Page 47 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate
Xavier studied him for a long moment, his dark eyes searching for any sign of deception. Finally, he nodded, seemingly satisfied.
“Good. The ritual works best when the physical bond is established quickly.” He backed away toward the door and called out, “Keep her close, Dominic. These are dangerous times, even within our walls.”
“I noticed,” Dominic replied dryly. “Demons don’t typically stroll in for a visit.”
Like you.
“Indeed.” Xavier’s expression remained unreadable. “Rest while you can. I suspect this is only the beginning.”
The door closed behind him, and Dominic counted to thirty in his head, ensuring Xavier was truly gone before he moved. He swept the cabin again for any listening devices he might have planted. Finding nothing, he finally approached Luna’s door.
“It’s clear,” he said, his voice low.
The door opened immediately. Luna stood there, her dark blue eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination.
But it wasn’t her expression that caught Dominic’s attention—it was what she was wearing. His shirt hung loosely on her curvy frame, the hem falling to mid-thigh, revealing the black tights she had been wearing when he captured her.
Something about those tights.
Heat flooded his body, the primal part of him recognizing its mate wearing his scent.
The sight of her in his shirt, smelling of him, awakened something possessive in Dominic that he’d been fighting since the moment they reunited. He stepped into the room, closing the distance between them with deliberate slowness.
Dominic continued forward until he had her cornered against the wall. His wolf howled inside him, demanding he claim what was his by right of the mate bond.
“You were listening,” he said, planting a hand on the wall beside her head. “When Xavier was here.”
“Yes.” Luna’s breath came quicker now, her chest rising and falling beneath his shirt. “I heard everything.”
“Then you know what I said wasn’t true.” His other hand moved to the wall on her opposite side, caging her in. “About forcing you.”
Luna’s gaze didn’t waver. “I know. You were playing a part.”
Good.
“But you’re angry anyway,” he observed, catching the flash of emotion in her eyes.
“I’m not angry about what you said.” She swallowed, the movement drawing his attention to her throat.
Moon, he wanted to bite her.
She continued, oblivious to his dilemma. “I’m angry that I had to hide in a tiny room while a demon discussed me like I was property.”
Her honesty sliced through his desire, reminding him of the danger they were in. Dominic forced himself to step back.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “For all of it. For bringing you here, for putting you in danger.”
Luna stayed where she was, her back against the wall. “You didn’t know,” she said before changing the subject. “Was anyone hurt in the attack?”
Her concern for the people who were essentially her captors struck him. It was so typically Luna—caring about others even when they gave her no reason to.
“No. We contained it quickly.” Dominic moved to the window, looking out at the compound where cleanup crews were still working. “But it was deliberate. Someone let them in.”
“Xavier?” Luna suggested, coming to stand beside him.
Dominic shook his head. “Maybe. Or someone working for him.” He turned to face her. “One of the demons spoke to me. It said, ‘she won’t save you.’”
Luna’s eyes widened. “You think it meant me?”
