Gregoire lifted the cool glass to his lips once more. The hot scent of sex was all around him. He saw that Bastian’s hand was working slowly underneath the brunette’s skirt. He’d pulled her hair back with one hand and was holding it while his other was between her thighs. Her eyes were dilated as she sat on his lap and enjoyed the pleasure that was forced on her. He could hear her breathing escalate, and soon he heard heavy moans over the music. As soon as the needy noise stopped, Bastian lifted her onto wobbly heels, smacked her ass and directed her to another bathroom. Gregoire looked around. It seemed the club was filled with doorways into rooms. He’d never been much for that type of environment.
Conn sat silently drinking his beer as Gregoire took in the rest of his whiskey. Gregoire knew his friend was picky. It had to do with his wolf’s sense of smell. Perfume, stale booze or smoke was the fastest way to turn the Lykos off. He came to the bars and clubs purely to drink and unwind with his brothers.
Gregoire needed to get out of there. He still had things to do before going to collect his mate, and he felt agitated.
Chapter 2
Outside The City Of Lofodes, Tetartos Realm
Alyssa darted through the soft grass of the meadow as quickly as her legs would move. She wanted to rage at someone. She felt tears threaten, and she beat them back as she made her way through the lush green expanse and up the rise. Birds sang, and their joy did nothing to improve her mood.
She took a deep breath. How could her parents have kept her in the dark, and why had they forced the issue of her going through Emfanisi after Emfanisi, being displayed like a prized ox ready for breeding? The only enjoyable part about those yearly, week-long events was that she got to wear the beautiful dresses she’d made. The rest of it was nerve-racking and uncomfortable. She was introduced and expected to dance with any male she’d not met since her first attendance five years prior. Touch and scent were the indicators in finding one’s mate, and that was what it was all about… populating the Realm.
She passed moss-covered trees. The scents usually relaxed her, but nothing so simple could take away the pain and betrayal, the rejection…
Rain, Alyssa’s vibrant and energetic friend, always enjoyed herself at the horrendous events. But then, Rain was everything Alyssa was not, adventurous and bold to Alyssa’s staid and quiet. Her friend’s hair even showcased her individuality, cut to her shoulders, a sexy light blonde with purple tips, whereas Alyssa kept hers in long, plain brown waves that hit mid back. Rain’s aqua-colored eyes sparkled with mischief, and if she was particularly inclined to trouble, her dimples would make an appearance. Alyssa’s eyes were a muted green, overly light and odd. The one similarity she and Rain shared was their body style. Both were short, which, while totally acceptable for a Mageia, who were mortals able to wield elemental magic, not so much for a Hippeus, Immortal, half-warhorse. They both had tiny waists with full bosoms and slightly smaller hips. Lastly, and probably the most pathetic difference was that Rain chose to live her mortal life to the fullest while Alyssa had spent most of her life burying herself in work.
She loved her business and her designs, but it didn’t keep her body warm and sated in the dead of night.
If what she’d heard her parents say was true, she already had a mate, one that had known about her for years, yet continued to reject her. Why had they made her suffer through appearing as a broodmare every year if they knew she had a mate? Was she an embarrassment to him? He had to have some basis not to come for her for the five years since she’d hit her majority. Screw that. She had done what was expected of her for years. She was finished. He didn’t want her, fine. She’d never met him, so it wasn’t like she had been pining for the jerk. She rubbed at the ache in the pit of her stomach. She shouldn’t be shocked that he didn’t want her. None of her own race had ever seemed at all interested, with or without her father’s protectiveness coming into the mix. They’d always seen her as too small, and that, apparently, translated to weak in her race. It had been visible in the way they looked at her for her entire life.
There would be no more hiding away and doing what she thought would make everyone else happy. It was time she found out who she was. There would be no more living by other people’s expectations no matter how much they loved her. It was not the first time she’d felt like she was suffocating. It was just the worst.
There would be no more ridiculous tears. She panted to catch her breath through the sensation of being stabbed in the chest. She ground her teeth. She had no one to blame but herself. Yes, her parents were overly protective, but she had never done anything to dissuade their tendencies, especially her father’s.