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Aliya

MY HEART WAS FLUTTERINGlike an excited bird in a cage as I roamed the castle in search of Jax and Tannin. After several hours of laborious back-and-forth deliberating, I had made my decision, and to say I was nervous about declaring it was the biggest understatement of my life.

I found them in the den. Tannin was sitting on the couch, hunched forward with his hands clasped between his thighs as one knee bounced anxiously. The concern on his handsome face was almost precious. My vulnerable, gentle Tannin.

Jax stood next to the crackling fireplace, leaning beside it with his hand braced on the top of the hearth, his serious expression fixed on the dancing flames. The light cast on his features made him look even more predatory. Beautiful and deadly, that’s what he was. Like a black widow. Like a siren.

When I walked towards them, they both straightened their postures and turned to me with expectant yet apprehensive gazes. Even though a tremor quaked through my limbs, commanding the attention of such powerful creatures like them gave me the confidence I desperately needed. I was the one with the power in this moment, and I had to wield it wisely.

“This wasn’t an easy choice to make,” I prefaced, my voice ringing in the silence. “Though my kingdom is all but gone, I am still its princess, and you are black wolves. My whole life, I was raised to fear and hate your kind, as I’m sure you were mine.”

I paused, letting that resonate with them for a moment. Their features sagged with despair, and seeing it made my heart ache.

“That being said, I can’t deny the powerful hold this bond has over my body and my heart,” I continued. “I have been alone for so long, and the fact that the first two men I’ve encountered in sixteen months were mated to me must mean something. I feel like I’d be doing myself a disservice by denying the opportunity to explore this connection we share.”

Their features lifted with hope, and I fought the urge to smile in relief.

“I’m willing to try,” I said. “But, after everything that’s happened, how do I know I can trust you?”

Tannin shot to his feet and rushed toward me, taking my hands in his. “Youcantrust us, Aliya. We are fated by the stars to honor and protect you, to cherish you. And we will do whatever it takes to reassure you it’s true.”

His words touched me, warming my insides and soothing the anxious tension in my muscles. Tannin, I believed. He was the sincere one, the kind one.

But Jax was a different animal entirely. Mysterious, elusive, tricky.

He walked toward me with slow, measured steps, as if approaching a forest fawn he feared he might spook. Then he stopped inches from me, lifted his hand to my face, and oh, so gently brushed his knuckles down the side of my cheek, sending electricity sizzling over my flesh and making my eyelids flutter.

“I know we haven’t given you much reason to trust us,” he said softly. “But give us the chance to prove our devotion to you. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

The dark promise in his sensuous tone sent a thrill stabbing through me, and I wanted so badly to surrender myself to it—to him.

But I fought it, holding my ground for at least a bit longer.

“Devotion?” I asked. “Only yesterday, you were mocking me like I was an ignorant child. And just today, you shouted orders for me to leave your presence. How am I to believe this suddendevotionwon’t be washed away by the tide of your next mood swing?”

He nodded, pulling his lips between his teeth in an acceptance of guilt. “I can’t apologize enough for my earlier behavior. But I only acted that way because I was fighting a losing battle with this all-consuming hold you have over me. I’m done fighting. I surrender to you, my mate, my queen. I am yours, if you’ll have me.”

To hear Jax, this powerful, brutal Alpha, say those words to me...I couldn’t describe the way that made me feel. Strong and weak at the same time, vanity and humility all mixed into a potent cocktail of devastating desire and undying affection.

I was gone.

I nodded, letting myself nuzzle into the knuckles he still held against my cheek. He opened his hand and gently cupped my jaw.

I licked my lips, trying to force a breath into my lungs. “So, um...what do we do now?”

A wicked smile spread across Jax’s beautiful lips, and he curled his fingertips teasingly under my chin. “Now, we show you just how much we adore you.”

Before I knew what was happening, Jax picked me up and hoisted me over his shoulder, carrying me across the den and up the stairs. His free hand spread over my ass as we ascended, kneading my flesh, his fingers dipping so close to my center that I couldn’t help but squirm in anticipation.

Tannin followed behind us, holding my gaze the whole time with both feral need and tender love. I didn’t care where they were taking me, I only knew I couldn’t wait to get there.

Once in the hall on the top floor, I heard a door open behind me, and Jax carried me into a room. Tannin closed the door as Jax set me down on my feet. I only distantly realized we were in Jax’s room as both stared at me like wolves about to pounce on unsuspecting prey.

Jax reached out to run his hand up the back of my head, gently raking his fingers over my scalp.

“We’ll go slow,” he said in a deep, gravelly voice that had my core clenching. “If there’s anything you don’t like, tell us. We only exist to please you.”

I nodded dazedly, and then they descended on me.