Willow's Pov:
I woke up from my nap and immediately realized that I'd been left alone. I self consciously wrapped the blankets around me, sniffing them, making sure that my mate really had been here in my bed and that I hadn't imagined it like I use to when I was younger. Once I was assured that his scent was indeed everywhere, I settled back to think about what had happened earlier. My hands shook as I replayed the spankings in my head and I hid my blushing cheeks with my palms. I tried to recall the moment things had shifted from being merely painful to something more important... something delicious... but I couldn't. I eventually gave up trying to be reasonable about it all and my hands began to inch their way down to my cock as I thought about Maxwell's hands on me.
I curiously touched my hard member, that was barely as big as my palm, and slender. I wasn't sure why it was hard but once I'd touched it, I felt the need to give it more attention... only... Alpha had expressly said that I should touch it before bedtime. Did that mean I could only touch it then? He would also be watching me... did that mean I could only touch it under his watchful eyes? I wasn't sure what the new rules were about this. I sighed and stopped my clumsy exploration. For, as much as I had enjoyed my punishment, my ass was much too tender to take another immediately after. I decided not to risk it and anyways, I was used to not touching my cock.
Instead, I turned my thoughts to my mate's whereabouts and I began to wonder where Max had gone. As much as I hated to admit it, I felt sad that I'd woken up alone and I missed him. It felt wrong waking up alone after having so much physical contact with him and I hugged my knees to my chest in an effort to feel less lonely. Then a thought clicked into place. Is that what he had meant, when he said omega's liked to sleep with him after they "fucked"? Was I like all the others? I shuddered and prayed to the moon goddess that Max had described clinginess in reference to sex and not punishment. I didn't want to know if he had spanked anyone else and how they reacted afterwards. I couldn't know. The idea of it already had me feeling angry, used and flustered.
No. Max had to have been talking about sex. Not punishment! He couldn't have. Everyone adored him and obeyed him. I didn't. So he couldn't have meant punishment for them. Besides that, it seemed to me that sex made the "the others" needy. I hadn't been needy after my punishment... right? Just... just tired.
I vowed right then and there, that whenever Max took my virginity, I would not act like all the others. I'd proudly walk myself to my room after and sleep alone, with my dignity.
'You didn't have much dignity after your spanking', my wolf teased and I blushed.
He was right and I hated myself for it. I hated myself even more when I realized how close to tears I was over the fact that Max hadn't stayed for me to wake up... that he hadn't... slept with me... but why would he? I had been in trouble so of course he wouldn't stick around to comfort me over that. Why should I need comfort anyways? I sighed morosely and slid out of the bed, fixing my clothes so that I looked presentable. I walked by the mirror and pulled my messy hair into a ponytail, struck by how bright and happy my eyes looked, despite the fact that I felt a bit lonely. I smiled at the change and decided to just go and find my mate, rather than to pout about not having him here.
With that, I quickly opened my door and ran into the hallway, taking a moment to scent the air before running towards the kitchen when I'd found my mates scent. About ten feet from the kitchen entrance I suddenly stopped. I realized I'd been so focused on my mates scent that I hadn't noticed a guest. I took a deep breath and then cringed when I recognized the second scent. The guest smelt of burning hair and general stale decay, as well as a sort of grey, melancholy type of rot. I felt all the positive feelings I'd experienced from this morning quickly drain from my body as I slowly crept to the kitchen, wanting to avoid his detection. If I hadn't needed my alpha so badly, I probably would have turned and ran back to my room.
When I could no longer prevent it, I finally peeked around the corner, looking into the kitchen, wanting to make eye contact with my mate. Instead, my eyes met the cold, brown, almost black, eyes of Frank Habberforth. I sucked in an anxious breath, hating him as he sniffed the air before shooting me a predatory smile.
"Your new set of cheeks is here," he teased, addressing Maxwell and I tensed, hating his words, even if I barely understood them, like always.
To my surprise, Max growled a little and reprimanded him saying, "You need to show more respect to your Luna." To me he said, "Come here and sit Willow. I was hoping you'd be up soon."
I looked to where he pointed and felt myself turn a bit pink, for Max was indicating that I kneel on the floor next to him. While I didn't mind the thought of doing this, under any other circumstance, I did not want to do it in front of Frank.
"Alpha no," I answered, trying hard to put a little fight in my voice but it fell flat, leaving me with no inflection at all.
"Willow," Max replied, a warning clear in his voice. "Come. Sit. Here."
I sighed, knowing it was my own fault for being so temperamental that Max was talking to me like this but at the same time I felt so unseen and mentally added the offense to my growing list of why the alpha would never truly love me. I slowly walked over to my spot, under the leering smirk of Frank, resisting the urge to growl at the man, for I did not want to give Max a reason to punish me when I wasn't ready for it. I quietly knelt to the ground at Max's feet but held my head up proudly the entire time. I refused to give Frank any indication that my submission was for him, in any way, for I'd just as soon bite the man's hand off, if given the opportunity.
Max took my chin in his hand and turned my head so that I could meet his warm, grey eyes. "I expected more of a fight," he said fondly, as his other hand caressed me cheek.
"Give me time," I snapped, hoping he understood what I meant, not wanting Frank to know anything about how Max had spanked me.
He chuckled softly, "That mouth," he muttered as a finger touched my lower lip and I instantly wanted him to kiss me.
"I see you've tamed him then?" Frank asked, interrupting the moment.
I ripped my face out of Max's hold and held my head high once more, glaring at Frank but not moving from where I knelt.
"Far from it," Max laughed, in an amused tone as he caressed the hair on top of my head before giving my ponytail a playful little tug so that my head could rest on his knee. "But leave him alone Frank. Willow deserves his privacy," the alpha continued, still friendly, but this time there was an edge to his voice that everyone noticed.
I calmed a bit at Alhpa's words and smirked, a little, just to annoy Frank. He couldn't touch me now and we both knew it.
"You're the boss," Frank chuckled as he held his hands up in surrender, but I did not miss the cold glint in his eye over not getting his way.
Frank stayed for another half hour and I found myself on the verge of attacking him the entire time; though I hid it from both of Frank and my alpha, using the way my mate stroked my hair as a way to cope with my feelings of hatred. Even so, however much I'd hated Frank before, only intensified as I caught every snide remark and thinly veiled joke or threat that he made towards Maxwell. I wasn't sure how my mate did not hear them but I assumed it had something to do with the fact that they'd been friends for their entire lives. In fact, the only time I heard Max chastise the beta, in any way, it had been because the vile toad was referring to me.
However, I was not so stupid as to think this was because Max cared about me. I knew his defense of me had more to do with my position. In fact, if they weren't such close friends, I'm sure any Alpha King would have had Frank killed for making even one crude remark about a Luna, let alone two. Unfortunately, my mate was blind to how heinous Frank's offensive words were towards himself and this troubled me but it also made me feel incredibly defensive over Maxwell. He needed to be protected from this sewer rat and I was in the best position possible to be his protector, if only I could find the courage to bring Frank's transgressions up.
