Chapter Twelve
Joseph
The cool morning air rushes past me as I run, my paws thudding softly against the damp earth of the estate. The world feels alive around me dew clings to the grass, the faint scent of pine lingers in the air, and the sky shifts from black to the faintest blush of dawn. This is freedom, pure and unbridled. My wolf form revels in it, every muscle in my body thrumming with energy as I push harder, faster.
There’s no better way to clear my head than this. I can let go of everything. My duties, my thoughts, even my name. For this fleeting moment, I am just a wolf, running through the predawn quiet, embracing the simplicity of existence.
But then, I sense something.
The sensation is subtle at first, like a prickle along the back of my neck. My wolf instincts flare to life, sharper than any human sense could ever hope to be. I slow my pace, ears twitching, eyes scanning the surroundings.
I’m being watched.
It doesn’t feel hostile, but it’s there unmistakable. I stop, lifting my muzzle to sniff the air, and my gaze is drawn upward.
There, on one of the estate’s balconies, stands Danae.
Her silhouette is framed by the soft glow of the moonlight, her figure delicate but commanding against the backdrop of the sprawling mansion. She waves at me, a small, hesitant motion, and I tilt my head, trying to understand.
Why is she awake at this hour? The thought cuts through my wolf mind, sharpening into human concern. It’s nearly 4 a.m. Does she need something? Is she all right?
Without hesitation, I trot behind a nearby tree where I’ve stashed my clothes. Shifting back to my human form is second nature by now, but even so, the process never ceases to amaze me …the ripple of change, the brief disorientation as bones realign and fur vanishes. I dress quickly, pulling on my shirt and pants, and step back out into the open.
She’s still watching me.
I wave back, but even from this distance, I can see something in her expression …something quiet and heavy. A kind of sadness that clings to her like a shadow. It twists something in my chest, and I know I can’t leave it alone.
She lifts her hand, beckoning me to come up.
I don’t hesitate.
The climb to the balcony is quick, my footsteps silent as I ascend the staircase. When I reach her, the sight of her stops me cold.
She’s seated in a chair, wrapped in a nightgown that is almost transparent, its delicate fabric doing little to obscure the firm cleavage underneath. The moonlight catches on her skin, painting her in pale silver, and for a moment, I can only stand there, struck dumb by the sheer beauty of her.
I shake it off, focusing on the look in her eyes instead of the irresistible pull she has on me. “Are you all right?” I ask gently. “What’s got you up so early?”
She sighs, her gaze shifting to the horizon. “I have a lot on my mind,” she says quietly.
It’s obvious she does. The strength in her shoulders, the faint crease in her brow …it all speaks of a woman carrying too much. “You can talk to me,” I tell her, my voice steady. “Whatever is bothering you, I’m here.”
For a moment, she’s silent. Then, she exhales softly, her breath misting in the chill air. “My family is arriving this weekend,” she says. “For the Union ceremony. And everything here is so …different. Back home, these things are straightforward. But here? Here, I have to climb a mountain just to prove myself.”
Her voice trembles slightly, and it stirs something protective in me. I want to tell her it’ll be all right, that she’s stronger than she thinks, but I hold my tongue, letting her speak.
“And then there’s Silas,” she continues, her voice gaining a frustrated edge. “I don’t understand him. He confuses me. One moment, he’s the most infuriating man I’ve ever met. And the next…” She pauses, shaking her head. “The next, we’re kissing like animals.”
My brows lift at that. Silas kissed her?
She doesn’t seem to notice my reaction, lost in her own thoughts. “It’s maddening,” she says. “I want to punch him in the face and kiss him at the same time. And then …there’s Adriel.”
Her tone softens when she says his name, and I feel a pang of something I don’t even know what to call.
“Adriel makes me feel things I’ve never felt before,” she admits. “And now he’s saying he wants to court me.”
I blink, stunned. “He asked to court you?”
She nods, biting her lip. “Yes. At first, I thought he wanted me to choose between him and Silas. But now I think. …I think he wants me to be with both of them.”
It makes sense. Among us, it wouldn’t be unusual for the brothers to share the same mate. In fact, it would strengthen the bond between the families.
