The Possessive Alpha's Claim

to him-except, of course, for his grandmother. She was the one w

ng up as Talon placed a pack of his grandmother's homemade cookies be

f those lips on him flashed through his mind, a mix of desire and frustration. His wolf growled inside his

was having on every male in the room. She was completely oblivious to how provocative her actions were-inno

man who craved control, being with a woman who would never submit to him seemed impossible. Even more confusing to Darius was why Rhea would want Magnus in return. He kn

s and a female wolf in a confrontation. Kieran had been ready to step in when he noticed a fresh bite mark on the woman's skin-a claiming. But when he saw the

t her will? Darius knew what kind of man Magnus Thorne was, and the idea of him forcing a mark on an unwilling female didn't seem out of character. M

nother reason his su

rked her, there was no trace of him on her. When two wolves weren't true mates, their bond could still form th

metaphysical connection. But that would never happen with Rhea and Magnus. No way wo

us, seizing the opportunity, reached across the table and tugged the collar of

A forc

with makeup?" he deman

at him. "What the hell d

wears her male's mark with pride. You're

udden turn in the conversation. She s

his voice low and m

"I don't know what your issue is-though I imagine it's difficult to explain, even to your shrink-but whatever's

of intent. "Maybe not, but I still want an answer." He paused,

it, but her pride and deep-seated distrust m

ie slipping from her lips

story. But he didn't press further, for now. Somet

ho would let something like that hap

to avoid mating with him if that's not what you want. But it doesn't

wed. "What does i

s confirmation. "Does your

. "My dad's a proud man, and I'm his only child. He sees an alliance with s

her?" Darius

" Rhea replied, her voice

who might help?" Darius as

couldn't deny the pull, the urge to reach out and run her fingers through his dark hair, to feel his warmth. Her body hummed with a st

ell is wro

ith whatever's going on between you and Magnus,"

n. He tilted his head, a smirk on his li

Why would you do that? And

air, his expression unreadab

uld you possibly gain from that?"

hea

. "Sure. There's mo

, there is more. I have a proposition for

re drugged with earlier, but a little stronger. If, after this conversation, you decide to turn me down, I'

u want to drug me again? Like it

one of my enforcers had approached you and asked y

to think about it

a begrudging nod. "Now, what

tening intently but unsur

r a reaction. "It's true. I did. And I had my reasons, though they aren't important right now. I won the right to be Alpha, but my father, my uncle, and a lot of other ma

grin. "That was my idea, you know. Stor

uch out of politics. We've been content. But that peace didn't last. A few weeks ago, my father died. He was Beta, and now my u

r brow. "And you

know it's personal. He's doing it to piss me off, too. The council has set a da

a of a council interveni

's frustrating. But the agreement we have with humans is that any pack dispute has to go to the council first. If a resolution isn't reac

uncil, but the entire proce

ll enough to know that he won't back down. There won't be any resolution in the three months the council allows

ir, thick with the weig

expected that. The idea of joining his pack, of throwing herself into a situation that would undoubtedly be dangerous, seemed impossibl

all to my uncle. Naturally, he's going to ask for help from those alliance

e how I can help. Unless, of course, you're looking for a sarcastic comment, but I

g more serious. "This has everything to do with me needing a

There was no way he was sugge