Captured by the Alpha King

7 Rowan

7: Rowan

The heat of his body against mine stirred me from sleep. Onyx's muscular arms wrapped around me, his breath hot on my neck. As his hands roamed my skin, memories of the previous night flooded back. The way he had taken me with such passion, such animalistic need.

I turned to face him, our lips meeting hungrily. My fingers trailed down his sculpted torso and lower. He growled into my mouth as I stroked him. Soon we were joined again, lost in each other. The world narrowed to just this bed, just us.

After, I lay tangled in the sheets, heart still racing. Onyx kissed my shoulder and climbed from the bed. As I watched him dress, my thoughts turned to the events of the past weeks. The men I had seen, trying in vain to forget Onyx. The strange way they had all disappeared after our dates.

A cold feeling washed over me. I slid from the bed and hurried to the pile of newspapers I had collected. With trembling hands, I flipped through them, checking each obituary section. And there they were, all five faces staring up at me. The dates matched exactly when they had vanished.

My blood turned to ice in my veins. I stared at Onyx across the room, taking in his imposing form with new eyes. What depths of darkness lay beneath the surface of the man I loved?

My hands shook as I set the newspapers down. My mind raced, piecing together the implications of what I had discovered.

Onyx had finished dressing and came over to me, concern in his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked.

I jerked away from his touch, eyes flashing. "Don't. Don't pretend you don't know."

He frowned. "Know what?"

I stepped back, putting distance between us. My heart pounded as I studied his face, searching for any hint of deception. But as always, his expression was unreadable.

"The men," I said finally, my voice tight. "The ones I went on dates with. They're all dead."

Onyx went very still, his piercing gaze never leaving my face. "And you think I had something to do with that?" His words were slow, measured.

My breath caught in her throat. I wanted desperately to believe he was innocent, that this was all some horrible coincidence. But the predatory grace with which he moved, the lethal potential that lurked just below the surface... I knew what he was capable of.

"I need to get some air," I muttered, pushing past him. I had to get away, had to think.

Onyx's hand shot out, gripping my arm. "We're not done here."

I wrenched herself free, stumbling out into the night. The dark streets swallowed her as she aimlessly put one foot in front of the other. What was she going to do?

I wandered the empty streets, my mind spinning. I should go to the police, I knew I should. But what would I tell them? That my werewolf boyfriend was behind the murders, based on nothing but a gut feeling? They'd lock me up in a psych ward.

A shudder went through me as I recalled the predatory intensity that came over Onyx sometimes. The way his eyes would flash with a savage possessiveness that both thrilled and frightened me. I tried to ignore it, to pretend it didn't exist. But the truth was staring me in the face now.

Heavy footsteps behind her made me whirl around. Onyx strode towards me, his tall frame silhouetted by the streetlights. I backed away slowly.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice a low rumble.

"There's nothing to talk about." My words came out high and thin. "Just stay away from me."

"I can't do that." He moved closer, backing me into a darkened alleyway. The shadows embraced them, concealing them from any prying eyes.

My heart hammered against my ribs. "Why did you do it?" I whispered. "Those men..."

Onyx's eyes burned into mine, two smoldering coals in the gloom. "Because they touched what was mine." His voice was a possessive snarl. "No one else gets to have you. No one but me."

I shuddered, torn between fear and desire. I knew I should run, should scream for help. But part of me was thrilled at his words, at the raw need in his voice.

"You're a monster," I managed to say, my own voice trembling.

Onyx's mouth curved into a humorless smile. "Yes," he agreed. "But I'm your monster."

He moved closer and I pressed back against the brick wall, trapped. His body pinned mine as he lowered his head until his lips brushed my ear.

"You're everything to me, Rowan," he murmured. "Everything. I'd kill a thousand men before I let them take you from me."

I closed her eyes, emotions swirling wildly inside me. I was terrified of him, there was no doubt about that. But I was also terrified of losing him. He made me feel safe, protected - even as his savagery called to a darkness within me.

"There's something you should know," I whispered finally. "Something I've been too afraid to tell you until now. There's a vampire coven after me. They...they killed my parents."

Onyx went very still against me. Then he drew back, eyes searching my face. "Why are they after you?"

I swallowed hard. "They think I have some kind of dark power. But I don't know anything about that." I shook her head helplessly. "All I know is they terrify me. And you..." my voice broke. "You're the only one who makes me feel safe from them."

Onyx studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he brushed his fingers along my cheek.

"I'll keep you safe," he told me solemnly. "No one will ever hurt you again. Not while I'm here."

