Chapter Thirteen
Caleb
For the next week, Sam’s words echo in my mind.
My father always operated under the assumption that being loved was the way to lead.
I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps, but .
. . maybe Sam is right. Is it better to be feared than loved?
If so, then I can’t help but question . .
. If my father had led with fear, would he still be here?
Our king leads with fear, and because his dangerousness protects his pack, he is, in return, loved. Although he isn’t my favorite and most certainly not my biggest fan, he can lead. And lead well.
Is that his secret?
My people are uneasy. They’re worried I can’t protect them. If I can’t be loved, then I need to be feared.
Today is the perfect opportunity to take Sam’s advice.
Word spread quickly: the soon-to-be alpha of the realm’s most resourceful pack—and close friend to the hybrid queen—is searching for a mate. With a hybrid queen ruling two kingdoms, interspecies mating has become possible. Now every species is looking to find the next “super breed.”
It helps that my powers ensure protection against food scarcity. While every pack has its difficulties, starvation is something my pack has not had to endure.
However, our reputation is not what it used to be. People are understandably hesitant about joining a pack that has become a target of the rogues. Of the potential matches in the council’s list, only half of them accepted.
It’s almost nine o’clock, and all bachelorettes are waiting in the town hall.
Time for my great demonstration of power.
My prisoner has slept long enough. From the counter, I grab a container and fill it with water before heading to the basement. A smirk tugs at me at what’s to come. Downstairs, I saunter over to where the sleeping beauty lies. She looks so peaceful.
Can’t have that now, can I?
I manage to sneak into her cell without waking the beastful beauty.
With flushed cheeks and her pouty lips parted slightly, she breathes loudly.
The under-boob and pits of her shirt are stained with sweat.
Her forehead and hairline shine as well.
Tangled tendrils of hair are bundled behind her, though some strands stick to her cheek.
She’s as beautiful as I remember. The only things that have changed are she’s starting to fill out with the food I’ve had them feed her. Through trial and error, I’ve found a few things she’ll eat to make a full meal.
The other thing I notice is the number of freckles on her cheeks and nose. The lack of sunlight has faded a few of them.
Not that I’d memorized all forty-six of them.
It’s been a little over a week since I allowed myself around her. Initially, I needed distance, but after a few days, when I was ready to see her again, I had gotten too busy.
That’s not entirely true. I could have. What I couldn’t do was trust myself around her after she pissed me off. I’d punish that mouth of hers and pictured stuffing my cock down her throat until tears spring from her eyes.
She whimpers and mumbles unintelligible words in her sleep. Her brow furrows and a few freckles connect when her nose scrunches in pained expressions. The deep and steady breathing morphs into short, panicked breaths.
She’s having a nightmare.
Poor baby.
I should help her out. If only there was something I could do . . . All I have is this bucket of water.
Oh wait.
The water splashes on her face and chest.
Her lids fly open, and she sits up with a gasp. Her eyelashes clump together and water drips into her eyes. Once her vision is cleared, she glares at me. “You.”
I wave, wiggling my fingers with a smug grin, then fold them behind my back, rocking on my heels.
“Why did you do that?” She wipes her face with her arm.
“You were having a nightmare. You’re welcome.”
She stills briefly, then she shakes her head, and her frown returns. “You are my nightmare.” The excess water trickles from her mouth onto the floor in front of her mattress as she spits.
She’s hot when she’s angry.
I tilt my head, lean into the doorway and imagine her bossing me around, riddled in nothing but red marks from my spanking.
“What do you want?” She bobs her head with each word with such an attitude.
After dragging my gaze down her body at her question, I land on her swollen breasts and the hardened nipples.
I want so many things, I think to myself.
Uh oh. Plan backfiring. Focus!
I force myself out of the trance her body trapped me in and focus on the space between her eyes.
“Get up. I have a meeting in ten minutes.”
Jay yawns and lays her head back down, facing away from me. “That sounds like a you’ problem.”
The way she fights me every step of the way even though she has no power in this situation is getting old.
Feared, not loved. Maybe I need to remind her.
“It’s not a problem for me. But little Casey, on the other hand . . .” I click my teeth.
Like a horror movie, the mattress dips as she slowly turns over and sits up. Her mouth and eyes are wide. “What did you just say?”
“Did you think I didn’t know about her?”
The quickened thumping of her heartbeat reaches my ears. “I don’t want to hurt her, but that’s up to you.”
“You’re bluffing.”
