Page 30 of Possessive Mate

The man used his sleeve to wipe spittle from his face, glowering at her. “My men used the necessary force to keep themselves safe.”

“Four big strong werewolves attacking a she-wolf, and you are worried about their safety?” Elena said, unable to stop from laughing grimly. “That’s hilarious.”

He lashed out then, snatching up her chin in his grip so violently it made her neck hurt. “You know, you shouldn't laugh in your host's face. I can make things much more uncomfortable for you.”

Elena jerked her face out of his grasp and glowered at him. “What the hell do you want from me?”

Her skin crawled when he reached out and stroked hair away from her face, brushing it back behind her ear. “I want you to help me weaken the Nightstar pack, of course. Stealing their pup makers is the perfect plan. Hell, maybe I can even put a few of my own in you pretty little she-wolves, and when your men come looking for you again, I'll pick a few of them off to make things even easier.”

Again? Elena thought. Then she remembered the whispers she had heard, the warnings and the rules she had been expected to follow, and how there was a pack with an illegal turning ring making trouble for everyone.

“Christopher?” she grumbled, narrowing her gaze.

His smile spread wider. “Well, I'm honored you should have heard of me.”

He placed a hand on his chest, clearly flattered. Elena wished she had kept her mouth shut, but seeing an opportunity, she pounced on it. “You should be. The rumors about you are legendary. I doubt they will ever stop doing the rounds.”

He scoffed, his head practically doubling in size. “Perhaps you're a smarter one than I gave you credit for.”

Elena met his gaze unflinchingly. “I guess I am, it’s just a shame you aren't. You kidnapped the wrong she-wolf.”

Christopher scowled at her, his gaze narrowing menacingly. “How so?”

“I'm not a member of the pack,” Elena said, head held high. “I’m just visiting my brother.”

The way he threw his head back, laughing so uncontrollably he might never stop, scared Elena right to her core. When he leveled his gaze with hers again, his eyes darkened. “That pup in your belly tells me a whole different story, sweetheart.”

Elena's mouth fell open. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Her throat felt thick.

No, that can't be…she thought. She couldn't possibly be pregnant. It simply wasn't possible. She couldn't, she wouldn't, go through that.

But then she thought back to her night with Hanson, and further still. When was it she had last had her period? Damn, she couldn't remember.

“You're wrong,” she insisted, her insides fluttering with denial.

Christopher cocked his head. “Am I really?” He sniffed deeply and added, “Who's your brother?”

Elena pursed her lips. Her head was spinning, but the very last thing she was going to do was answer that question.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, sweetheart,” Christopher warned her when she remained silent. Elena made a show of pursing her lips.

With a deep sigh, Christopher clambered to his feet and hooked his hand under her arm.

“On your feet,” he snarled, yanking her up in a way that made the silver chains tug on her burned flesh. They were practically melted into her wrists now, and the way they grazed against her bones made vomit rise in her throat.

“Let's try this again,” Christopher said, pinning her by her chin to the pillar. He moved close and snarled, “Who is your brother?”

She glared silently back at him. It was only when he pulled back his free hand, seeming to aim for her stomach, that instant took over.

“No, no!” she screamed. The instinctual need to protect was something she had felt once before. It brought tears unbidden to her eyes. This can't be happening!

“Tell me or I'll rip that pup right out of you!” Christopher snarled, and he brought his clawed fingers down to her abdomen, grazing them over her flesh where her tank top had ridden up.

She cringed with disgust and spat, “Eddie!”

The way his eyes widened with surprise made Elena immediately aware of just how much more danger she was in now. She wasn't a member of the Nightstar pack, but she was the sister of one of its senior members. And that made her one hell of a prize.

“Well, well, you may just be useful, after all,” he snarled, shoving her head painfully to one side before he stepped away. “I'll let you keep that pup for now.”

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