Vampire Mine

Chapter Seven

Sadie’d envisioned this moment—in so many different ways—but she’d never thought it would happen. Yet here she stood, caged in Trey’s embrace. He dipped his head, dark strands of hair loose around his face. The desire in his eyes made her insides wilt. He looked like he wanted to eat her up and, given her sexual frustration, she was more than willing to let him.

“We don’t have a lot of time.” Although she hadn’t forgotten how much he’d hurt her, she wanted this. “We have to hurry.”

“That pisses me off, you know.” He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. “I don’t want to rush. I want to explore every inch of your body. I’m going to find out what turns you on and gets you hot.”

An electric pulse zinged down her spine. She wanted the same thing—to lick every crevice of his body, to see how he reacted when her tongue darted over his smooth skin. His temperature was much warmer than hers, his body like a miniature furnace. When she nibbled at his flesh her lips would be cool and soft. On the other hand, when his hard, wet tongue slid over her clit it would burn her up in all the right ways.

Back they went, step by step.

He removed her holster and tossed her sword to the ground. Her knees hit the edge of the mattress and they went down together. His weight bore her down, his larger size ramping up her desire. As a vampire, she rarely felt vulnerable. That had been fine in the past, when she’d taken control and got what she needed from casual encounters. In hindsight the sex had been lackluster. She’d always wanted to let someone else take charge and see to her pleasure. With Trey she wouldn’t have to indicate what she wanted. Shifters were just as sexual as vampires. Only the males lived to dominate. They didn’t give an inch.

He’d take control. And she’d love every minute of it.

“Fuck,” he rasped, drifting down her body. “I want to see you.”

Undressing was never sexy. Taking off boots and clothing was usually awkward and time-consuming. Thankfully they were both so keyed-up that removing her garments didn’t prove a problem. He started at her feet, stripping off her boots and socks. She did her best to assist, squirming as she wriggled free of her leather pants. Her panties got caught in the mix, tugged away when Trey yanked her pants down her thighs and over her ankles. He cast the clothing aside and she lifted her torso from the bed, pulling her shirt over her head. Only her bra remained, shielding her breasts from view.

“Off,” he growled, watching her, his irises a prismatic shade of gold.

He looks so sexy like this. A big, bad wolf.

She teased him, bowing her back as she reached behind her to unlatch the clasps. When the bra was loose she brought her hands around, holding the material in place. His gaze followed her movements, his tongue darting out to wet his lower lip. She cupped her breasts, rubbing the soft, lacy material over her skin. Her nipples tingled, the hard points aching with each brush of the cloth. Warmth flooded her pussy, her clit was practically pounding. She wanted to feel his lips on her nipples, to see how good he was with his mouth and tongue.

Trey met her eyes. “If you want to keep that bra, I suggest you ditch it.”

Lifting her arms, she maneuvered the straps over her hands and tossed the flimsy material over her head. Trey growled. The ominous sound filled the room—dangerous, low and harsh. A thrill shot through her, a wave of fire cascading under her skin. This was what she’d waited for. Not some dream but the real deal. She tried to lower her arms but Trey stopped her, capturing her wrists in one of his large hands. His dark head lifted slowly as his gaze traveled the length of her torso.

When their eyes met again, his stare froze her in place.

Dear Goddess.

She’d wanted to be mastered and to relinquish control but she hadn’t understood just how assertive Trey would be as a lover. A simple look—his eyes boring into hers—and she finally appreciated who and what he was. Not just a man, but an animal as well. He was about to take everything she had to give and then some. He wouldn’t accept anything less than her best.

“Stay,” he instructed, his golden irises vibrant. His face descended, coming closer. His breath caressed her mouth, warm against her skin. “Just,” he whispered, breezing his lips over hers. “Like.” He teased her lower lip with a flick of his tongue. “That.”

Who the hell was she to argue?

