Chapter 15 THIRTEEN PART TWO
Hours blur past in a haze of pack business. Trade negotiations. Territory disputes. Security reports. But my wolf remains fixated on her. Every time she passes near my office, every glimpse in the corridors, every trace of her scent – it all feeds an obsession growing darker by the hour.
"Brother?" Marcus enters without knocking as sunset approaches. Brave. Stupid. "The Northern Pack reports—"
A growl rips from my throat before I can stop it. My Beta freezes, finally noticing my state – halfway shifted, claws extended, eyes burning silver.
"Leave them." My voice is more animal than human. "Get out."
He hesitates. "This isn't like you, Alex. Since that slave arrived—"
I slam him against the wall before he can finish. "She is not just a slave."
"Then what is she?" He doesn't fight my grip. Smart wolf. "Because your behavior... the pack notices. The way you watch her. How you nearly killed Victoria for touching her. The power rolling off you... it's changing. Darkening."
"Mine." The word comes out in a snarl. "She's mine."
"She's lying to you." Marcus says it gently, like he's soothing a feral beast. Maybe he is. "We all sense it. Whatever she's hiding—"
I release him with a harsh laugh. "You think I don't know she lies? That I can't taste her deception in every carefully chosen word, every lowered gaze, every submissive gesture?" My claws scrape against the stone wall, leaving marks. "It makes my wolf want her more."
Understanding dawns in his eyes. "Goddess. You've scented her as mate."
"The moment she entered my territory." I resume my pacing. "But she fights it. Hides from it. Builds walls between us that make my wolf want to tear her apart and put her back together."
"Alex..." Marcus straightens his jacket. "If she's your mate, why play these games? Just claim her."
Because the mystery of her feeds something dark in me. Because every lie she tells makes me want to break her perfect control. Because the fear and desire warring in her scent drives me wild.
"She hides something powerful," I say instead. "Something that makes other Alphas hunt her. I need to know what before I claim her. Need to know what I'm protecting."
"Or what you're unleashing," he mutters.
I bare my fangs at him. "Choose your next words carefully, brother."
He raises his hands in surrender. "The pack feels your instability. The unmated males grow restless. Her approaching heat... it affects more than just you."
His words sink in. I'd noticed the younger wolves watching her, tracking her movements. My wolf rises with murderous intent.
"The Northern Pack delegates—"
"Can wait." I turn to the window, watching the moon rise. "I need to hunt."
Once alone, I let the shift take me. Bones crack, reforming into the massive black wolf that earned me my title. In this form, her scent hits me stronger – power and heat and secrets.
She's awake. Restless. I track her movement through the castle as I prowl the grounds. Third floor, west wing. The slave quarters I assigned her lay empty – she paces the adjacent balcony, drawn by the same moon that pulls at my control.
I throw back my head and howl, letting the sound carry my claim. Below, I hear her gasp. Feel her wolf respond even as she tries to suppress it.
Her scent spikes with arousal. Even from here, I can smell her heat building. Soon she won't be able to hide behind her walls. Soon her wolf will beg for my claim.
But there's something else in her scent. Something that makes my wolf howl with recognition. Power. Ancient power that calls to the darkness in my own blood.
I mark the castle grounds through the night, warning other wolves away from what's mine. Each tree, each stone, each shadow – I claim it all, building a territory she can't escape.
The moon watches my hunt, and I swear it laughs. Because we both know the truth – this isn't just about claiming a mate. This is about unleashing whatever power she cages behind those walls.
Run while you can, little mate. Hide behind your lies and secrets.
When your heat breaks, when your control finally shatters, I'll be waiting.
And not even your darkest secrets will save you from my claim.
The Beast of Silver Creek has always enjoyed a challenging hunt.
And you, my little liar, are the most challenging prey of all.