Page 3

CHAPTER 3

S ilas

I watched Jax tighten his hold on her arm, her posture still loose, still so much in control despite the fact that she was a captive in very dangerous enemy territory. She let him lead her away, the blindfold still covering her eyes. She didn’t stumble, didn’t hesitate. Even shrouded in darkness, she moved like someone who knew exactly where she was going.

Like someone who had walked blind through worse places than this.

The fire crackled behind me, but I barely felt its warmth anymore. My body was wound tight, every muscle braced against the wrongness of what had just happened.

That scent. That voice. That fucking smirk.

She had gotten under my skin, set my instincts on edge in a way I didn’t like. And the worst part was that I hadn’t just scented her arousal.

I had felt my own.

My hands clenched into fists, jaw tightening as I forced my breathing to steady. I needed to get my shit together, push whatever this was out and deal with the problem the way I handled everything else—calmly, rationally.

She was an intruder, a possible spy, and that was it. I needed to keep calm and remain in control just like my pack expected me to.

I let Jax take her ahead, forcing myself to stay by the fire, listening as the camp slowly settled around me. My wolves still watched me from the edges, curious and waiting. They had felt it too, whatever had passed between us back there.

I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me shaken. As the Alpha, I couldn’t.

So I gave it a few minutes.

Long enough to regain control, to school my face back into an unreadable mask that hid the chaos swirling around in my head. Then, when I was certain no one would question me, I turned on my heel and followed.

Jax and two guards stood just outside my cabin, their stances tense. The moment I approached, Jax gave me a look.

“You sure about this?” he dared to ask.

I didn’t answer him. Just pushed past him, opening the door and stepping inside.

The girl stood near the fireplace, still blindfolded, her head cocked slightly, listening. Even without her sight, I could tell she was taking in every detail: measuring distances, noting exits.

Good.

That meant she knew exactly how fucked she was if she tried to run.

The guards stepped inside behind me, but I lifted a hand, stopping them at the threshold.

“I’ll handle this,” I said calmly.

They hesitated, but after a beat, Jax gave a curt nod. “We’ll be right outside.”

The door shut with a heavy thud, locking us inside. Still, she didn’t move.

I exhaled slowly, my fingers twitching at my sides.

I had been aroundfor a long time. Long enough to know that this intense reaction to a human woman wasn’t normal. I should be able to put her in her place, make her realize that I wasn’t a wolf to be trifled with. I wasn’t a pup, led by his instincts, or some green soldier, easy to manipulate.

I was an Alpha. A warrior. A survivor.

So why did she make me feel so unsteady?

I closed the distance between us in a few long strides until we were almost toe to toe. I caughtthescentof her arousalagain, stronger than it had been before. Her chest rose and fell a bit faster now, but her expression didn’t change.

I stared at her for a long moment, my heart slamming against my ribs, willing myself to say something, anything to cut through the tension that hovered between us.

But I didn’t speak.

I reached for her instead.

My fingers brushed the back of her neck, sliding under her hair. It was soft, fine, the strands silky against my skin. She froze the second I touched her, her body stiffening, but she didn’t move away.

“Let’s get something very clear,” I said, letting my voice drop, low and even. “I’m not someone you can toy with. If you’re a spy, you’re wasting your time. If you’re running from something, I don’t care. You’re a problem, and that’s the only thing that matters to me. You’ll give me the answers I need, or you will find yourself regretting your silence.”

She just tilted her head a bit.

“Is that a threat?” she asked, her tone light, almost amused. “Or a promise?”

The heat in my gut flared again.

I stepped closer, leaning down close enough that I could feel her breath against my lips. My hand stayed on the back of her neck, and I let my thumb stroke the soft skin at the base of her skull. Instantly, her entire body tightened.

But still, she didn’t pull away.

“It’s both,” I answered harshly.

I let the silence stretch between us, my thumb still stroking lightly, the only sound the crackle of the fire echoing throughout the room. Her pulse thumped beneath my fingers, a little too fast, but still measured and steady.

I tightened my grip on her neck and a soft sound escaped her.

My cock twitched.

Fuck.

“Let’s try this again,” I murmured, and this time, my voice was soft and smooth. “What are you doing out here? Where did you come from? Who sent you?”

She lifted her chin, lips parting. “I don’t answer to wolves.”

“You’ll answer to me.”

A smile broke across her face. “Or what? You’ll growl at me? Make me beg?”

The image flashed through my mind before I could stop it. Her, naked on her back, legs spread, pussy dripping, waiting. Waiting for me to take her, hard and fast.

Heat slammed through me, and a low, ragged sound slipped out.

This was a mistake.

I had no business getting this close to her, no matter how badly my wolf wanted to claim her, but now that I was, I couldn’t stop. The longer I was near her, the more my body demanded that I take her. The need built inside me, spiraling and unrelenting.

Part of me wanted to give in. To let go. To claim her.

That was the moment I knew I was fucked.

I should have walked away, told her I would deal with her later. Instead, I moved closer, until there were mere inches separating our bodies. She took a step away from me, only to find a wall at her back. A soft huff escaped her lips, but she held her chin up even as I again closed the distance between us.

Her hands rose then, reaching for the blindfold, but I caught both her wrists in one hand and pinned them over her head.

“What did I tell you about taking off that blindfold?” I demanded, my cock jumping at the frustrated twist of her lips. Honestly, it was really kind of cute. What was happening to me?

“Fuck you,” she said, jutting her chin higher.

Such a brave little thing.

Her breasts pressed against my chest, rising and falling with every breath.

“You should watch that sassy mouth of yours,” I said, and this time, my words were a warning.

A soft sound like a purr slipped from her, and her lips parted.

“Make me.”

Everything went still. A moment passed. Then two. And then, just like that, the world blurred. There was no thinking, no hesitation. One second, I was in control, and the next…

I completely lost it.

My other hand tangled in her hair, pulling hard, yanking her against me. She gasped, and I crushed my mouth to hers, claiming her in a brutal kiss.

The moment our lips met, it was like a lightning bolt struck us from the heavens.

Primal instinct ripped through me, and I bit her lip hard enough to hurt. Her mouth opened wider, her body surging up against mine. A moan escaped her, but she didn’t pull away.

She kissed me back, harder. My grip in her hair tightened against her scalp, and I jerked her head back, exposing her throat. I dragged my teeth along her neck, licking and nipping at her skin, and a shudder racked her frame.

Fuck.

I couldn’t think.

Couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t do anything but want.

Her hands curled into fists above her head, and she arched her back, pressing herself closer. I ground against her, the line of my hard cock pressing against her core.

She keened, a soft, high whine.

That sound snapped the last thread of control I had left.