Bride to the Alpha (The Wolf's Pet Book Two) Read Free

yelped as he yanked me forward. His fingers had burned where they had touched my palm. I fell to my knees in front of him and he grasped me by the shoulders, looking into my eyes. Another fierce wave of heat swept through my body. I wanted to shift out of my pure human form. Despite my fear, I wanted to know what it would feel like if he touched me when I had all of my senses.
    Then he let go of me and it was gone, only a memory that I could not believe.
    His face was only inches from mine and for a brief moment the world around me spun. I could see nothing but his eyes, the dark pupils swallowing up the irises almost entirely.
    I inhaled and steadied myself on my knees.
    “Princess,” he said. “You are mine now.”
    “What did you brand me with?” I asked.
    “You haven’t seen our symbol?” He turned his head so that I could see his neck. A swirled pattern, like three claw marks, slashed in a curve. This was the brand on his neck.
    On my neck, too. I swallowed. He had pushed aside his robes, and I could see the beginning of his scar. The white seam curved down under the black fabric. I thought about when I would see all of it, when I would see him naked. A flush rose on my cheeks, and I pushed the thought aside.
    “It’s permanent?” I asked.
    “Of course.”
    “Why do you brand the shifters in your pack?”
    “It represents the struggle we go through as pack members. I’m curious, Princess,” he asked, his voice changing tone, “how did you track me?”
    I raised my gaze to his.
    "By climbing trees."
    He smiled. And oh, Lord, when he smiled at me my nerves rang out with tension. I could not trust him, and yet I wanted to.
    "Clever girl, aren’t you?”
    He looked at me with approval and my skin tightened at the back of my neck.
    “I’m not that clever,” I said. “I only know the territory well.”
    “That makes you a better alpha than most,” he said. Again I flushed with pride, then tamped down the feeling.
    “Thank you,” I said quietly.
    "Let me see you as you really are, Princess."
    I frowned.
    "I'm really this," I said, not understanding.
    "No, as a wolf. Change for me.”
    I shook my head slightly.
    I won't do it. I won’t shift.
    I was scared he’d see too much of me.
    And I was scared I’d feel the Calling.
    “Alekk!”
    A soldier called from just outside the entrance. Alekk growled, letting go of me. I breathed out a sigh of relief.
    “What is it?”
    The soldier came into the room, his head bowed.
    “A question, sir, about tomorrow’s travel arrangements.”
    “Ah, yes. Tell Rikash I will be there in a moment.”
    The soldier nodded and left. Alekk turned back to me. There was a hint of softness in his eyes, but as he gripped my wrist it disappeared.
    “You are one of my slaves now, Princess. Do not disobey me.”
    “I can’t trust you,” I said, letting the defiance come out in my voice.
    “Good.”
    “Good?” I gaped at him.
    “You’d be a fool to trust me after this. So I’m glad you’re no fool.”
    “Why should I obey? You won’t even tell me— ”
    “You don't have a choice. My sisters will kill you if you don’t obey me.”
    “Then why are you protecting me?”
    His eyes narrowed. He walked to the tent entrance.
    “I cannot answer that for you, Princess. We will talk later. Sleep, if you can. It is a long day of travel tomorrow.”
    Without another word, leaving me with a searing heat that swirled around in my body with nowhere to go, he left.

Chapter Three
     
    I got woken up in the middle of the night. At first, I’d forgotten where I was. The back of my neck ached, and I reached back sleepily. When I touched the bandage, the sharp pain brought me out of sleep.
    “Come on!”
    I blinked in the darkness. There was someone else in the tent with me, shaking me awake. Slowly, my eyes refocused. My mind recognized the voice. It was the escort from before, the one who had put salve on my neck.
    “Leah?”
    “Come on!”
    She jerked my arm and I stumbled