Page 19 of Fat Forced Mate

"I didn't—"

"Because from where I'm standing," she continues as if I hadn't spoken, "you're still choosing pack politics over everything else. Still letting them set me up to fail. Still playing the perfect Alpha while everyone else pays the price for your cowardice."

"Watch your tongue,” I snap despite myself. “I am still your Alpha, even if you left.”

Her eyes flash but she bites her tongue, maybe sensing the danger, maybe sensing something else.

“The trials aren't designed to make you fail,” I continue. Even as I say it, I know it's a lie. The course layout on my desk proves otherwise.

"No?” She scoffs. “I'm not stupid, Nic. You and I both know this pack will design trials to beat me into the ground. They want me out of the way so you can mate with a real wolf, someone worthy. This will be exactly what it looks like—another way to prove the hybrid isn't good enough. To give you an excuse to reject me all over again."

She turns toward the door, but I'm around the desk before she takes two steps. "Where are you going?"

"Home. To my shop. To my life." Luna tries to sidestep me, but I block her path. This close, I can see the gold flecks in her green eyes, count the freckles scattered across her nose. "Get out of my way."

"You know I can't do that." My voice drops lower, rougher. Having her this close is dangerous—I can smell the faint traces of heat mixed with her anger, see how her pulse jumps in her throat. "The lottery chose you. Running means classification as a rogue. We’d be obligated to hunt you down and drag you back."

"Then classify me." Luna tilts her chin up defiantly. "Better than being your puppet mate, paraded around while everyone whispers about the hybrid mistake. Better than watching you pretend our past never happened while you go through the motions of tradition."

She tries to push past me. Without thinking, I catch her arms, using my body to back her against my desk. The contact sends electricity shooting through me. Her magic surges in response, making the air thick with power and possibility. Papers scatter. A paperweight rolls off the desk and shatters.

Our eyes meet. Luna doesn’t look terrified, not like I expected her to. There’s something sharp and hot in her eyes, in the strange look on her face, as she fights to loosen my hold on her.

"Let me go." The words come out breathless.

"No." We're chest to chest now, her curves pressed against me in ways that make my wolf crazy. Her scent surrounds me. I could drown in it, in the heat of her, the sheer presence of her this close. "You're not running again."

"Why?" Her eyes flash. "Because it would embarrass you? Ruin your perfect Alpha image? Gods forbid anyone rememberhow the mighty Dominic Blackwood once slummed it with a hybrid."

"Because you belong here." The words escape before I can stop them.

Luna’s breath catches. For a moment, we're frozen in that position—her trapped between my body and the desk, my hands on her arms, faces inches apart. I can feel every curve, every soft place I used to worship. My wolf strains against my control, desperate to close that final distance and claim what he considers ours.

Luna's tongue darts out to wet her lips, and my control nearly snaps. "I don't belong anywhere near you."

But her scent tells a different story—desire mingles with the anger now, making my head spin. One small movement and I could taste her again, remind her how perfectly we fit together. My wolf howls agreement, urging me to take what's ours. To hell with tradition, with pack politics, with everything except the feel of her against me.

The office door bursts open.

"Alpha, we have—oh." Thomas stops short, taking in our compromising position.

Luna shoves me back, magic crackling in a wave that sends every loose paper in the office swirling through the air. I let her go, though every instinct screams to pull her closer.

"Report." My voice comes out more growl than word.

Thomas clears his throat, pointedly not looking at the chaos of flying papers. "Strange wolves at the northern border. Recent tracks, unknown scents. The patrol wants you to see something. James says it's urgent."

Luna straightens her dress, cheeks flushed. "Sounds like Alpha business. I'll just—"

"You'll stay here." I inject steel into my tone. "In the pack house. Under guard. Until the trials are complete."

"I'm not your prisoner."

"No." I meet her eyes, letting her see a flash of my wolf. "You're my future mate. And until the trials are complete, you're my responsibility. Whether either of us likes it or not."

She opens her mouth to argue, but Thomas interrupts again.

"Alpha, the patrol is waiting. And..." He hesitates. "The scents match the ones from the recent attacks."

---