Page 24 of Taken By the Alpha Priest

We’re standing so close now that I can see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, hear the quickened rhythm of her breath. My wolf snarls, desperate to close the distance, but I force it back. I can’t lose control. Not now.

Her hand darts out, grabbing my wrist. Her grip is firm, her skin cool and damp. My breath catches as her scent—berries and leather, pureTilda—fills the space between us. She tilts her head, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“You didn’t just bite me out of the kindness of your heart, did you?”

My jaw tightens, and I force myself to meet her gaze. “No.”

“Then why?”

I lick my lips. “Because I wanted to.”

Her eyes flicker with something I can’t quite place—pain? Resignation? Anger?—before she lets go and steps back. The loss of her touch sends a pang through me that I wasn’t prepared for, and I hate it. Hate how much she’s getting under my skin.

“That’s all I needed to know,” she mutters.

I grunt, shaking my head as I stride toward the door. My hand pauses on the handle, and I glance back at her. “I’m setting a guard outside. Don’t try anything. If you do…”

“You’ll kill me,” she says flatly, cutting me off. “I know.”

But the look in her eyes says she doesn’t believe it for a second.

I step into the hallway, slamming the door harder than I mean to. Frankie is already there, leaning casually against the wall, her sharp eyes glinting with interest.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t just kill her?” she asks, one eyebrow arching.

A growl rumbles out of me, low and dangerous, echoing down the corridor. It’s all the answer she’s going to get.

Now I just need to figure out where the hell to put Tilda.

8

TILDA

Just like that, I’m back in the dark.

The blindfold presses over my eyes, robbing me of any sense of direction as Reyes guides me through the den’s winding corridors. They twist and turn in such bizarre patterns that even if I could see, I’d have trouble memorizing the path. All I have to rely on is his hand on my elbow—firm, steady, and infuriatingly present. Every time his fingers brush against my skin, a prickle runs up my arm, electric and unwelcome.

He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t have to. The air between us is thick, charged, and I hate it.

We both know what’s happening now.

And it’s all fake.

I like his smile because he bit me. I check him out because of whatever Alpha Prime bullshit he pulled. I keep finding myself listening to him, following his lead, because his stupid wolf powers are messing with my head.

I grit my teeth, seething silently.

I hate this.

I hatehim.

The sound of a knock breaks through the silence, followed by the groan of a door opening. A familiar voice floats toward me—soft, hesitant.

“Well, hiya, chief!” Peaches says. “I didn’t expect?—”

“Can you watch her?” Reyes cuts her off. His voice is low and strained, like he’s barely holding himself together. For once, it sounds like I’ve managed to crack that calm, collected exterior of his.

Good.

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