My Cruel Mates

Chapter 23

"But I am your Alpha and I am ordering you to refer to him as King!" Atticus bellows angrily and Damon rolls his eyes, but nods.

"Yes, Alpha. So, King Rowan, where is your mate?" He asks and I shrug.

"I don't see how that's any of your business." I say boredly but he just chuckles.

"He wasn't with you last time either. How very curious. You know what I think?" He asks and I scoff.

"No, thank goodness, I don't know what you think." I say, but he just smiles again.

"I think you found another human mate. And that you didn't want to risk her here." He says and the hair on the back of my neck raises. The way he says that makes me uncomfortable with him having that knowledge. Like he could put Claire in danger.

"Hardly. We recently moved to a different house. It has Bennett's favorite forest. He'd much rather spend his days running through the trees in wolf form than be stuck here with you dumbasses." I say and Atticus chuckles next to me.

"Can't say I blame him." He says, obviously believing my story, but Damon continues to watch me curiously.

"In my opinion-" Damon starts but I cut him off.

"No one gives a shit about your opinion, Damon." I say, obviously annoyed.

"My father does." He says.

Oh, the daddy card. I wondered how long it would take him to pull that one out.

"No one gives a shit about your father's opinion either. He is a former Alpha. Defeated. Weak. The council doesn't even request his opinion on matters to deal with wolves anymore. The only reason you are so high ranking is because of him. So stop pushing to be more important than you are, Damon. If your Alpha won't put you in your place I'd be more than happy to do so." I tell him with a snarl. His face turns red as he fights a shift, I can tell with the way fur sprouts on his arms.

"That's enough, Damon! You are dismissed." Atticus shouts. Damon looks at him before turning to leave the room.

"I can't stand that fucker." I tell him and Atticus sighs.

"Trust me. Neither can I. But I promised his father I would give him a high position when I defeated him. He wasn't a bad Alpha, he had just gotten lazy so I figured I'd do him the favor. Of course I didn't know at the time what a fucking prick the kid is." Atticus says just as the High Lord enters the room.

"Finally! Let's get this shit over with!" I yell as the obnoxious man takes his seat and throws me a scowl. I glare at him back as Atticus starts discussing the land dispute between his wolves and I fight the sleep that's begging to overtake me.

With Damon spreading rumors about me possibly having a human mate, I decide against bringing up Claire's idea. I'll have to wait until she's marked and protected from these creatures. I need to keep her safe.

After an incredibly boring meeting, I walk up to my room and lock the door behind me, letting out a heavy breath. The silence is a welcome reprieve for a few moments until I imagine Bennett and Claire in the kitchen making dinner together. A pang of longing goes through me and I fight the urge to fly home tonight. I know I'm tired and need to sleep before doing the trip again. But I still miss them.

This feeling is new and I don't like it.

I lay down in bed and focus on my bond with Bennett. It's almost like feeling him next to me. I feel him getting anxious and wonder if I need to be concerned, but then the anxiety shifts to arousal and I can't help but smile, feeling my own cock harden in my pants. I reach down to palm myself as I feel his arousal heighten. I groan imagining what the two of them are getting up to together.

My imagination runs wild as I pull out my cock and stroke it from root to tip. I'm so lost in thought that when Bennett's voice rings through my mind it startles me.

"Rowan!" He says excitedly.

"Yes, love?" I ask teasingly. He knows I can feel what he is getting up to with our little mate.

"Claire wants me to take her." He says and I'm sure he can feel my shock through our bond.

"Really?" I ask.

"Yes. But she's worried you'll be upset if you're not here for her first time." I smile as affection for my little demon grows in me. She's more thoughtful than I will ever be.

"I won't be upset." I say and I feel Bennett's wariness.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel jealous or left out." He says and I chuckle a little.

"It should be you, Bennett. You have been much better with her than I have and I know you'll be gentle. You'll take care of her." I say and Bennett snickers.

"Yeah. You like it rough." He says and I laugh.

"I do. But she doesn't need that for her first time. Just be careful. Make her feel special. Important." I say and I can feel his nerves again.

"How long has it been since you've been with a woman?" I ask curiously and he laughs again.

"I don't even remember, Rowan." He says and I smile despite myself.

"It'll be alright. Just make sure to get her ready first and go slow." I say and I can feel his confidence growing.

"What should I tell Claire? About you?" He asks and I think for a moment.

"You can tell her that she can make it up to me when I get home." I say, unable to keep a smirk off my face.