Page 91 of Pack Captive

Ryden groaned when I arched against him, desperate to feel more of that pressure rubbing against me.

"When did I make you feel unwanted?" He licked his lips, watching my mouth. "There are so many things I'd do for you."

"Then make me feel like part of the pack. Make me a part of things, Ryden. I don't want to be kept in an ivory tower when the world is falling apart around us. Being ‘beautiful and shiny’ isn’t the real battle. Their morale will improve when they see I can actuallydosomething for them." Goddess, I wanted him to kiss me, but I had to keep a clear head. "I already offered to help, and you threw it in my face. Calian was the one who helped me—everyone else thinks you were trying to keep me from escaping to Fenris."

"It was to keep you safe!" he snarled, and pushed down hard. I gasped, sucking in a breath as the fire in my abdomen burst to life. "I don't want the Bloodfang to take you and have no way to track you down.”

I knew why he'd done it, but he didn't see that Ineededto be useful. I had to be more than a figure kept on a pedestal, to look pretty and make everyone happy.

"I'll never fit in here if you don't make me a part of it," I snapped, angry at myself with how badly I wanted him. "The city already thinks I'm a witch. I've been here for days and they're already trying to hurt me."

I turned my head, showing the pink line that would've still been an open wound if not for Yasemin.

Ryden winced, tracing the line gently.

"One of the females did this to me. They think I'm a threat, and they'll run me out of Lykos if you don't let me do something to change that."

"Which one?" he asked. His tone was flat and deadly. "Tell me her name, and she'll be in the wastelands by sunset."

I turned my head back up to look at him full on. I still remembered how he had first looked to me: like an avenging angel, there to save my pack.

The kind of male I'd always dreamed about finding.

Hell, he still looked like that to me. Like the Alpha of my dreams.

"I'm not vindictive by nature." Another sharp breath escaped me as he lowered his face to mine. "She'll just have to see that I'm not what she thinks...when you really make me part of the pack and stop treating me like a trophy you won."

Ryden stopped my words with a rough kiss.

My lips parted for him, and I moaned breathlessly as his tongue tangled with mine, his teeth gently nipping at my lower lip.

Every inch of me was aching for him, but he needed to show me he was good for his word.

Ryden kissed me again, stealing my breath away, then trailed more kisses down my neck, his cock throbbing against me insistently.

"I'll do what you ask," he said, squeezing my hand tightly. His eyes blazed like fire as he looked into mine. "You want to get rough? You'll get rough, and dirty, and see things you'll wish you'd never seen. No more shackles, then. No more holding you back."

I raised my head for another kiss, but Ryden got up, leaving me feeling cold. He picked me up off the ground gently, setting me on my feet.

Then he did kiss me again, his hands tangled in my hair, holding me like a drowning man.

I was breathless when he released me, holding my chin up to face him.

"Then you'll be ours," he told me.

From the look in his eyes, that was a promise.

28

Ayla

Calian wrappedhis arms around me, keeping me warm against the chill of the necropolis.

"Just relax," he murmured in my ear. "Let it come to you. You don't have to force it."

We were in the Pack Vesper vault, the moon lantern hanging in front of us like a lonely beacon. I was shivering despite Calian's arms encircling me.

Ever since Ryden had cornered me during yesterday's physical training, I felt a need to do something.

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