Forced By the Alpha (Sparkle Hollow Wolves #7)

Chapter 12 - Franco

The fact that Sienna thought she could trick me into having sex with her grated on my psyche. It wasn’t that I didn’t want it to happen, but the idea of her doing it just to have a chance at breaking the pack’s curse didn’t sit right with me. If I were to take her, it would be because she wanted it, not because she felt like she had to. I had never coerced a woman into sleeping with me, and I didn’t intend to start with my mate. We didn’t even know if her plan would work, in any case.

That she would take the word of some old book as law and decide to seduce me made me feel a rage I couldn’t quite explain.

The thoughts and feelings that swirled in my mind were so foreign to me that I hardly recognized myself. Just a week ago, I probably would have taken her up on her offer, but not now. What I wanted was for her to seduce me because it was what she desired. Things had changed for me. I had shared my past with her, and had felt myself opening up and trusting her with the future of my pack.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting her to feel something for you, Blizzard interjected into my thought spiral.

This isn’t who I am, I reminded him. What happened to the ruthless alpha who would do anything for his pack?

You’re still the same man you were before she arrived. You’ve always had a conscience. She’s only highlighting your good qualities instead of your bad ones, Blizzard countered.

Regardless of whether my wolf was right, I shouldn’t care this much about using Sienna. The entire purpose of her being a part of the pack was for me to use her abilities to break the curse, yet here I was denying her that opportunity when she brought a plan forward. It was almost as though I was protecting her just as much—or more—than I was protecting the pack.

For a while, I wandered around the territory, thinking about Sienna’s proposal and why I had such a hard time accepting it. The conflict raged in my mind until I realized that the only solution was to talk with Sienna. This wasn’t something I could figure out or decide on my own.

We were both a part of this. We needed to decide what our next step would be together.

I had rarely had the need or opportunity to run my choices by anyone else before. My nervousness increased with each moment I searched for her. By the time I located her in the library, I had broken out in a cold sweat. My palms were moist, and I could feel my shirt sticking to my skin as my brow perspired.

Not sure this look is the best way to get her in your pants, Blizzard said wryly.

Not helping, I growled back at him.

“Good evening, dear,” Muriel said with a smile when I came in. “Sienna is in the study.”

“Thank you,” I replied as kindly as I could. I was sure I looked like less-than-desirable clientele at the moment, but all I could think about was getting to my mate.

“What do you want?” Sienna snapped when I came into view.

“To talk about what happened back there,” I said.

“What happened?” she repeated sarcastically as she walked toward me. “You mean, you rejecting me and putting a quash on both plans I’ve come up with to help your pack? By all means.”

The closer she came to me, the more distracted I became from my original goal. As much as I hated to admit it, all I wanted to do was touch her. I wanted to take her into my arms and carry her back to our cabin, remove her clothes, and explore every inch of her alabaster skin while she moaned my name.

“You had no right to try to take advantage of me the way you did,” I pointed out. I needed to keep my lustful thoughts at bay if I was going to get to the bottom of the issue between us.

“You didn’t seem upset by the end result,” she remarked.

“I won’t offend you by lying,” I said. “I want to sleep with you, Sienna. I want to take you in every way, for as long as I can.”

Her breath faltered, pink lips parting in anticipation. I moved closer and placed my lips next to her ear before continuing.

“I dream of our bodies entwined and the taste of your wetness. Nothing excites me more than the thought of your tight, wet pussy wrapped around my cock,” I whispered.

I trailed a finger down her spine to illustrate the intimate ways in which I wanted to touch her before pulling away and issuing my ultimatum.

“I want all these things,” I continued. “But I will only give in to my desires if you admit that you want me. Not because of the curse or as a way to unleash your magic, but because you are attracted to me.”

Sienna gulped. I thought she was on the brink of giving in when she shook her head.

“I can’t say that,” she said softly.

I sighed deeply. I was disappointed, although not surprised, by her answer.

“In that case, will you come to the bar with me, please?” I asked. “We need to discuss the two options you presented for breaking the curse, but I think it would be better if we did that in a place where there are more witnesses.” I gave her a rueful smile.