Bloodbound to the Beastly King

"Thank you again for coming to the moon festival, Your Majesty. We are grateful for your support," Veronica said with a deep bow.

Thorne hummed, his eyes flickering over the place once more. He got into the carriage where Adina was waiting. The door shut, and soon they were on their way. The three-day festival was done and over with.

Radek watched as the carriage and horses left until it turned out of sight, his shoulders slumped. That was one hell of a festival.

"Meet me in the room," Veronica said through the mind link, already walking off.

Radek sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. The pounding in his skull hadn't stopped all day.

He turned and walked toward the private quarters.

The door slammed behind him the moment he stepped in.

"You stupid, limp-dicked mutt," Veronica's voice cut through the air sharply.

Radek flinched as she stalked toward him, heels clicking against the tiles. She looked nothing like the loving, innocent mate she showcased outside of their quarters. Instead, she looked like his very own punisher, one he couldn't be free of.

Veronica's face was red with anger as she lifted her hand and slapped him hard on the cheek.

His head jerked sideways, his cheek stinging. He didn't even try to dodge it this time. He didn't dare to.

"Do you ever think with your brain, or is it permanently stuffed with useless fantasies and that pathetic dick of yours?" she spat out.

Radek lowered his head. "Forgive me."

Veronica scoffed. "Forgive? You only had one job. Keep up the appearance! Act normal! Like a fucking Alpha. And even that you couldn't do," she snarled, running her fingers through her hair.

"Fucking idiot," she sneered.

"Veronica—"

"Don't Veronica me, Radek!" she snapped. "Do you know how long it took before this could happen? Father pulled strings she didn't think were possible only for your rotten, idiotic self to ruin it. All for what? Some cunt?"

Radek swallowed. "I—I didn't mean to. I thought it would help if I got closer. If I—"

"You thought?" she sneered. "When have you ever been asked to think, Radek? You follow orders! My orders. That's it. Who the fuck told you to think?" she growled, and Radek shut up. From outside, it would be interpreted as the Alpha punishing his Luna.

She paced away from him, fingers digging into her scalp like she wanted to tear out her hair. "You're lucky father finds you useful. I don't know why, but you should thank your stars," she turned to him. "If it were up to me, I'd have that useless thing dangling between your legs cut off. I'd make you a proper mutt."

Radek flinched but didn't dare to say a word. After all, this was his reality. He wasn't the one who called the shots. Veronica did. Years ago, he had two options: death or Lord Carter. He chose the latter and was saved by Lord Carter. If he could go back in time, he would have chosen death.

He opened his mouth to speak but stopped. Silently, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the small glass bottle. A shimmer of milky white clung to the bottom.

Her eyes snapped to it.

She walked forward and snatched it from his hand, holding it up to the light. Then, finally, her expression changed. A slow, satisfied smile stretched on her lips.

"Well," she purred, slipping it into her gown, "at least you got this right."

She patted his cheek mockingly. "Good job. Maybe you're not entirely useless." She turned to leave but paused at the door. "I'll tell my father to give you your meds. Wouldn't want you slipping into one of your…episodes. Again."

She rolled her eyes.

"Oh, and go ahead and wet your cock or whatever it is you need to feel useful. Just don't do it near me."

And with that, she walked out the door.

Thorne sat stiffly across from Adina, his eyes never leaving her face. She didn't look at him once.

Her eyes were cast downward, fingers twisted in her lap, she looked distant. Not angry. Not cold. Just… empty.

Thorne wished she was still angry and avoiding him. That was better than… this.

He hated that look.

The kind that said she was holding something in.

His jaw clenched hard as he remembered what happened. He knew something had happened and why she wouldn't tell him what did… he had no idea.

He could see it eating her up. She looked lost. He hated this for her.

The silence stretched between them uncomfortably.

He couldn't take it anymore. Thorne knocked once on the roof of the carriage.

"Stop the horses," the guards yelled from outside, and slowly the carriage came to a halt.

