Page 52 of X-Clan The Origin

My inner animal hummed as though agreeing with that assessment.

She’d chosen him from the first day we’d met.

I’d just been fighting the instinct while being utterly rude to Jonas.

But he didn’t seem to mind now.

His light blue eyes were intense, holding me captive as he said, “And after I claim you, I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you what it means to have a good Alpha mate.”

CHAPTERELEVEN

JONAS

Somewhere in North Carolina

I didn’t believein mincing words or providing false promises. I gave Riley the truth. Because if I knotted her during this heat, I would also be claiming her.

It had nothing to do with control and everything to do with my wolf’s overbearing need to make this woman ours.

I could tame my rut and refrain from knotting her. I could walk away right fucking now.

However, the moment I gave in to her need, I’d lose myself to my wolf. I could control him. I could tell him to stop. I could even force him not to claim her.

But I didn’t want to.

If she desired my knot, she would be receiving all of me.

Because I refused to go halfway with her.

Not after everything she’d admitted. Not after our last year together. Not after feeling her fall apart beneath my hands.

I was done waiting on the sidelines and bowing as required.

On this one thing, I would demand submission.

But if she rejected me right now, if she told me no, I would respect her wishes. I would finish our bath, put her somewhere comfortable, and go guard her to the best of my ability.

However, I wouldn’t knot her.

Because at that point, she wouldn’t deserve it.

There was a lot I would do for this female, but I drew the line at this. It would hurt too much to only give her part of myself, not all of me.

Maybe that made me selfish.

Or an asshole.

Or the opposite of a good Alpha.

But it felt right to demand this, to make her see how good we could be together.

Her wolf already wanted me.

Now it was up to the woman to accept me.

She flinched, causing me to release her chin. My heart sank as she began to move away from me.

I’d probably pushed her too far. Given her anxiety over the claiming process and the notion of an Alpha taking away her identity. I couldn’t blame her.