I let out a shaky breath, comforted by his words even as unease still twisted my gut. I knew this changed nothing about the darkness that lurked within him. But I also knew I wasn't ready to walk away. Not yet.

So I simply nodded, allowing him to pull me into his powerful embrace. And I tried not to think about what might be yet to come between them.

"I'm sorry I killed those dudes."

"No you're not."

"No. I'm not. I'd do it again."

I felt at odds, having trusted this man who now seemed more beast than human. Yet I also felt a confusing stir of desire for his fierce protectiveness. He had killed for me, after all. Wasn't that, in some twisted way, a sign of his devotion?

No, I chastised herself, you cannot justify murder. What he did was wrong. Monstrous, even. I should despise him for it. But instead, I found myself getting hot and bothered. Isn't this the type we all want? One who will burn the world for us?

I wavered, torn between my moral outrage and my heart's softer whispers. I had to get away, to clear my head and think.

Drawing a shaky breath, I pulled back from Onyx's embrace. His eyes flashed with confusion and hurt.

"I can't...I have to go, I just... need time to think," I managed weakly. Before he could respond, I turned and hurried away down the dark alley, emotions churning within me like a gathering storm.

"Rowan, wait!" Onyx called after her, his gravelly voice echoing off the brick walls.

I kept walking, quickening my pace. I couldn't face him right now. My mind was a tangle of conflicting thoughts and feelings. More concerning was the moisture that was dripping between my legs and a burning desire to be f****d like a w***e in the darkness of night.

He appeared suddenly in front of me in a blur of preternatural speed, blocking my path. I gasped, stumbling backwards.

"Get out of my way, Onyx," I said sharply.

"Not until you tell me what's going on," he rumbled. His golden eyes probed mine intently. "Why are you running from me? A second ago you were fine. Now you're back to being upset about Chayden, Brayden, Grayden, Prayden and Donden or whatever basic ass names their poor mothers gave them?"

My throat tightened. How could I begin to explain? That I was terrified of the murderous beast caged within him? That I was even more terrified of the part of me that thrilled to that beast?

"I can't do this right now," I whispered. "Please, just let me go."

Onyx's face softened. He reached out and gently brushed a lock of hair from my face. I shivered at his touch, desire and fear mingling inside me.

"You know I would never hurt you, Rowan," he murmured. "I only want to protect you."

I laughed bitterly. "Is that what you call it? Protecting me by killing any man who shows interest?"

Onyx's jaw clenched, eyes flashing. "They were unworthy of you," he growled.

"You keep saying that, but that wasn't your choice to make!" My voice rose in anger and anguish. "God, Onyx, five lives...how could you?"

He frowned, brow furrowing. For a moment he looked almost lost, like a child confronted with a truth beyond his comprehension.

"I did it for you," he said simply. "I'd do anything for you."

His brutal devotion both thrilled and appalled me. I was in far too deep with this dangerous, mercurial creature. I had to finish telling him the truth. maybe if he knew, he wouldn't want to protect me anymore.

"The vampire coven," I began, voice trembling. "They...they killed my parents years ago, right, like I said. Ripped them apart right in front of me. I barely escaped with my life."

Onyx inhaled sharply, hands clenching into fists. I could see his wolf rising behind his eyes, hungry for vengeance.

I continued hurriedly. "They've been hunting me ever since that night. I thought I'd finally lost them but now... they're back. Two of them have already visited me... I'm scared. I'm so scared."

My words trailed off as tears spilled down my cheeks. Onyx pulled me roughly into his arms, pressing my head against his chest. I clung to him like a lifeline, overwhelmed by remembered terror and grief.

We stood that way for long moments, wrapped in silence. I could hear Onyx's heart pounding, feel the tremble of rage passing through his powerful frame. His hand stroked my hair gently, belying the storm brewing within.

Finally he spoke, voice ragged. "I'll kill them," he growled. "I'll kill every last one of those bloodsucking bastards."

I pulled back to look up at him. His eyes blazed yellow, feral and frightening. For the first time, I felt real fear of the man I loved.

"Onyx..." I began uncertainly.

He grasped my shoulders, gaze boring into mine. "They will never hurt you again, Rowan. I swear it."

I shivered at the implacable resolve in his voice. What had I unleashed by revealing the truth? Could I trust Onyx to control the beast within? Or would more innocent blood be spilled in my name?

Unease churned in my gut as I slowly disentangled myself from his embrace. Our eyes met for a tense, uncertain moment. I was so upset about what he did because it just brought back a flood of memories of these vampires slaughtering people who never deserved to die that way.

"Let's go home. But I want to make one thing clear. No more killing innocents."

"Deal."