Page 14 of Moon Destiny

At the same moment, his scent washed over me. Leather and evergreen and something indelibly masculine. Confusion and anger fought for dominance in my head. I tried and failed to lift my eyes, finally settling on his throat while my heart raced and heat licked through my veins. An ache built between my legs, and it was all I could do not to press my thighs tightly together to quell it.

What the hell was happening here? Was he responsible for this too?

A warm hand slid under my jaw, and he lifted my chin. I braced for the hook to tug again, but it didn’t. There was just him—and his eyes that had lightened to that eerie, glowing green.

“Now you understand,” he murmured. “I’m not human, Brooke, and neither are you.”

His words brushed my skin, and I shivered despite the heat surging through me.

“You have nothing to fear from me,” he said. “But you must obey me.”

“I want to go home,” I said, hating the way my voice shook. Hating that he could force my compliance with nothing more than a whisper.

Hating whatever was happening to my body.

“I understand that,” he said, “but it’s not possible. I didn’t want to frighten you, not when you’re so new to this. But now I realize I have to tell you the truth.”

Wings of anxiety fluttered in my stomach. What truth could be more frightening than the one I already faced?

“Werewolves are one of several immortal races,” he said. “We live alongside humans, but we keep our existence a secret. Two years ago, a group of wolves decided we should be a secret no longer. They broke the various agreements we have with other immortals. They defied the Council of Alphas and split from their packs.” His voice grew rougher, an edge of contempt sharpening his tone. “They’re rogues. Oathbreakers. And when they didn’t get their way, they began attacking their own kind.”

Understanding dawned, and it must have showed in my eyes because he gave a grim nod.

“I believe these rogues attacked you and Alex. They’re not powerful enough to challenge the Council directly, but they hope to pick off enough wolves to create tension among the alphas. If they can sow division within the Council, they can turn us against each other. It’s easier for them than declaring a war they know they can’t win.” His fingers on my chin tightened slightly before loosening again. “It’s too risky for them to kill me, so they’re going after people close to me instead. Once they realize you survived, you’ll be a target.”

My heart pounded. It was bad enough that my life was no longer my own. Now he was telling me it was threatened.

“You have much to learn,” he said. “Start with the book. I’ll teach you the rest.” He dropped his hand.

As soon as his fingers left my skin, I craved their return. Longing assailed me, and I almost took a step toward him before I realized what I was doing.

His nostrils flared, and for a second it seemed he might meet me halfway. But then he turned and went to the door. When he reached it, he spoke over his shoulder. “You’re not to leave this room. I dislike giving this order, but it has to be this way for now.”

The unwanted desire dissipated, allowing me to draw a breath free of his scent. Anger rushed back, and I welcomed it, glaring at his back as I asked, “For how long?”

“Until you learn to obey.” He opened the door. Just before he stepped through it, he turned enough to meet my gaze. Green eyes glowing, he added gently, “And you will, Brooke. It’s just a matter of how much discomfort you cause yourself in the process.”

He left, closing the door with the same maddening gentleness.

CHAPTER SIX

HUGH

I descended the main staircase with Brooke’s angry gasp echoing in my head—and her scent filling my lungs. I’d left quickly, before she saw how hard I’d gotten when we argued. But my skin was so flushed I had to wonder if she’d noticed.

That was just what I needed, her thinking I meant to lock her away because I had designs on her. God, this was a fucking nightmare.

I was too exhausted to tap a mental connection, so I had to dig my phone from my pocket and text Dylan to meet me in my study. The word had always seemed pretentious to me, but the human Realtor who sold me the house had explained that “properties of this size don’t have home offices.” So study it was.

Dylan appeared within minutes, and he grabbed a bottle of scotch and two glasses from the wet bar before settling in one of the chairs in front of my desk. He filled both glasses to the brim and pushed one toward me. “I’m not going to ask how you’re doing because I already know the answer and I have a feeling you might punch the next person who asks.”

A smile tugged at my lips as I drained the scotch. It burned all the way down to my gut. “Thanks,” I rasped, holding out my glass for a refill. Alcohol was good. Shifter metabolism meant I could never get truly drunk, but a few glasses would take the edge off my desire.

Dylan topped me off. “I put Malcolm and his team on patrol.” His lips curved. “He cussed me up one side and down the other for assigning him the night shift. Anyone crossing the town boundaries better talk fast or get their head ripped off by a cranky Scotsman.”

“Thanks.” I gave him a halfhearted smile as I raised my glass again. “Seems I’m saying that to you a lot lately.”

“You don’t have to thank me,” he said steadily. “It’s my job.”

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