Page 21 of Forced Alpha Bride (Wolfshade Brides-for-Hire #3)

While I watch Damon talking to the council, a cold knot of fear in my guts slowly starts to bleed out until I’m frozen from head to foot.

What is going on right now?

I expected Damon to immediately mobilize. For the investigation, if not a full-on attack.

People are actually dead, and he’s not going to send out warriors?

The cold horror inside me starts to dissolve as fiery nerves shoot through my stomach, sending electric shivers of anxiety running over my skin.

We’ve slept together. I’m stuck with him now!

I can’t draw air into my lungs, and the world spins around me a little as I realize Damon might be a villain. And now not only am I chained to him forever—he has full control of Gryphon Eyrie.

What have I done?

Damon and Regina are still facing off, and I’m a step behind Damon, so I can’t see his face. But I can see Regina, and she looks so completely furious, I wouldn’t be surprised if she called the alpha’s challenge right then and there.

And who would I support? Do I want to stay married to Damon?

“We cannot wait, Alpha,” Regina says, her voice stern. “Maybe you don’t understand the urgency of the situation. If you don’t want to organize an attack, then perhaps I can understand, given that we have been weakened, but you must begin your investigation immediately.”

“As I said, I’ve just sent the others to rest—” Damon replied.

“And while they lay in bed, important evidence may be covered up,” Mitchell says. “We believe this was Valentine Creek, and if you want to prove us wrong, you need to move now while the trail is hot.”

Nerves sizzle under my skin as I watch the exchange. If Damon refuses to investigate, it will look like a clear sign he has sided with the enemy.

Last night, I wasn’t thinking straight! He made me feel so good, I just couldn’t stop myself. He was injured, and I thought I might lose him forever. It was unthinkable to not explore this feeling… to be denied it for the rest of my life!

I feel ashamed that I let my lust cloud my good sense, and a shudder runs through me as I realize I may have quite literally ruined my life with one impulsive decision. All my reservations about sex come roaring back, affecting me to the point I actually press my knees together.

A little late for that now.

“Alright,” Damon says. “I’ll make some calls and send out a few scouts. I want men on this I can trust, and most of them have been up all night, serving the pack.”

“If I may say,” Regina puts in, using a tone that clearly states she won’t be silenced, “if you put only your close friends on this task, and they come back with nothing, it will not look good for you.”

Damon tenses up, squaring his shoulders and planting his feet.

Regina doesn’t budge, and neither does Mitchell.

I take a look around at the other council members, and they are watching us intently.

It’s obvious they are all of one mind, and more than happy to let Regina and Mitchell speak for the group.

Finally, Damon sighs. “I will find a few of my personal council to send out. Mitchell, will you do the same?”

“On it,” Mitchell answers, pulling out his phone. The look on his face plainly states he’s planned this already and was just waiting for his opportunity.

“Wonderful,” Regina says with satisfaction. “This is the right move, Alpha. I still personally believe we should attack, but—”

“Attack while they are strong, and we are weak?” Damon asks. “They obviously have firepower, explosives, and a decent force of warriors. Most of ours are injured or exhausted after last night. Do you really think this is a good time to go head-to-head?”

Regina looks away, her mouth twisting a little. “You’re right,” she admits begrudgingly. “My need for justice obscured my good sense for a moment. We should fully recover before we attack.”

“If we attack,” Damon corrects.

“I appreciate your balanced view,” Mitchell says, implying he doesn’t appreciate it at all, “but you must be ready to act. This feud has gone on for generations, and we all want to see the end of it. We just want to be safe, and you owe it to us, especially now. I wasn’t happy you won the challenge.

But I did hope that a wolf who could triumph in the ring would have the strength to act on this. ”

“Understood,” Damon answers. “For now, my decision is made. When the scouts return, we shall discuss it again.”

Mitchell nods, clearly not satisfied but not willing to push further. I watch everyone make a few calls, then Damon turns around to take my hand.

He smiles at me, but instead of looking mischievous and cute, he looks malicious and deceitful. The big brown eyes aren’t soft and pretty, but dark and cold. When his hand closes around mine, all I can feel is his hard strength, pinning me to him, trapping me, and it doesn’t feel exciting at all.

It’s horrifying. What have I done?

“I need to go home now, with my mate,” Damon says to the others.

Regina and Mitchel look at each other, then back at Damon.

“You aren’t going out to search?” Regina asks.

“No, I have things to discuss with Winnie.”

I watch Mitchell and Regina, wondering if I could send them some kind of signal. If Damon goes out to patrol, then we might be able to figure out a way to topple him from power without anyone else getting hurt.

Especially me.

Mitchell gives me a questioning look, but he obviously doesn’t read my distress. “Alright, Alpha,” he says. “Tending to your mate is very important. I hope to see you return to the council before our scouts return.”

“I will,” Damon says, tightening his grip on my hand. As he turns to walk towards the car, he speeds up, forcing me to trot along behind him, almost stumbling to keep up.

I feel like a possession, a toy, and it’s not fun anymore.

We get into the car, and Damon finally seems to notice how nervous I am. I try to calm down so he doesn’t suspect anything, but his intense focus on me only makes it worse.

“Are you alright?” he asks.

“Sure, fine,” I say blandly.

“You just seem… different. To last night.”

“I’m worried about the pack,” I reply. “The attack was bad, and people are hurt. Now we have more wolves out in the field. Maybe I should be at the hospital, or the council, and you should be on patrol.”

“Maybe I should be,” he says, grinning. “But I want to spend a bit more time with you before all the shit goes down.”

I find his words chilling and his grin predatory. It feels like he’s referring to events he knows are coming. Things he’s been planning for a long time.

What have I done? I’ve caused the downfall of the whole pack just because I couldn’t keep my damn legs shut!

