Page 88 of Wolf's Mark

“And if I do?” Shit. He knew far too much about me and my life. No matter his openness, I was more unnerved than I’d ever been in my life.

He had the nerve to chuckle as if any of this was funny? “Then you’ll face punishment.”

Punishment. Was he kidding me?

The entire conversation was challenging every aspect of who and what I was.

Even what I’d seen with my own eyes could be explained. How? I wasn’t certain but I would figure it out. Right now, I needed to find some space. And peace. He’d driven here, but as I continued to need to remind myself, I was a big girl.

I would grab an Uber after I was certain he wasn’t following me. I had money. Right? I had a sense of being. I had… insanity creeping in.

My purse was in my hand before I managed to sprint past, easily figuring out the locking system. I lunged out the door as if the building was on fire, pounding my tennis shoes toward the elevator. Thank God, I’d put on cargo shorts and a tee shirt that morning.

The elevator was right in front of me before I dared look over my shoulder. Thankfully, he wasn’t following me.

Maybe he had to open another bottle of wine. Maybe he was figuring out how to… Would he kill his mate for learning his secret?

Yep. I was certifiable, but still alive, and I planned on keeping it that way.

My hand was slapped onto the button before I could say ‘cheese.’ In a stroke of good luck, the doors opened less than three seconds later.

Once inside, I continuously hit the close button with one hand while at the same time I smashed my palm against the down button.

Finally, the piece of shit doors started to close. I crowded the back, hitting the cold steel wall with a hard thud. It jarred me into a vision of the two of us together. In the pool. Fucking. I’d fucked a wolf. Did that constitute as… I couldn’t even think about the ultra kinky sex act.

Just before the doors finally snapped shut, a hand was driven between them. I watched in awe and a touch of horror as Jax pushed them back open with a single finger.

His expression was more about amusement than anything as he stepped in. He also hit the down button, shoving his hands into his pockets as he turned to face me.

“Did you really think you could get away from me that easily?” he asked.

“I needed air. Lots of fresh air.”

“We’ll make certain you get that.” The elevator was going down and in a surprise move, he pressed the stop button. I didn’t know they made elevators with that feature any longer.

“What are you doing?”

He took a deep breath. “Providing the punishment that is necessary.”

“Are you kidding me? You just attempted to make me believe I’m currently living in an alternative world where I’m your mate and now you’re going to try and punish me?”

“Not try, Sedona. It is going to happen.”

His tone of voice had changed, becoming much more authoritative.

“I don’t take orders from you.” Why were we arguing about this?

“You do and you will when you’re under my protection.” He started to unfasten his belt and I was suddenly claustrophobic.

“Hold on a minute. Your belt. What in God’s name do you plan on doing with that?”

“I never want you hurt, but I will need to remind you that the creatures out there aren’t human. Not but any traditional standards. A spanking should help remind you that you need to be careful and not run away.”

The man was serious.

When the thick strap was free, I was certain he’d start the elevator again, forcing me like some prisoner back into his condo.

He didn’t. The big man took me by the arm, spun me around, and proceeded to unfasten the drawstring on my shorts.

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