Chapter 6

• Viktor
• I had chosen Bella because it made sense.
• I tried so hard to convince myself I had made the right choice. Bella was perfect in every way. Not only did she possess an alluring beauty but she had that rare wolf with special powers that would one day help me rule as an Alpha. Anyone would understand my choice. No one would even dare to question why I did what I did.
• Well, except for myself.
• A small ache in my heart reminded me of the she-wolf the moon goddess had chosen for me. I could still remember how she lowered her already trampled pride and begged me to love her. I told myself that our mateship was an ugly pairing, considering there was a she-wolf who was a better choice to become my Luna someday. And yet, no matter how much I tried, I still felt awful that day. Technically speaking, there wasn’t a formal rejection yet my actions that day was enough for her to know where I stand.
• My mind went back to reality when I heard Bella whispered,
• “Please, claim me. Now…”
• Her desperate plea lingered in my ears. Her fingers traced over my chest, sending shivers down my spine. The desire that was ignited from that touch drowned the nagging voice inside me. I claimed her lips, even though a quiet part of me remembered the a she-wolf I was forced to set aside in favor of her.
• I had tasted Bella’s lips before. In fact, multiple times. And while I kept telling myself that she was special, I knew I was fooling myself.
• My lips slid down her neck and paused at her collarbone. I stuck my tongue out and licked it, and Bella’s moan spurred me on. I began to remove her top and revealed her smooth, white skin. Soon, I was sucking her breast like a starving baby, biting gently to put pressure on her nipples while my index finger played along. Every moan made me sink deeper into the moment despite fighting the guilt inside.
• I quickly laid her on the bed and pulled off my shirt. Bella sighed as she looked at my chest. She expressed how much she loved that part of my body. So, I teased, “Like what you see?”
• She nodded while caressing my chest. I kissed her again and let my hand roam over her mound. Bella arched her back, unable to hold back any longer.
• “Enter me, please,” she begged.
• I lowered my face again and moved to her hidden parts. I used my mouth to pull away the cloth covering her core. Though she tried to hide herself with her hands, I kept kissing her thighs. The feel of her skin and the sound of her moans filled the room as I explored her body.
• Deep inside, I knew that having sex with Bella was just an obligation. It was just a distraction from my true feelings I tried to suppress inside. I was simply going through the motions. I was doing what I felt I had to do, even though I didn't feel any real passion.
• Because the day my wolf uttered “mate” inside my head, I knew that my heart only belongs to her.
• Bella’s pleasure grew until she reached her peak, and her loud moans told me that I was doing what was expected. I then removed my last piece of clothing, showing my strong, Alpha body. I spread her thighs apart and moved my hips forward. Bella bit her lip when she felt me inside her, and I began to thrust slowly. Every movement was met with her moans. It was a claer sign that I was doing my part to pleasure her but all I felt was duty.
• Nothing else.
• “More, baby! More!” she cried, and the sounds of our passion filled the room. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I pushed deeper and faster, until we both reached our peak. We panted heavily in the silence that followed,
• “That was…incredible,” Bella whispered, I focused on my own breathing while she covered herself with a blanket and went to the bathroom, leaving me alone with the empty truth of what I had done.
• Left alone, I walked out onto the balcony. The moon hid behind clouds, and the night felt even darker than usual. I took a deep breath of the cold air, trying to calm the storm inside me. Even with my eyes closed, the image of that other woman who was chosen by the moon goddess for me lingered in my mind. I had convinced myself that Bella was the right, logical choice, that her perfection and her powers were all I needed for my future as an Alpha. But the gnawing pain in my heart told a different story. It was the story of a love I was meant to have but was slowly pushing aside.
• A reality that no matter what I do, I could never be with Emily Long.
• In the eyes of others, Emily was nothing but ordinary. In fact, too ordinary despite having Bella as her sister. She had black, shoulder-length hair that flowed chaotically in the wind. Her eyebrows were a bit messy yet complimented her deep, expressive eyes. Her small face would fit my hands. To caress the side of her face was a simple hope that would probably remain a dream.
• The moment I laid my eyes on her, I knew she was the one. The mate bond would only kick in once she reached her 20th birthday. So, I waited.
• I waited for her to reach the right age. This was also my way of confirming whether my instinct about her was correct. And then, I confirmed I was right all along. But after I did, I chose to hurt her. I had the chance to claim her as mine, but I chose not to.
• Yes, I was an idiot. An idiot for rejecting the woman who was meant for me.
• Why? Because of my duty as the future Alpha of the Red Moon Pack. I knew it was selfish, but what choice did I have? Everyone expected me to choose a strong mate, a Luna who could match my power. They wanted someone like Bella, a white wolf that would strengthen and establish my rule.
• I felt arms wrap around me from behind. Bella's body smelled like my scent mixed with soap. She rested her cheek on my back and whispered,
• “I have to go. I’ve got work tomorrow.”
• “Okay.”
• “I love you, Viktor. I am yours, remember that.”
• “Okay.”
• She waited for a moment. Maybe, she was expecting me to say more and when I didn’t, she left my room.
• I stayed on the balcony and stared into the night. Lost in my thoughts, I contemplated my life choices. Bella wasn’t a bad lover. She was strong, beautiful, and passionate. She never held back when seeking pleasure, and as a man with physical needs, I took what she offered. But no matter how much she gave, she could never reach the deepest part of me.
• I had given her a chance. An honest one. But nothing changed because the truth remained.
• Bella had my body, but Emily would always have my heart.