Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Mafia Vampire Boss

g my bones ache. It wasn't the sound of cages rattling or boots on stone. It was deeper, more primal, like the growl of something I couldn't see. The seat w

rubbed against something smooth and hard, not metal but leather straps, soft bu

on cream seats. A limousine, sleek, smooth, utterly foreign. Blacked-out windows revealed only darkne

el

eel made my skin crawl heart race like it knew something I did

y that made the air buzz louder. Dim light sharpened his features: a jawline like a blade, lips curved in a half-smile, eyes so dark they seemed t

ught me. The o

tugging at the leather st

e like a dealer inspecting a priceless

regret the day

features, and he smiled just enough to

ails would be sharp and I would rip him apart. My nails were dull, m

id, throat strained, voi

nted to take a closer look at something of interest," he said, his voice a low purr. "Something sold at a special gathering

collector

ou. "That stage was magic. They surrounded you, hungry and des

stares, the electricity in the air. My throat caught, but I wouldn

s. "You're a key, little wolf, a mean

ut and grabbed my arm before I hit the door. His touch burned thr

" I snapped. "No

smiling. "Would you

these off," I said, li

Then he sighed, and putting his hand into hi

nd I rubbed my wrists, loo

e in a car. Where would y

wolf stirring in me. The limo was moving fast, bu

hard. His body pressed against mine, his breath ho

hated the way there was a t

bed my arm and twisted it behind me. My s

o," I gri

er, pulling me closer. "You'l

't want to admit. I kicked furiously but he held me easily, lik

I whispered, my

eyes-something black, something wild, something not huma

he said, pus

gasped. He didn't move, just wa

manded. "You could

rolled it between his fingers, slow and deliberate, almost hypnotic. "B

," I repeated,

ne. "You don't know your worth. Wha

e like rotten teeth, and beyond them, the mansion-big and dark and scary-loomed. The moo

tte out. "Try not to break anything

ees. Branches clawing at the sky, twisted shapes like skeletal fingers. N

whispered, fear cre

ords somehow sweet. "But even

ould react, he was out opening my door. The cold air

seat. "I'm not

holding out his

s hand away.

only inches away from mine, eyes black as night

e insane,"

rsh, grating so

lifting me over his head. I was yelling and banging h

the mansion opened into a vast hall of white marble and crystal chan

ping me on a couch. "Make yoursel

ing away toward a doorway

have a contract. Your life belongs to me now." He sto

could run but the silver had sapped my stre

ed, trembling. "Why

wouldn't answer, but then he walked

rare, like kindling to start a fire. I've got t

r. There was something else-something hot and dang

e into its usual indifference as a woman entered the room. S

quietly. "The ro

how our guest to her chambers, Elizabeth,

ed but nodded. "

ng something amber into a glass. It looked

and raised the glass to

something, but I was tired, and wolfsbane fogg

th down the hall. As we went the hall grew

wooden door. She opened it, into a sumptuous bedroom with

I muttered

leave, I grabbed her arm. "Tell m

rip. "I can't. Just... stay in

urried out, closed the door behind

ame in through the bars, making jagged shapes on the fl

hink. You have to

my body wouldn't cooperate. I slept but I

ou alive until that