Page 128 of The Delta's Rogue
I scent Riven’s fear as it grows and pumps through his veins to every cell in his body. The hand on my shoulder tightens, but I shrug it off, stepping closer to the male who dared draw close to my mate while she’s so vulnerable. He cowers, his eyes locked on the floor, and I consider him.
What would be the best way to punish him for his audacity? The best way to kill him?
Soft hands frame my face, breaking my intense predatory stare on my sniveling prey. Indescribable, earth-shattering pleasure ripples through me at the touch. Haunted brown eyes—nestled within a thinner, shadowed version of a face I’ve dreamt of countless times—meet mine.
“Come back to me,Sebastián.” Sarina’s watery gaze searches mine.
The black creeping into the edges of my vision recedes. My canines disappear into my gums, and my claws retract back into my hands. I was too blinded by my possessiveness to notice I released either. Sarina’s touch and voice turn my growling, snarling beast of a lycan into a tail-wagging, simpering puppy, who rolls over onto his back in the hope she’ll give him a belly rub and a treat.
Fuck, I’m ready to do the same for her. Only a few hours with our bond in place, and I’m already as whipped as my brother and friends.
I love it.
“I’m sorry, Riven,” I say.
He shakes his head. “It’s fine. Your bond is new. I shouldn’t have pounced on you like that.” He backs away towards the left side of the entrance. “Imogen set up a room for you over here.”
“Do you want to walk, or do you want me to hold you?” I ask Sarina.
My hands move to her hips. I pull her in closer, turning my face to kiss her palm as I wait for her answer.
The primal, raging beast within me would prefer I held her. It isn’t just a want. It’s a need.
We need it to satisfy our instincts to protect. We need it so we know she is safe.
She, however, needs to have a choice.
“Hold me,” she whispers. “Please.”
As I lift her into my arms again, I find another set of brown eyes.
Wesley grips the doorway leading into the living area, watching our arrival and my reaction to Riven with a crease in his brow. I nod at Wes wordlessly before I follow Riven through the opposite archway and into a hall of guest rooms.
“Sebastian,”Wesley mindlinks me.“If you need anything…”
“Thank you,”I reply.“Right now, I needto be with her.”
“I know.”Empathy weighs down his voice.“I know.”
Our connection fades, and I walk in silence. Sarina leans her head against my chest, arms hugging her body and eyes glued on Riven as he leads the way.
“King Malachi sent them to our pack to ask us for help,” I say, responding to her unspoken question.
She tilts her face up to mine, eyes widening. “So you know everything?”
“Yes. I know you actually work undercover for the royal pack. I know the reason you came to California four years ago was to investigate us, Amber Forest, and Silver Ridge, and our potential involvement in the trafficking ring.”
She stares at me as we come to a stop, and Riven opens the door for us. I enter the room.
Sarina grabs the edge of the door, stopping it before Riven can close it all the way. “Wait!”
Riven raises a brow at her.
“My family,” she breathes. “Do they know?”
Riven glances at me and then nods at her. “We contacted them to tell them Sebastian found you.”
Sarina releases the door, collapsing into my arms once more.
