Page 46 of Forced Alpha Bride
I could still get out of this! All I have to do is refuse to consummate the union!
At first, I feel relief, but it’s swiftly followed by a wave of confusion so intense, I feel sick to my stomach.
In any other situation, I’d want to explore this connection between us. I’ve never been so turned on by anyone before—ever. Iris is right, this is what I was looking for… but if I do it, I’m really bound to him… forever.
Looking up at Damon, my confusion only gets worse. Under the white light of the torches, his black hair gleams with edges of silver, the long, dark strands falling across his forehead into his eyes. His eyes are always beautiful, but when he’s animated like this, they shimmer with flickers of gold and burn with an intensity beyond that of an ordinary wolf.
There is something special about him. I can feel it. But he scares me, and I can’t deny that.
Memories from this morning trickle back into my mind, and as I remember the part where I bent over right in front of him, fiery shame rushes through me. My cheeks are so hot, I know they must be blazing red for everyone to see.
I can trust him, I guess. I know a lot of guys who wouldn’t have stood still through that kind of torture.
Damon and Regina are yelling at each other again, and I can’t bring myself to pay attention. I’m conflicted now, even more so than I was before.
I can really get out of this! He can chain me up for two weeks if he wants to. But after that, if we aren’t consummated, he has to let me go. He’ll lose his position. Everything will go back to the way it was.
But is that what I want?
Damon turns to look at me, and the intensity of his glare sparks arousal inside me. A throbbing ache between my legs that I can feel through my entire body.
I’ve never craved like this before. I never even really understood what this was about. Wanting someone, aching for them, needing them…
I turn my eyes away, looking at the floor so I don’t have to face him.
I’m sure he can see the need in my eyes.
“I understand you, Regina,” Damon says, his voice cutting through my brain fog. “You needn’t remind me again. Consummation must take place within two weeks.”
Damon reaches down and grabs my chain, yanking me to my feet. He puts an arm around me possessively, glaring at the others.
“I assure you, the matter will be handled—immediately.”
Chapter 14 - Damon
I can feel Winnie shivering under my arm as I face off against the council, daring them to disobey me. I don’t like the expression on Regina’s face. She looks completely sure of herself, and far too confident.
That bitch has a plan. I can feel it. It’s going to be my downfall.
The idea of coming so far, only to fail once I finally have the position, fills me with desperation. I promised safety for my boys—a home—and I vowed to protect every single person out there who had been abused by power.
I tighten my arm around Winnie as if Regina could come over here and forcefully rip her from my arms. I feel like that would be a more honest thing to do, because clearly, Regina is counting on interfering with the consummation.
All she’d need is to talk to Winnie, convince her not to go through with it. Then I’d be ruined.
I don’t know any of the council members that well, but I do know Regina. She was always by Roderick’s side, and I personally saw her mistreat my mother and look down on me like I was garbage.
I was only a little boy the first time Regina verbally ripped into my mother on the street. I still remember it so clearly, like it’s burned into my memory. The way Regina told her she had no place here now, that her royal blood was tainted… and that I was an abomination that should never have been born.
Regina smiles, showing her teeth, and it’s as if she is reliving the exact same moment.
“You have your orders,” I growl, pulling back from the table. “I have other matters to attend to. I will be sending my beta to assist you, just in case you have any difficulty carrying out my wishes.”
No one speaks when I stride from the room, keeping my arm wrapped around Winnie as I go. The stairwell is narrow, so I have to push her ahead of me. She stumbles several times, and I can hear her breath rasping in her throat.
Is she scared of me? I don’t want her to be scared. What can I do about it, though?
“Winnie!” Krista cries as we reach the foyer.
