Roman’s P.O.V

I paced the room, the rug beneath my boots bearing the brunt of my aggression. My wolf prowled restlessly in my mind, mirroring my unease. I’d barely been able to catch a wink of sleep through the night as all I could think of was how timid and fearful Snow was. I was the Lycan King and it was no secret that I needed a powerful Luna to rule with me but clearly, Snow was anything but powerful. Last night, she had gone as white as sheets when I’d pinned her to the wall. Granted, my wolf could sometimes be domineering and even drove strong alphas to their knees, so an Omega, like Snow stood no chance. 

But what confused and infuriated me was how quick she had been to drop to her knees, her hands fumbling for my belt. She’d looked up at me with those wide, terrified eyes, and I’d felt like a monster. 

Why did she think the only way to placate me was by pleasuring me? Despite being the Lycan King and being cooped up in my office for days poring over documents to find solutions to pack problems, I wasn’t completely out of touch with reality. I knew how packs treated their Omegas, especially mutts. Even humans were treated more humanely than Omegas so I couldn’t help but wonder if my mate had been more than physically abused. The thought made my stomach twist in rage and my wolf kept trying to push out and wreck havoc on the midnight pack. Yet it made no sense to me because if Snow had been…sexually abused, she wouldn’t be a virgin and as fas as I knew, I’d been the first man to take her innocence. So clearly, my mate wasn’t a rape victim, but what in the gods’ names had turned her into the fragile, terrified creature? 

I needed to know why. 

A growl rumbled in my throat, vibrating the walls and I closed my eyes, tapping into my shared mindlink with my guards. 

“Your majesty,” I heard their voices in my head, as their wolves bowed in submission. “Is there something you need?” 

“Yes. bring me Liam.” my command tore through the pack link like a whip and I didn’t need to specify which Liam; there was only one pathetic excuse of an Alpha in this territory named Liam. 

Minutes later, the door opened and the bastard strolled in with five of his pack warriors trailing after him. 

A cold smile twisted the corners of my lips as I leveled a chilling look at him. “Tell me, Liam. do you think five delta wolves can protect you from a Lycan if I decide to snap your neck?” 

His face paled, and the stench of his fear filled the air. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard before speaking “They’re not here for my protection, Your Majesty. I just–” 

“Good,” I cut him off with a curt wave. “What did you do to my mate?” 

The only response I got back was silence and it hung in the air between us for a long time, stretching thin until Liam turned purple, unable to take the tension anymore. He sucked in a deep breath, and met my eyes. 

“We didn’t do anything that she didn’t deserve.” He finally spoke up, his voice slightly trembling as he tried to force a confident scowl. 

I stilled, the faint sound of cracking bones coming from my clenched fists which healed almost immediately. “Explain.” 

His voice took on an edge of righteous anger. “She killed our Alpha and Luna! Snow may look meek, but she’s a monster. She wasn’t even born mute! Tell me why she conveniently lost her voice after the murders. She did it to hide her lies!” he sneered, confidence growing stronger as I let him speak. “She’s no innocent. Reject her, your graciousness, before she drags you down with her.” 

I simply stared at him, unmoving and unblinking, my wolf howling for blood. Liam didn’t seem to notice or even care as he continued speaking ill of my mate, venom dripping from his words. It took everything in me to quietly observe and weigh his voice, mentally computing it with the hatred in his voice last night when I;d announced Snow as my mate. 

“A runt like her could never be the Lycan Queen. The entire council and packs will see you as a joke and she will bring you only misfortune.” 

Kill him! Liga snarled in my psyche, growling for blood, but I kept my face impassive. I needed to get every information I could. When Liam finally stopped talking, I tilted my head, feigning curiosity. 

“If she’s so evil and decietful, why did you let her live after her heinous crime?” 

Liam’s face reddened and he began stammering, losing his composure. His next words made no sense and he was clearly grasping at straws. 

Kissing my teeth, I gave him a thin-lipped smile. “Annul her bond to the midnight pack. She’s mine now.” 

Instantly, the redness of his face turned purple and he took a step toward me, wagging a finger in my face. “No! I refuse it. Snow is a criminal of my pack, my fucking slave. I have a say in whatever happens to her.” 

