Page 10 of Crossed Fates

Although, I wasn’t going to elaborate.

Explaining my origin would lead to a lot of questions I really didn’t want to answer. It didn’t seem all that right to tell a wolf I’d just met the truth when not even my pack knew about my job as a freelancer, let alone that I did it while jumping realms. Besides, it wasn’t really his business.

“Makayla,” he repeated, and hell if that didn’t make my thighs clench. Did he have to say it in that sexy-as-sin tone? Like he wanted to chain me to a bed and ravage me as punishment for stabbing him?

I mentally shook myself, trying to rid myself of the lustful thoughts.

But they came back with a flourish as he took a menacing step toward me.

Move,I ordered my legs.

They didn’t listen, my wolf perking up at the sight of the approaching alpha. She wanted to shift out of my skin and play with his animal.

I swallowed the urge and held his gaze, feigning a confidence I didn’t quite feel.

He took another step, his black pupils flaring to hide his sapphire irises. Energy hummed across my skin, anticipation curling in my belly.

His woodsy scent swirled around me in a welcome caress that taunted my senses, urging me to kneel in an uncharacteristic display of submission.What the hell?I never knelt for anyone. Well, except for maybe Nathan. As alpha of my pack, he could control his wolves and command them to do whatever he wanted. Not that he ever would.

But Alaric didn’t have that same power over me.

I’m not his.

I stood my ground, my spine elongating as I engaged in a battle of wills with the seething male before me. “If you weren’t my destined mate,Makayla, I would consider killing you right now.”

Harsh words.

True words.

Angry words.

My heart skipped a beat. “Are you expecting a display of gratitude?” Because if he was, he’d be waiting for a hell of a long time.

His gaze fell to my mouth, his fury lashing out at me in a palpable wave of heat. It sent a quiver through me, the brunt of it culminating in my lower belly.

Fighting always turned me on—especially when I had a decent partner—and I had no doubt this wolf would live up to my every expectation.

I licked my lips, and his nostrils flared in response.

“Kiss me and I’ll forgive you.”

“Kiss me and I’ll kill you,” I returned. I wasn’t sure if I meant it, but I tightened my grip on the hilt of his knife just in case.

He smiled. “You know, I never wanted a mate.” His blue irises bled through his black pupils, providing me with an unfettered glimpse at his stunning eyes as they slowly looked me over. “But I think I’m going to enjoy taming you, baby.”

I snorted. “Good luck with that.”

A set of dimples indented his cheeks, giving him a boyish charm that was severely at odds with the rest of him. “Keep talking,” he murmured. “You’re just turning me on more.”

I rolled my eyes, but inside, I felt a similar pull to demand he continue speaking, too. Because his voice reminded me of home. A strange sensation because he wasn’t anything like the wolves of my usual acquaintance, and yet, I felt an odd sort of kinship to him.

No, that’s not right. It’s just my wolf wanting me to roll over and let him have his wicked way with me.A fantastically dirty idea, to be sure, but not one I wanted to entertain.

Besides…“Shouldn’t you be focused on your brother right now?”

That wiped the grin from his features, his jaw hardening all over again. “You know, I would, but someone stabbed me.” He gestured angrily to his shoulder. “How the hell am I supposed to drive up to Silver Lake in this condition,Makayla?”

“If that’s your way of asking me to help you, it’s not a good approach,” I drawled, folding my arms.