Page 8 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

I shake my head, the words sticking in my throat. “You don’t know him.”

“And you do?” He leans in. “You’ve been living in a bubble your entire life, princess. You don’t know the first thing about the world he’s built. The world you benefit from.”

The words hit harder than I expect, and I struggle to keep my composure.

“You don’t know me,” I say, my voice trembling. “And you don’t know my father.”

“You’re right,” he says, his voice softening just enough to make it sting more. “I don’t know you. But I know men like him. And I know they don’t get to where he is without leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.”

My chest tightens, and I force myself to meet his gaze. “What gives you the right to judge him? To judge me?”

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he steps closer, so close I can feel the heat radiating off him.

“You want to know why I’m judging you?” His voice is low, rough. “Because you came here, to my territory, without a second thought. And now you’re standing here, defending a man who would burn this entire world down if it meant keeping his throne. Who would push anything – anyone – who did not fit his agenda.”

My back hits the wall.

“Maybe you should take a look in the mirror, princess,” he says like a growl. “Because the person you’re protecting isn’t who you think he is.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Am I?”

I hate how easily he gets under my skin. How easily he makes me question things I’ve never questioned before.

I meet his gaze. “Yes, you are. And it’s not my fault you’re too dumb to understand something like love and family - or anything else, for that matter.”

The insult lands and his expression shifts. His jaw tightens, his eyes darkening as he takes another step towards me.

“Careful,” he murmurs. “Don’t test me.”

“Or what?”

The space suddenly feels unbearably intimate, and my breaths turn shallow and heavy. A wave of heat pools low in my belly.What is wrong with me?And yet, the forbidden edge of it only sharpens the ache.

I don’t know who moves first. Maybe it’s him. Maybe it’s me. But I’m very sure my lips are the ones that find his.

It’s not a gentle kiss; it’s fire meeting fire, a spark igniting something uncontrollable. My hands tangle in his shirt, pulling him closer, and I don’t know whether I want to push him away or pull him further under my skin. All I know is that I’m lost, drowning in this moment, and I don’t want it to end…

Chapter Three

Bane

When the pack members describe me as their alpha, they often use three words: authority, power and control. The fact that I cannot seem to control myself is something I'm not used to.

I want to believe it’s my wolf craving her obsessively, but it’s also me. I can barely control the raging desire coursing through my veins as Aria’s lips meet mine. I taste the sweetness of her surrender—a surrender I’ve craved since the first moment I laid eyes on her, regardless of the darkness of our pasts entwining like thorny vines. Our tongues tangle fiercely, each seeking dominance in this unrestrained kiss, mirroring the battle of our desires. Her petite frame presses against the hard planes of my body, igniting a fire that threatens to consume us both.

I feel the softness of her robe between us and the warmth of her skin beneath, a temptation I’m determined to unveil. My hands roam desperately, savoring every curve, every inch of her, as ifI’ve been starving for this very touch. My fingers thread through her silk-like hair, holding her head at an angle that allows me to plunder her mouth with deepening fervor. I need her to know, to feel the depth of my craving, the extent of my hunger, which has haunted me throughout the day.

Pulling back slightly, I gaze down at her lust-glazed eyes. They are glowing with trepidation and unspoken desires. Her breath comes in rapid gasps, betraying the turmoil of emotions raging within her. But I can see the unyielding need shimmering in her eyes, a need that matches the tempestuous storm in my soul.

“You’re mine, Aria,” I growl against her lips, my breaths coming in hot, raspy pants. “Every inch of you, every breath, and every heartbeat belongs to me tonight.”

She whimpers softly, a sound that fuels the primal urge burning within me. Her hands rise hesitantly, then clutch at my shoulders, her tiny nails biting into my skin, leaving marks that brand her possession of me. Aria tilts her head back, revealing the creamy column of her throat, offering herself to me without words.

I claim that delicate throat with fervent kisses, nipping and suckling, marking her as passion dictates. My hands roam lower, cupping the full curves of her breasts through the thin robe, feeling the tight peaks strain against the fabric. With slow, deliberate movements, I begin untying the robe, reveling in the tremors that convulse her body with every inch of exposed skin.

“Oh, Bane, you… you overwhelm me,” Aria whispers, her voice shaking as she struggles to find words amidst the intensity of the moment. “I’ve never felt this way, this need, this…”

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