She did as he asked, remaining in place. His lips curved, forming into a small, sly grin. Slowly he released her wrists, his fingers drifting over skin. If he’d wanted, he could have pinned her down and forced her compliance. As susceptible as she was in his presence, he could do just about anything he wanted. Vampires were faster but a werewolf made up for their lack of speed with strength. So it surprised her he kept his enthusiasm in check, careful as he touched her. If he was this hot when he was holding back, she couldn’t wait to see what he’d be like when he let loose.

He lifted his big body from hers, studying her breasts. “You’re perfect, baby.” Lowering his head, he pressed his lips to her stomach. She quivered, her muscles going taut. “You smell so good, darlin’. I bet you’re wet as hell. Good thing I’m finally going to get my taste.”

He moved lightning-fast, sliding his hips down her body. With a quick maneuvering of his hands he placed her legs over his shoulders. She struggled to breathe, keeping her hands over her head, lifting up so she could see his face. He lowered himself to the ground, kneeling between her outstretched thighs. The heat of his breath brushed her exposed folds, making the skin seem hypersensitive. She’d decided to have her pubic hair removed via a nifty spell decades ago, after she’d discovered oral sex felt so much better when performed against bare skin. Now, waiting for Trey’s attention, she knew it had been one of the smartest decisions she’d ever made in her life.

She nearly screamed in frustration as he rested the side of his face against her thigh. The stubble on his jaw felt like tiny bristles skimming over her flesh, prickly yet soft. He was so close. One shift of her hips—a tiny bit of movement—and his mouth would be where she wanted it.

“Trey.” She exhaled his name, trembling as she waited for him to take things further.

“I’ve got a lot to make up for,” he said softly, meeting her gaze. There was so much intensity etched in his features—so much longing. “I’m going to start here, Sadie. I’m going to give you what I should have a long time ago.”

Her libido didn’t care how he made things up to her, so long as he did something.

Shifting his weight, he got in position. He reached for her pussy and parted her labia with his thumbs. She heard him drawing a deep breath, taking in her scent. His lips hovered over her mound, making her painfully aware of her situation. He wasn’t going to rush, even if she begged him to. This wasn’t just about her, it was also about him. She’d harbored her fantasies. Of course he had his as well.

Some men loved going down on a woman.

From the looks of things, Trey was one of them.

The first lick along her crease was firm, his tongue going from the base of her pussy to her hammering clit. She arched her back and parted her legs, shoving her heels into his shoulders as her toes curled. His mouth wasn’t just warm it was blistering hot, leaving behind a path of fiery tingles. Another lick followed the first, then another. He groaned when he lapped at her yet again, the heavy vibration nearly enough to make her come. She’d never been so excited, aware of how heavy her breasts felt, how swollen her clit had to be.

It wouldn’t take much to send her soaring.

The tip of his tongue darted over her folds, skimming up and down. Then she felt it slide past and delve inside her. Her gums tingled and her fangs dropped. The euphoria she’d experienced shifted, her now-sharp canines reminding her of her bloodthirsty nature. She recalled how Trey had reacted to what she was in the past. He’d loathed her. Wanted to fuck her and send her away.

Shaking off the bad memory, she pressed her lips together, telling herself not to think but feel.

Enjoy the moment. Don’t complicate things.

“Fuck, baby.” His hands slid from her pussy and he cupped her ass. “You’re so sweet.”

Knowing shifters were within hearing distance she muffled her cries of delight, rotating her hips with each stroke of his tongue. His fingers clasped her bottom, his grip almost bruising. Blood pumped through her veins, the sound literally pounding in her head. She considered reaching down and grasping his hair, using her hold to guide his mouth to her clit. Sheer willpower kept her arms over her head. She bit her lip, fighting her vampire nature. Not only did she want to come, she wanted to drink from him while she did.

“That’s it,” he grated.

