at her skin. She doesn’t question our response to her scent, too caught up in the rush of sensations herself.

Before she can answer, Cillian tilts her head and kisses her—stealing the words from her tongue and keeping her breathless. Ivy likes this version of the prince. She preens for his praise and melts for the dominance he exudes now that he’s unleashed from his self-imposed prison of chastity.

“Do you understand?” he asks when he breaks their kiss.

With a brief nod, the final thread of Ivy’s hesitation unravels before our very eyes.

“Yes, alpha,” she breathes, giving me her gaze again. Her consent—her hunger—is clear in those ocean eyes.

“Fuck’s sake, you’re beautiful,” I growl and finally press my mouth to her tits.

The moment I wrap my tongue around her peaked nipple, the grating sound of a cleared throat cuts through the perfection of my omega’s whimpering.

“Seems I picked a bad night to be late,” a deep and familiar voice rings out in the darkness, followed by the thud of a door shutting.

Even with my back to him, the presence of that mountain of an alpha is unmistakable. It fills the room and crushes the tenuous surrender Ivy has only just gifted me.

Fucking Sloan, that gods damned eejit.

The princess gasps, though not in the way she had been moments ago. Not in breathless bliss. Rather, she’s taken aback by the intrusion.

Ivy launches herself forward, clinging to me as his hulking body steps forward into the light from the fireplace. Pride fills my chest, sparking joy when she seeks me out for comfort and protection from the unknown. It’s a small thing, but it will continue to grow if I nurture that instinct.

“It’s all right, love,” I promise. “It’s only Sloan.” I kiss her bare shoulder and do my best to assure he’s no threat to her—quite the opposite, in fact.

Only this time, Ivy doesn’t melt at the touch of my lips. Instead, she recoils, pushing at my chest to create space between our bodies. She’s quick to right the fabric of her nightgown, covering herself once more.

“Ivy—” I start, but the emotion in her eyes is evident.

Her passion for me, for all we could be to each other, has all but dissipated. Instead, what I find is shame over being seen with me. Were it only Cillian, I doubt she would be so scandalized.

But then, he’s a prince after all. Not some sorry nobleman who doesn’t deserve her.

As fast as she’s able, she’s off the prince’s lap and on her feet, putting even more distance between us. Something in my chest cracks further with each step she takes. Her rejection is a hot knife, and I’m not prepared for the agony of it slicing my heart to bits.

I should have known this would happen, should have guessed someone such as her could never feel pride at being with a fool like me. I shouldn’t have had faith in Cillian’s grand promises of belonging.

I so badly wanted to believe I could have it—that I could prove my father wrong.

But I won’t push myself onto someone who can’t return my affections, no matter how deeply I want her. I won’t chase a woman who doesn’t want me to catch her.

When Cillian calls after her, I don’t join him, not even when he looks at me as though I’ve ruined everything. And as Ivy races from the room, I truly think I may have.

“Fuck’s sake almighty,” I growl, tearing after Ivy the moment she pushes past Sloan and out the door. I pause only briefly to give Oran the shitty look he knows he deserves.

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