Page 43 of Claimed By Blood

He brandishes his hand in front of me with a soft smile. “Emojis. So if I punch anyone I can do it with feeling.”

A startled snort escapes as I shake my head. “If you’re punching someone, I’ve fucked up.”

“So I’ve been training with Frost for the last few decades to sit back and look pretty in front of a monitor? Good to know, but next time can you make it a bit clearer when I’m wasting my time so I can skip leg day without guilt?”

God, his sarcasm is as adorable as ever. Before I even realise how close I’ve gotten, I’m directly behind him, lowering my face into his neck to scent him. Damn, I missed how he smells, there’s an addictive sweetness to him that I’ve never found in any other man.

Damn Vane for setting me up like this.

The whine which escapes his throat is catnip to my instincts, and I almost purr.

“I shouldn’t do this,” I mutter, more to myself.

Finley’s hands reach back and dig into my scalp, holding me there without care for the still drying polish. “You absolutely should.”

“You’re not safe.” There are a thousand threats nipping at our heels.

“Samuel isn’t going anywhere, and Vane’s keeping watch. Let go. For me?”

Damn them, this shouldn’t be working, but it is. I drag another lungful of his scent in and lick the place at the junction of his throat. This omega deserves better than a fractured pack. Better than me. Better than being dragged into conflict after conflict and used purely to manage his alpha’s hyper-fixation.

He should be cosseted and protected by a healthy pack with an alpha who can guarantee his safety.

God knows, I never wanted to lead my own pack anyway. I disbanded my father’s as soon as I was sworn in and thought I was done with the title. But Silas and Vane wouldn’t let me go lone-wolf, and then Frost came, and Draven, and finally Finn.

Breathing him in, tasting the sweet salt of him under my tongue, I remember exactly why I can’t give him up. By some miracle, he’s mine. Selfish bastard that I am, I won’t send him away.

“Please, Alpha. I need you.” Finn’s nails dig deeper into my scalp, and I nip lightly at him in response. “Fuck.”

“This is going to be rough,” I warn. “If that’s not okay, now’s the time—”

“I know. I want it.” Finn is whining and panting beneath me. “Please.”

“Take off your clothes and get on the bed.” I’m growling, and somewhere inside me, I feel something loosen.

Our situation might be tense and out of control and infuriating. But in this room, with him scrambling to obey my every order, that doesn’t matter. I have the control I crave because this selfless man gives it to me.

In my chest, my heart clenches with gratitude all over again, because I’m not worthy, and by some miracle, he doesn’t care.

Then, as I prowl towards the bed, admiring the way he looks on all fours, presenting his lithe form to me, an unwelcome thought slams into my head.

What would it look like if Evelyn was underneath him with her pale thighs open beneath his dark ones? Both of them waiting for my orders?

The memory of how she looked when she came apart between Vane and Frost on the plane is seared into my mind, so I shouldn’t be surprised when it surfaces. For a second, the image is so strong that I have to scrub a hand over my face to clear it. I won’t think of her. Not here. She’s taking over every inch of my pack, but this time belongs to me and my omega.

Without another second of hesitation, I dive on him. Our teeth clash as I claim his mouth first, nipping at those beautiful full lips of his before dipping my tongue in to taste him.

I’m not gentle, and he goes wild beneath me as I break the kiss and snatch up the lube which was already waiting on the nightstand.

My finger slips into his ass easily, and he whines again, thrusting his ass back against me.

“I’m ready, alpha. I promise. Please.”

How can I resist when he begs like that? I practically rip apart my trousers in my quest to coat my cock with more lube.

A nice alpha would stretch him properly. A good alpha would go slow so he could get used to my size.

Apparently, I am neither right now.

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