Page 5 of Claiming Lyla

She eyed his hand like it had grown claws and was going to rip her hand off. His wolf growled low inside, angry that his mate should regard him with such suspicion, but he waited.

She met his gaze. "Who exactly are you? First, you're skulking around my brother's pack like one of his conspirators. Then you join in the Claiming Rite. And now, you defend me, killing one of the alphas who would claim me against my will. Yet, at the end, I'm still mated against my will to someone I don't know. So, tell me, who is this man I’m now tied to for the rest of my life?"

He dropped his hand and sighed. "It seems, I played my part too well. I told you, I'm an enforcer for the Council and an alpha for the Dirigo Pack in New England. I was assigned to find out why so many humans—women, specifically—are disappearing close to your pack’s lands. I hadn't intended to interfere, wasn't supposed to, but I couldn't resist. Not when my mate was in danger."

She stared at him, shock reflected in her eyes, the shock and adrenaline from the events slowly draining away. "So, they know what's going on? They haven't forsaken us after all. Well, that's something."

"You've been helping them, haven't you, mate? The women who’ve been going missing, trying to rescue them? That's why your brother set up this claiming, isn’t it? To control you, to force you into a situation where they'd make sure you couldn’t speak or interfere…?"

She blinked back tears and turned away. "I think so. I tried to get the women to safety to prevent them from being turned, from being sold, and now, I know too much."

He growled under his breath, the wolf and man both wanting nothing more than to protect their mate but equally proud of how strong she was to stand up to the bullies in her own pack, including her alpha. This only confirmed his earlier thoughts. She’d make a fine alpha female and mate, if she accepted the bond. Because even though she’d accepted the claiming earlier, her vow had been given under duress, and he was too proud to hold her to it.

She dashed tears from her cheeks and faced him, her chin lifting and her bright gaze fixed on him. "What happens now?"

He was disturbed to see a hint of nervousness, maybe even fear, in her eyes. And it pissed him off. He strode forward, invading her space until she was forced to look up at him. “That’s up to you."

He held his wrist next to hers, his bare upper body showing the visible claiming marks against his deeply tanned skin, so there was no doubt as to their meaning. Her sleeves were still pushed up from when she’d shown her marks to the alphas in a failed attempt to head off the challenge. The marks were obvious, only not as dark, indicating she hadn’t fully accepted the mating.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "You're still giving me a choice?"

"Fate, and the goddess, doesn’t offer much choice, but I'll give you time." His gritted his teeth, the adrenaline from the fight shifting to a mating frenzy he was barely keeping at bay.

His wolf growled inside at the delay but subsided. He'd allow her time, even if it gave him the bluest balls a wolf had ever had. Wolves rarely fought their natural instincts for mating because their urges rode them hard. Even now, his cock was pushing against his jeans, trying to punch through the zipper. Need coursed through his body, his blood pounding a staccato beat in time with the throbbing in his cock. Her musk permeated the air, so he knew she was aroused, but he wanted more than her body. He wanted all of her.

Damn, if she didn't make up her mind soon, the mating frenzy would be on him, and he might take unforgivable action, starting their mating off on the wrong foot.

Chapter Four

Lyla's panties were drenched as Duncan eased closer, his masculine scent washing over her, drowning out the forest smells and saturating her in his pheromones, calling to her wolf. And her wolf desperately wanted her to answer, especially now that the danger was over. Adrenaline surged through her body, and her hormones screamed at her to grab onto Duncan and take him for a ride. Many female wolves her age had already been active with male wolves, but Lyla had waited, mostly because she’d been afraid of a forced mating and because she'd never felt need like she felt right now.

Duncan held himself rigid, his fists clenched at his sides, and she imagined he wanted to grab her and give in to the mating frenzy. She respected the hell out of him for not pushing her. Could she trust him to treat her with respect after mating? Too many alpha wolves treated their mates like puppy mill bitches, good for nothing more than popping out pup after pup. Could she take the chance? But honestly, did she have a choice?

She rubbed her wrists where the claiming marks burned, matching the burn of the mating frenzy growing deep inside. Soon, shewouldn'thave a choice. The longer they remained in close contact, the worse she burned, yearned for him to take her. And judging by the gold in his eyes, the banked heat burning between them, he knew it, too.

He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could speak, she launched herself at him, her arms looping around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist. She kissed him.

* * *

Duncan was glad his legs were planted because he certainly hadn't expected Lyla to literally jump him, though he wasn't complaining or pausing to ask any questions. But he'd be damned if he'd let her control this. He was the alpha, and it was high time she was reminded of that fact.

Never breaking their connection, he grabbed her ass and turned until she was pinned against the closest oak tree. He settled between her thighs, his cock pressing close to the place where heaven resided yet separated by two layers of denim. He ran his hands along her body, tugging up her blouse as they traveled along her torso. They separated for a second so he could toss her shirt to the side, then he took her mouth again, his tongue sweeping inside to taste her, his hands plunging into her honey-blonde hair, fisting it and holding her in place for his claiming kiss. He needed her like nothing ever before, craved her taste, her touch. She was his everything. He never knew that taking a mate could be like this, that he could feel her like the other part of his soul. His father had told him when he’d grown old enough to understand mating that it would be so, but he’d never quite believed it, never understood the bond. Even now, he swore he could feel her inside him—her thoughts, her emotions—that unique part of her living inside his heart, never to be separated.

She met him stroke for stroke, her hands exploring his bare torso, tracing his muscles, digging in her nails as he rubbed his erection against her core, causing her to moan at the contact, the tiny bite of her nails pinching him while her legs squeezed his waist, pulling him closer. She rubbed against him, moaning, begging for more.

He dragged his mouth from hers and kissed his way down her throat to sink his teeth lightly against the place where he'd mark her, the place where her shoulder met her neck, that sensitive spot that made her jerk in his arms, almost bucking him off. He partially shifted his finger and used a claw to slice through her bra and pulled it off, releasing her breasts to his gaze, his lips, his touch.

She gave a throaty laugh. "That was my favorite bra."

"I'll buy you a hundred more. Later." He nipped at the side of her breast, and she gasped then sighed when he laved the tiny wound, tracing the creamy skin with his tongue then curling it around her nipple, tugging and sucking while his fingers toyed with her other breast.

She panted, her head thrown back, eyes closed as she arched into his mouth, legs tightening around his waist, holding him against her.

His jeans were going to strangle his cock, and his zipper was about to be permanently imprinted on the skin, if he didn't get out of them soon. He didn't want to claim Lyla in the woods, but the mating frenzy had overcome them both. He flicked open his jeans, freeing his cock.

Lyla lifted her head and shoved at his shoulders, loosening her legs at the same time to lower her feet to the ground.

She followed his hand to his open jeans and reached down to cup him and pull him out of the denim, caressing the tip. She tugged her lower lip between her teeth, looking absolutely adorable. Then she shocked him and dropped to her knees, taking him into her mouth, and then it was his turn to be pinned to the tree, helpless under her assault.

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