Page 33 of Ruled By The Alpha

He’d thought her weak as a result, but he’d been wrong. She was blessed by the spirits in a different way, imbued with power beyond his imagining.

He was a hunter, gifted with brawn and speed, but the female had strengths he had not expected. Ones he had never seen her kind use before.

Or was she the only one of her kind who could?

Either way, she was his prize and he was keeping her.

“Danger.” He gestured toward her once more, swiping his arm out as if he could use the air currents to draw her close. “Come. Now.”

Her language was close to his. Not a perfect match, but near enough that he could communicate. Except he’d never had much of a reason to converse before. Not just with her kind, but with anyone. Now, however, the words were starting to come, faster with each moment spent in her presence as new parts of his brain fired up, an ancient and yet wholly fresh consciousness sparking in his mind. All thanks to her touch.

“Danger?” She scoffed, her voice high-pitched and frantic, her body rising and dipping in erratic jerks. “You’ll have to be more specific. From you? Or the fall? Right now, I’m not sure which is worse.”

He snarled once more. He was the greatest danger, of course. But not to her. To her…

He paused. What? Did he not intend to rip her apart in the end?

Never.

The thought of destroying her sickened him. He would sink his fangs and tongue inside her, but not to cause her pain or hear her howls of agony. He would do so only to hear her screams of pleasure. Over and over again.

He would keep her forever.

He would stake his claim for all time.

But he wouldneverdo anything that would erase her sweet smell or mar her soft, colorful skin, or damage the invisible charge that bounced from him to her and back again.

More so, he would annihilateanythingthat tried to take her from him.

“I have decided. I will not kill you. You have my word. You will come to me. Now.”

She dropped. Screamed.

With a roar, he leaped, soaring through the air, his heart slamming against his ribs, his usual survival instincts overridden by an even greater priority.

He had to reach her.

His arms closed around her, and then they were plummeting together.

Her tiny hands gripped him, her puny claws digging into his skin—and the organ inside his chest sang.

Nothing had ever clung to him before. A darnelez had once pulled him close, wrapping its six tentacles tight around his waist and hips, but only to blow its poison breath into his face in an attempt to subdue.

This was different.

This prey clung to him for protection.

This felt right.

Twisting so that he was beneath her, he curled his bigger body around hers and braced for impact.

And was shocked to feel their descent slow, his spine touching the ground with the same gentle precision he used to dock his ship.

Thanks to her.

Surprise, another new emotion, slammed through him.

He’d sought to save her. She’d protected him instead.

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