Claimed by the RUTHLESS ALPHA

ackseat, her fingers curled tightly in her lap. Every time she looked out

ere on the wheel, his knuckles white, his expression unreadable. But Aria could f

d that terrified he

rn Pack headquarters swung o

house. It wa

flanked by sentry towers and a perimeter patrolled by wolves in human and beast form. Her puls

d opened the door for her. She didn't move u

re," he said, h

eath, she placed her fingers in his palm. Because the truth was... she wasn'

ery corner of the estate. Warriors lined the hall as Kael led her to a room on the secon

om was...

that looked fit for royalty. A desk, a bookshelf, a la

m," Kael said, finally

"Why not just throw

"Because you're

way from my life without warning

n dead if I left you there. They

owned.

inside your pack was fe

turned. "Y

with tension. "I don't need to lie to you, Aria. I

led. "I'm

The bond has started, whether you like it or not. I ca

. "You can't just claim me like a prize, Kael. I'm

eed a trophy. I need a Luna w

dness of his tone. She looked away. "Then

you, Aria. The

ilence

st slightly. "You'll stay here. You'll be safe. Eat

, but Aria called

d at the

women in the w

thunderclap. "Because the first time I c

n he wa

, Aria cou

he room was too quiet.

if he could see her now. Would he call her a traitor for being

ss for mating his daughter to th

e way her body had responded to Kael's presence. In the st

reams she co

den eyes. Of

hands on

room's marble floor. Aria sat at the edge of the bed, arms wrapped around h

ng was t

ontro

uffoc

n the bookshelf, pacing the length of the room, even attempting to write

me I caught your scent.

supposed to

bility. But Aria didn't want fate. She w

the door c

ad sna

time, his expression wasn't cold. It was unre

ke," he said, his

expect me to just curl up and

"I expected you to

be stupid to try that i

u tried," he said si

. Just stood near the

you her

n't slee

t of his shoulders that hadn't been there when they first met. He wasn't just the ruthles

n you can't stop thinking

om him-unexpected, almost

ce toward the window again. "Y

"I feel it.

she admitted. "But

e said. "The bond does

look. "That's n

ot mean

in, the space between them

in-this time, quieter. "I kno

an eyebrow.

surprisingly. "

he window now, standing just beside th

led. I've burned entire rogue nests to ash. I've taken lives wit

me? Was claiming me som

dable in the dim firelight. "That's the proble

ide her. She hated how those

il only a few feet separated them. "So what now?" she whi

ime his voice was firm. "

pa

't let you

t stumbled

not. Whether you accept it or fight it. Th

ject it?" sh

shadows. "Then I'll live with the pain

to throw something at him. But mo

r that it

and she would wake up in her tiny bed bac

didn'

as approaching a wounded creature. He reached out

mth of his touch ma

," he murmured. "Just let m

o say no. He

sound c

esistance, all the fury and fear...

in betw

le. Ine

eaka