Page 33 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate
“Where will you sleep?”
The question was innocent enough, but it sent a jolt of awareness through him. The cabin had only one bed—large enough for two, but still.
“I’ll take the floor,” he replied stiffly.
Luna rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. The bed is big enough.”
“I don’t think—”
“We’re adults, Dominic,” she cut him off. “And supposedly married. I think we can manage to share a bed without incident.”
A sardonic laugh escaped him. “You misunderstand the situation, Luna.”
Her eyes widened slightly as he moved closer to the bed.
Was that anticipation?
“I need to go out again,” he said, his voice dropping to a lower register. “And I can’t risk you doing something reckless while I’m gone.”
He pulled the cuffs from his pocket once more, watching as realization replaced the brief vulnerability on her face. Embarrassment colored her cheeks as she averted her gaze.
“You can’t be serious,” she said.
“Deadly.” Dominic moved closer, gesturing toward the headboard. “Give me your wrist.”
For a moment, she looked like she might argue, but then she extended her arm with obvious reluctance.
“This is unnecessary,” she muttered, testing the restraints after he cuffed her. “Where are you even going?”
“To clear my head,” he replied, stepping back from the bed. “I need to think, and I can’t do that with you…” He gestured vaguely in her direction, unwilling to explain exactly how distracting her presence was becoming.
Six years and she still got under his skin.
“You realize I could scream and bring the entire compound down on your head?” she pointed out.
“You wouldn’t dare,” he said with certainty.
Luna tugged again at the cuff, frustration evident in the set of her shoulders. “Don’t leave me like this for long.”
“I’ll be back,” he promised, more gently than he’d intended.
Then he was out the door, locking it behind him, trying to ignore the image of Luna bound to his bed that seemed burned into his brain.
Focus on the mission, not the woman.
But as he walked away into the darkness, his wolf’s protective instincts howled within him, growing stronger with each step that took him from her side.
Protect our mate. No matter what.
Chapter 8 - Luna
Luna shifted uncomfortably against the headboard, metal cuffs biting into her wrists.
Wherewasthis man?
Dominic had been gone for a long time; without a watch or a wall clock in the cabin, she couldn’t tell exactly how long, but it felt like an hour had passed.
She tugged at the restraints, feeling the weight of the silver against her skin.
