“Fight it all you like, Brae. In fact, I hope you fucking do fight me. This thing between us—it’s happening. After I’ve claimed you, you can do whatever the fuck you want as long as I approve of it. You’re about to know how the bitches beneath you feel when they’re nothing but a fucking breeder. That was your worst fear, wasn’t it? Being nothing more than a pretty womb that some alpha used to breed his pups?”
I didn’t answer him. Instead, I studied the changes in his face. He’d grown into a primal male that exuded alpha pheromones. He’d surpassed all my expectations. Sea-green eyes that changed with his mood held mine, and the midnight hair that dusted his forehead and shoulders held a blue tint beneath the moon’s illuminating light.
His eyes drifted over the changes in my face, no longer the teenage girl he’d fallen in love. My body had blossomed in his absence, and my breasts had gone from an average B-cup to a D. My hips had filled out, accentuated by a slight bubble butt that gave it a healthy bounce. I’d also shot up, reaching six feet in height, which still made me seem fragile and delicate to his nearly seven-foot frame.
“You grew up, Brat. You grew up good, didn’t you?” Saint mused with a thickness in his tone that caused my nipples to harden from an eagerness to feel his heated breath against them. His thumb moved, rubbing over my full lips before he snorted. “Red isn’t your color. What’s the matter? Can’t speak without your daddy present to hear your words?”
“I don’t need my father to tell me how fucked I am right now, Saint. I can do the math on that one myself.” He lowered his mouth to my ear and nipped my earlobe. He tugged it with his teeth, releasing it as a growl escaped his chest with a deep vibration that slithered over my body.
“You have no idea how fucked you really are, but you will figure it out soon enough. Now be a good girl and show me to your bedroom. I can’t have you watching me slaughter your daddy while you’re still wearing your fucking mating gown; now can we, boys?” Saint smiled cruelly as they laughed. “Move, or I’ll remind you why pissing me off isn’t a good idea.”
Chapter Two
Saint and his men walked me through the hallways that were now crawling with strangers. Unfortunately, in true fashion, they blocked anyone from seeing my skimpily clothed body while keeping me from seeing anyone else. The scents of human hunters, demons, and wolves inside the lodge set off warning bells in my head. Those three types of creatures never went together. No matter how hard they tried to be allies, it always ended in a bloodbath.
At the door to my room, Eryx reached past me, opening it only to groan as they discovered it was filled with women. His startling green eyes moved back to meet mine, and then a deep, loud growl rumbled from his chest, sending the betas and omegas in my room into a frenzy. My body pulsed, and Saint chuckled, yanking me back as his arm slung around my middle, pulling my body against his.
The women slinked out of the room, some of them crawling on their knees in fear. I had to fight the urge to kick Eryx for creating their panic, but I was certain I’d pay for any slight against them. Saint’s thumb rubbed my nipple, the action done on purpose to let me know he smelled the arousal that was oozing from my body.
Once the room was emptied and the men had checked it for weapons, Saint shoved me inside without warning. I tripped, catching myself before I could face-plant onto the floor. Turning, I watched as he entered behind me, closing the door. He silently moved his eyes over my scarcely filled room, picking up a chair that he placed at the end of my bed, sitting on it to watch me.
“Strip,” he growled, sitting back in a relaxed pose with his hands on the armrests of the chair.
“No,” I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest to hide the tremor in my hands from his raspy tone. Saint’s lips twisted into a sardonic smile as his eyes sparkled with mirth while he let his gaze slide down my lithe frame.
“Take off the fucking mating gown, Braelyn. I won’t ask you again,” he warned huskily.
“I told you no, Saint.” He stood abruptly and moved toward me without warning.
I back-peddled, and a soft cry escaped my lips when my rear connected with the dresser. Saint’s hands landed on either side of me, caging my body against the wood. The amusement in his expression sent a ripple of warning through me. His mouth lowered, brushing against mine, hovering there without touching my lips. I knew he felt my body tremble from his nearness, smelling the anxiousness his proximity created.
“It wasn’t a request, Brat. I wasn’t asking you to take it off. I was telling you to remove the gown you intended to fuck Carlson in, now,” he murmured softly, sending confusion through me.
He stood back, watching me as his hands trailed over my shoulders, sliding to the front of the gown before he tore it wide open.
My chest rose and fell with labored breathing. Saint held my stare captive, never dropping his gaze to my breasts. The gown slithered to the floor, pooling around my feet before something cold pressed against my stomach. My entire body shuddered at feeling a blade against my naked belly. My attention remained on his face, uncaring that it would probably be the last thing I ever saw before he murdered me.
Lips trembling, I gasped as the cold blade moved over my heated skin. His lips curled into a sinful smile before he lowered his attention to my bralette, sliding the knife blade beneath it to cut through the lace, revealing my left breast. He did the same with the other, leisurely moving the blade higher to cut the straps and then the middle fabric that hugged my ribs.
“Did you fuck him?” he asked softly, running the dull edge of the blade against my erect nipple.
“No,” I replied honestly.
“Did you want to?” Saint stared at my chest as I shook my head in reply. “Use your words, Princess. I’m playing with your nipple, and I’d hate to slip.”
“No, I didn’t,” I whimpered, gasping as the blade cut into my breast. Saint lowered his heated mouth, trailing his tongue over the small cut he’d made. His saliva healed the wound, but the bite of pain remained as he stood back, studying me.
Snorting at my answer, he slid his eyes behind me before he reached over, leaning against my body to light the candles that sat on the dresser. When he was done, he turned me around to face the dresser. His hands grabbed mine, placing them onto the wooden top before he pushed my thighs apart with his foot.
“Are you afraid of me or excited? Your body is responding to mine, but you reek of fear, Princess,” Saint chuckled, his tone thick and husky.
“Both,” I admitted, hating that he could smell the state of my body.
Warm lips moved over my shoulder, sending a violent tremor rushing through me down to my toes. My stomach clenched with need while fear tugged at my mind.
Saint laughed against my skin, sending heat pooling to my core as he stepped back to take in my ass, arching for him. I was twisted, but who wouldn’t be with a mate like this asshole? My nipples pebbled into hard peaks, begging for his mouth to pleasure them. My scent released, and no matter how much I fought the wolf within me, she refused to behave with her true soul mate this close.
The dull side of his blade lowered from the base of my neck, slowly trailing to the curve of my ass. I dropped my head forward, fighting the moan that built in my throat. Saint used the blade to cut the soft material that was my only defense from him. His heavy stare burned against my skin, and I didn’t need to see his eyes to know he was taking in the curve of my spine, bowed in submission.