Page 23 of Kidnapped By the Wolf

As I tear down the narrow dirt road, I try to manage my, er,situationby imagining what my feisty little human might get up to while I’m away.

But the thought of Cassie alone in my cabin has the exact opposite effect I’d intended. My wolf loves the idea of her strutting around as though she owns the place — raiding my fridge, wearing my clothes, sprawling out in the sunshine spilling across my bed.

Soon my fantasies stray into less wholesome territory: Cassie, naked in my shower, letting the water run over her peaked breasts; Cassie walking around in nothing but one of my T-shirts; Cassie’s back arching off my mattress as she massages her swollen clit.

By the time I reach Sebastian’s place, I’m a complete wreck. I’m horny and frustrated, and my wolf is one wrong look away from snapping his leash and claiming Cassie as his own.

I have to get a grip.

The contemporary slate-gray cabin is just the sort of home I’d expect Sebastian to own. It’s flashy, expensive, and annoyingly chic, built to mimic the lines of the mountain behind it.

With floor-to-ceiling windows along the entire first level, it must be a nightmare to heat in the winter. There are about a million steps leading up to the entrance, and all visitors are captured on video surveillance by at least six different cameras.

Slamming my door, I start up the steps, silently berating myself for showing my hand with Cassie.

I said too much over breakfast this morning, suggesting we double-cross her father. Based on his motives for mating her off, Clint hasn’t been good to his daughter. But growing up among ruthless bear shifters has given my girl a fucked-up view of pack life. Why would she think my wolves would treat her any better than the scumbag who raised her?

As far as Cassie’s concerned, I’m just another male trying to control her life. I shouldn’t have assumed she’d accept my offer, but I’m not sure what I’ll do if she says no.

My wolf whines at the possibility. He can’t stand the thought of letting her go.

For whatever reason, my animal has decided that Cassie is his —even if she wants nothing to do with us. He wants me to mark her and claim her as my own, which is the one thing I absolutely can’t do.

If I marked Cassie, her father would disown her, and I’d lose any leverage I had. Worse, my pack would see it as a betrayal, me tying myself to our enemy’s daughter.

Not that Cassie would let me get that close to her. Despite our mutual attraction to one another, she’s immensely distrustful of wolves. And I’m the wolf holding her prisoner.

“Whoa. What’s gotten into you?”

I look up to find Sebastian standing in the doorway wearing only a pair of boxer briefs under a red silk robe, which is open in the front. He’s got a steaming mug of coffee in one hand and looks as though he just woke up.

“Cardio,” I huff, jerking my head at the long flight of stairs.

Sebastian’s lip curls in a wry smile. Those steps are nothing for a shifter; my wolf is just annoyed that we didn’t sense him standing there.

Then I remember the reason for my visit, and all my fury comes rushing back.

I’m dying to wipe that smug look off Sebastian’s face, but instead, I decide to go alpha. “What were youthinking, bringing that girl?”

Something like satisfaction crackles in my lieutenant’s eyes, which only pisses me off more. “Giving you trouble, is she? I figured our steadfast alpha could handle one tiny human.”

“She’s not just any human,” I growl, shoving past him even though the bastard hasn’t bothered to invite me inside.

“Well, she does have a truly tremendous backside, and her tits aren’t bad, but I wouldn’t say —”

BOOM!

It happens so fast that he doesn’t see it coming. One moment, Sebastian is lingering in the doorway. The next, he’s flying across the room and hitting the wall with a thud that rattles the light fixtures. Coffee goes everywhere — all over the rug, the walls, dripping down his expensive artwork.

For a heartbeat, the asshole just stares at me, blinking as little rivulets of coffee stream down his face. Then he breaks into a shit-eating grin. “I knew it.”

“You knewwhat?” I growl, panting as I try to rein in my wolf.

As my pack brothers go, Sebastian’s not my favorite, but right here in this moment, my wolf wants to fucking kill him.

“Knew you liked her.”

The iron tang of blood makes my wolf sit up, and when Sebastian reaches behind his head to feel for damage, his hand comes away bloody.

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