Chapter 19
NINETEEN
KNOX
I shoved away the rage that lingered from the moment I’d checked the security app, searching room after room before seeing where Thistle was.
That rage didn’t belong with her, even if she had seen what she never should have.
And she believed it was Rogue’s.
I would happily let her continue believing that.
It was quite… ironic, actually.
Right now, as I led her back to my office, she was angry, but she didn’t seem the slightest bit afraid, which both pleased me and bothered me all at once.
She was getting more comfortable and… well, more bratty.
Thistle, it seemed, considered rules nothing more than challenges. But ‘boundary pusher’ fit her M.O. perfectly.
She might be a little cracked, but she was endlessly observant, and struck me as the kind of person that would take anything if it was left unattended.
I sat down upon the desk chair I’d groggily woken in only an hour ago. I’d stayed up too late obsessively slotting together more of the puzzle pieces the night had left me with.
I examined Thistle closely as she stood before me, my eyes all too easily snagging on that pretty golden chain that marked her mine. She hadn’t changed from her pyjamas, which was one hugely oversized t-shirt and underwear—which made sense, given she’d clearly been looking for Rogue.
“I take it my punishments aren’t up to your satisfaction,” I said.
Okay.
So, it might be my fault.
I’d lost track of how many times she’d climaxed from said punishments since she’d got here.
I wonder if she’d pushed Ace this hard?
She levelled me with hateful eyes. She was more angry than she’d been yesterday—the art, it seemed, had set her off.
“They’re weak and stupid, Alpha,” she said, venom in her voice. “Just like you.”
“Ah,” I chuckled. “ That’s the difference between me and all those other Alphas you’ve crossed. I’m simply too dim-witted to figure out how to make you cry.”
I could make her afraid—anyone in my position could—but it took nothing special to cause suffering.
She narrowed her eyes, considering me carefully. “You keep talking about claim, but you haven’t even fucked me.”
It was true. I could have— wanted to, even, but something changed my mind every time. As if it might shift something between us that I wasn’t ready to let go of.
It also, I think, contributed to her fascination with me, which was just endlessly hot.
“Maybe I’m saving it for something special,” I told her. “Are you disappointed?”
“No.”
I didn’t call her on the blatant lie.
“So, being strong , as you put it,” I said, instead. “What would that gain me that I don’t already have? Respect, perhaps?” I asked. “Because I’m quite aware you don’t keep pushing my boundaries because you believe you can tolerate my punishment, you keep pushing my boundaries because you want them.”
“I want him .”
“And me, and my attention.”
“I don’t.”
But it was a lie.
She was falling for me.
She shouldn’t be—even I believed it should be impossible despite the games I was playing, and yet, I knew it was the truth.
Possibly , I was delusional, but if I was, she had to suffer me, anyway.
“That’s the part you’re missing, Little Doll.” It was so inevitable, our collision. I don’t think it even cost me to spell it out. “Every time you push and I respond, you fall for me harder. That’s the punishment, and I don’t believe you’re capable of stopping.”
She cocked her head, attention more intense as she processed what I’d said.
But she didn’t understand yet. Not truly.
“Let me make it clear,” I said, curling my fist around the chain and tugging her a step closer, inhaling her cool scent of frosted moonflower that seemed to lose the edge of anger the closer she got to me. It was pure instinct now, an addiction, the cool metal in my palm, the chain that connected us. “Your punishment today, for going where you weren’t allowed is this: I will cuddle you tonight, but only if you ask.”
She had last night in a daze. Well, in a manner of speaking—she’d given me permission to stay. But now I would make her beg for it.
“You think you’re the only Alpha who’s withdrawn touch as a threat?” she challenged, a sneer curling her lips.
“When Ace refused, was it because you didn’t ask?” At my words, her eyes dropped, jaw clenched. I wasn’t below twisting that knife, because I wanted every contrast to Ace I could get. “Did you ask him, or beg him, even?”
Her arm shifted slightly as she hugged Bunny close, eyes fixed on the floor.
“He was your mate, and he wouldn’t touch you. I am not, but here’s the new deal: I will give you everything— if you ask.”
“Everything?” I think the frustrated word slipped out before she meant it to, but she was frowning like it didn’t make sense.
“If you tell me you want me.”
“And then…” Her voice broke. “Then you’ll tell him what I said.”
I smiled, releasing the chain and leaning back in my chair. “And there it is, my sweet little doll. You understand at last. Now, if you don’t intend to ask quite yet, you can go.”
She stood stock still for a long second, lips pursed as she considered me. Then she turned and made for the door.
I spoke before she could leave though, and she glanced back. “Now you know the nature of it, Doll, you should also consider there are still lines you should not cross, and punishments you will regret.”
The hateful look in her eyes before she slammed the door, told me she didn’t care one bit.