Chapter 9

• Katherine’s POV
• I’m floating in a haze, my body weightless as a soft hum surrounds me, making my skin tingle. I can’t tell where I am, but I feel safe and wanted—more than I ever have before. My body is heated, my skin aching to be touched. Every nerve is alive, begging for attention, for something I don’t fully understand but can’t resist.
• “Ours,” a deep, husky voice murmurs against my ear, sending a jolt down my spine.
• Before I can process the word, warm hands slide down my arms, igniting trails of heat wherever they touch. A soft gasp escapes my lips as I’m pulled close. A hard chest presses against me, the heat from his body wrapping around me.
• “Do you feel that?” another voice asks, smoother and teasing, dripping with unrestrained hunger.
• “Yes,” I whisper, though I’m not sure who I’m answering—or if I care.
• Suddenly, my legs are lifted. Lips press against my neck, trailing down my collarbone with slow, deliberate intent. My breath hitches, my fingers curling instinctively into the muscled arms holding me in place.
• “Look at me,” a commanding voice growls, low and rough, brimming with possessive intensity.
• I obey, opening my eyes to find Jason’s fiery gaze locked on mine. His red hair glints in the soft light, his jaw set with determination as his hands grip my hips, pinning me against him. My heart skips, my body trembling under his dominance.
• “You’re ours,” he growls, his voice sending shivers through me.
• Before I can respond, another pair of hands cups my face, tilting it gently to the side. Michael’s dark eyes meet mine, burning with something primal. He brushes his thumb across my cheek, his touch reverent, like I’m a treasure he’s finally allowed to hold.
• “Relax, sweetheart,” he murmurs, his voice warm and velvety. “We’ll take care of you.”
• His lips claim mine, soft and full of promise, drawing a moan from my throat.
• Behind me, another presence leans in, and I feel James’s breath against my ear. His voice is playful, yet it drips with a hunger that makes my skin ignite.
• “Don’t forget about me,” he teases, his hands sliding down my sides, pulling me closer into their embrace.
• I’m surrounded, completely at their mercy. Jason’s lips crash against mine as his hands explore every inch of me. Michael presses kisses along my jaw and neck, his touch soothing where Jason’s is fiery. And James’s hands roam lower, teasing, making me gasp as he chuckles darkly.
• “You’re perfect,” James whispers, his tone filled with admiration and longing, making my chest tighten.
• My body arches instinctively, my mind a haze of pleasure and sensation as their touches become more insistent, more consuming.
• “Say you’re ours,” Jason commands, his voice low and edged with authority.
• “I—I’m yours,” I manage to choke out, my words breaking on a gasp as the heat builds, threatening to consume me.
• “Good girl,” Michael praises, his voice soft and velvety, making my heart race even faster. Their touches become insistent, claiming, blending together until I can’t tell where one ends and another begins. My body feels like it’s on fire, every nerve alive and sparking as they take me higher and higher…
• And then I wake up.
• My eyes snap open, and I sit bolt upright in bed, my heart pounding wildly.
• The room is dim, the only light coming from the soft glow of the moon outside. I press a hand to my chest, trying to steady my breathing as the vivid dream lingers, leaving a flush on my cheeks and a tightness in my core.
• *What the hell was that?*
• I glance around the room, half-expecting to see them standing there. But I’m alone. The memory of their hands, their lips, their voices—it all feels so real. My skin still tingles where they touched me in the dream, and my body aches with unfulfilled need.
• I throw the blankets off and jump out of bed, breathing heavily. My legs feel weak, my body thrumming with leftover desire as I strip out of my nightgown and head to the shower.
• Cold water cascades over me. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about them: my mates. Jason’s fiery dominance, Michael’s gentle reverence, James’s playful hunger—they’re all I can think of.
• Even their touch in a dream drives me crazy. But it’s not the real thing.
• I lean against the cool tile, closing my eyes as the water rushes over me. My body aches to be claimed, to feel their hands on me for real, not just in some dream. I crave their touch, their heat, their possessiveness.
• *What’s wrong with me?*
• Why can’t I think about anything else? Why do I feel so needy? With Wendal, I’ve never had that dying need. Our kisses were empty, our touches routine, our connection shallow. But with my mates…
• Kissing Michael. Seeing Jason naked. Talking to James. They’ve left chaos in their wake.
• Three years of terrible sex and sexual frustration have led me here. The Moon Goddess gave me three mates just to torture me—to haunt my dreams and leave me a dripping mess when I wake up.
• I slam my hand against the shower wall, frustration bubbling in my chest.
• They’re going to ruin me.
• I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around me. My hair dripped water onto the marble floor as I padded toward the bedroom. The warmth of the bath had soothed my muscles, but my mind was far from calm.
• I had barely crossed the threshold when I noticed movement by the nightstand. A small figure bent over, arranging dishes on a tray. The smell of roasted chicken and fresh bread filled the room. Startled, I froze.
• “Oh!” The maid jumped, nearly knocking over a glass of water. She quickly straightened and bowed her head. “Forgive me, Princess. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
• “Princess?” I echoed, my voice soft with disbelief. The word felt foreign, like it belonged to someone else. “No, please, you’re not disturbing me. And please, there’s no need to bow.”
• The maid hesitated, her head still lowered. She wore a simple uniform, her hands fidgeting nervously in front of her.
• “I mean it,” I said gently. “Look at me.”
• Slowly, she lifted her eyes, revealing a kind but nervous face. “Thank you, Princess,” she murmured.
• “Please, don’t call me that,” I said, taking a step closer. “My name is Katherine. Just Katherine. My father isn’t an Alpha or royalty. I’m not…” I gestured vaguely, searching for the right words. “I’m not a princess.”
• The maid’s lips twitched into a small smile. “But you are, Miss Katherine. By right, you’ve become a princess because you are mated to Alphas.”
• I blinked, the weight of her words sinking in. “By right?”
• “Yes,” she said, her voice growing steadier. “It’s tradition. The mate of Alphas holds a royal title within the pack.”
• I sank onto the edge of the bed, clutching the towel around me. “Does anyone else know about this…tradition?”
• The maid nodded. “There have been guests arriving since the news spread.”
• “Guests?” I repeated, my brows furrowing.
• “Wolves from other packs,” she explained. “They’ve come to see the magical high priestess.”
• I stared at her, my heart pounding. “The magical high priestess?” I raised a brow.
• The maid met my gaze directly for the first time, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s you. You’re the high priestess.”