Page 15

A xel cursed. When it rained, it poured.

He’d finally gotten his mate in his territory and suddenly he had three of his pride members in his home.

They weren’t to blame, his home was the general headquarters for the pride, but damn, they were never here.

He’d been there the day before and the house had been empty.

To make matters worse, Scarlet had broken the bad news to him that the hyenas had changed the location of the art piece they’d been after, so all their hard work had been for nothing.

Then, he’d realized Ariadna wasn’t with them and that’s when he’d run, and just in time too.

If he hadn’t, God knew what would have happened.

He didn’t imagine she’d hurt Alice, but she would have scared her more than she already was.

His mate had fled and now he was running after her and about to pounce because his lion was on the chase.

It wasn’t a question of common sense, it had become a question of pride and possession.

She was his—his mate—and everyone had to know it so no one would ever dare question her again.

Alice reached the end of the hallway and fumbled with the lock.

He pounced. His animal instincts took over and he bit the top of her shoulder.

She screamed and lost consciousness. He lapped at her blood and the wound disappeared.

She was his. Finally. He roared his approval.

Now all that was needed to complete the ritual was for them to mate carnally and for her to bite him.

She would never truly be a lion, but she’d grow stronger, bolder.

He shifted back into human form and picked her up in his arms, cradling her.

And as he turned around, he caught sight of Ariadna still on her knees.

“Get out of here, Ariadna” he rumbled.“I can’t deal with you right now.”

Heading upstairs, he entered his bedroom and lay his mate on his—no, their —bed.

Now all that was his would be hers. Pleasure coursed through him.

He wanted to peel back the layers of her clothing, but he couldn’t, not yet.

They had to talk first, or she’d lose her mind.

Things hadn’t gone the way he’d wanted, but this could wait.

This he would make sure would work out. He grabbed his robe and sat on the armchair at the foot of his bed. He waited.

It didn’t take long before she started stirring. With a gasp she sat upright. She touched her shoulder and winced. She glanced at it. The shirt had ripped but there was nothing there, the spot where he’d pierced her gone when he’d lapped the blood.

“It will hurt for a few days.”

“You bit me,” she wept. Axel stood up to comfort her. She raised her hands with palms outward. “Get away from me.”

She curled her knees to her chest and he returned to his position. He waited for her to speak. He’d already fucked up enough as it was. Finally, after a few tense minutes, she glanced at him.

“What have you done to me?”

He was going to explain but something in her voice stopped him.

“What do you mean?” he asked instead.

“I...” She shook her head. “This is embarrassing,” she muttered.

“Baby Girl.”

She bit her lip.

“I want you. I mean, I wanted you before, obviously, or I wouldn’t have come here, but now, I just want to—” She fell silent.

“You want to what?”

“It’s wrong. You attacked me.”

“Tell me, Baby Girl,” he demanded

Her cheeks flushed as their gazes locked.

“I want to fuck you. I’m burning inside. It’s as if my skin were an incessant fire and all I want to do is strip and feel your hands on my body.”

“Do it.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“You bit me,” she said weakly.

“I did.” He agreed. “But your desire hasn’t lessened.”

“Did you drug me?”

“No.”

“Did you—”

“Alice,” he interrupted her. “You said you wanted to take off your clothes and feel me. Stop thinking. Stop talking. Do what your body desires. Follow its order. Do it. Now.”