Page 18 of Wolf Hunter

Oh, she is infuriating in the worst possible way. And she knows it, too. A rational part of my mind understands I’ve fallen right into her trap, and I couldn’t care less.

Somehow, she’s gotten me to step closer to her.Something about the woman draws me in, even as I know I need to keep a healthy distance from her—physically andapparentlyemotionally.

“You have a pretty vivid imagination,” I tell her, making sure she recognizes the heat in my gaze. “I wonder what other activities it can come up with.”

She pulls of the sheets and moves to the edge of the bed. When she stands, she’s so close, her body brushes against mine. I stiffen, but her chin only tilts up stubbornly and her jaw clenches.

“I can think of more than a few things. Want me to spell them out for you inbloodydetail? You might like that too much.”

I chuckle darkly. “Oh, you have no idea what kind of things I like. I can show you sometime, though. Guarantee you’ve never experienced the things I can do.”

“You are perfectly able to try if you want to lose a hand or another important part of your anatomy. Come on. Go for the gold, hot stuff,” she taunts. “Let me see what you can do.”

I growl and swivel away from her, heading for the door before I say or do anything regrettable. Like grabbing her and kissing her to quiet those lips. Equally regrettable.Fuck.

“You can try to escape, but as I’m sure you’ve already figured out,” I call over my shoulder, sparing her one last look, “it won’t do you any good. Try to rest up, and we’ll talk in the morning.”

Her gaze narrows. “I could just jump out the window. I’m dead anyway.”

I shrug. “You’re welcome to do whatever you want—or I should say,attemptwhatever you want—if it will make you feel better. The windows are warded against escape thanks to your double-crossing coven. The door is warded as well. Do your best with whatever else you find in the room.”

I leave her sputtering behind me and let the door click shut. It locks automatically, the spell set to engage whenever I wish. And I definitely wish.

My room is across the hall. I stand on the carpet of the stately house where I grew up, nestled deep in the woods, and it feels like it doesn’t belong to me. The men and women downstairs are my family. The four walls are mine to manage, along with everyone inside them.

How long has it been since I felt safe here?

And how much longer will it be before I no longer sense the looming specter of my father?

No one gets out of this mansion without my express wishes, although I haven’t kept a prisoner in the guest room in… ever. And it isn’t like I want to think of Tasha as my prisoner. More like a—

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? You never gave me an answer, and I’d say one is long overdue.”

I turn at the sound of my older brother’s voice. “Julius,” I say. “Do you have something you want to talk to me about rationally? Or are you just here to question my every move?”

Forget about my father’s ghost. My older brother has dodged my every step since I became alpha.

He stands with his arms crossed over his chest, long dark hair in a man bun, and the rest of him looking neatly put together in contrast. He’s changed from the ceremony to a pressed pants and blazer, reminding me of a modern college professor.

“I want to know why you’re keeping someone like her in a fucking suite rather than down in the dungeons. We have them for a reason, Reid,” he replies. “Better yet, kill her and be done with it. She’s a serious threat to us. That much is clear. You should have been done with this already.”

“She stays wherever I please, for as long as I please. Although your concern is noted.”

“If I were alpha—”

“Well, you’re not,” I snap out.

Julius has never had the guts to go against me since our father died. As the oldest, he should have been the strongest of the three of us, but he’s never had the stability required to lead. His goals have always been selfish ones.

It doesn’t change the fact that he resents me.

“Clearly, the wrong brother took up the mantle of power. If it were up to me, she’d have her throat slit, and her blood would be decorating the front stoop of the mansion. Where she belongs,” he replies bitterly.

In one move, I have him by the throat. “Another word like that, and we’ll see whose blood is spilled.”

ChapterSix

Reid

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