Thank you all for the comments! I hope this next chapter is to your liking. Have a lovely day, all.
-Glory
Chapter 2: The Bonding
Saveli was waiting in the guest room along with their mother, Sasha, and Katrina and Gregory. And of course, the Succubus, who was bound to the bed. Alexi stared.
Despite Incubi and Succubi being famed for their beauty, he had expected someone more... demonic? And yet she was one of the most radiant creatures he had ever seen. She was sleek and muscular, like a predator, and he could see her strength as she struggled against the nylon ropes that tied her to the iron headboard. Slowly, he looked over the hair that poured over the bed like spilled ink, those big eyes, dark as sin, and the full, sensuous lips that parted around gleaming teeth in a fierce scowl. She was dressed only in a simple black cotton shift that had ridden up on her thighs. He wanted her.
He was broken out of his lust and shame by his father, who had picked up the ceremonial silver dagger that had bonded generations of wolves and was ready to use it. Alexi held out his hand and didn't feel the sting as it sliced into his palm. The demoness' eyes went wide when she saw the knife, and her struggling was renewed. Luckily the rope held her hands still enough for the cut to be made. At Saveli's gesture, Alexi pressed his palm to the demon's, mixing their blood. His father completed the tradition with a short speech about the sacredness of bondings, during which Nikolai kept chortling and had to be asked to leave. The demon dug her nails into Alexi's hand. His mother looked heartbroken. Alexi reminded himself that it was his duty, but the reminder didn't help very much, and all he could think of was Arli. He was minutes away from betraying her. The flood of guilt threatened to drown him.
All too soon, his father ushered the family out of the room.
"You can come to lunch when you're finished." he said to Alexi, matter-of-factly.
Then the door shut and Alexi was alone with the demon. His new mate.
Not his mate. Just a tool to try and save their home and their pack, noble duty... the words replayed in Alexi's head and meant nothing to him when faced with the situation in its literal flesh.
One step at a time, he thought, picking up the dagger Saveli had left on the nightstand. In a quick movement he had sliced open the demon's shift. Her body was as desirable as her face, and he let his gaze trickle over her throat and full, soft breasts, over the taut muscles that defined her abdomen, to her smooth mound. It was as tan as the rest of her. He felt hunger rear its ugly head again, accentuated by the sudden tightness of his jeans. He wouldn't have to worry about getting it up. Nope. Not at all.
Finally he forced his eyes from her delicious curves to her face, and noticed for the first time that she looked... scared. A pang of guilt ran through him that had nothing to do with Arli. He had thought of her as a lesser creature, incapable of having any more than bestial feelings about the ceremony, but in that moment he realized that she had more to hate about this whole thing than he did, and so he made a decision.
He was going to make this as painless as possible for her.
Carefully, Alexi climbed onto the bed, giving Arli a final push out of his mind as he reached out and caressed the demon's cheek. Of course she tried to bite him but he remained undeterred.
