Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Knox
“My respect has to be earned; it’s not freely given because you’re bigger and stronger than me,” she declared, though her voice trembled.
“You have no idea what you’re fucking with right now.”
“I have every idea what I’m fucking with,” she retorted. “I’m not afraid of you. What more can you do to me? I’ve already lost everything… everything, including the man I loved. I have no one and nowhere to go.
“Your kingdom is in ruins, but you still have a place to call your own, a pack, the sprites, and a home. I don’t care what you do to me because I have nothing for you to take.”
I didn’t remind her that I could take the rat, as her words had knocked some of my growing fury out of me. Even the beast retreated a little.
Her shoulders heaved with every breath she took, and my gaze fell to the ripe swell of her breasts against her sweater. I longed to slice that sweater open, push her to her knees, and thrust my cock between her tits while she tongued the head of it.
The image was so consuming that I rested my hand on her shoulder before realizing what I was about to do. She was lost and wounded, and I was on the verge of forcing myself on her.
I was many things… including a monster… but I wasn’t that. The casters had completely changed me, but they would never turn me into one of them.
Jerking my hand away, I retreated a few steps. I had to get away from her if I was to regain control of myself.
When I felt stable enough to talk again, I stared out one of the windows as I ran my hand over the stubble on my head. “I think you underestimate how much the sprites enjoy having you here.”
I should also tell her that my pack liked her too, but I couldn’t. Words were too difficult as I remained rattled by the impulse.
“That still doesn’t make Wildwood my home,” she said. “You’ve made it very clear I’m a way for you to get back at my mother, a pawn, and something for you to use.”
Taking a deep breath, I felt steady enough to look at her again. “You can’t be a pawn if you’re no good to me against your mother, and you can’t break the curse.”
“So I’m just a prisoner.”
“You just said you have nowhere else to go.”
“I don’t, but I also don’t have complete freedom here.”
“And you never will. Wildwood is too dangerous for you to be outside the castle walls alone. You will always have someone to protect you; I’ve instructed my pack to allow you outside the walls if you request it, but one of them will go with you. That will never change.”
Hope bloomed in her eyes as she took a small step toward me. Unwilling to let her get any closer, I retreated a little further.
“You have?” she asked.
“Yes. You have use to us.”
She recoiled a little as hurt replaced the hope. “I have use,” she muttered.
“And you will tell me what you’re hiding from me.”
Briar crossed her arms over her chest. “You can command me all you want, but I’m not telling you anything.”
“Then you admit there’s something more going on since your Needing and that you lied to me before?”
“You love twisting everything I say back to me being a liar. Yes, there is something more going on. No, I didn’t tell you the truth because I have no intention of telling you anything.
I’m of use to you, but you’ve done nothing to earn my respect and trust. Maybe, if you ever do, I’ll reveal my truth to you, but until then, you’ll have to accept that you won’t know. ”
“You just love pushing me,” I growled.
I stepped toward Briar but didn’t go any closer. I didn’t trust myself near her; every part of me wanted to grab her and bend her to my will, to show her I was the dominant one. But I was frightened of what I’d unleash to do so.
“No, you wanted the truth, and I’m giving it to you. It’s not my fault you don’t like it,” she replied.
I dug my claws into my palms as my fangs extended. The beast swelled within me, and orange fur spread across my arms. When Briar’s eyes fell to my arms, she edged away.
“You should fear me,” I told her. “I’m not one to fuck with.”
She wisely refrained from saying anything more. My gaze fell to her breasts again as the beast rolled within me, seeking to break free and claim what belonged to us.
When my cock swelled, Briar gulped and edged farther away as she eyed it like a poisonous snake.
“I’m not willing,” she whispered.
“Neither was I.”
“Knox—”
Before she could say anything more, I was on her. She gasped as my hand encircled her throat.