One hand moved from her ass. His hard and thick fingers skimmed over her folds. He brought them to the mouth of her sex, rotated them in a circle to get them wet and slid them inside. She bucked against his hand, wanting him to go deeper. He didn’t rush, taking his time, sinking his fingers into her until he was third-knuckle deep. He knew precisely what to do, turning his wrist slightly, rubbing her vaginal walls. She shuddered when he hit her G-spot, parting her lips to take a deep breath. The tip of her fang caught the lower one as she did, breaking the skin.

Trey stilled and his head darted up.

She shuddered, frustrated that he’d stopped—until she realized why.

He stared at her mouth, focusing on where she’d injured herself. Her fangs weren’t as large as a shifter’s but they were still noticeable and different. She froze, mortified as she stepped back in time. At first—before he’d known what she was—Trey’d wanted her. He’d been so hard she could feel his cock trapped between their bodies, the enormous length substantial and damn impressive. She’d imagined riding him hard and easing the ache deep inside her. But that lust and desire had vanished the moment he’d put two and two together. He’d been repulsed and disgusted by her nature, staring at her like she’d grown a second head. What should have been beautiful quickly turned to scattered ash.

She could still hear the words he snarled in outrage and disbelief.

A goddamn vampire.

“Don’t.” His gruff voice brought her back to the present. “The shit you’re thinking about doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t it?”

“Not anymore.” He thrust his fingers inside her, fucking her steadily with his hand. “You’re mine, baby. I warned you. I’m going to put my mark on you for the entire fucking world to see.”

She could have argued or told him to go to hell but her body’s reaction overcame her doubt. She’d been twisted as tight as a corded rope, one more turn and she’d break and unwind. After all she’d been through, she deserved this small consolation. Maybe it was stupid to believe him but she wasn’t going anywhere.

Not when she was so close.

Not when she wanted this so badly.

A little more… Just a little more…

His fingers returned to her G-spot, his touch hard and determined. She rode his hand, swept into the fire building in her stomach. Heat spread through her abdomen, a tendril of electricity venturing to her pussy. He bent his head, bringing his mouth to her slit. Then he trapped her clit between his lips—his tongue hard, warm and wet—and sucked. The suction against the bundle of nerves pushed her over the precipice. The world vanished, becoming a huge blur of white.

Yes.

She slammed her eyes closed, throwing her head back.

Spasms racked her body, her muscles flexing as she came. Euphoria and elation scorched her from the inside out, each flick of his tongue its own brand of fire. He kept sucking her clit, tapping the tip of his tongue over the delicate nub. His hand pumped, his fingers forcing her pussy to part and make room for their invasion. She held on to the sensations, riding out each wave, never wanting them to end. He didn’t stop until the last ripple of pleasure had passed, leaving her a gasping, shivering mess on the bed.

His fingers slid from her pussy and she detested the loss, craving his nearness.

He rose, yanking his shirt over his head. His muscles flexed, displaying hard lines and smooth planes from his shoulders to his waist. She forced her body to function, shaking off the warm fog of climax enveloping her. She sat up and reached for his jeans, admiring the muscles that flexed between the V of his hips.

He’d had his taste. It was time for hers.

His fingers wrapped around her wrists, stopping her short of her goal. She gazed up at him, confused by the interruption. Removing his shirt had mussed his hair, the strands darting in all directions. Even so, he’d never looked more irresistible. He licked his lips, his irises a bright shade of amber.

“Not this time. I want you so bad I’ll lose it before we’ve started.”

He let her go and went for the buttons holding his pants in place. At the same time he toed off his shoes and kicked them aside. Her breath caught as he revealed himself. She could see how defined he was, able to distinguish each set of muscles from the next. He was absolute perfection from his head down to his feet. Before she could enjoy the visual, he bent to remove his jeans. She gritted her teeth, willing her bloodlust to settle, waiting for him to stand tall and proud before her.

The pants hit the floor and he righted himself.

She’d seen him before but she wasn’t prepared for how stunning he was. His fully engorged cock strained toward his bellybutton, the thick, mushroom head a darker hue than the stalk. She’d been with her fair share of men but none of them compared.

