Page 28 of Forced By the Alpha

Everyone obeyed immediately. The wolves dispersed until only Franco, Clara, Dylan, and I remained outside.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” Clara began. “I accept any punishment you deem fit for attacking my superior.”

“No punishment is needed,” Dylan cut in, though his nose had been broken and blood poured from his face as he spoke.

I hurried over toward him and performed a healing spell to halt the flow.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” the alpha pointed out, and Dylan bowed his head in submission as Franco ordered, “Explain what happened here.”

“I was going to ask Clara to go for a run with me to get away from the pack for a bit and spend some time together. But when I found her, she was… she…” Dylan trailed off as he became visibly angry and overwhelmed with the memory of what he had seen.

“Max and I were kissing,” Clara finished. “It wasn’t a big deal, just something to pass the time. You and I aren’t mates, you know.”

My heart sank for Dylan. From what I had seen of him, he wasn’t a bad guy. Cursed, like the rest of them, but when the bloodlust was down, he had been perfectly kind and helpful. He liked Clara, but from what I had seen, she had never returned the sentiment. Finding out that his chances were dashed by seeing her lips locked with another member of the pack would have been difficult, but it appeared that the timing of this revelation had been the worst part of the night.

“How did you end up fighting?” Franco pressed.

“I took a swing at Max,” Dylan confessed. “Clara stepped in to push me back, but all I could see was red.”

“And where is Max?”

Both shrugged, and the situation all became clearer to me. Clara was too young for anything serious, and Dylan was too old for anything casual. They were mismatched and would do better apart. For her part, Clara didn’t seem too upset about Max’s departure from the incident. She had simply fought Dylan to stop him from engaging in a more dangerous fight.

“I appreciate your explanation and honesty,” Franco said. “There will be no punishment, Clara. You can go.”

“And my punishment, Alpha?” Dylan asked as Clara walked back to her cabin.

“None,” Franco replied. “If this had happened earlier today, when the curse was less powerful, I doubt anything other than harsh words would have been traded. I won’t hold you responsible for this. But I recommend staying away from Clara for a while.”

Dylan mumbled his gratitude to the alpha and headed for his own cabin.

Watching Franco handle this altercation had forced the curse—and my mate—into a new light. Managing a pack was always a difficult job. That’s why alphas garnered so much respect from the magical world. But to handle a complicated conflict like this with ease, as I had just seen Franco do, while also contending with the effects of a curse that awakened the darkest parts of their psyches, was something I couldn’t imagine any other alpha doing well. He was doing his best for his pack despite the circumstances affecting him as well.

His insistence that he wouldn’t sleep with me unless I truly wanted to made even more sense now. All he wanted and needed was to feel normal in one aspect of his life.

I could give that to him.

“Come on,” I said to Franco, grabbing his hand and pulling him with me.

He allowed me to guide him back to our cabin silently. When we got home, he kicked his boots off and headed for his bedroom. I followed him and closed the door behind us.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

I took a deep breath and mustered up the last bit of courage I had so that I could be vulnerable with him. I knew I was risking his rejection once again, but there was no other option. It was time for me to tell him the truth.

“I’m seducing you,” I admitted. I unzipped my dress and let it fall to the ground around my ankles, revealing my bare breasts and a pair of lacy black panties.

His eyes widened, and his mouth fell open in shock as he took in my almost naked form.

I took a few steps forward and told myself there was no backing down now. “Before you argue with me again or turn medown, you should know that I want this. I wanted this earlier, but I was too afraid to admit it. I want your hands—” I grabbed one of his hands and cupped it around my breast “—on my skin. I want your lips on mine. I want you.”

Chapter 14 - Franco

Sienna’s words were everything I had been waiting to hear. I couldn’t tell what had changed her mind, but with her standing naked in front of me, I had lost all last vestiges of composure.

Part of me wondered if I was dreaming, but the flesh in my palm told me that this was real. Her firm breast was supple in my hand, and I gave it a tender squeeze. Her nipples hardened in response, and she took a shuddering breath of anticipation.

“Say it again,” I ordered.

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