Page 45 of Inside the Sun

That’s when I notice the lone chair on the far side of the table.

He pulls it out and sits, his face unreadable as he watches us.

I refuse to look away. I know what’s coming. Another electric shock, maybe. But I don’t care.

"You know what, Anzo?" I spit. "If it weren’t for this fucking collar, you wouldn’t stand a chance against me. Even with that mechanical arm. You pathetic little beta, I’d squash you like a bug."

No shock.

He just smirks.

"That’s exactly why you’re wearing the collar, pet. I’m well aware that despite being eighteen, you’re still an alpha," he says, voice almost admiring. "A formidable force hides in your perfect, vivacious body."

As he says it, I can practically feel bugs swarming over my skin. His gaze sweeps across my chest and abs. There’s a hunger in it and a hint of jealousy.

"When I saw you, I knew. I finally found the Sun for the fortress of that name. You belong here, my beautiful, very own rose alpha."

He emphasizes the word ‘alpha’ in a weird way, like he’s tasting it in his mouth. Like a piece of delicious meat.

"You surely know it’s way more satisfying to break a tiger than a doe," he adds in a low voice.

"If you think you’re ever going to break me, you’re delusional," I mutter, mostly because I feel the need to be acontrarianabout everything he says. But in reality, he’s probably halfway there. I’m already kinda crushed.

Anzo sends me another smirk.

"Give me time, pet. I’m just getting started."

Then his voice hardens.

"On the table."

"You’ll have to shock me again to make that happen," I shoot back, even though just the thought of it makes my stomach turn. But fuck it. I’m not giving him the satisfaction.

A second later, I regret it.

My body seizes under a short but brutal jolt of electricity.

"Don’t tempt me, Sun. I like the invitation."

Damn, I can’t even curse him back. My teeth are clenched, and my muscles are twitching.

Anzo steps closer.

He leans in and grabs the straps on my back with his cybernetic hand. Apparently, they serve a specific purpose. Then he yanks me upward…

But then I hear a strange sound. Mechanical. Like pistons grinding or servos overloading.

Anzo’s expression shifts, just a flicker of pain. His back stiffens.

Is that thing anchored in his shoulder socket? Or does it go straight into his spine?

Whatever it is, the connection between machine and flesh clearly hurts. Anzo is eight inches shorter than me. With his frame, also significantly smaller, my mass has to… weigh on him.

I bark out a spiteful laugh.

"I’m six-five and weigh almost two hundred pounds. And you, little weak beta, you’re gonna try and lift me?"

Anzo’s face tightens slightly, then he yanks me harder, pushing through pain, and slams me down onto the table.

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