Page 72 of Wild Wolf

“Then I’ll get her out.” I tried to lunge away as the need to hunt rose in me again, but it was Cain’s turn to get hold of me, shoving me against the opposite wall.

“Resist it,” he snarled. “Resist its call and turn from here. That’s how you’ll know you have mastered the desire, Roary Night. If you can turn from her blood, you can turn from any Fae’s.”

“And leave you to claim the prize of it? Never,” I spat, my fangs burning with the need to sink them into Rosalie’s skin, to claim her as my own.

“There is no better test than this,” he demanded. “Focus and turn from here. Do not seek her out.”

“I…can’t,” I said breathlessly, but he released me as if I’d said the opposite.

I looked to the stone ceiling, hearing her moving there, so near I could have her in my arms in seconds, could sink my fangs into her and claim what I so desperately craved.

But there was an alternative. I could turn away. Leave and not follow this aching thirst. It would be painful, torturous, but not impossible.

Cain gripped my cheek. “You are strong enough to do this.”

I nodded, and somehow managed to make myself retreat, backing away until that crushing need lessened. Bit by bit, until it was no longer a necessity but an option.

“I did it,” I exhaled. “I controlled it.”

“The first time is the hardest,” Cain said. “It will only get easier from here.”

A scraping of stone sounded then Rosalie dropped down into the passage lithely, casting a Faelight to see by.

“That’s against the rules,” Cain clipped but she just shrugged.

“No one can see us down here. Live a little dangerously, Mason,” she purred, stepping into his personal space and placing a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “Thank you for teaching him the ways of your kind.”

“You should never have come down here,” Cain growled, though he pulled her closer to him by the waist possessively.

“What greater test than Roary resisting the hunt when it comes to his mate?” She looked to me, her eyes hooded seductively as she slinked out of his arms and walked in my direction. “You deserve a little reward.” She slid the hair away from her neck, revealing the rose vine tattoo curling up it as she offered me a drink. “You must be famished after all that hunting.”

Someone screamed out in the maze above us and the sound intensified the moment, the hairs on the back of my neck raising to attention.

“Rosalie,” Cain warned. “He has only just managed to resist the hunt.”

“Yes, and you said it gets easier from now.”

“Yes, but-” he snarled and Rosalie whirled toward him.

“What is it you’re really thinking?” she demanded. “Because I don’t think your concern lies with his strength of will anymore.”

Cain stepped closer to her, his hand sliding around her arm and gripping tight. The sight made my muscles tense and a deep growl rolled through my chest.

“Ah,” Rosalie said in understanding, glancing between us both. “You’re possessive of my blood.”

“I wish to stake a claim on you as my Source,” Cain announced and those words flicked a switch in my head. I lost it, tearing towards him with a furious snarl and colliding with him, forcing him away from Rosa and throwing a punch to his gut. He shoved me back with equal ire, our wrath mounting as we fought, throwing furious strikes and snarling in utter rage.

“Enough!” Rosalie commanded, forcing her way between us and planting a hand on each of our chests. “That’s enough. You will share me. I will be a Source to both of you or neither of you. That is my offer, and I will not let either of you drink from me at all ever again if the choice is neither.”

“Rosalie,” Cain rasped. “You can’t do this. It’s not natural. Vampires choose a singular Source and no other Vampire can drink from them unless they fight for the right of that Source themselves. It is the way of our Order.”

“You will share or you will both rescind your claim on my blood for good.” She thrust her chin up and I met Cain’s gaze over her shoulder, both of us growling in anger.

“You’re challenging our very instincts,” Cain snapped.

“Continue to point out the obvious if you like. But it’s my blood, so it’s my rules. Go find another Source if you like, but if you wish for it to be me, you will do so on my terms,” Rosalie said firmly. “That’s my offer. Take it or leave it. Five – four-”

“Wait,” Cain gasped.

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