Not to Trey Veznor.

He wrapped his fingers under the tip of his cock and squeezed. A glistening bead of pre-cum appeared in the slit. She wanted to lean forward and lick it away, teasing the hard, supple skin with flicks of her tongue. His thickness and length would be impossible to cover with her mouth, meaning she’d have to use her hands. The image of doing just that sent a tremor through her. She’d give him pleasure, swallowing every drop of his seed as he came. Then she’d send him over the edge a second time, sinking her fangs into the vein in his thigh.

“Give yourself to me, Sadie.” A measure of desperation accompanied the request. “Lie back, open those pretty thighs and take me.”

Apprehension struck, coiling its way to her heart.

She wanted to give him what he wanted—she yearned for it, in fact.

But fear clawed its way into her mind, a harsh remembrance of what had happened when she allowed herself to jump headfirst into something without weighing the consequences beforehand. He was the only one who could provide the blood she needed to survive, so he’d always own that part of her. But there was one thing she could control, no matter how small it seemed.

“Your mark won’t scar,” she confessed, telling him the truth. Unless she used a spell to allow it, he could bite her all he wanted and it would never matter. “You’re not the one who makes that decision.”

“It’ll stay,” he growled, releasing his cock. The swollen length bobbed toward his stomach, the heavy shaft upright and stiff as he leaned over her. “Do you know why?”

She shook her head, resting back on her elbows, shivering as he kneed her legs apart. His eyes were practically glowing, his lips drawn back just enough she could see his canines lengthen. She felt his wolf then, sensed the energy Trey put off. Something had changed, a shift she might not be able to see but could feel. The creature inside the man was even more threatening and powerful. It didn’t merely want her, it needed her.

And it was about to do whatever it took to possess her.

“You haven’t fully experienced the bond between us, baby. But you’re about to. You’ll see that no matter what you say—whether my mark stays on your skin or not—you belong to one man.”

He reached down, guiding his cock to her cleft. He slid the tip through her wet folds, running it up and down. On the final pass he rested the tip against her pussy. Even as wet as she was, he had to work his way inside. She inhaled sharply as the wide head penetrated her. He released the base and lifted his head.

Oh shit.

Before she’d sensed the wolf. Now it stared at her through Trey’s eyes.

She’d pushed the animal, even if she hadn’t meant to.

Placing an arm beneath her, he shifted his weight and lifted her onto the mattress. The instant her back hit the bed he thrust, parting her like a breeze, the unyielding length of him spearing inside her in one swift motion. His sac hit her ass, her pussy aching as it stretched to accept him.

She’d wondered what he’d be like when he let loose and didn’t hold back.

She was about to find out.

“Me,” he growled, rolling his hips, grinding against her. “You belong to me.”

Satin and silk. Warm and slick. So damn tight his balls were going to burst.

Sadie’s pussy wrapped around him, so snug he didn’t dare move.

The wolf had ridden him hard, determined to claim her. Her quip about his mark being her decision had set off the beast, uncaging the feral portion of him. Despite the truth of her statement, he knew every single male in his pack would scent his seed on her, meaning they’d stay the fuck away. She didn’t have to accept a scar on her shoulder. She knew the truth. So would everyone else.

Fuck the mark. She’s mine now.

No running away, Sadie. No more promises you can’t keep.

Her gorgeous light-blue eyes studied him, full and delectable lips parted for his kiss. He looked at her tiny fangs, groaning as his balls tightened and cock pulsed. In his dreams those sharp little teeth did all sorts of things to his libido. He’d gotten a glimpse of how good it could be when she’d fed from him earlier, busting a nut before he could think clearly.

Would it be the same like this?

Would she hold off until he was ready?

Unable to remain still, he withdrew his cock, hissing as he retreated from the haven of her cunt. She gasped, shaking as if she were on ice, staring up at him. Her pupils dilated, making her icy blue irises more pronounced. Her blonde hair cascaded around her, the lush strands like gold against the dark comforter.

