Chapter 50: Master and Slave

Two fingers slipped into her slowly, and she stifled a moan.

His face remained on her neck, nibbling and kissing while his fingers kept pumping in and out of her tight, wet pussy.

He pushed in deeper, and her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she moaned his name out loud. Even with the sound of the flowing river, she could still hear the sound of the sloppy mess down there each time he thrust in and out.

And the fact that he was doing this to her outside, in the middle of nowhere where anyone could suddenly show up. She wasn’t supposed to get excited at that thought, but she couldn’t help herself.

"Fuck you just got more wet," He pressed a kiss to her shoulders, "How is it that I can never get enough of you?"

She could feel his hard, big length now pressing against her back, rubbing slowly.

Malachi picked up the pace of his movements, and Della felt the rush coming in fast.

The overwhelmingly pleasurable feeling that always had her woozy after. The one he always used to weaken her defences and leave her at his mercy. The one of many things he did that always left wishing... things between them were different.

The thought was enough to make her break the contact, yanking his arms away from her body as she quickly swam away from him a little.

She didn’t dare turn around for a while, catching her breath as she stared down at her reflection in the water. She looked flushed again, but still as helpless as before.

Nothing has changed between she and Malachi.

He still believes she’s a bad person.

The only reason he’s touching her is because he cannot help himself, and she wouldn’t let herself he used as some kind of...sex object for him whenever he felt like it.

She could feel his heavy gaze on her back.

She didn’t want to turn around and face him.

But she had to.

And so, she did.

"Moonfire," He said the moment she looked at him. How voice was low and calm.

"Whatever this is between us, I don’t want it," She stated, deciding not to hide a single thought as she reached up and touched the collar, "We got married. You forced the marriage that night, but I know you’ve never once actually considered me your wife. But you’ve viewed as a slave countless times, just as others," She paused to take a deep breath, So whatever this is, this...act, it’s not allowed between us,"

Except he wanted to force it on her, in which case no one would dare to question him directly.

He didn’t say anything for a while and kept looking at her. Then, he finally replied, "No,"

She blinked, "No?"

"No, Moonfire," He moved, gliding through the flower river effortlessly till his tall frame was covering her from the morning sun, "Have you forgotten that you don’t get to make a choice about anything?"

Those words shattered whatever...sense of peace they’d manage to keep holding up the whole morning, and once again, he had reminded her of her place.

"I can do whatever I want to you," He grabbed the collar and yanked her so close his lips were a breath away from hers, "I am your Master, Moonfire. I make all the rules,"

She hated being this close to him. Not just because he was being a heartless monster again, but because she hated that she wanted to close the distance between their faces and kiss him. She hated that she still wanted him this much!

"I will not let you touch me as please!" She said to his face, her lips brushing against his as she spoke.

His lips darted out and licked the spot they had touched, and she watched with shaky legs she was trying to control.

"Then I’ll just have to make sure that you enjoy it so much that you’re unable to resist me," His eyes twinkled with ignited fire.

She pushed at his chest again, a deep frown on her face, "You’re out of your mind!"

He reached in quickly to grab her again but she had anticipated it and swatted his hands away.

"I said, don’t touch me!" Anger boiled through her veins.

Getting out of the river, she started to wear her clothes again, "Seems like you’re all better," She said to him when she was almost done, "You can get back to the castle on your own now, can’t you?"

Malachi tilted his head to the side a bit, "You really think I’m gonna just watch you... escape?"

She scrunched her nose up at him then started to walk away. Or rather, she burst into a run back into the forest.

She wanted to put as much distance as she could with the man, and he would probably not be able to catch up because unlike her, he was actually poisoned by Moonfire and the actual cure is back in the castle.

Those herbs she had given him only suppressed the spread, and the weakness still remains in the bones. The only strength he can afford right now is getting back to the castle.

Which is the only correct option he had.

Della...had seriously underestimated the Alpha.

The wind suddenly blew across her back, and a disastrous rage tore through the mate bond with enough force to almost damage her chest. She gasped loudly, and at the same moment she was lifted off her feet with two hands around her firmly.

Malachi.

He was only wearing his pants, and he looked down at her as though he was ready to skin her alive.

"How did you—" Her breath kept skipping.

He didn’t say anything, but turned in the opposite direction.

The direction of the castle.

