~Nyla~
I wanted to run back to my room as soon as possible, feeling stupid for making myself so obvious to him. Where did the feelings of anger and hatred for him go? They were there all right, but I only felt pain and a sense of betrayal right now.
Wiping my tears, I was about to turn around the corner when Luke wrapped his arms around me from behind. I grabbed on his hands, trying to free myself, but he lifted me up like I weighed nothing and carried me to his room.
"Let me go! Don't touch me, you asshole! I hate you."
He ignored my screams and walked into his room with me hanging to the side, kicking him and holding onto the walls near the doorway. The woman he was going to fuck was still there, looking confused as he threw her floral top at her.
"Out! Shut the door."
He slammed me into the mattress and firmly pressed his body against me. A wave of heat flushed through my body as I felt his erection graze against my stomach. My nerves were shot and my body turned into a traitor.
Cradling my face with his hands, he lightly brushed my lips with his. His breathing was staggered, and he groaned when he could feel my perked up nipples through my thin dress fabric rub against his brawny naked chest.
"Please, let me go." I was on the verge of giving in and claiming his lips. I tried to remember the reasons for how bad this idea was, but all I could do was get mad at him for bringing some other woman into his room.
"It's all your fault. You know you did this to me." I shook my head in denial, ignoring the awesome sensation of his hot breath fanning against my cheeks. "You are the reason I went into heat. And you made a big mistake by coming to my room now."
"Sorry, I'll never com---"
He sucked my lips with an intense urgency while his fingers dug into my waist. Caressing my tongue with his, he could feel my suppressed moan and kissed me even more passionately.
"Fuck! I love the way you taste." His words were awakening some primal needs inside me.
The way his lips slid across my skin sent heat straight to my core. His already crazy hard boner was flaring against my belly button, if that was possible. He ran his tongue over the spot where Wyatt claimed me, and I could feel Luke's wolf go crazy.
"Claim! Claim her now! She's ours."
I could also hear his "Shut the fuck up, Rex!"
The raw kind of passion oozing out of him was driving me wild with the need to kiss him back with no restraints. It was already too late. I was moaning against his ear while he licked my neck. My hands were running all over his bareback while my legs were wrapped around his waist, wanting to feel him press into me some more.
His wolf was in heat, and he was out of control. What was my excuse? He was going to make Adalyn his luna in three days. He will regret all this for sure and I should be ashamed of myself for wanting him so much.
Those groans were so fucking sexy as he cupped my breasts. I was so aroused as he played with my nipples that I was almost going to beg him to strip me naked and take them into his mouth.
"Oh, God!" My hands got lost in his silky hair, and he smirked at me like the cocky son of the bitch he was.
His smugness brought me back to reality, and I pushed him away with all my strength. What surprised me was that he didn't try to stop me from running away. He was clearly in more control of the situation than I was.
I locked myself in my room and only opened the door for Ren to deliver food over the next two days. I should be happy I got my baby back, should give her a beautiful name, and think about tomorrow when I get to make use of the full moon. I could do all that only partially. My thoughts were drifting off to Luke and the comfort in his arms.
I felt no pain or sorrow when he held me close. How can he be the one to provide such respite when he was the one who caused it? I couldn't stop crying day and night when I thought about what a terrible person I was. My baby cried much less often than I did.
A light knock sounded at my door after dinner. Ren had already taken away the dirty plates and cups some thirty minutes back. My heart hammered against my chest when I thought it could be Luke. I was dying to see him.
"Who?"
My voice was so hoarse. Suddenly I wished it wasn't him. I didn't want him to see my red, puffy eyes and derive satisfaction from the thought that I was crying for him.
"It's me."
"Me who?" I refused to open the door.
"How many people do you know here? Open the damn door."
"Go away! I don't want to see you."
"I want to see you. Please."
I remained silent. It will be terrible if I repeat the same mistake. I'm surely a weak woman with no control over my hormones.
"I'm waiting." His voice turned impatient, and there was a trace of anger.
What was he mad at me for? He must have slept with so many women over the last two days to cool off. Wyatt said the heat lasted for at least two days.
This nemesis of mine remembered his mate after he was done fucking and whoring around. Such double standards! She-wolves were not allowed to let off their steam this way.
"Nyla..."
"Stop saying my name!" I opened the door, and he pushed me inside in the next instant.
Locking the door behind him, he cupped my face in concern.
"Crap! Have you been crying all this while?"
"I was sleeping. You woke me up."
"Stop lying. I'm sorry." He took me by surprise when he pulled me into a tight hug. My knees went weak, and I closed my eyes, hoping he won't break the hug anytime soon.
"I wasn't crying because of you." I lied to him with a straight face once I regained my senses.
Acknowledging crying for him would mean more frequent visits from him, which would lead to these hugs and kisses and a lot more.
"You said you weren't crying at all. Weren't you sleeping?"
His smile was to die for. He may be a terrible alpha for the other packs, but he was probably very sweet to his true mate, Leah.
"I was crying because Ari is sick." This was somewhat true.
"What happened to her?" He walked over to my sleeping baby.
"Stop. Don't go near her."
He didn't deserve to touch her. He deprived her of a father's love even before she was born.
"Is she okay now? Why did she make you cry?" He actually listened to me and stopped.
"I think her stomach has been aching this whole day today. Ren and the wet nurse told me things that would ease her pain, but I don't think they helped. She went to sleep just now."
Seeing her looking sick was heartbreaking. But sharing it with this man made me feel better already.
"You can tell me when something like this happens. You don't have to cry all alone, cooped up in this room."
"Tell you?" I let out a humorless laugh. Tell him while he was busy fucking.
He grabbed both my arms in a tight grip and shook me hard.
"Stop assuming things, will you? I wasn't sleeping with other women."
"Who are you kidding? What was that topless woman doing with your pants then? Checking if the flyer works fine?"
"I didn't know it would hurt you so much." He pulled me close and his lips caressed the marking spot on my neck before I knew what was happening.
"I really don't care," I said in a breathy voice as his touch shot sparks of fiery lust through my body.
Weird, but I think my lies turn him on. His hard and passionate kisses turned me on in return.
"Luke, please stop."
He groaned and continued sucking on my lips. He moved down to kiss the side of my neck, and I failed to stop myself from melting into his touch. His every flick of tongue forced a moan out of me, with my body begging for more.
"Nyla, you may already know I'm going to be choosing Adalyn as my mate tomorrow."
"Yeah, so?" I couldn't look at him.
He covered my cheeks with his palms and forced me to look into his eyes.
"I can't see you crying and hurting so much. I won't do it if you can't handle it." Every word he said was true. I wish I couldn't read his thoughts.
"Go ahead and do whatever you want to or need to. I don't care. Really... I don't."
I looked straight into his eyes and said those words. He dropped his hands to his side as if I took a huge burden off his chest. My body always protested when it was deprived of his touch.
"Okay..."
He avoided my gaze and walked away. My skin was feeling hot, not with a desire for him but with jealousy. I wasn't sure until this moment that I actually couldn't handle this situation. She has to go.
The ceremony was scheduled for the early evening around sunset because the full moon would also be setting in this part of the world around that time... which means it would be rising at around five in the morning when it is still dark.
I need to get rid of her then... in about seven hours. Both Adalyn and the ceremony will then go to hell. I set my alarm to 4.30 AM and went to sleep, feeling agitated that I was deviating from my goal.
The beta was on my list first. Taking him down would be a big setback to the pack because he was very good. Ren also told me Luke had a sister he couldn't live without.
But all that can wait.