The window opened, and Mason peeked in. "Need something, Your Majesty?" he asked.

Thorne ignored him, he grabbed Adina's wrist, and she blinked, startled. She hadn't even realized the carriage had stopped moving.

She looked up, confused. They were in the middle of nowhere. "Wh—?"

But Thorne was already opening the door. He pulled her out of the carriage swiftly. The guards flinched in surprise, but none dared intervene. Mason looked ready to follow, but Thorne shot him a glare over his shoulder.

"Stay."

He led her off the path, into the woods. She didn't breathe a word, just mindlessly followed him. He took her deep… deep enough that no one could hear. Deep enough that it was just them.

"Sit," he said, his voice low.

Adina hesitated for a second, then obeyed. The grass was damp under her feet. The birds chirped loudly, and for a second, it was peaceful. Too peaceful.

Then everything came rushing back in waves.

The smell of Radek's breath.

The fingers on her waist.

His words.

Her chest tightened, and her stomach twisted in disgust. And without meaning to, a single tear slid down her cheek.

From where he stood behind her, Thorne watched, his eyes locked on it like it personally offended him. His jaw tensed.

He let her cry it out, knowing he wasn't leaving here without an answer.

Adina cried silently, her shoulders trembling the more she remembered what happened. She flinched hard when she felt his shadow over her, and she quickly wiped her cheeks dry, like he didn't see her.

She hoped internally that he'd let it go. That he wouldn't ask.

When she looked up at him, his eyes were already on her, watching her intently. His lips parted, and the words that came out were ones she wished he wouldn't ask.

"What happened in that study, Adina?"

She remembered what Luna Veronica had said… The woman was kind to her too. Adina shook her head.

"Adina."

She shook it harder, wishing he'd drop it already.

He crouched in front of her now, staring at her deeply, and when she tried to look away, unable to bear the intensity in his gaze, he held her chin, pinning her gaze on him.

"I command you, as the king of the realm. Tell me everything that happened," he Alpha-ordered her.

An order she couldn't refuse… no matter how much she wanted to.

A single tear fell to her cheek, and her lips parted. The words came flying out, unable to stop. Thorne listened to it all, his fists tightening with each passing second.

She didn't hold back. She told him about Radek's creepy gaze on her, the way he cornered her in the study, how he touched her, how he pinned her against the wall. She told it all.

By the end of it, her shoulders were trembling.

Thorne stared at her, his eyes burning with rage. His blood was boiling, and his Lycan demanded Radek's blood. He was furious. Not at her. No— at himself for allowing it to happen. For not looking fast enough. For not being there. At Radek for what he did—

He swallowed tightly, forcing himself to keep his feelings at bay. Then, he reached out, slowly, and brushed her cheek with his thumb.

"Sleep," his voice was soft but laced with the order.

Her eyes fluttered closed instantly, like she was under a spell. She collapsed against his chest like a doll, her body limp.

Thorne caught her easily. He cradled her against him for a moment, burying his face in her hair.

Perhaps he needed this more, to ground himself.

Then he stood up, lifting her into his arms bridal style. When they stepped out from the woods, Mason was waiting with wide eyes.

"Your Majesty? What happened?" he asked, worry laced in his tone on seeing Adina unconscious in his arms.

Thorne didn't respond, though. He walked towards the carriage.

One of the guards stepped forward. "Shall I carry her, Your Majesty?"

Thorne snarled so viciously the guard nearly fell over.

"No one touches her."

He placed her gently into the carriage, brushing a stray hair from her face. His gaze lingered on her face for a second longer.

Then he turned to Mason.

"I want everything you can find on Radek. Everything. Every deal. Every mistake. Every bastard he's pissed off," his voice was deathly calm.

"I'm going to bury him. Physically. Mentally. Politically. Everything." And this time, he was going to do it the right way.

He wasn't going to make the same mistake he did with Roseanne.