die

t grew louder, each soft thud a hammer blow against my frayed

up at the stranger, this dangerous Alpha who held my entire

y fear. A flicker of impatience crossed hi

er frame completely from view. His arm was a steel band around my waist as he half-dragged, half-carried me

inside. The heavy door clicked shut behind us, the sound of

f the hall through the peephole. He looked around, a confused and irrita

rs in a rush, leaving me weak. I sagg

kyline visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city lights ca

his tie with an impatient tug, the simple act revealing the powerful column of his

t to my ragged breathing. He picked up a bottle of what looked like ridiculous

und myself. It was a useless gesture, a flimsy

e color of blood, swirling in the crys

oot away, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating fr

offering. "What do you want from m

have the courage to face reality," he mocked, his vo

aw, bleeding wound of my pride. My head snapped

ted a picture for me, a vivid, ugly scene of the next day. Brennan, standing at

n my mind. The nausea returned, stronger this time. And with

e tempted, his voice a silken promise. "If you want i

power, of vengeance. My rational mind was screaming, but th

my own blood a sharp reminder of my

ol stem of the wine glass. As I took it from him,

gasped, snatching my hand back as if I'd been

in his chest. It wasn't human. It was the sound of his inner

ck and drained the glass in three long swallows. The wine was harsh, burni

table. There were still tear tracks on my che

accept your deal," I said, my voice h

the sound explosive in the quiet room. He moved towards me then,

and, his grip firm, forcing

aw whisper that promised pleasure and p