Chapter 18 #3
The topic dies, but I see the questions in her eyes, the wheels turning. Good. Let her think about it. Let doubt take root.
The car pulls up to the venue. I retrieve two masks from my coat pocket. Mine is simple, black satin. Hers matches her dress, burgundy adorned with small crystals.
“Turn around.”
She obeys. I tie the silk ribbons, my fingers lingering on the nape of her neck. I want to kiss her there, mark her, make it clear to everyone that she belongs to me.
“Stay with me tonight.” The words come out as a command I can’t quite suppress. “Don’t wander off.”
“I won’t.”
The driver opens the door. I step out first, then offer my hand to help Violet from the car. I take her arm and lead her inside, my wolf prowling just beneath the surface.
The ballroom is stunning. Crystal chandeliers, polished marble, masked faces turning toward us. I recognize wolves from other packs.
Violet remains close, her hand never leaving my arm. My wolf snarls at every male gaze that lingers too long. I want to bare my teeth at them, warn them off.
She’s mine.
We navigate through clusters of guests. The air smells of expensive perfume and too many shifters in one space. My senses are hyperalert, cataloging every wolf who looks at Violet, every man who gets too close.
“Darius!” A smooth voice cuts through the noise.
My entire body goes rigid. I know who that is.
We turn around. He approaches in a silver mask, his predatory grace making my wolf bare its teeth. I recognize that same easy confidence he had when he tried to ask Violet out for coffee. When he put his hands on her during the training.
“Ryker,” I manage to say.
His gaze settles on Violet, recognition flashing in his eyes despite her mask. “Violet.” His smile is warm, interested. It’s the smile that once made me snap a pen in half. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
I move slightly in front of her, a growl building in my chest.
“You look stunning.” His eyes rake over her dress, lingering too long. “That color suits you.”
Violet’s voice is cool, professional. “Thank you.”
“I’ve been hoping to run into you again.” He takes a step closer, and I resist the urge to physically block him. “We never did get that coffee. Your schedule seemed perpetually full.”
Because I made sure it was. Because the thought of him sitting across from her, looking at her the way he’s looking at her now, makes me want to gouge his eyes out.
“Her schedule hasn’t changed,” I say, my voice hard.
Ryker’s eyes flick to me, a calculating look in his expression. “I’m sure Violet can speak for herself, Darius.” He addresses her again. “What do you say? After the gala, perhaps? There’s a wonderful late-night place not far from here.”
Violet’s hand tightens on my arm.
I stare at him, my voice dropping. “She’s not interested, Ryker. She’s never been interested.”
“Is that so?” Ryker’s smile doesn’t waver, but I see the challenge in his eyes. “Or is it that you won’t let her be interested?”
My vision goes red. Claws pierce through my fingertips.
Then, Ryker leans in closer, his voice pitched for only us to hear. “It’s not your decision, Darius. I intend to take her. My father and yours have already discussed the arrangement. A political marriage between our packs.” His smile turns sharp. “Brother-in-law.”
I feel Violet go completely still beside me. “What?” Her voice is a whisper. “What did you just say?”
Ryker’s smile widens. “Your stepfather and my father have been negotiating the terms. An alliance marriage. You and me.” He says it like it’s already decided, like she has no say in the matter. “Didn’t anyone tell you?”
Violet stiffens. I can smell her shock, sharp and acrid, mixing with rising panic.
“No one asked me,” she says, her voice gaining strength. “No one told me anything.”
“Well.” Ryker spreads his hands. “Now you know. We have time to get to know each other properly before the formal announcement, of course. That offer for coffee still stands.”
Violet’s fingers dig into my bicep hard enough to hurt. “Enough,” she says.
We both look at her. She steps forward, and I see fury replacing the shock in her eyes.
“I am not going to mate with you.” Each word is precise, sharp as a blade. “I don’t care what my stepfather agreed to. I don’t care what your father wants. You can’t force me to be with you.”
Ryker’s expression darkens. The easy charm drops away, revealing a coldness underneath. “We’ll see about that, little wolf. These arrangements are bigger than you. Bigger than both of us.” He leans in again. “You’ll come around. They always do.”
“Get away from her.” My words come out as a growl.
Ryker holds up his hands in mock surrender. “For now.” He looks at Violet one more time. “We’ll talk again soon.”
He walks away, disappearing into the crowd. The control I’ve been maintaining shatters. My hands curl into fists. My wolf is clawing at my skin, demanding to be let out, demanding blood.
“Darius.” Violet’s voice cuts through the haze, but she sounds shaken. “Darius, breathe.”
“I can’t.” A guttural sound escapes me. “I need to shift. Now. Or I’m going to lose it, right here. I’ll tear him apart.”
I pull her through the ballroom, past curious onlookers, toward the gardens. We don’t stop until we’re in some trees that hide us from view.
She lets go of my arm as I start to pace, my breathing harsh. My hands flex, claws emerging fully. Every muscle cries out for release.
“You can’t shift.” Violet steps into my path, pulling off her mask. “These nice clothes will tear.”
The logic penetrates. I stop, chest heaving. I remove my mask, too.
“What’s wrong?” She moves closer, and I can see she’s still processing what Ryker said. “Why are you losing control?”
“Leave.” The word sounds barely human. “Violet, leave. Now.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m going to hurt you,” I snarl. “My wolf is too close to the surface. Leave.”
“No.” She stands her ground despite the tremor in her voice. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t—” I walk away from her and slam my palm against a tree. The bark splinters. “I need you to go before I do something I’ll regret.”
In one fluid motion, I spin back around and close the distance. Her back hits a massive tree trunk, my hands on either side of her. My face is inches from hers, my wolf at the surface.
“You can’t mate with Ryker.” My voice is raw. “Promise me. Swear it.”
“I just told him—”
“Swear it!” The pure alpha command vibrates through the air.
“I swear!” She looks frightened. Of me. “I swear I won’t mate Ryker. I don’t want him. I never wanted him.”
My mouth crashes down on hers. This kiss is savage, demanding, possessive. My teeth catch her bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. She gasps, and I deepen the kiss, one hand tangling in her hair while the other grips her hip hard enough to bruise.
I kiss her desperately, like she’s the only thing keeping me from completely losing myself to the wolf. My body presses flush against hers now, pinning her to the tree.
When I pull back, we’re both panting. “He can’t have you,” I whisper against her lips. “I won’t let him.”
I kiss her again, more slowly but no less intensely. My hands frame her face as I explore her mouth with devastating thoroughness.
When I finally stop, she’s staring at me. Her eyes flash with anger now, replacing the confusion.
“You’re overreacting.” She slaps my chest. “Nothing has happened. I told him no.”
“Violet—”
“And it’s not like you and I can be together anyway, so stop it.” Her voice rises, frustration bleeding through. “Calm down.”
“I can’t calm down.”
“Why not?” She pushes me away. “Why does this matter so much to you?”
I finally snap.
I grab her shoulders and slam her back against the tree. Not to hurt her. Never to hurt her. But out of pure exasperation, pure desperation, the need to make her understand.
“Because you’re mine!” My throat burns as I say it. “You’re mine, Violet. My fated mate.”
She goes completely still. The forest around us seems to hold its breath.
My head drops to her shoulder, my grip on her loosening. When I speak again, the words come out as a whisper against her skin.
“You’re my fated mate.”