The alpha begged me to be his brother's substitute

The iron door groaned open after fifteen excruciating days, the silver collar around my neck still oozing blood where it had seared into my flesh.

In the dim light of the floor lamp, Arther's shadow loomed large over the bookshelves.

His hands were buried in Bellona's waist as he pinned her against the ancient tomes.

I watched in silence as his knot swelled.

When he finally pulled away, his elegant fingers twirled the obsidian ring on her finger.

"This moonstone engagement ring from the black market auction? It's one of a kind, just like you, my love."

Leaning against the doorframe, I let out a bitter laugh, my blood-crusted fingers absently tracing the still-raw wound on my lower back where a silver arrow had pierced me.

So this was why Arther had taken his sweet time gathering the ransom - he'd wanted those rogue werewolves to break me.

But it didn't matter.

I was about to slip away unnoticed when his cold voice froze me in my tracks.

"Stop."

Arther glanced over his shoulder.

"There's a new sex shop downtown. Bellona wants the latest lace stockings. You have ten minutes."

His fingers continued to play with Bellona's hair as he spoke.

I stared down at the smear of my own blood on his polished leather shoe, then nodded woodenly.

By the time I returned, sweat had soaked through my shirt.

The silver handcuffs had left angry purple welts on my wrists, and every step sent searing pain shooting up from the ragged gashes on my ankles where the iron chains had dragged.

In my trembling hands, I held a paper bag filled with twenty different pairs of lingerie - a small price to pay for the privilege of being Arther's punching bag.

The heavy oak door creaked open, revealing Bellona curled possessively in Arther's lap.

Her painted nails traced the outline of his alpha - marked collarbone.

"Why so many?" Arther's golden eyes glowed as they landed on my trembling hands

"Bellona only wanted the diamond - encrusted pair."

His voice dripped with disdain, as if I were nothing more than a mangy mutt failing at a simple task.

As I turned to leave, Bellona's saccharine voice slithered through the air.

"Wait, love. I want to try them on now."

She nuzzled Arther's neck, her pheromones thick with arousal.

"Make her help me, baby. "

"You heard her. Don't make me repeat myself."

My fingers tightened around the blood - stained bandages hidden in my pocket, my nails digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood.

Bellona sauntered over, her stiletto heels clicking menacingly on the marble floor.

With a flick of her wrist, she let her silk robe pool at her feet, revealing a fresh mating bite on her hip - Arther's mark, still raw and oozing with alpha saliva.

"These pearl - encrusted ones will do."

Bellona propped her dainty foot against my knee, her stiletto heel pressing into the tender flesh.

"Hurry up. Arther and I