I shrug. I know I’m not. But if she loves this pup as much as I know she does, she won’t take any chances. “Fuck around and find out.” Arms crossed, I lean in and sneer, “I dare you.”
Her nostrils flare, and her lips press into a hard line. As angry as she may be, nothing can hide the fear behind her eyes. And it’s that same fear that is going to keep her compliant.
“Now that we understand each other . . . get up, or I’ll drag you there myself.”
She narrows her eyes at me.
“Suit yourself.” I scoop her up.
Jay kicks and screams as I hoist her over my shoulder.
“Put me down!”
Ignoring her pleas, I carry her out of the room and down the hall.
Jay has an impressive set of lungs something I wouldn’t mind testing out for myself. How many hours could she scream like that for?
As much as I appreciate her range, it’s a nuisance. I land a quick and hard smack to her backside, and she stops squirming.
A horrified gasp escapes her lips. “Did you just spank me?”
I set her down. Her faux-appalled expression doesn’t match her dilated pupils and blushed cheeks.
I hold a finger in front of her face. “That’s one. Don’t test me today. You won’t like the outcome.”
Jay goes to open her mouth, but I wave a finger in her face.
“Uh, uh, uh. Remember, little Casey . . .”
Her jaw closes shut at the second mention. She inhales compliance then rolls her shoulders back as she exhales her pride, lifting her chin. “How many do I get?”
I expected a smart-aleck response. Instead, she sounds . . . obedient. My wolf paces, wanting to pounce and bury myself into her from her submission.
“Three. Which is more than you deserve.”
“How generous of you,” she says sarcastically.
“Yeah, well. That’s me,” I say before bending down and picking her up. “Up you go.”
It isn’t until we make it up the dungeon stairs that I put her down. Once her feet are on the ground, I dig into my back pocket. The leash and collar clatter to the floor—made of genuine onyx leather. It’s the closest I could get to matching her soul.
Her eyes travel across the collar. “Oh, come on. You can’t be serious,” she says.
“Deadly.”
Appalled, Jay’s protest is automatic. “Uh-uh, no. No way, I’m not wearing that.”
“You’ll wear what I tell you to. Put it on.
” I hand her the collar, and she takes it with a shaky hand.
Once it’s fastened around her neck, I reach out, hooking my finger into the silver loop and jerk her toward me.
With her looking up at me, a hum rumbles deep in my throat.
“Mmm . . . Pretty, don’t you think? I picked it out juuust for you. ”
She gulps, and I smile wide. It feels so good to be feared. I can see why the king likes it so much. I could get off on it.
My eyes are transfixed on her as I attach the leash. After a satisfying click, I give it a demonstrative tug.
“You’re coming with me.”
“Am I allowed to ask where we’re going?”
“I’m glad you asked. Eligible bachelorettes have traveled from all over the realm to present themselves as a mate for me.”
“Why do I have to be there?”
If I were one hundred percent honest, it’s a punishment. Her wolf doesn’t recognize me, but early signs would still create jealousy. But I can’t tell her that. Instead, I relay a partial truth.
“Thanks to you, people may start to get the bright idea that our grounds are penetrable. You are a show of my force. A threat of what happens to those who think to cross my people. And a promise to my pack and future mate that they will be protected.”
And hopefully, the beginning of reparations to Bloodhound’s reputation, I think to myself.
The scowl on her face says it all. She hates me as much as I do her. Glad we’re on the same page.
“Now let’s go.”
She stomps with a huff, and I tsk.
“Uh-uh. Crawl to me.”
Her jaw drops, and the mask she tried to hide disappears. “W-What? You want me to crawl on my hands and knees?”
“Exactly.” I grin.
I approach her, dwarfing her with my size. She doesn’t move or protest. I have to hold my breath at how she looks.
Who’s being tortured here? Me or her?
I lightly tug on leash clipped to the metal ring resting on her clavicle.
“They’re going to demand my head when you announce what I’ve done. You know that, right?”
“Don’t worry. No harm will come to you. That job is solely my honor. In the meantime, you’re mine to play with. And we’re going to have so much fun together.”
“Go to hell.”
Her nostrils flare. But the scent from her arousal tells me heat is greater elsewhere.
I lean in, letting my lips brush her ear as I say, “You think I can’t feel the heat you’re giving off? Do you think I can’t scent it? If I dived into you, I’d be buried in hell. I’d burn just as much as you’re burning for me.”
Her breath hitches, and I smile against her ear. “Get on your knees.”