Chapter 280 – Luna of The Mighty Alpha

Filed To Story: The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

When Astrea fled after tricking everyone, she burned the dragonfly tattoo on her skin so that Joran couldn’t track her by using his magic in her system. Sadly, werewolves regenerated quickly, and the tattoo was back after some time, making her repeat the burning over and over again. Even in the silver pit, it managed to heal.

“What about it?” she gulped when he was already towering over her, his fingers brushing over the tattoo on her back, eliciting a rush of goosebumps.

“You tried to destroy it, and I think you need a new one,” he mused, and the blood in her veins froze.

“A new one?” she jerked away, leaving her seat. His dry chuckle followed. “Why a new one? The old one came back as a charm!”

“Because I want to ensure you can’t burn it off or cut it out anymore,” Joran smirked. “Come here.”

He went toward his office, and she followed him, knowing she’d better not prolong this.

“Where do you want me?” she asked absentmindedly when they both were inside, and his lips curled. She decided to take it like the soldier that she was and be done with it quickly.

“Window,” he told her, and she obeyed, her knees shaky.

“Hands on the glass,” Joran stepped right behind. Knowing that if real tattoos hurt, the divines ones were hundreds of times worse. It was another thing some of the trainees couldn’t survive.

She was different, though, and she could take it for the second time.

Joran slowly removed her long hair from her neck, lacing his fingers through it and brushing it to one side.

“When I touch your locks, it’s as if I am touching the starry sky,” he murmured, and she paid no attention to that. He skillfully unclasped the snake necklace on her neck, making the fabric fall. She barely caught it with one hand to stay covered and save some dignity.

“Now, where do I place it?” Joran examined her skin as a map, stopping to trace the dragonfly tattoo shining brightly on her skin. Then his fingers moved to her neck, creating more goosebumps as they went until they wrapped around it tight, making her throw her head back.

Joran was in complete control.

“Remember that this is necessary not only for tracking you down but mostly for your protection,” he whispered into her ear. “When I lost you the first time and didn’t know where you were, my biggest fear was that something bad happened to you. It was so bad that I made crucial mistakes in the war. And I never make mistakes. You know it, Astrea.”

“Sorry.” She said it because she knew he wanted it, not because she felt it.

“That’s okay now,” Joran sighed, and his second hand touched the available area at the back of her neck. “We are going to fix it all together. And then– then we will see how it goes. If you want to leave me and be free, it’s fine. But if you would like to return to my side at any moment during or after this task, I will always take you back. I want you to know this. You are very special to me, Astrea. So, this is the new agreement between us. Deal?” His hot breath burned her skin.

“Deal,” she breathed out, and the next moment, a flash of searing hot pain pierced her whole body.3. East

 Astrea was in agony, and it was worse than anything she’d ever experienced before. An invisible needle from hell itself pierced her skin, sending excruciating pain rippling down her body. Her wolf, Nova, was howling inside, and that was heart-breaking considering she hadn’t recovered from their previous torture yet.

It was taking forever, and after a while, it started to feel like it would never end. She could barely keep standing, now leaning her head against her hand on the cold glass.

Soon, even the ability to scream left her. She wasn’t sure what was going on anymore, concentrating on trying to keep holding her dress in place as hot tears streamed down her cheeks. This was like nothing she had ever gone through before.

Joran did not stop and did not give her a break, although she clearly needed one to come to her senses. This was a new form of punishment from him.

He enjoyed it.

The only thing she wanted now was to withstand it. Preferably with some dignity left to her, but as the darkness started to close in on her making the area she could see smaller and smaller until there was just a tiny dot left, Astrea knew she was failing miserably.

“Almost there, Dragonfly,” Joran’s voice rasped in her ear as he continued his torment, now touching her collarbone, and it felt like he was piercing her neck with knives. “You are doing well. As always. My brave little dragonfly…”

She tried to breathe, but it felt like some kind of force was strangling her now and that tiny dot of vision disappeared as the darkness took over, the last of her strength leaving her.

***

Astrea stretched in the bed, the soft silk caressing her body like a cool breeze. She turned to hug the pillow the way she always did, and only then did the memories of the previous day flood her brain and make her open her eyes.

The light from a glass wall blinded her, but despite that, she knew exactly where she was. Her Teacher’s bedroom. The black sheets, the golden pillows, the leather headboard, and the mirror wall next to the bed… this place was easy to recognise. She had been here just a few times when the Teacher called her late at night to give her a new task or praise her when he was in the mood for it. She felt really out of place each time, trying to leave as soon as possible. They never had the kind of relationship that would require her to stay here longer than their conversations would last.

Today was different because she was actually in his bed with no idea how much time she had spent here and what had happened. A quick check showed that her dress from yesterday was still on, though the diamond necklace was still unclasped, causing the fabric to fall down to her waist when she tried to sit up. This was the wrong time to remember that the trainees from yesterday failed to bring her any kind of underwear.

Astrea hissed as the movement brought back the pain to her neck. Her skin felt scorched and unbearable to touch.

She still wanted to get up because she had to see what he had done to her.

“Easy there,” Joran strolled in, wearing nothing but a pair of loose, black silk pyjama pants, every muscle on his body carved to perfection. “You are going to need some rest after that.”

She wanted to stand up, but somehow, he was 4 right next to her faster than she anticipated and gently pushed her back to the bed.

“What did I tell you?” he asked in a reproachful tone, lacing his fingers through her hair to comb it out of his way. “Rest. You are not going anywhere today.”

Astrea did not like the sound of that.

“I– I can’t stay here!” she protested, and his jaw tightened.

“I am afraid you will have to,” he informed her matter-of-factly. “Your new tattoo has to be looked over by me to ensure it takes on well and doesn’t hurt you.”

“It’s fine!” She tried to brush the whole situation off, but pain subdued her whole body the moment she dared to move again.

“Do you have to be so stubborn?” he sighed and traced his fingers over her neck. She was ready to shudder from the pain, but his touch brought her soft, cooling sensations, eliciting a whimper of relief from her. This made her mentor smile. “See?” he taunted. “I am only doing what is best for you.”

After he hurt her first. She still had no idea what it was on her neck.

“Thank you, Teacher.” Her voice sounded so lifeless and dull, but she knew this was exactly what he wanted to hear. They’d learned each other well during the years they spent together.

“No,” he shook his head, and his hand moved to caress her shoulder, making her whole body tremble, chest rising and falling at a sharp rhythm.

“No?” Astrea arched her brow, and this time, he trailed his thumb over her chin, although she could tell there was nothing there to check.

“You’ve disobeyed me far too many times now to call me your Teacher,” he said, their gazes locking. “Use my name from now on.”

“I– can’t,” she confessed, clutching her dress to her chest. That felt so weird. Unnatural even.

---