Damn.

He was one lucky son of a bitch. This female—his female—was hotter than hell.

Time was short but he’d wanted to make this encounter memorable. He wanted to hear her cries and watch her face as she came. If he had his way he’d take the entire night, until she’d milked his cock dry. Sadly that wasn’t going to happen. The mating heat was on him, the wolf snarling in his head as it tried to gain control.

Bringing a hand to her side for leverage, he plunged into her.

Shit.

It wasn’t going to be easy to hold back, not when he was ready to explode.

Cautiously, he settled into a smooth, deliberate rhythm. He moved in and out, hard and steady. He nearly lost it when she lifted her hips, moving in tandem with his firm, purposeful strokes. Each time he sank balls-deep he felt the softness of her cervix. She took all he had and asked for more.

Fuck it all, she deserved more than this.

She shouldn’t have had to accept him as her mate in a stranger’s home, fucking him on a guestroom bed. This should have happened in private, in their own fucking residence, where he could pepper the bed with rose petals as soft as her skin and as pink as her lips. She deserved his time and attention as he adored her for hours on end.

His eyes strayed to her breasts. The nipples in the centers of the creamy swells were a dark shade of pink, the areolas hard and puckered. For a moment he let his fantasies take over, picturing his dick trapped between the soft mounds. She’d tell him to come, massaging her breasts, flicking her tongue over the tip with each thrust of his cock.

His balls tightened, an orgasm threatening to consume him.

Keep it together. Don’t fuck this up.

He took a stiff point into his mouth, basking in her sigh of pleasure. He tapped his tongue over the tiny pearl, groaning when she wrapped her legs around his waist. The change in position allowed him to go deeper, his dick gliding in and out of her pussy. Each time he lifted away she pulled back, timing it so their bodies came together in a fluid motion.

Moving from one breast to the next, he growled, “You’re killing me.”

Her hand drifted from his arm. He started to complain, wanting more of her touch, when he felt her fingers in his hair. Fuck yeah. The tips of her nails skimmed over his scalp, parting the strands. She urged him closer, applying pressure to the back of his head. Her soft mewls of contentment drifted to his ears. He increased the suction, working his tongue over the hard peak.

Perfect, baby. Enjoy it.

“Like that,” she whispered, grinding her pussy onto his cock, rolling her pelvis. “Goddess, yes.”

For fuck’s sake.

He hadn’t been this eager to blow since his teens. Pubescent hormones were bad but when you threw a wolf into the equation it seriously complicated the male sex drive. Over time he’d learned to hold himself back, to see to a female’s needs.

If only things were that simple now.

As much as he longed to appease his mate, he wanted to claim her too. Maybe when the wolf wasn’t snarling in his head he’d be able to pay proper attention. He felt the perspiration on his back and brow, the result of denying himself what he wanted most. His canines had revealed themselves a long while ago, the wolf’s demand that he mark their female and cement their union. The animal had stopped playing nice.

The beast emerged, trying to overcome the man.

Ripping his mouth from Sadie’s breast, he rose above her. He didn’t bother going for soft or romantic, fucking her hard and fast. His balls were heavy, his sac tight. She shifted with each rock of his body, her breasts bouncing. He ground his teeth together, telling the wolf to back the fuck off. It didn’t listen, taking over, transforming his nails into claws.

“Trey,” Sadie murmured, latching on to his neck with her hand. She pulled him down, lifting her shoulders away from the bed. “This time I need…” Her fingers tensed on his nape. “I have to ask…”

Magic wafted from Sadie and hummed against his skin. It took a moment to understand what he was feeling and identify the demands of his mate. Her hunger confused his wolf, catching the animal off-guard. Anxiety poured from his beast, mingling with the concerns of the man.

Did she always drink like this? He’d already given her so much.

What if he couldn’t provide for her? Would he be able to keep up?

