Page 35 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate

Tension coiled tighter and tighter in my core.The pressure built until I thought I might shatter from the force of it.

"Please," I panted, my hips rocking against his face."I'm going to … I can't …"

He doubled his efforts, his tongue flicking over my clit as his fingers pumped faster and harder.And then I was flying, my body convulsing as the orgasm ripped through me, a scream tearing from my throat.

Briggs worked me through it, his touch gentling as the aftershocks subsided.I sagged against the wall, my legs trembling, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

He rose to his feet, his eyes dark with desire as they met mine.For a long moment, we simply stared at each other, the air between us hot and thick—much like the engorged flesh behind his zipper that was currently pressed against my stomach.

Briggs nuzzled into the crook of my neck, his stubble grazing my sensitive skin.

"This is what I want," he murmured against my ear."What I’ve always wanted.You in my arms.Claimed.Marked as mine."

His teeth grazed my throat.A thrill zapped straight through me.For a fleeting moment, I wanted nothing more than to surrender, to let him consume me entirely.

But then my gaze fell on the bite mark marring his shoulder.Not just any bite.A claiming mark.

A claiming mark that wasn’t mine.What the hell was I doing?

Reality crashed down, shattering the fragile illusion of connection.Rieka finally rose and helped push back against the weight of the bond, her heartache and bitterness mixing with mine.

“Stop.”I shoved him away with the knowledge I’d let it go too far.

Briggs's eyes widened, a moment of surprise crossing his face before it hardened into a mask of frustration."Ivy, please.I'm trying to make things right between us."

"You think going down on me makes anything about this right?You think you can just have me kidnapped and brought back against my will and I’ll just go along with your plan to claim me as your mate when youalready have a fucking mate?!"

I was shouting by the time I finished.My eyes burned.

Briggs stared at me for a long moment.I half expected him to argue, but he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him with a resounding bang.

The tears I'd been holding back finally spilled over, in hot, salty rivulets.I hated him for making me feel this way, for awakening a desire that I couldn't control.

But even more, I hated myself for letting it happen.For still wanting him.For craving his touch.His affection.

His love.

The reinforced door shuddered as Briggs's roar reverberated through the entire cabin.The selfish ass had no right to act like the injured party.

Muffled voices drifted in from the hallway.I crept closer, straining to listen.

"She thinks she hates me, Colten, but she doesn’t, not with how she just reacted to my touch," Briggs argued.

My cheeks burned with shame and anger.How dare he discuss our intimate moment like some conquest to be bragged about?

The Beta’s reply was too low to make out, but Briggs's response rang clear."No.Ivy stays with me.Period.End of story.”

I rolled my eyes, leaning against the wall, wondering what other nonsense he was going to spew.

Colten's voice rose, a touch of exasperation in his tone."Briggs, you can't keep her locked up like this.It's only going to push her further away."

I pressed my ear to the wood, straining to catch every word.Colten was right, of course.Being held captive was hardly conducive to rebuilding trust.

Not that I was going to allow the rebuilding of trust to happen.

But Briggs, stubborn as ever, refused to see reason."I won’t risk losing her again.My mate belongs at my side, whether she accepts it or not."

He didn’t lose me.He cut me loose.Big difference.Hugedifference, in fact.

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