Page 31 of Blood So Brutal

“But you’d gladly marry me to please him? You’ll gladly follow his orders when it suits you, is that right?”

“Is that so fucking terrible, Huntyr?” he pushed. “Of everything that has happened to you, of everything you’ve been through, that is what disgusts you the most? Is it so bad that you’d have to marrymeto survive? Because that’s what it’s between, Huntyr. It’s marrying me or death. But I can see how much that decision makes you sick.”

“I willnevermarry you. You—” My throat stung through shaking breaths. “You have betrayed me again and again and again. Every time I think I can trust you, you—” I couldn’t even finish the words. My tears took over, a mixture of crying and hysterics. “If I must marry, I choose him.”

Electricity buzzed around us, and I became very aware of my own heart beating, of the sound of my broken breaths filling the air.

Wolf dipped his chin and laughed beneath his breath.

He moved too fast. He stormed forward and gripped my arm, yanking me toward the door. I tried to pull myself free, but it was no use. Wolf moved with a power mixed with anger and lust, and I felt every frivolous emotion through that damn bond as he continued dragging me down the depths of the hallway.

"Let go of me," I demanded.

He only laughed again, with even less humor than the last time. His fingers dug into me until I was sure they would bruise, and then he spun me around and shoved me against the wall.

"You think I will let you marry my brother? Is this a game to you, Huntress? Is this one of your tricks?"

His eyes flickered with lightning as he snarled. I tried to flinch away, even further back into that wall, but there was nowhere to go. He released his tight grip on my arm and boxed me in with his body.

"I don't care what you think," I muttered, voice wavering. "I'm not marrying you."

"So you'd rather share a bed with him? You hate me that much?"

The air thickened between us, almost crackling. My breath hitched as I stared into his eyes, searching for my answer. Yes, I hated him. I hated him for betraying me.

I would not sit back and play into his plans without a fight.

"Yes, I do. I'd marry a complete stranger before I trusted you again."

Something dark flashed across his features before he bent down and picked me up with my waist flung across his shoulder.

"Wolf!'' I yelled. "Put me down!" He didn't hesitate before storming in the direction of our bedrooms. His footsteps were fierce and aggressive, his strong hand clinging to the back of my thighs. A few seconds later, he was kicking open his bedroom door and carrying me inside. The smell of him hit me instantly, enveloping us both in pine and smoke.

"Hells, Wolf! What are you doing?"

He dropped me then, flinging me against the back of the door with hardly any effort.

"You forget, Huntress." He paced the room, running his hands through his unruly hair with tense movements.

"Forget what?"

He stopped to look at me, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. "You forget that youaremine. Nobody else can have you, even if you hate me."

Was he serious? Could he truly not see that he didn’t get a say? “If your father is forcing me to marry, it won’t be you. You don’t get to control me like this. Not anymore.”

He crept forward and put both hands on the wall behind my head. “He will not fucking touch you, Huntyr. You can hate me all you want, but I’m not going to watch you marry my own brother.”

“Why not?” I tilted my head to the side, tears still streaming down my face. “Is it because you care so much about me?”

He answered through gritted teeth, “Yes.”

I laughed then, and Wolf flinched slightly at the sound of it. “You’re a fucking liar, Wolf.”

“Youwillmarry me.”

“I absolutely willnot.”

“I’m not above forcing your hand, Huntress. You haven’t seen me possessive yet.” The intensity in his voice sent a shiver down my body.

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