The Beast's Possession

**Aife

pov**

Bane didn't stop trying to press me for answers I didn't have until his guests started arriving. At first, I thought I was doomed to an evening of misery, but nothing could prepare me for what actually happened. While initially, I assumed his guests would be the pack men, those who arrived, actually came with women under their arms.

The more arrived, the clearer the pattern of his guests became - these were the men that had claimed women as mates, not the regular pack members.

At first, I actually enjoyed myself in the kitchen, cooking and serving the dishes as the women came and went, offering me drinks or company for a little while. However, when I finished my work in the kitchen and set the last of the dishes on the tray, I had that well-known, sinking feeling in my gut.

And boy, was that feeling spot-on.

The moment I left the kitchen, I nearly dropped the tray with the food I was carrying. I had no idea how I did it, but I managed to fight my way through the masses and set the tray on the main table.

What I witnessed was a full-blown orgy. People were having sex and performing different acts of pleasure to each other in every corner of the house. It seemed that the only untouched area was the kitchen, which I deemed a safe space as I bolted right back.

Sadly for me, the moment I entered it in hurry, I didn't notice someone standing there, waiting for me. I ran into the bane of my existence full-force, and once again, almost landed on the floor. Only almost because he managed to catch me.

"You're making running into me a habit, reject," he chuckled as he steadied me.

Huffing, I turned my face away from him and mumbled a weak, "my apologies, Alpha, I wasn't looking where I was going."

I hated admitting that I wasn't paying attention just as much as I hated addressing him as Alpha.

He grabbed my chin and forced me to face him. At this point, Bane was too close to me to feel comfortable, but I ignored the intense disgust that surged through me.

"Apologize again, but this time, look into my eyes so I can see you're not faking it," he muttered, bringing his face impossibly close to mine.

Just a slight movement would be enough for our lips to touch. I had a feeling he not only knew that, but also did this on purpose to push my buttons.

Sucking in a deep breath, I stared into his eyes and repeated myself, "my apologies, Alpha, I wasn't looking where I was going."

The corner of his mouth twitched before a wide grin spread across his lips.

In all honesty, I had no idea what game he was playing here. Alphas hated it when someone looked into their eyes, it was seen as a sign of great disrespect, but this one, asked me to do it.

Maybe it was different because I, too, was supposed to be an Alpha? Or perhaps this was yet another of his twisted tests to prove something? How many hidden agendas could a person have?

"Tell me, reject,” he whispered, brushing his thumb over my lower lip and sucking in a sharp breath. "Tell me what triggered you so greatly to drop the walls you have built around yourself and be careless enough to run into people?"

My jaw nearly hit the floor. Did this moron want me to tell him word for word that I didn't want to be present around people while they were indulged in a mass orgy?

Wasn't me, admitting that I was a virgin, enough for him to understand something so simple?

And yet, I decided to play by his rules. If I did anything to trigger his insanity, there was no doubt he would pass me over to Killian.

"Again, I am very sorry for running into you, Alpha. I had no idea you were here. If I had known, I would have been more careful. As for your question, although I hoped it would be clear, I don't feel comfortable around masses of people joining a sexual act."

The more I spoke, the more my face burned. At this point, even the tips of my ears had to be bright red.

Never in my life did I imagine I would have to explain myself to a man, especially about topics as such.

What truly surprised me was the frown on his face. Bane released my chin and took a step back. Then, his eyes traveled over me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes and the frown on his face only deepened.

"Weird," he hummed. As if he wasn't a freaking weirdo all this time, he had to prove that he was worthy of that title as he sniffed the air and then, chuckled, "shit, how is this possible?"

Since it felt like the question was meant for him, not me, I didn't offer a comment.

I just stood in front of him, awkwardly switching my weight from one leg to another while he sunk deeper in his thoughts. I truly hoped he would get so occupied by them, I could find a moment to sneak away before he came up with another sick punishemend.

But of course, as my luck would have it, Bane broke out of his thoughts and shook his head.

Then, he sniffed the air around us again and let out what sounded like a displeased hiss.

"Why are you not aroused, god damn it? You just witnessed the hottest fucking thing one could see, that room if filled with powerful scent of arousal and bodily fluids. How that doesn't turn you on?" He suddenly asked, catching me completely off guard.

Now, I had to figure out how to explain something I couldn't explain. How was I supposed to know why the view didn't excite me? All I knew was how much it repulsed me.

Ever since I learned what mate bond and sex were, I had thought that intimacy between two partners was special. The two had to share a connection of sorts before they shared their bodies.

But what was happening in the room behind my back was nothing close to what I had imagined. All I could see there were bodies piled on top of bodies, all of them grabbing, gripping, squeezing and slapping one another as if there was no

tomorrow.

How could they call what they did a special moment with their partners? Did they know no shame?

"Ah, I get it," Bane called out, startling me out of my thoughts. The grin on his lips didn't fade as he stepped closer and stood right next to me. He threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me flush against his side. "You're stuck in the world of delusions. You are one of those who believe sex is special, right? Well, let me be the first one who can open your eyes to reality then."