“Yes.” He lowered himself, balancing on one elbow, giving her plenty of room.

He turned his head to the side, presenting his neck. Even if it made him as weak as a kitten, he’d give her anything she asked for. It was his duty to nourish her, one of the primary responsibilities of a mated male.

“Go ahead, baby.” He wanted to feel it, to come hard inside her. “Take what you need.”

Her teeth sank deep, the white-hot ecstasy of her bite shooting through his body. He growled, his hips jerking in an uneven motion as he climaxed. His cock pulsed with each stream of semen, his seed flooding her womb. Even as it caused the punctures in his neck to protest, he turned his face toward her.

Mark her.

Now.

Aiming for her shoulder, he brought his lips back. His teeth broke through her flesh, gliding past her soft and giving skin. Her whimper was one of pain and pleasure. She didn’t stop drinking, taking his blood to build her strength. He pumped his hips, stunned to find his cock remained stiff despite his climax. He wondered if a mating bond would be established as it did when shifters mated humans. She didn’t cry out in pain and he didn’t feel a shift in his wolf. He didn’t experience the separation he’d been told about. It was like a different connection was established between them, bringing them closer together.

“Again.” Sadie’s thought echoed through his mind. “More.”

He kept his teeth embedded in her skin, hammering his cock into her pussy with enough force to shake the mattress. His skin itched, his wolf so close at hand he balled his fists to keep from shifting.

Fucking hell. It had never been so difficult to remain in charge.

Over the years his beast had learned its place. As an Alpha he had to maintain the balance. Sometimes shifters were known to mate in their fur—when they were both in animal form—but he’d never been turned-on by the idea. Sadie likely wouldn’t be either.

Back off, he snarled at the damn thing.

His strength ebbed, the muscles in his arms and legs growing weak. He tried to keep going, thrusting for all he was worth. His dick might be hard but he couldn’t complete the act without stamina. He’d done this long enough to know he could go a double round if so inclined, without any serious issues. The tugs against his throat were a stern reminder of Sadie’s demands. Taking so much had left him drained. He couldn’t keep going if she continued. With his luck he’d end their first encounter with a whimper not a bang.

Like a fucking pussy.

“Not quite,” Sadie’s voice appeared in his head again. “Not even close.”

A burst of magic seared through him, beginning at his neck and winding down his body. His lethargy vanished, a newfound energy suffusing his muscles. Pressure built in his sac and another climax crashed over him. He released her shoulder, stars flashing before his eyes. A sharp, electric current crackled up his back, shooting through his arms and legs. It felt as amazing as it felt awkward. He’d never come that many times so close in a row.

Son of a fucking bitch.

Her pussy flexed around his cock as she came, her moan throaty and deep. Her fangs slid from his neck, the swipes of her tongue tender over the wounds. She kept him close, her thighs tight around his waist as she pumped her hips. He kept up the pace, wanting to extend her release. She kept shaking, enjoying the pleasure he gave her. He wished it could last forever.

Eventually she went soft beneath him, her quiet exhalation one of satiation and bliss. His gaze drifted to her shoulder as he backed away from her.

As she’d warned, his mark had vanished. There wasn’t as much as a scratch or bruise marring her porcelain skin. The wolf, who had found satisfaction in their pairing, didn’t approve. A growl crept up his chest, a prickle of fury washing over him. His scent would serve as a threat to any shifter who crossed her path but he wanted his dominance openly displayed.

She was his.

No other would ever have her.

“It doesn’t matter,” he warned, staring his mate in the eye. She licked the corner of her mouth, collecting the last traces of his blood. “With or without the mark, you know who you belong to.”

He expected a lot of things—for her to tell him to fuck off or inform him he didn’t have a say in the matter—but he hadn’t counted on her letting him go and stretching her arms over her head. She sighed, happy as a lark. Whereas he was livid, she was totally at ease. A smile tugged at her lips, her blue eyes darkening a shade.

