Page 49 of Wolf Desired
“At least a pack protects its members,” she countered. “You should appreciate that.”
He took a deep breath, trying to remain patient. She didn’t know what she was saying. “You don’t know my history or that of my pack.” A growl followed. Thinking of home had stirred up his wolf, and not in a good way.
Her beautiful eyes darkened as if she were shifter, but that was nothing more than a trick of the poor lighting in the unfinished space. She approached him with confidence in her step, though, as if she were an alpha. She’d put whatever had happened with Tiernan and Rafe behind her and was once again ready to take on the world. Maybe deep down, she was an alpha. No, better than an alpha. A warrior. Hidden by all those lush curves beat the heart of one. A warrior full of honor. A warrior who had something to say but who hesitated to say it.
“Don’t hold back, Artemis. Not with me.”
She poked her finger against his chest, about to lash out at him, or worse, say nothing and retreat to safety once more. He felt the growl climbing to the surface, one he didn’t bother stopping. He wanted her to know him, all of him. And this growl was vastly different from those she was used to hearing from him. Even as her eyes widened and her mouth parted, it took everything he had not to kiss that delectable mouth of hers. His wolf wanted Maddox to claim her.Now.
* * *
ALYSSA
Maddox could flirtand tease her, but he was shutting her out where it counted. And ithurtphysically, emotionally, and in every way between. Which made no sense, given she barely knew him.
The shifter definitely intrigued her. His unique outlook on life continued to draw her attention, but more than anything, she admired his perseverance. He continued showing up at her door, seemingly just to talk. Though this time, he stood in the doorway, instead of entering uninvited, like last time.
Right now, she just wanted to see that devilish grin of his again. Sheneededto see it, to make all the worry and anxiety over Tiernan and Rafe go away. She still couldn’t believe what she’d done with them. Not one shifter, but two. At the same time. And yet she didn’t feel guilty over her actions. Or used by either shifter. If anything, she wanted more from them. . . with them. And that worried her. She’d never behaved like this in her life. Was this the final step in losing her sanity?
“You do not know my history or that of my pack,” Maddox said with a growl that had her leaning toward him, unexpectedly aroused. “Don’t hold back, Artemis. Not with me.”
Then the memories flooded her, reminding her of everything she’d learned about shifters. And what she still didn’t know. “You’re right, tough guy,” she said, not sure why she was poking him in the chest, or why he was tolerating it. “I don’t know you or your history. And you don’t know mine.”
A challenge. She’d just laid out a challenge to ashifter. She’d heard about the danger of challenging a shifter, but with Maddox, there was no danger. None she couldn’t handle. Or wouldn’t enjoy. A delicious shiver coursed through her, targeting her core the second she let that finger glide over his chest muscles.
One thing was certain, as she stood there almost confrontational with Maddox, glaring at him while undressing him with her mind. She loved being herself with him. He didn’t treat her like she was fragile. Vulnerable, yes, given all the males around, but not fragile or helpless.
Dark eyes stared at her. “Tell me then, Artemis.”
Tell him about her history? No fucking way.
“I’m sorry, Maddox,” she said, and she meant it, too. She’d love to tell him the truth, but there was nothing to be gained in doing so. She didn’t need or want sympathy. And the odds were, he’d walk away from her when he heard the truth. They all would. And despite how confused she was about her feelings for Tiernan and even Rafe, she wasn’t ready to lose any of them.
“I’d rather forget most of my past, but there are times that’s hard to do, Maddox. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“I get it. You still don’t trust me,” he said rather matter-of-factly.
“You don’t insult easily, do you?” She moved away from the door, clearing the way for him to enter. She trusted him not to hurt her, but that’s not what she feared. She didn’t want to see that look of hatred in his eyes when he learned the truth about her.
“Words don’t hurt. People do.”
“Humans or shifters?” she said out of reflex, though she knew the answer. Both.
He finally entered the unfinished room, walked right up to her yet, moving silently, like a wolf stalking his prey. The way Maddox’s eyes darkened and held her, she knew she should shudder at the thought of being his prey. But she liked the idea.
From everything she’d heard about white wolves, she should fear him. They were the worst shifters to deal with. Unpredictable, deadly, cunning.
Looking at Maddox, the description fit, and yet he was so much more. Strong, determined, serious.Honorable.
Maybe he wouldn’t run when he learned the truth.
His hand touched her cheek, sending a flurry of need through her. There was no way a simple touch could have such a bone-deep effect on her.
“I don’t hate you, angel,” he said in a deep voice that washed over her like a summer breeze, leaving behind a blast of heat that kept her from thinking straight.
“Not yet,” she replied.
Strong hands sifted through her hair, lulling her into that magical spell of that first day when he’d nearly kissed her.
