I shouldn’t have come.

I knew it the moment his hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me in until my back was against the rough stone wall of his private chamber. The air was thick with heat, his scent—earthy, powerful, that of the Alpha—surrounding me, muddying my thoughts.

But I didn’t pull away. Didn’t push him away. Because this was the only place I ever felt desired.

“Tell me to stop,” Thorne said, his breath hot against my ear. But he didn’t loosen his hold. His fingers mapped slow, taunting circles over my hips, setting my skin on fire.

I swallowed hard, a rhythmic pounding echoing through my ears. I should have told him to stop. I should have stepped back before I got hurt again. But when he turned my chin up, his dark eyes locking with mine, my will broke.

“Don’t stop,” I said faintly.

He let out a deep growl, his hands grabbing my ass and his mouth claiming mine with hunger. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, Aria.”

But I did. I knew this was dangerous. Knew that at dawn he would act like nothing happened. But at this moment, with his lips on mine I didn’t care.

He kissed me then, deep and insistent, stealing my breath. His hands went lower, lifting me as I went around him. I gasped, my fingers in his hair as he pressed me more into the wall, his body against mine.

Every touch, every stroke of his lips against my skin sent shivers through me.

He kissed a trail down my neck, pausing at the place my mate mark should have been. A symbol that I was still unclaimed, unwanted. But by him. For that night at least.

His teeth played at my skin a tease of what was to come and I arch’d into him, a quiet want escaping my lips.

“You drive me insane,” he said into my collarbone, his voice tight. “I should leave you be. I should—”

I silenced him, pulling his face back to mine and kissed him with all I had. Because this was all I ever would have of him. And I was too far gone to walk away now.

****

By the time I made it home the sky had darkened, the last of the sun’s light fading behind the thick stand of trees that surrounded the Crescent Moon Pack. My heart still racing—not from the run, but from what had happened in Alpha Thorne’s chamber. My skin still throbbed where his hands had been, my lips swollen from his kiss.

But that didn’t matter now.

I had to get in without being noticed.

I slowed my steps, creeping towards the small rundown cabin that was home to me, my father, step mom and stepsister. It was nothing like the grand homes of the higher ranking wolves. Even omegas did better than this. But my father who used to be the proud Beta of this pack had thrown away his status after my mother died. And I… I was just the unwanted daughter he ignored.

I pushed open the wooden door gently, wincing at the creak. The house was dimly lit, with the smell of last night stew hitting me. I held my breath as I stepped in, my only thought to get to my room without being seen.

I slipped through the door way, my breath shallow as I padded toward the narrow hall which led to my room. The floor boards beneath my feet groaned softly and I froze, listening for any sign that I had been heard.

Silence.

Exhaling slowly I turned the doorknob and slipped in, my back pressing against the wood as it shut behind me. My heart was still racing, not from fear but from the after effect of Thorne’s touch, the memory of his lips on my skin.

I ran my fingers to my throat where he could have marked me but didn’t. Of course he didn’t. He never would.

I shut my eyes out and pushed the thought away. It didn’t matter. None of it did.

I stripped out of my cloak and climbed into the small, creaky bed in the corner of my room that seemed to pull at my limbs. The smell of damp wood and old linen filled my nose, a far cry from the alluring scents of the Alpha that still clung to my skin.

Tomorrow I would wake and life would go back to how it was. Thorne would go back to being distant. Nothing would change.

But for now I let go and fell into the easy embrace of sleep which was the only place I could pretend that I was someone other then the outcast daughter of a Beta.

A loud knock at my door pulled me from my slumber.

I sat up fast my heart pounding as I tried to clear the sleep from my head. The room was dark except for the faint light of the moon filtering in through the gaps in the window.

Another knock—stronger this time.

So I held back a moment before swinging my feet onto the floor, pressing them gingerly on the icy wood. With cold feet I crept to the door, gently pushing it open.

Lilian paused and stood on the other side, with her arms crossed, and nose wrinkled with the distaste of the smallest child.

“Dinner,” she said shortly and pivoting away. I grumbled and rubbed my eyes before following her lethargically to the intaking place.

When I walked in Selene was sitting at the end of the long, long dining desk, absent-mindedly gutting at what appeared to be her dinner with the actions thing of one betrothed.

Next to her sat my silent father, staring at the round platter right in front of him. I moved to sit in one of the chairs that had not been taken, but Selene noisily laughed.

“Oh, no. I can’t eat here if she does,” She wrinkled her depraved, pert little nose, glaring at Lilian. “Mother, it is her, or me.”

I stood up straight, my fists closing on themselves reflexively.

Lilian sighed slowly and boredly, looking me over with condescending sympathy.

“You heard Selene,” she said in those almost calm, hate filled tones. “She’s just that delicate. Why don’t you go eat later, it would be much more conducive to the almost civil atmosphere.”

Wildfire heated up in my chest. “Why?” I screamed at Lilian, my voice shaking.

“Why do I always have to leave? This is my home too!”

Selene gave an overblown, almost cackling laugh. “Your home!” she repeated airily.

“You’re lucky we even let you eat with us at this table!” She turned her chin slightly, eyes squinted and mouth turned up in another expression that I couldn’t bear. Her foot, although i couldn’t see it under the table, tapped impatiently.

My face hot with anger, embarrassment, and shame, I turned to my father. He surely would say something now, wouldn’t he? I looked at him pleadingly, hoping that the man whom I often congratulated myself on looking like would save me. Instead, he just kept on staring at the great before him, knuckles white around his fork.

But he said nothing.

He never did.

A lump formed in my throat, but I forced it down. I wouldn’t let them see how much this hurt.

“Pathetic,” Selene sneered. “No wonder Alpha Thorne hasn’t marked you yet. He probably realized you’re not worth it.”

The words hit harder than they should have. My nails dug into my palms, and for a second, I thought I might actually lunge at her.

But I didn’t.

I turned on my heel and stormed out of the house, the door slamming shut behind me.

The cold night air stung my skin, but I didn’t stop. I kept walking—past the cabins, past the training grounds—until the trees swallowed me whole.

The further I went, the quieter the world became.

I didn’t know where I was going-I just needed to be anywhere but there.

Then it hit me.

I had gone too far.

The woods were dangerous at night and I was alone. Too alone.

But as I turned to leave, a low rumbling growl froze me in place-deep, guttural, and far too close.