ALPHA THORNE: Claimed by the Billionaire Beast

nce Damian left, thick a

like I wasn't a hostage in some gilded prison tucked away in the wilderne

the door shut, the fire whispering behind me, casting flickering shadows th

n't comforting.

but because I needed something, anything, to hold on to. I told mys

ething had snapped in him the moment I spoke up in th

ssession. Whatever thi

s the only thing that had ever made him lose control. I hated that part of me most of all, a

f my spiral. I didn't answer

r skin was rich bronze, her cheekbones sharp, her hair braided back into a flawless crown. She wore all bl

said, her voice smooth and even, like

oned food, thanks," I said,

h, like I'd mildly amused her. "If we wanted yo

ing," I

low table near the window. The scent hit me immediately-something savory and rich,

e you?"

e said. "I run the est

. "Right. The big

t waver. "Among

"Is everyone he

ryone. B

rrounded b

ered. "Is that wha

ed me. Forgive me if I'm not exactly team wolf,'' I

ightly. "Understandable.

I questioning, ra

he said simply. "And the h

ed. "Th

. Cold air spilled in, sweeping through the room with the scen

nto the trees. "You've been pulled into something anci

pparently I'm the

"You're not chosen

t agree

e bond doesn't care about consent. It just is. You can

led divine, but I didn't trust it. Or her. "I'm not some wolf's possession

a prisoner

Funny. Because I don't rem

uld it make a difference if I told

e. "Ot

uman mate as weakness. Or opportunity. Now that the bond has a

r m

my heart thud

whispered, tears threaten

neither

ething quieter, like she'd seen what thi

uit. It didn't smell drugged. It smelled like co

that p

aused before leaving. "One last thi

Do the shee

e will know. And it doesn't take kindly to uninvi

tions. What the hell did she mean, the house would know? Was it

undred better ways to do it. I took one bite. Then another. I hated how good it tasted. It made me feel lik

at. The fruit burst sweet on my tongue, and the water was cold and

much I'd eaten unti

at my skin. It should've been freezing, but it felt... cleansing. Below, far beyond the cliffs and trees, I saw movement in

graceful but lethal. Its coat was nearly black, and its eyes...they glowed red and it was looking u