“If you say so,” she purred, arching her back like a contented cat. “Barbarian.”

Before he could respond someone knocked on the door. He wanted to curse his shitty fortune. True, they’d had time for nothing more than a quickie. He’d done what he needed to do, marking Sadie with his scent, acknowledging what she meant to him. But he wanted more. It wasn’t supposed to be like this—wild, crazy and rushed. He’d waited centuries for this woman. A romantic he wasn’t but he’d imagined things differently. Didn’t women like sweet words whispered in their ear?

Maybe you’ve found a woman who won’t put up with your shit.

“Trey,” Emory called through the door, “you might want to hurry it up.”

He started to tell Emory to kiss his ass when Sadie paused. Her eyes went cloudy, as though she were listening to something Trey couldn’t hear. In a split second her eyes became cognizant. She scrambled away from him, scurrying back from his body. It was like she couldn’t get away from him fast enough. He frowned, confused at her behavior. She didn’t waste time, jumping from the bed to collect her clothes.

“That girl—that vampire—you left out here is freaking the fuck out,” Emory informed him, yelling loud enough for the entire house to hear. “Mary and Ava can’t calm her down. You need to get your mate,” he emphasized the word sarcastically, “out here right now.”

“Shit,” Sadie spat, tugging on her underwear. “I shouldn’t have left her.”

Rising from the bed, he yelled, “We’re coming.”

“Right now?” Emory quipped. “I’d hoped you’d gotten that far already.”

Smartass.

“Emory?” he yelled, wanting to strangle his sibling.

“Yeah?”

“Fuck off!”

“Don’t thank me. You’re welcome, shithead,” Emory snarled. “Don’t blame the messenger.”

The floor creaked as Emory walked away from the door. Trey didn’t bother with his socks or shoes, sliding into his jeans. Sadie had gotten dressed in record time, working on her boots by the time he’d shrugged into his shirt. She started to rush for the door and he stopped her, grasping her elbow. At least he knew it wasn’t personal. She was rushed but it had nothing to do with their mating. Her mind was evidently with her friend.

“You need to calm down.”

“Easy for you to say,” she hissed, narrowing her eyes. “That’s my vampire out there, not yours.”

Damn Emory. The bastard had to shoot off at the mouth and get Sadie riled. He smoothed her hair with his other hand, straightening the blonde strands tangled around her shoulder.

“If you don’t act like you’re in control, everyone’ll think you’re weak. You don’t want that.” He waited until the anger drained from her eyes to add, “Diskant doesn’t trust the weak. He never has. You have to prove you can keep Leigh in check. Otherwise Nathan won’t be able to do squat to keep her safe. Diskant will want her gone.” He let the words sink in, giving Sadie a few seconds. “Do you understand?”

She broke eye contact, turning her head. “I understand.”

The situation was all kinds of fucked up. His mate didn’t have many choices. The weight and responsibility had to be killing her. If she didn’t walk the line carefully, Leigh’s fate wouldn’t be up to her. Diskant would take any measure necessary to protect Ava and the pack, even if it meant taking the life of an innocent woman. If it wasn’t for Nathan the Omega probably would have already eliminated the threat.

He cupped Sadie’s face, trying to reassure her, skimming his thumbs across her cheeks. She turned her head and pressed a kiss to his palm. Such an innocent and sweet gesture that was sad in a way. He wanted to tell her everything was going to be okay but he wasn’t going to lie. They’d finally found common ground. Telling her things to make her feel better—even if he had her best interests at heart—would destroy the tentative truce between them.

“I’ll be with you,” he said, struggling for the words. Proving himself worthy had never been so difficult. “If you need me…if you want me…”

Silence followed. Then—so softly he had to strain to hear—she replied, “Thank you.”

It wasn’t what he wanted but it was a start. He led her to the door and opened it. He waited until she’d stepped outside to follow. The die had been cast. From this moment forward, nothing was certain.

Yet, strangely enough, he experienced something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Hope.