Page 14 of Forsaken Desire (Ruthless Wolves #1)

I tapped my fingers against the arm of the cushioned chair in my home office.

Cierra had crossed a line in sending out a message to gather all my wolves.

It was the last time she would do something like this—but it also proved her desperation.

She’d been trying to speak to me for too long, and I’d ignored her.

I scrubbed my face with my palm. About half the amount of usual pack members had arrived and still more were coming.

I would handle the Cierra situation tonight.

She would learn that the only reason she had a say was because I allowed it.

This would be the last fucking time she stepped out of line and took me away from my mate.

All I could think about was getting back to Josephine.

My everything .

She’d gotten my name tattooed on her, but that wasn’t the worst of it, she’d been a fucking virgin, and I’d rutted her brutally.

Fucking was fucking. A release to clear my mind from the hard-ons of the memory of her kiss.

I never cared who I fucked. It was just a body, so I’d taken to fucking shifter whores since she left my life.

It was easier than anything else, there was no confusion on their end, and they never questioned my requirement of being slathered in vanilla lotion or perfume.

The memory of her innocent, hurt eyes from our first meeting punched me in the gut, but I would never cause her pain again.

If she found out the truth, that would hurt her .

. . and she could reject me. Nausea swirled in my stomach.

She would never leave me. I squeezed the armrest so hard a fissure opened in the wood.

“Alpha? Are you okay?” Bruno asked. His voice brought me back to the present. I looked at him standing across my desk.

I grunted.

“What do you want me to do about the social media post?” He’d been reading from something about one of the pack members that had ended up putting our existence in danger.

“Have our journalist write a piece on the dangers of believing photoshopped videos. Then call our pack IT guy.” I paused, snapping my fingers, trying to remember his name.

“Juan?”

“Yes, have him bury all those videos.”

“Yes, Sir,” he murmured.

“What is on the itinerary for the pack meeting?”

“Ah, two different situations?—”

My phone rang, and Bruno stopped speaking. I growled and snatched it up.

Cierra again .

Each time I saw her name flash across my screen aggravated me.

My mate shouldn’t have anything to do with her.

I would remove Cierra from the pack immediately if the land I would receive from her wasn’t in her name still.

The piece of land right beside Gideon Drake’s property.

That bastard wanted it, which meant I took it.

“There is one more sensitive issue I need you to handle.” I met Bruno’s gaze, and he lowered his head, waiting.

“Get Juan to begin to remove all electronic access from Cierra without her knowledge. Passcodes, key cards, change it all.” His eyebrows raised so high that they almost merged with his mop of hair.

“Our Luna’s access?”

“She is not your Luna,” I snapped, and he clamped his lips tightly shut. She would never be.

He bared his neck and avoided my eyes.

“Sorry, Alpha.”

Standing, I jerked on the lapels of my suit as I strode to the door. He shuffled away from me. Exiting my office, I walked down the hall of my home to my bedroom to change. I selected a simple shirt and sweats. These gatherings always ended up with blood spatter. This time, it may well be Cierra’s.

Tonight, she’d crossed the line in calling a gathering.

The issue was of my doing and now I had to unravel it.

I folded my clothes and placed them in the laundry basket.

Josephine needed a new wardrobe. I’d had a few items ordered, but I also wanted her to select pieces for herself. Once I learned a bit more of her tastes, I could tailor things to them.

A smile stretched my lips. My precious mate wouldn’t want for anything.

She enjoyed my touch, craved it almost as much as I craved her. Having her was a blessing and I’d almost lost out on it forever.

I’d thought I’d lost her. Emotion clogged my throat.

Keeping myself in control remained a precarious balance. Bend her over. Claim her. That was all that pulsed through my veins. The madness caused from losing her, but she seemed hungry for touch and comfort. I would do whatever she needed of me.

If she ever discovered my rejection . . . I gripped the doorknob hard. She reserved the right to hit me, punish me— fuck, she could run me over if she wanted. She could do with me as she wished but only as long as she didn’t leave.