10. Harlow
My phone buzzed again. Probably Kiron. But I didn't have time for him. He’d agreed with Nik to wait shit out, he didn't get to ask where the fuck I was. Kiron and Rafe might care what Nik said, but I didn't really give a shit if he didn't want me near Sina.
No one told me what to do.
I'd like to see him try to keep me away from my blood claim. Yes, Kiron might have scented her first, but that didn't make her any less mine. Even if she didn't know it yet, she would, and soon too.
If I had a fucking say in it.
At least I'd waited three days. He should be happy I held back on my fox at all.
That was no small feat for me. I was impulsive and quick to obsession.
Especially when it came to my little vixen.
I needed to know more about her. It was how I found myself inside her place while she worked a shift at Jack's.
Her flat was smaller than I expected. A single open room, sparsely decorated.
One crooked lamp. A couch that had seen better days.
No photos on the walls. No knickknacks. Nothing that told me anything about her.
I frowned. Elias said she’d lived here for a year already.
You’d think there would be some personal touches by now.
Still… it smelled like her. I drew in a slow breath, letting her faint fruity scent settle over me, seep into my lungs.
My fox went ballistic instantly. Images flashed through my head from him.
Her hands buried in his white fur, fingers gripping tight.
His emotions were raw and unfiltered. Possessive.
Feral. And believe me, I echoed the sentiment.
“You dirty fox.”
He wasn’t alone in the fantasy. I’d imagined her hands on me too. Which was crazy. Even for me. I hated being touched. Always had. A parting gift from our last blood mate. Though I wasn't nearly as obsessed with her. Nik had tried to force that bond .
Thank fuck it didn't stick all those years ago. Otherwise, I'd have missed out on Sina. I dragged a hand down my face and paced the room, restless energy crawling under my skin. I wanted—no, needed—to know everything about this girl. I knew Kiron felt the same. Rafe… I wasn’t so sure how he felt about her yet. But I knew exactly where my brother stood. Nik had sworn years ago he’d never bond with a female.
Some self-righteous bullshit about choice and restraint and the high road .
If that was truly what he believed, then why wasn’t he bringing her into our world so she could actually choose?
I was all bullshit , if you asked me. Not that anyone ever did.
I didn’t fucking understand my brother.
Why weren’t we doing something? Anything to protect her?
Elias was clouding his judgement. He liked to pretend there wasn't anything going on between him and the raven anymore, but the hive knew better.
I sighed in disappointment at my findings. Glancing back at the fire escape I crawled up to get in here, I noted that the window latch was busted—barely holding. I hadn’t needed to force it.
‘Someone else could get in too.’
I froze. Yeah . That was the problem. If it was that easy for me, it was that easy for anyone.
That just didn’t sit right with me at all.
Especially when I knew for certain someone out there had hurt her.
I should have fucking compelled that out of her.
But even I had a moral standard, and that felt unforgivable.
‘Fix that for her. Keep her safe.’
I nodded. Oh , I would either be fixing it or moving her to the island. It had been days since she ran from us at Elias’ warehouse. I’d told Nik leaving her alone and unprotected was fucking stupid .
What if another hive caught her scent ?
My fox huffed, unimpressed. He was a greedy, mischievous little shit. Just like me.
“I know. We don’t share.”
Not outside the hive, at least.
I snooped through drawers and cabinets. Mismatched dishes. A handful of clothes. Nothing personal. Nothing sentimental. I ran a hand through my messy hair. I hadn’t bothered styling my mohawk today, and it annoyingly fell into my eyes.
My gaze landed on her bed in the far corner of the room. The sheets were rumpled, like she’d just gotten out of them. A low rumble vibrated in my chest as I approached.
'Touch it .’
“I shouldn’t. It’s her space.”
He scoffed. ‘ You’re already in her home . Might as well burn off some of that pent-up energy.’
I grinned. My fox was the devil on my shoulder who murmured sweet nothings in my ear and convinced me my questionable choices were good ideas.
I snickered.
“Fuck it.”
I crawled onto her bed and leaned back against the headboard and envisioned her crawling up from the foot of the bed.
My cock hardened instantly. Without overthinking it, I grabbed her pillow and pressed it to my face, breathing her in deep, smothering myself in her scent as I dipped my hand below the waistband of my skinny jeans.
‘So good .’
I hummed in agreement, slipping my cock free and gripping myself harshly. The leather of my gloves felt smooth against my heated skin. I squeezed my piercing hard. Right to the edge of pain, a sharp hiss tearing out of me as my eyes slid shut.
Maybe I was punishing myself for making her feel like an object. Or maybe some part of me needed to hurt for crossing a line inside her safe space. I knew damn well my brother would disapprove.
‘She wouldn’t approve either, though would she?’
I could picture her glare sharp as a blade, chin lifting in defiance, that spark of anger flashing in her eyes as she told me exactly what she thought of my audacity.
The way she’d bristle. Fuck I liked it when she was pissed.
Better than when she was scared. The thought didn’t stop me.
It only drove me harder. I pumped my cock faster as I thought about her red pouty lips.
I wanted to sink my fangs into them. My mind replayed her flushed cheeks when I teased her, the way color bloomed high and hot while her eyes sharpened like she wanted to bite back.
Her body always betrayed her before her mouth caught up, and I loved that about her—loved how responsive she was even when she hated herself for it.
So damn responsive.
My grip tightened. Faster . Harder. Mine .
“ Fuck ,” I groaned, pleasure and frustration tangling together as I imagined her red, pouty lips—soft, parted, sinful— fit perfectly over the head of my cock. The barb of my piercing scraped across the roof of her mouth.
“Yes, darling. Just like that.” My head tipped back as a deep, feral sound tore from my throat. The release came fast and angry, my fox riding me hard as instinct flooded to the surface. I snarled under my breath as everything crashed through me.
Afterward, I looked down and smirked. My gloves. The sheets. My jeans. A sticky mess .
I grabbed her pillow again, using it to clean myself off, my grin darkening. I liked the idea of her curling up later, cheek pressed to it, never knowing what I’d left behind.
The thought pleased my fox, too. It settled him.
Though not for long. The tension coiled quickly once more.
It wasn't enough. The release didn't soothe the edges. I needed more. I needed blood and to run off some steam. Burn this excess energy out of my system before it drove me crazy. I should leave. Go deeper in the city. Feed . Maybe indulge in other pleasures just to clear my head. It’s what I’d normally do.
I scowled. I didn’t want some random hookup. I wanted her.
‘Only her .’
My fangs ached at the thought of tasting her for the first time. I dragged a hand through my hair and let out a short, humorless laugh. I'm wound too fucking tight.
I scanned the flat again—quick, assessing. No real hiding places. Staying wasn’t an option. Not if I wanted to watch her without her knowing I was there.
‘Go feed. You can come back later.’
My fox was right. I needed blood. I needed to run and burn off this pressure before it made me do something stupid. Like kidnap Sina. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Fuck . It was tempting as hell .
I eased the window open and slipped out, dropping four floors into the alley below in one smooth, fluid motion. Decision made. I’d feed. I’d run it out. Get my head straight. Then I’d come back. When she was asleep. When she wouldn’t see me.
‘Tonight,’ he agreed. ‘Nik would be so proud you’re fighting your impulses.’
I cackled as I rounded the corner behind her building. He definitely wouldn’t approve if I stole her like a thief in the night. If he found out I had even come here, he’d be pissed. Furious . Though, I didn’t really give a fuck, I refused to leave her to fend for herself any longer.