STOLEN BY THE HEARTLESS LYCAN

Chapter 5: For Safety’s Sake

Creed’s pov.

I watched her pupils dilate, the scent of fear oozing off of her only made the predator in me more excited.

But the excitement of seeing her at my mercy didn’t douse the rage triggered by the fact that she would dare lie to me. Lips she had bitten all night long to keep herself from screaming, an action I’m sure she had done so much, it became an unconscious effort, were parted and turning blue, surprise and fear evident at my sudden action.

I had watch her toss and turn throughout the night, begging for her life, for the life I just saved her from. I killed all her demons, every last one of them at that pleasure house. How dare they torment her even in death?

Anger rippled through me but I forced the boiling rage down. Nothing good comes out of an angry Talaverra.

Loosening my hand around her throat, I watched her swallow large gulps of air, her face pale, her lips blue.

“Do you understand me Cora?” I finally asked, slowly.

She nodded, her head bowed so that her lilac blue hair shielded her face but her mock submission was nothing to me when her fists were clenched in enraged balls.

In many ways, I wanted her to act on her anger, to express an emotion that wasn’t fake for once, I wanted to push her to her extremes until her facade cracks but she stilled her spine and exhaled through her lips before gazing back at me with those violet siren eyes.

At times like this, I wish I was born with a different kind of power. One that could listen in on her thoughts and know how she really felt. What I wouldn’t give to c***k her open and read her mind.

A low tremour racked through her as I cradled her cheek thoughtfully. My eyes zeroed on where her pulse was racing wildly, the only give away that she was terrified.

I thought about how she had begged me to take her with me, how she had gazed at me with a mixture of fear and hope.

The sight was incredibly addictive. The knowledge that she was wholly at my mercy pleased me immensely.

I brushed my thumb over the place where her pulse was currently racing, relishing the thought of her blood rushing beneath my grasp. She flinched but remained perfectly still and it excited me more than it should, seeing her react to my touch like that. Her scent was thick with sweetness, I could only imagine how she would taste.

As soon as the thought fitted through my head, my body raced to catch up with it and it took a physical effort to hold myself back. I curled my hands into fists, claws dug into my palms; a clear sign that my deranged wolf was coming out to play.

Ezra was the last person she needed to meet right now and the thought of what could happen if I lost control.. The memory of what had happened the last time I lost control was enough to sober me the f u c k up.

I let my hand fall and she visibly exhaled a breath.

Try as she might to feign unbothered and flippant her body always managed to give her away, her emotions.

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her about her nightmare, to force it out of her if I had to, but knowing her by now, she’d just talk me into circles and redirect the question, or close up completely rather than answer me directly.

I slowly stepped away from her and watched her squirm on her feet for a few minutes, it seemed that my stare unnerved her as much as it unnerved others.

I did her a favour by grabbing my whiskey and pouring myself another glass, temporarily redirecting my gaze. “How do you feel?”

Her silence told me that she had spaced out and I turned to see her glaring at the glass cup filled with whiskey in my hand like it was the scum of the earth.

“Cora.”

She jolted a little, before quickly slipping back into her flippant character. “Fine,” she drawls. “Though I’d feel a lot better if you-”

“If it’s going to be something even remotely s****l, then stop there,” I cut her off, downing my drink.

She paused, then pressed her lips together. “I’ll ask again, how are you feeling?”

I asked the question in a tone that left no space for lies.

“As fine as I look,” she huffs.

I took in her mostly ratty appearance, her lilac blue hair was dull and stuck to her dirt streaked face, her clothes were tattered and they seemed to reek of that place, her bare feet were also dirty, though she curled her toes inward, there were also heavy shadows under her eyes, insomnia then.

I made a mental note to get her something for that. I’m sure we ad something in our supply for insomnia.

“Bad then,” she wrinkled her nose a little, but she didn’t reply, as though admitting she was in a terrible state is an admission of defeat.

“There are clean clothes in the closet, there’s a bathroom in the room you just walked out from and it’s stocked with all the soap and shampoo you need. The help will bring you breakfast in an hour, if you feel hungry before then you can make something yourself.” I paused. “Can you cook?”

She nodded, perking up a little, her eyes burning with a greedy sort of light at the thought of having something to eat and an uncomfortable sensation started in my chest.

When was the last time she ate?

“If you need anything else, let one of the helps know. They’re here to make sure that you’re comfortable.”

“All that for me,” she tipped her head to the side and studied me.

She meant it to be thick with suggestion, but I could tell that she was also analysing me and my actions.

She’s very guarded, which is probably for the best. I’m not the type of person one can easily trust and I’d question her common sense if she trusted herself wholeheartedly to me.

“Yes, for you. And since I got them for you, make sure to use them,” I glanced at my watch. “I have somewhere to be now, eat, get some rest and no matter what, Cora, do not leave the house.”

Shadow Cove, where the rest of my family and werewolf community dwelled was protected by wards that kept humans and intruders out, but the outskirts had no such protection. I had never had to worry for myself, happy to leave that political and toxic community, that stiffling house and its awful memories but now, I had someone to protect. Someone delicate and incredibly breakable.

My chest tightened with that unsettling emotion again.

Cora’s eyes sparkled with mischief and I narrowed my eyes, knowing what she was thinking... Biding her time till she can escape, playing complacent to get me to lower my guard so she can run away…

But running away will almost immediately expose her to the people she begged me to save her from. She doesn’t know it yet but she doesn’t have a choice anymore, I have her where I want her and I’m never letting her go.

Besides, the council wouldn’t react too kindly if they find out that Orlando’s favourite daughter is playing house with a prince of the pack.

Already, I’ve been summoned to discuss the events of last night and as always it’ll be them tiptoeing around me to avoid the wrath of my family while trying their hardest to flex whatever authority they think they have.

It’ll be a bother to keep them off my back already, but then knowing about Cora will give them a leverage they have no business having.

“Why would I leave and miss out on getting to spend time with you?” She raked her eyes up and down my body again.

I had to remind myself that it was a practiced expression, one that she had used on other men, one that she might have even used on that bastard I singed into ashes, but it still got my blood pumping and all of that blood rushed straight to my d**k.

“I’m sure we’ll have lots of fun together,” she smiled almost pleasantly at me, fake or not, it was a beautiful expression on her face. She’s beautiful whether or not she’s covered in dirt.

“I’m sure,” I said wryly.

I drew closer to where she was standing beside the desk of my office, I didn’t miss the way she cringed back a little, but I didn’t comment on it, nor did I fault her for it.

She’s spent years servicing men, the wariness is expected.

“If you try to leave,” My tone darkened, “I will find you and I’ll make you wish you never left. You’re mine now, Cora. Remember that.”

It was a threat. A promise. I’m never letting her go. Not even if she wants to. She belongs to me now and I’ll spend every waking second of my life proving it to her.

She leaned towards me a little, her soft hand touching my chest in a way that made my muscles tighten under her touch and I watched as her gaze dropped to my lips almost unintentionally. “Of course, Creed. Whatever you say. I’m yours.”

Hearing my name on her lips didn’t help my already raging hard on, but I managed to keep what little is left of my sanity in place.

I turned my back on her and left the room.