"No!!" She cried and started banging against his chest, "Let me down!! Let me go!!"

He kept walking so solidly as though she was hitting against an immovable rock.

"Malachi!!" She yelled loudly, "Why are you always making me regret saving you?! Next time, I’m definitely letting you die. You’re such a monster!!" Tears stung the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

A few feet distance and he suddenly threw her over his shoulders instead, making her hang by her waist like a big save of fresh harvest.

She resuming her tantrums, pounding on his back instead with all the strength she had.

What the hell was he even made of? Metal?

A hand came down on her ass, making her help this time.

"You’re not running away from me, Moonfire," He finally said to her, followed by another smack that brought tears to her eyes even more, "Not today, not tomorrow...not ever!!"

"I will escape you! I’m not going back there to die,"

He stopped walking for a moment, then he said a little more softer, "You’re the only one who can merge Gideon and I back together and you already promised to do so," The rage in the bond calmed a little, and his voice seemed to become deeper, "I cannot let you die, Moonfire,"

She finally stopped pounding for once.

Does that mean...no more Iron pits sentence?!

"What will my punishment be, then?!" She asked, then paused again.

Wait a minute. If the blood pact never existed in the first place, it means she could tell him the truth about Beatrice...that she had taken all the blame.

But what good would that even do? He has already stood there inside the cell, giving her enough opportunity to tell him the truth... but she didn’t.

Now she felt like of she did say anything...it would only make him disbelieve her even more.

She didn’t do it...she did it...she didn’t do it.

She also wanted to yell at him for not letting her know lian was here and has been safe and sound. She wouldn’t have felt helpless and agreed to take the blame if he has actually said something, but he would rather hold the facts.

And it would always end up affecting her.

Affecting...them.

Della shook her head a bit.

The man has already agreed to the bottom of her soul, that she was guilty as hell.

The moment he walked into the castle with that position of carrying her, whispers rose through every corridor they stepped into, often silenced whenever Malachi came too close.

Most of the workers stared like they had seen a ghost, and Della just hung there bouncing softly on his shoulder with every step he took.

Malachi ignored every stare.

A pair of guards immediately lowered their heads as Malachi approached, "My Alpha."

Without breaking stride, he spoke, "Gather the Council in the Hall of Ashes Immediately." He ordered, his voice sounding like thunder.

"Y-Yes, Alpha!" The guards hurried away.

Della’s heart lurched. The Council? What was he planning?

As they climbed the grand staircase, Selene appeared at the landing. Her perfect smile lasted exactly one heartbeat, then she saw Della on Malachi’s shoulder.

Her face drained of colour before she quickly recovered, "My Alpha..." she said carefully. "You’re injured."

"I noticed," He replied coldly.

Her gaze shifted to Della, "And... she?"

"She is under my custody." He replied.

Selene frowned, "She already was."

His blue eyes met hers, "No." The single word made the air feel colder, "From this moment onward, no Elder, Beta, Gamma or member of this pack will issue orders to her."

A murmur rippled through everyone present.

"If anyone requires her..." His voice remained calm, "...they will ask me."

Selene’s smile became strained, "My Alpha... surely a confessed criminal should—"

"I wasn’t asking for opinions."

Silence.

Then, Malachi resumed walking.

The servants quickly stepped aside, lowering their heads. Della stared at him upside down, unable to understand what she had just heard.

Why? Why would he do this?

Moments later, they reached his chambers. He pushed the doors open with one hand before finally setting her back onto her feet.

She immediately took two steps away, rubbing her sore waist, "You didn’t answer my question," she said quietly, "What punishment?"

"You’ll continue your labour." He replied,

"And?" Her brows knitted together.

"You’ll remain in my chambers."

"...And?"

"You will not leave my sight without my permission."

Della blinked, "That’s not a punishment."

Or maybe it was, because that means they will be stuck together making it extremely hard to continuous resist him if he wanted intimacy.

"No, it isn’t."

She stared at him in confusion, "Then what is it?"

His expression hardened again, becoming unreadable "It’s protection."

"What?"

"I’m protecting the only possible thing that can bring me back and my wolf together,"

Thing?!

Before she could ask another question, three heavy knocks echoed through the chamber doors, "My Alpha," A guard called from outside, "The Council has assembled."

Malachi’s gaze lingered on Della for one last second, "They’ve come," He murmured, "They’re going to demand your death."