Claimed by the RUTHLESS ALPHA

a drumbeat of confusion, fear, and a strange flutter of something she couldn't name. Not yet. The inside of the mansion was every bit as im

, here

rned to l

Kael D

, marked with scars - not just of battle, but of life. Harsh. Raw. Ruthless. She hadn't been

," Kael said coldly. "Your scen

ght here," she replied,

dim light. "You're not here because I wanted your g

into her like wa

thing to

He leaned in, his voice low, dangerous. "You're not just a thing. You're m

ked. "My

ck has made enemies. I'm offering pro

rom her face. "You think keep

a bed instead of a

ut more than anything, she wanted t

some vendetta," she s

"you're something far more dangerou

ith tension. The air between them th

ine with me tonight. Be ready a

shadows of the hall, leaving her with only

-

g - Gues

was wrong. It smelled of leather and pine, power and blood. Even the silen

silent girls with bowed heads - had given her fresh clothes, a so

ike a gil

ouldn't b

eded a

-

The Alph

wine in his hand. The dining hall was medieval - all candle

for her. It clung to her body in ways that made her feel exposed, v

urned into he

p well," he

efusing to

linking silverware, the occasional flicker

belonged to you?"

. "Because the Moon

ed. "You think

ow. Really looked.

aped against the floor. "No. I did

deliberate, predator-li

eir skin met, a fire surged through her veins - heat, light, a

een suppressing the bond. You're not ready. Bu

ed back, h

did that o

danger. You still are. But I'll protect

, unbidden. "This isn't

"They're the sa

-

that

She didn't know what scared her more - that Kael believed s

k woods beyond the m

her, something s