That was it. 

My wolf surged forward and I leaped at Liam, pinning him to the wall with one hand around his throat, squeezed tight enough to cut off his airflow completely. His cheeks bulged as his feet dangled in the air and tears squeezed through his tightly held eyes. 

“I’ve given you the chance to say your piece, Liam” I growled, my voice layered with the power of my wolf. “Now, the only words I want to hear are, “yes, your Majesty.” 

I let go off his neck and Liam’s wolf buckled under my dominance as he fell to his knees, clutching at his neck to suck in oxygen while tilting his head at the same time to bare his neck to me in submission like a damned Omega. His guards quickly followed suit, dropping to their knees and bare their necks to their king. It was the greatest humiliation for an alpha to bare his neck so they all had to follow him. 

Gritting my teeth, I released him and stood up, towering over his crumpled form. “As of this moment, you’ve lost every right to Snow as her Alpha and as her older brother. Do as I’ve commanded.” 

“Yes your Majesty,” he choked out and rose unsteadily to his feet, still dragging in racking breaths. I watched him with narrowed eyes as he approached the bed but then my eyes drifted to my mate, who was still sleeping peacefully. I glanced out the window, noting it was still dawn. 

“Stop,” i barked and he instantly froze, looking at me with wide terrified eyes. “She’s still asleep so we wait until she wakes.” 

“As you wish.” he bowed before moving to the corner of the room, waiting for my mate to wake up herself before the pack bond is annulled. It would hurt and weaken her so she needed all the rest she could get. 

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours until her gentle, sleepy movements caught my eyes. Her small hands patted the empty bed space beside her as if searching for me. The anger in me felt soothed at the display of trust. Though we hadn’t completed our marking ritual yet, I felt it when she fully realized I wasn’t in bed with her. Her panic grew in bounds as she stirred awake and when her eyes fully opened, they were filled with worry but not until they landed on me. As soon as she saw me, Snow’s scent changed–sweet peaches blossoming in the air and she smiled at me. 

I allowed myself to smile back and then I nodded to Liam. “You may commence now.” 

But that’s when she noticed we weren’t alone and the trust in her eyes were replaced by fear so sharp it made my stomach churn. The sweet smell of peaches in the air turned into an acrid smell as if plastic were burning. She was terrified by her own brother’s presence. 

My fist clenched so hard I had to breathe through my nose to release some of my anger. Just then, she began crawling back on the bed with her elbows, as if trying to run away from us. Did she think I would hurt her? God it fucking infuriated me that my mate who could slap me when she felt safe enough to stand up for herself turned into this whimpering mess once she smelt a little tension in the air. 

I moved to her in an instant, crouching beside the bed and cupping her tear-streaked face. Her wide doe eyes met mine, and I softened my voice, brushing her trembling lips. 

“It’s okay, kitten,” I whispered. “He’s here only because I asked him.” 

That seemed to placate her and she stopped moving backward and leaned into my touch, arching her head in question. I sighed. “I won’t ask you to come with me Snow.” my voice was soft, only for her ears. “Because I’ll take you with me even if you say no. You’re mine and the earth would have to merge with the heavens for me to let you go. But tell me this, do you still want any bond with your Alpha? With the midnight pack?” 

Her lips parted as she began mouthing back a reply. “Is that why you asked him her? To sever my pack bond?” 

The wave of protectiveness that surged through me was almost unbearable but I nodded with a tight jaw. “Yes, kitten. This is your choice to make. Once it’s severed, you’ll be a rogue omega, until I bring you to my pack. It’d just be for a few days at most and I’ll be there to protect you.” 

For a long moment, Snow just stared at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Then slowly, she nodded. That unwavering trust in her eyes once again seized my heart in a vice grip. 

“Good girl,” I kissed her forehead, brushing my thumb over her soft cheek. Then I stood up and hardened my voice as I glanced at Liam. “Do it. 

He stepped forward and reached for my mate’s hand. When she looked at me briefly, I gave her an imploring smile and she breathed deeply before letting him take her hand. 

Within a twinkle of an eye, Liam withdrew a dagger from his boots and slit her palm.