“I don’t think he’s serious,” she says. “Adriel he looks like the type of man who likes to have fun. To play games.”
I shake my head firmly. “Yes, Adriel enjoys his share of fun. But never like this. He wouldn’t go this far if he weren’t serious.”
She falls silent, so do I.
But my eyes. My damned eyes. They drift despite myself, resting on the way the fabric of her nightgown clings to her form. Her full breasts are all but bare before me. They seem to glitter under the moon light. The sight sends a maddening rush through me, and it is taking every bit of strength I have to fight back against this intense desire.
“Why would a man like Adriel want anything to do with me?” she asks suddenly, breaking the quiet. “He’s so handsome, so charming. He could have anyone he wants. Why me?”
I lick my lips, tearing my eyes away from her.
Oh, I can think of a few obvious reasons.
But a feeling of guilt creeps up on me.
“Come on, Joseph. The poor lady has enough on her plate as it is. Don’t add to it by telling her how you can barely contain yourself at the mere sight of her.”
“You’re a beautiful woman, Danae,” I say instead. “I can understand Master Adriel’s desire. You’re elegant, poised, and…”
She cuts me off. “And flawed. By being a recessive Omega.”
Her words slam into me. There’s something raw in the way she says it, and it stirs an unexpected anger in me, not at her, but at the fact she sees herself this way.
“I’m recessive too,” I tell her, my tone sharper than I intended. “And I don’t think that makes me flawed.”
She blinks, clearly surprised by the defensiveness in my voice. “Oh,” she says quickly, her voice softening. “I’m sorry, Joseph. I didn’t mean to say you’re flawed.”
“Then don’t say it about yourself,” I reply.
She looks at me, her green eyes wide and earnest. The sincerity in her gaze holds me captive, and the pull I’ve been fighting only grows stronger.
The moment stretches, heavy and charged. I can feel my heartbeat quicken, so I force myself to break the spell. Clearing my throat, I glance away. “You should go inside,” I say gently. “It’s too cold out here. You’re not used to this kind of chill.”
She smiles at me, a soft, grateful smile that makes my chest ache. “You’re a very caring man, Joseph,” she says.
She turns to head inside, but then…
Her foot catches on the edge of the rug, and she stumbles. My heart leaps into my throat, and before I even realize I’m moving, I lunge forward, catching her just before she falls.
She lands in my arms, her body pressed against mine. Her warmth seeps into me, her cologne filling my senses, and I can feel the rapid beat of her heart against my chest.
It’s the first time I’ve touched her since we shook hands when she stepped out of her plane. My wolf stirs, restless and wanting, and I have to swallow hard to keep myself in check.
“Clumsy me,” she says with a nervous laugh, pulling away.
I help her steady herself, my hands lingering just a fraction longer than they should. “Be careful,” I murmur, my voice rougher than I intended.
She thanks me, flashing me another small smile before disappearing into her room.
I stand there for a long moment, the ghost of her touch still lingering on my skin. When I finally return to my own quarters, I shut the door behind me, leaning against it as my breath comes fast and unsteady.
What the hell! I’ve never wanted to fuck a woman this much in my life.
She’s my boss's fiancée. My best friend’s fiancée. Yet I can’t stop myself.
Her entire being just throws me head first into a rapture of need, and as I lean on the door, my hand dips into my trousers automatically.
Fuck!
There’s precum dripping out of my cock already. That’s how bad I want her. That’s what she’s doing to me.
I pull off my trousers frantically, my hand gently stroking my stiff bulge, easing the ache that’s built into it.
The way she stands, the poise that seems to accompany everything she does, those perfect green eyes. It all just makes me want to tie her up.
I want to see her bound, motionless. Her arms fastened in place as she watches me go down on her and thrust my tongue as far as I can into her.
I want to hear that soft, melodic voice, the one that always sounds so in control and polite, beg me not to stop. I want her to curse, scream, plead and ask for every inch of me as I drive into her.
I want her to.
Urgh!
I explode. My body twitching as cum shoots out of me and onto the floor. My breath hitching.
I want Danae. I need her.