Page 24 of The Reaper's Vow

She huffs a little, stretching.Traitor.

“You’ll stay in my space,” Damien says again, as if repeating it makes it more acceptable. “No one will come near you. Not without going through me.” There’s something brutal in the way he says it, something final. Like a warning, or a promise. Maybe both.

“And if I say no?” I ask.

“Then I’ll carry you.”

My mouth goes dry. As much as I want to fight him, scream at him, throw open the door and launch myself into the forest, we both know I won’t.

Because if half of what he’s said is true...then the only thing more dangerous than staying with Damien isnotstaying with him.

“How long have you known?”

“Known what?”

“About...this.” I gesture vaguely between us, unable to say the words aloud.

He's silent for so long I think he won't answer. When he finally speaks, his voice is rougher than before. “My whole life. It's pack knowledge. Something every wolf grows up understanding.”

Of course. Another thing my parents kept from me in their desperate attempt to make me normal. “My parents never told me.”

“They did you a disservice.” His jaw clenches. “Leaving you unprepared for what you are.”

“They were protecting me.” The defense comes automatically, even though part of me has always wondered if he's right.

“From what? Your own nature?” He takes a sharp turn, tires gripping the asphalt. “Look how well that worked out.”

I want to argue, but the words stick in my throat because he's not wrong. Twenty-seven years of suppressing my wolf, ofpretending to be human, and where has it gotten me? Sitting in a killer's car and being dragged to a compound filled with more wolves.

“They tried their best,” I say finally, though the words taste hollow.

“Their best left you defenseless. Ignorant.” His voice drops lower, more intimate. “Tell me kitten, how many times have you felt like something was missing? Like you were only living half a life?”

The question hits too close to home. I press my lips together, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer. But he doesn't need one, my silence is confirmation enough.

“That's what I thought.” He reaches over, his fingers brushing against mine where they rest on my thigh. The contact sends fire racing through my veins, and I jerk my hand away. “Your wolf's been starving, hasn't she? Locked away, denied everything she needs.”

“Stop.” My voice cracks despite my best efforts to stay composed. “You don't know anything about my life.”

“I know enough. We have the rest of our lives to dive into the details. First, I need to secure your safety without killing every single male on that fucking compound. Your cycle complicates it even more.”

My cheeks burn with humiliation. Living amongst humans made this part of my life so much easier. They can’t smell it.

“That's none of your business,” I snap, pressing thighs together.

“It becomes my business when I'm taking you to a compound full of wolves.” His hands tighten on the steering wheel until I hear it creak under the pressure. “Fuck. This is the last thing we need right now.”

“I have suppressants in my bag,” I say, though I know they're not strong enough to mask it completely. Just enough to take the edge off until it passes.

“Suppressants won't do shit in a wolf compound.” He's grinding his teeth now, the muscle in his jaw working overtime. “Every male will smell you the moment we arrive.”

“Take me back.” I grab the door handle, though I know it's useless. We're moving too fast, and even if I could jump out, where would I go? “This is a sign from the universe that this is a terrible idea.”

His laugh is humorless. “The universe doesn't give signs, kitten. It gives consequences.”

“Don't call me that.” I wrap my arms around myself. “My name is Karina.”

“Karina,” he says, and something about the way my name rolls off his tongue makes my wolf stir again. “Your cycle complicates things, but it doesn't change my decision. You're coming with me.”