Accidentally Fell For My Ex's Uncle. The Dark Alpha novel Chapter 5

REMI POV

"You stink."

I jolted awake to find Nero hovering over me in bed. Actually hovering. Like a creep.

"What the—" I shoved at his chest. "Is this your kink or something?"

"I needed to confirm you were still alive." He didn't move. Just kept staring at me with those intense silver eyes. " You made it to day two."

"Congratulations to me. Now get off."

"Your breath," he said flatly. "It smells like something died in your mouth."

My face burned. "Well, you locked me in here without clothes or a toothbrush, so excuse me for not being minty fresh."

He leaned closer. Inhaled at my neck this time.

"Nero, what are you—"

"Your scent. Underneath the bad breath and fear." His voice was rough. "It's distracting."

Heat flooded through me. "Distracting how?"

His eyes met mine Hungry. "The kind of distracting that makes me want to keep you tied in this bed all day."

My breath caught.

Then he pulled back and stood. "But you still need to fix that breath situation. I'll have my mother send clothes."

"Wait, about last night—"

"Last night is irrelevant." His voice went cold. "Oh, and I already sent your family the peace offering. For your death."

"My what—"

The door slammed.

He left.

I sat there, stunned.

He'd just told me he wanted to keep me in bed all day. Then sent my family a death notice.

What the actual fuck.

Then I smelled my own breath.

"Oh god. He's right. I smell like a dumpster."

An hour later, I was sneaking through the palace hallways wrapped in a bedsheet like the world's worst toga.

No clothes had arrived. My breath was still toxic. And I remembered my grandmother's remedy—tunise leaves. I'd seen a garden yesterday.

I found it easily. Rows of herbs and flowers. And there—tunise, growing wild near the fountain.

I plucked a handful, rubbed them between my palms, and started chewing.

That's when I heard it.

Moaning.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," I muttered. "What kind of palace is this?"

I moved toward the sound and froze.

A man who looked exactly like Nero had a maid bent over a stone bench. Her dress hiked up.

His pants around his ankles. He was fucking her. Hard.

Heat shot through me.

I should've left. Should've turned around.

But I couldn't stop watching.

And worse—I couldn't stop imagining.

Nero's hands instead of his. Nero's body. Nero bending me over that bench, his breath hot on my neck, his voice rough: "You've been driving me insane since you fell into my life."

His hand sliding up my thigh. Higher.

"Tell me you want this."

My thighs clenched. My wolf purred.

Last night's kiss had awakened something hungry in me. Something that wanted him to stop holding back and just—

"Enjoying the show?"

I snapped back to reality.

The man had stopped. The maid scurried away, adjusting her dress. He was staring directly at me.

Smirking.

"I wasn't—I didn't mean to—"

"You're flushed." He grinned. "I'm Abel," he said. "Third-in-command. Nero's younger, better-looking brother."

I stared at him. "You look exactly like him."

"Except I'm handsome. And I actually know how to satisfy a woman.

My face burned hotter. "Your whole family is sick. I'm leaving."

"Says the girl wrapped in a bedsheet, watching strangers fuck in gardens." He tilted his head. "Did Nero fuck you so hard you're walking around with no clothes? Or is he just keeping you ready for whenever he wants another round?"

"He didn't—we didn't—"

"Really? Because you kissed him last night. Pretty desperately from what I heard." His eyes dragged over me. "And the way you were watching just now... you definitely want him to."

"I'm leaving."

"Running away? That's disappointing." He leaned in, voice dropping. "My brother's an idiot, by the way. If you were mine, I wouldn't let you out of bed long enough to need clothes."

I turned and practically ran.

His laughter followed me. "Nice ass, by the way! Nero's a lucky bastard!"

I was almost to my door when I saw her.

Nero's mother. Leaving my room. A handkerchief pressed to her face.

"Allergies," she said curtly when she noticed me staring.

She walked past without another word.

Inside, I found a dress laid out on the bed. Beautiful. Way nicer than I expected. Deep burgundy silk that looked expensive. I expected something ugly. Like in the books where the evil mother-in-law gives the bride rags.

There was a note attached: Wait to be summoned.

I picked up the dress. It smelled like lavender and something sweet.

Probably just expensive perfume.

I bathed and dressed. The fabric felt amazing against my skin. I looked like a princess in the mirror.

Maybe his mother was warming up to me after all.

I was summoned an hour later.

The council chamber was massive. At the head of the table sat Nero, flanked by Kade and Abel.

On the other side of the table: other Alphas. Including Alpha Manuel from Riverside. My pack.

And at the far end—Nero's mother.

No. Wait.

Two of her.

Identical. Same silver hair. Same cold eyes. Same everything.

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