Page 45 of Ruled By The Alpha

Her entire life, all she’d done was run. First from the gerlex, then from the new invaders. But now, this beserketh’s touch and tongue had somehow imbued her with new power and a chance for an altered way of life.Ifshe was brave enough to take it.Ifshe was fearless enough to change and think that maybe he could too.

Darting down, she seized the food. Her gaze locked with his—where he remained against the rocky wall, his muscles tensing as she neared the ground—as if everything inside him screamed to pounce—and yet he held himself back.

She and the food and drink floated upwards once more, her thirst instantly satiated as she held the water to her lips. But even more, there was a strange new sensation in her belly as well. One that whispered of pride in herself—and even more shocking, a fragile, blooming trust with the beast she’d once expected only to bring her pain.

But what kind of future could they have if, beneath the new dynamic forming between them, she was still prey and he the predator?

Chapter 7

A strange feeling of satisfaction swept through Cheim.

He could have used the food and drink as bait to set his trap, but the sight of his quarry eating and drinking what he’d laid out for her did something funny to his chest.

He liked it.

Just as he liked the proof that she believed in his vows, might even be coming to trust him.

The thought was a heady one that had his chest puffing wider. A sensation as exhilarating as her reaction when he’d stepped under the waterfall and rid himself of his enemies’ blood. Yes, it was an odd request—he would have thought proof that he was the strongest and fiercest predator around, easily able to rip his opponents apart, would have pleased her—but he had weighed his options and decided there was little negative to cleaning himself. And once he had begun to wipe away the gore and scented her growing slick in the air, he had taken his time, scrubbing slower and with more care—and been very pleased by his female’s response.

Just as he was now.

He liked knowing he had provided for her. Just as he liked knowing she responded to him, wishing to touch him as he did her.

From now on, he would be the only one to do either. To hear the soft, sweet sounds of satisfaction from her mouth, to know that he had been the one to fill her belly. To scent her slick and make her scream— from satisfaction. Not pain.

Which should have happened again by now. He was fairly certain he’d been patient enough. Though how would he reallyknow? This was the first time he’d practiced patience at all. The first time he hadn’t just launched himself forward and maimed or killed whatever was giving him trouble.

But since he could not do that in this circumstance, a new plan was called for.

But what?

He wanted more of this trust too. More of her faith and this happiness. But what had she said? He could not just command her to feel that way.

So, how was he then to make it happen? He was Cheim. Never defeated in battle. Never bested. Never taken unaware. But he could not fight her—the thought of hurting her made him ill. Nor could he scare her—again, his stomach churned at the image. And his attempts to bribe and wheedle were not working as well as he’d hoped either.

Which left him exactly where?

Stumped. Frustrated. And embarrassingly full of longing to figure out ways to put another one of those smiles on her face, even if it never brought her into his arms.

An uncomfortable, irritating itch slid across his skin.

He frowned. Was this itch a sign he might actually have met a greater foe? That, despite his greater size and strength and viciousness, the female would win anyway?

He would have dismissed such a thought outright, except… it was beginning to dawn on him that of all the appetites that consumed him when she was near—and there were many—he hungered for her happiness most of all.

The crawling, itchy sensation rippled across his skin, even stronger than before.

But this time, his gut stirred too, signaling an external threat.

Every nerve went on high alert.

He cocked his head and listened.

“What’s wrong?” She was only a few arm’s lengths off the ground now, but for the first time he wished her higher.

“Rise!” The command emerged as a primal rumble. “Something…” His fangs lengthened, his claws too. Next, his bones cracked as he grew even beyond what he’d once been capable of, his need to protect her pushing him past his previous limits. He roared with aggression as he surveyed the cave from his new higher vantage point.

“Cheim? What’s wrong?” Her tone was sharp and tight, but she’d at least listened and floated.

---