Page 7 of Snowbound with the Alpha Wolf
Entitled. Arrogant. Adrian locked gazes with the male. “When I give an order, I expectobedience.”
“Or else?” Waltertaunted.
Adrian gave him a long, thoughtfullook. Then, without warning, his hand shot out, seized Walter by the throat. He lifted the younger Lupine, who kicked.Gasped.
“Must I make myself clear? Perhaps you have a hearing problem?” he suggested, never raising hisvoice.
More gasping. Pleading, now little gulps of desperation forair.
Adrian threw Walter against a tree. The male hit hard.Whimpered.
No stamina.No innerstrength.
But Walter struggled to his feet, now his gaze lowered, his head as well. Blood streamed from his temple where his head had made contact with thetree.
“Yes, my alpha,” hemurmured.
“Your punishment for disobedience is cleaning the bathrooms for the next six weeks. All the bathrooms.” Adrian did not smile. “And the diaperpails.”
Blood drained fromthe younger male’s face. “All thehouses?”
“Every one.Go.”
Obviously needing no further encouragement, Walter scrambled away. Nearby, Darcy looked after him. Expression blank, she saidnothing.
He waited for her to condemn him, accuse him of being harsh andoverbearing.
Her next words stunnedhim.
“Twerp. Cleaning bathrooms and emptying diaper pails is too goodfor him. I’d make him use the poop as fertilizer in thegarden.”
Throwing back his head, Adrian laughed. He enjoyed her spunk, her innovative streak. “Next time, mysweet.”
He joined her in the garden. The others working there stared at the ground with sudden fascination, not daring to lift their gazes inchallenge.
“Leave us,” heordered.
As Darcy went to stand, hedropped beside her, his hand on her wrist. “Not you, sweetheart. Youstay.”
She glowered at him. “I’m not your sweetheart. Unlike your pack, I don’t take orders fromyou.”
“You do for the next two weeks,” he pointedout.
“Or?” She peeled off the flowered gardening gloves. “What are you going to do, turn me over to the cops because I took something from you? They’d never believeyou.”
“I have no need of the authorities.” Adrian picked up an abandoned glove, inhaling the scent of earth, weeds and a delicate fragrance he knew was solely Darcy. “If you balk on your agreement, I will hunt you down and force you back to mypack.”
“Try. I’d like to see a wolf chase an eagle. A little challenging, even foryou.”
“I’d never bother. I’d ask Tristan, the SilverWizard, to intervene and strip you of your powers so we’d be on even terms. Four-legged ones.” He gave her a slow smile. “It would make the chase much morefun.”
Darcy’s jaw dropped. He tipped it up with histhumb.
“Tristan would neveragree.”
Adrian knew otherwise, and so did she. The Silver Wizard, the judge and guardian of all Lupines, also ruled over Changeling ShifterslikeDarcy.
“I’m within my rights, and Tristan knows it. I know a thing or two about the Silver Wizard. He’s very much in favor of letting alphas have their way, as long as said alpha is not violating any rules or disrespecting females.” Adrian let his gaze roam over Darcy’s curves, from the swell of her bosom to the tiny waistline, to the flare of her hips, accented by the yoga pants shewore.
