To Hate A Wolf Lord ( Book One of Wolf Lord Saga #1)

Orion's mother stared at me like I was dirt beneath her feet. It was nothing new. Dominants didn't like submissives or losers as they called it. She reminded me of Adam's mother who always did her best to humiliate me, torture me whenever I got the chance.

Now, I was free. I wasn't going to let anyone bully me. Not if I could help it.

"I'll go to bed now, Wolf Lord." I said trying to excuse myself.

Just as I was about to step past him, her voice cut through the air.

“Stop right there.”

I froze. The weight of her command pressed against my wolf, making it lower its head in submission. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe, to stand tall.

Orion’s mother moved closer, her heels clicking against the floor. “Who is she?” she asked, her tone calm but full of quiet disdain. “And why is she wearing your scent?”

Orion’s jaw tightened. "She’s Leo’s tutor.”

Her eyes slid over me slowly, cold and assessing. “A tutor,” she repeated, her lips curling. “How convenient.” She turned her attention back to him. “You’re letting a new moon Omega near Leo? Do you want him to be cursed? He has not yet had his first transformation!"

My chest burned. I wanted to say something, anything, but I knew one wrong word could make things worse. That was not what I needed.

Orion’s voice came out low, steady. “You’re out of line, Mother.”

Her brows arched in disbelief. “Out of line?" Her hand reached out to slap Orion hard across the face. My breath hitched. "Who are you to tell me I'm out of line?"

My face turned to the side, the pain reflecting as if I had been slapped. My cheek turned red making my hand fly up.

I took a slow breath but still refused to bow, “With all due respect, ma’am,” I said quietly, “I’m only here to teach your grandson. That’s all."

She laughed, cold and sharp. “You are pretending to be a tutor but I know you're one of those girls from the strip club. Don't think you can sleep your way up the ranks because I would never allow it."

Orion’s eyes flashed bright blue for a heartbeat. His voice came out low and dangerous. “That’s enough, Mother.” he said before he turned to me. "You may leave. Go to bed, Avaline."

"Don't move a single step." Orion's mother hissed.

" I said leave!"

Orion's voice growled making me freeze. The living room went silent. Darting at his mother one last time, I took a step forward leaving towards the hallway when I heard it.

"Instead of playing with this w**re, you should be searching for the daughter of those traitorous people. Paula and Dean's daughter. You gave them an easy death. That's why the rogues are not yet defeated." she snapped making me clench my hand.

Anger surged through me. My parents.

"All you care about is glory and power," Orion said, his voice cracking as he clenched his hand. "Sometimes, I wonder if you are really my birth mother."

I turned back for a second, my eyes landing on hers as Orion walked out the door. Heading to my room, I slammed the door as fast as I could, only to collapse against it, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. I pressed a trembling hand over my mouth, my breath shallow. My wolf gnawed at me, my teary eyes reflecting red in the mirror in front of me.

I would make all of them pay. All of them.

My sobs filled the room subtly for minutes before I finally calmed down. My eyes landed on Orion as he stood practicing with his sword.

The man everyone feared as the Wolf Lord was, in truth, broken by his mother’s cruelty.

That break would be my tool. Fated mate or not, I would not let him escape what he had done.

******************************************

Leo’s eyes lit up in excitement as he saw the outfits I had planned.

“Are we really going to the amusement park?” he asked, holding up his tiny jacket with a grin that made my chest soften.

“Yes,” I said, forcing a smile. “If your father agrees then we can go."

His grin lowered as he heard my words. Almost as if he knew his father would never agree.

" I'll go and ask him."

Leo nodded his head before walking off slowly. My eyes darted to the mirror one last time. I adjusted my skirt one last time, opening the first buttons of my blouse to expose my cleavage.

I walked over to the pack house which was a few minutes away from the house. Orion's mother had gone out for the day and it had been days since Orion came back home to sleep. He had avoided coming home because of her.

I paused by the doorway of his office. The door was half-open, and I could hear his voice inside.

“Yes. Double the patrols near the southern border,” he said. “No one crosses without my permission.”

I straightened my blouse, heart pounding. This had to work.

“Wolf Lord?” I knocked lightly as I walked inside.

His head turned, his eyes flicking up to meet mine. My eyes widened as I realized he was not alone. Several elders of the court stood there along with a woman, someone I didn't recognize and Adam. Shame ran through me as I froze.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were not alone." I whispered.

“What do you want, Avaline?” he asked, his voice calm but distant.

I stepped inside, letting the sunlight from the window brush over me. “Leo wants to go to the amusement park today. I thought it might be good for him… to have some fun. To feel normal.”

He looked back down at the papers on his desk. “It’s not safe.”

“It’s never safe,” I replied quietly. “But he’s a child, Orion. He deserves a day that isn’t filled with fear."

Orion remained silent, the room also quiet as everyone stared at us. For a second, my eyes darted around. Everyone stared at me as if I had seven heads or more.

I bowed my head immediately.

"I'm sorry, Wolf Lord. I—I'll take my leave." I said, turning to leave.

Just then, Orion got up and pulled me towards him. A gasp escaped my lips as I missed my step, pushing him to the ground.

My body hit his with a soft thud, the air rushing out of me. I blinked dazed as my palms splayed across his chest. His heartbeat thudded hard beneath my fingers, matching mine beat for beat. I tried to push myself up but froze the moment I felt it. Something hot and rigid pressed against my thigh.

My breath caught. Heat rushed to my face, my body going rigid as realization crashed through me.

Orion’s body tensed beneath mine. His jaw tightened, his eyes snapping shut for a second like he was fighting for control. When they opened again, his face was cold.

“Don’t move,” he said roughly as he gripped my waist holding me close.

His erection? I'm a virgin, what— What am I supposed to do now?

His gaze flicked past me, to the people behind frozen in shock.

“Everyone,” he growled, voice deep and guttural, “get out.”

No one moved.

“I said out!”

The sound of his voice sent a shiver through the room. Chairs screeched, books closed and within seconds the room was empty. The heavy door slammed shut, echoing through the silence.

Now it was just us. His hand was still on my waist, his breathing uneven, the heat between us unbearable.

“Let me go,” I whispered, though my voice shook.

“I’m trying,” he said, his words barely above a whisper. “Holy moon goddess, Avaline, I’m trying."

I swallowed.

Suddenly, the door flew open again.

The loud sound of something crashing to the ground caught our attention. “What,” Orion's mother spat, her voice like venom, “exactly am I looking at?”