We pull into the driveway. The townhouse looks more like a prison than a home.

I open the car door slowly, trying to hide the fact my hands are shaking.

I give some serious thought to just running, but I know from experience that he’ll easily catch me—and now he has the legal right to do anything he wants with me.

Because we’re consummated. Now I belong to him. Last night, that’s exactly what I wanted. How could I be so stupid?

Damon hums to himself as he unlocks the door. Smiling, he turns to beckon me inside. I shiver when he touches me as I walk past, and he misinterprets my response.

“We can go and play again, if you like,” he says, coming up behind me to whisper in my ear. He clamps one hand on my shoulder, squeezing hard as he nuzzles my neck and runs his other hand up my leg.

“I don’t want—” I begin.

“Oh, come on,” he murmurs, grazing my ear with his lips. “I saw how much you enjoyed yourself last night. Don’t be shy, Winnie. I adore giving you pleasure.”

I’m trembling in his hands, and now it’s not fear. Arousal is rushing through me, turning my nipples into hard points and making every inch of my skin painfully sensitive. Deep between my legs, that sharp, intense ache is back, and it makes my clit throb as I can feel myself start to get wet.

“I can tell you want to,” he whispers. “I’ll get the chains, if you like.”

“No,” I stammer, relieved to have found my voice. “Let’s get something to eat, okay? I’m not ready to… play again.”

“Okay,” he says, backing off to take my hand so he can lead me down the hall. “We can save the good stuff for later.”

A sigh eases through my lungs as my immediate fear fades, but I know my reprieve won’t last.

He will try again… and maybe he won’t stop if I say no.

Shockingly, my arousal doesn’t fade at that thought. Instead, it gets worse.

Why am I so turned on right now? This doesn’t make any sense!

Damon continues to hum happily when we enter the kitchen, and I sit down at the table, miserably staring at my hands. He wanders around, going through the cupboards until he finally looks at me and frowns.

“I know you said you’re okay, but are you really? You look so down.”

“Like I said, I feel bad about the state the pack is in,” I say. “Maybe we aren’t doing our duty—”

“Oh, come on,” he grins. “We can have tonight together, and it won’t do any harm. Things are nice and quiet, and I’ve got my phone on, ready to receive reports from scouts. Leave all that worry for tomorrow.”

I look up at him, trying to keep the suspicion out of my expression. All of this sounds exactly like what someone would say if they were pulling a double cross.

“Winnie,” he says, sitting down across from me and taking my hand. “I’m genuinely concerned for you. I don’t like seeing you like this, especially after last night. I need you by my side. You’re the most important thing in the world to me.”

Because you need me to gain control of the other packs! You can use me to force their cooperation when you let Valentine Creek take over Gryphon Eyrie!

My earlier thought of him bringing peace to the packs looks like a foolish child’s dream. All his behavior so far clearly points to him wanting to bring in his father’s people for a hostile takeover.

He lied to me when he said he’d never been there… he lied to everyone. He’s working with them and always has been. I should have listened to Krista and Regina. They were trying to protect me!

“I’m just tired,” I answer, looking into his eyes with as much determination as I can muster. “Can we just have something to eat and not talk about this? I want to get to bed early so we’re well-rested for whatever happens tomorrow.”

“Okay,” he says. “I understand.”

He appears disappointed, maybe even wounded, but I just pull my hands from his grip and sit back, crossing my arms.

You took everything I had under false pretenses. I owe you nothing!

“I’ll make something to eat,” he says casually. “Then we can go to bed. You’re right, we should be well-rested.”

Despite his light tone, I feel a sense of threat in his tone, and I wonder what he’ll do to me when he finally gets me in his bed. A rush of desire runs through me again, so powerful that it almost makes me cry.

Stop it… just stop it!

I put my hands on my lap and jam my teeth together, concentrating on controlling my body. It isn’t easy, but I manage to take the edge off my lust until it’s just a low, distant throb.

Damon makes dinner, though I don’t even really notice what it is. He tries to make conversation, and I give minimal responses, just enough to placate him. As we finish the meal, I notice him watching me suspiciously, and I realize I’ve fucked up.

He knows…

“Ready to go to bed?” he asks.

“I was wondering if I should sleep on the couch,” I say, trying to sound casual.

Immediately, his face changes. Fire burns behind his eyes, and his cute red lips turn down into a scowl.

“Absolutely not,” he snaps. “I don’t know what’s going on with you right now. Is this some kind of game?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I just really want to get some rest, and I’d prefer to sleep alone—”

“Nope,” he says firmly. “No fucking way.”

He grabs my hand and drags me into the living room. When he grabs the chains off the floor, I start shivering violently, wondering what he’s going to do to me. My arousal returns in full force, coloring me with shame.

“Don’t worry,” he says, making sure the chain is short so I don’t have much movement. “I won’t take you—not unless you beg me—but you’re just acting too weird for me to leave you loose.”

“Damon, I—”

“Look, I really don’t want to hear it. I’ve got enough on my mind right now.

I’d rather just keep you chained for my own peace of mind.

If you’re still into it, then I’ve just given you what you want.

If I’m right, and you’re feeling like you want to run, then let this be a lesson to you that you can’t fool me. Understood?”

“Yes,” I mumble, trying not to cry. “I understand.”

He leads me upstairs, keeping the chains tight. To my surprise, he makes sure I’m comfortable for bed, letting me put on pajamas and helping me settle under the blanket, but he does make sure the chains are fixed tightly to the bed frame. I don’t have much slack between my wrists.

I lie beside him, struggling to relax enough to go to sleep. I wish that it were fear or conflict that kept me awake, but all I can do is imagine his hands on me, and all I can feel is the craving deep within that begs for the release only he can give me.