Chapter 9

“Today was a test.” Trey’s voice was sure, but quiet. “I wanted to see how you reacted, following in my wake. And you did beautifully. But here, on your knees, this is where you belong, isn’t it? You were made for this.”

“I’m an alpha.” The words were out of my mouth before I could check them, and even as I said them, I wasn’t sure why.

“So?” Trey chuckled, but I knew he wasn’t laughing at me. “So what if you are? That doesn’t mean you can’t want this. Can’t need it.”

“I—I don’t know what this is.”

“Yes, you do.” Trey leaned in further, and his breath washed over my cheek. I shivered. “So responsive. Asher, I’m going to ask you a very hard question now, and I want you to think about it thoroughly before you answer. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Alpha.” It wasn’t what I wanted to call him, but it was as close as I would allow myself.

“When you said last night that you wanted to submit, you didn’t mean in the everyday, did you? You meant sexually, right?”

I opened my mouth, but the hard stare made me close it again. He wanted me to think about my answer before I gave it. But I didn’t have to think. I knew what I wanted. What I needed.

“Yes, I meant sexually.” My voice was soft, but sure. “But also, more.”

Trey cupped my cheeks. His thumbs smoothed through my beard, then he tilted up my face.

“More? Please explain.”

Gods, he’d said “please.” I shuddered, and he grinned, liking the reaction.

“I’m not, I mean, I don’t want…” I blew out a breath, and Trey’s gaze stayed on me, patience and caring just rolling off him in waves. It made me braver than I normally would be. “I’m not a leader. I don’t want to make decisions. I wanted to do what I’m told.”

“So brave, cub. That was so brave and thank you for telling me the truth.” He pressed his forehead to mine, and for a long moment, we just breathed each other’s air. Then he pulled away, but only far enough so I could see his eyes. “I want to help you with this. I’d love to take you to my bedroom and show you the joys, the release, of dominance and submission.”

My whole body shook, need pulsing through me. I wanted nothing more than for him to do just that. But I couldn’t. I needed it, but I couldn’t have it.

“I’m not supposed to want this.” My voice was wobbly, and I didn’t try to fix it. Need and fear seared through me in equal measure.

“What did I just say?”

My brow furrowed in confusion, not sure what he meant, but before I could voice it, Trey answered his own question.

“Just because you’re an alpha doesn’t mean you can’t have this. And as I said last night, it takes a very strong person to ask for what they need. I won’t push you. I need to have your consent. That’s the only way this can work. But know this; I can give you what you need.”

I’d already been shunned by my clan. I had no one in the world. What did I have to lose by giving in to my desires? I wanted Trey, and even more than that, I wanted him to dominate me. It might end badly, but everything in me was screaming to take the chance. And that little voice in the back of my head, the one that insisted I couldn’t do this, was silent.

“Yes, Alpha.”

He smirked. “Yes what? Give me the words, Asher.”

“Take me to your bedroom.” Then, because I couldn’t hold it in any longer, I added, “Sir.” 4

Trey led me by the hand into his bedroom. I was probably holding on too tightly, but the nerves were waging war in my gut. Anticipation and excitement were there, too, and I wanted this. But I was also a little bit scared.

Trey shut the door, then cupped my face in his hands and looked down into my eyes. “I’m not going to push too much this time,” he assured me, and the softness in his voice made my stomach flip. I also really liked that he said “this time” as though there would definitely be more. “But I will push you. I need to know I have your consent for this.”

“Yes, sir. But—” I cut myself off, not sure what I was allowed to ask.

His face melted into a smile, and even though it was full of reassurance, I saw the heat in his gaze. “Say whatever you need to.”

I nodded, though I could barely move my head within his hold. I licked my lips and swallowed before I could speak. “Will you tell me what’s going to happen?”

Trey’s mouth quirked up in a half grin, wicked and full of heat. “Some of it, yes. But you can stop this at any time. You’re putting your trust in me to dominate you, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly. But I’m also trusting you to let me know if I go too far. We don’t know each other that well yet, so I need to know you’ll tell me if it’s too much, all right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good cub. Say ‘red’ if you need things to stop immediately. ‘Yellow’ if you need to slow down or take a break or talk about something. Sound good?”

So very good. I needed him to take control, but it was so good to hear that I had a way of stopping it if I couldn’t handle it. And that was probably my biggest worry. That I thought I wanted and needed this, but that I was really too weak to accept it.