Page 40 of Come for Me
Dax stands there, silent, with his arms crossed in a white T-shirt cutting into his bulging biceps. Eyes almost black, he stares down at me, not blinking, chest heaving in anger. His scent provides me with no comfort, body language speaking louder than any words could.
His look shakes me to the core.
As his nostrils flare, his mouth presses in a tight line. Those cheekbones are further defined as he clenches and unclenches his chiseled jaw.
When he caught Caleb trying to mark me for the first time, his feelings weren’t directed toward me. His alpha presence is stronger than any I’ve felt before, his royal right as the king evident in the power he radiates.
My wolf whimpers, and the urge to bare my neck in submission at his dangerous aura rolls through me. He had immense control before, but now he’s beyond that, in complete dominion.
Refusing to submit, I straighten and lift my chin to meet his gaze.
He started this.
I step to him, an unmistakable challenge in the wolf community—probably the dumbest thing to do.
His eyes glint gold. Another wave of his fury hits me, almost pushing me over. Dax roars at my public display of defiance, his booming growl bringing the celebration to another halt. Glass clatters, and the wolves from all packs turn their attention in my direction in hushed unison.
His wolf is in control now.The wave of anger directed at me is more animalistic than man. His wolf means to bend me to his will, to have me bow and submit to him. Rage threatens to bend me to my knees at his feet. I’ve disrespected him, challenged him in front of everyone, and he will correct this behavior.
Dax lifts his chin to his men, and Caleb is hoisted up by his arms. Caleb looks exhausted but keeps his head up, which is covered with cuts, blood, and bruises. The guilt hits me.
“Where do you want him, boss?” one of his men says.
He doesn’t take his eyes off me when he says “dungeon” in a voice so deep it sounds almost demonic.
My eyes widen, and I look at Caleb. Fear crosses his expression, but if I didn’t know Caleb as well as I did, I wouldn’t have caught it.
I can’t let Dax hurt Caleb for my mistake.
Dax growls as he grabs my arm and drags me through the party. His claws dig into me, leaving trails of blood.
The crowd clears a path, mouths agape as they watch him escort me past the festivities. My feet struggle to keep pace, hustling like a child being chastised and taken out of the room for misbehaving.
Guards stationed at the castle door present a warning and display of power to those on its grounds. They’d keep anyone out—or in—at Dax’s command, their presence a new addition from when the Hunt began. The poorly veiled threat is clear.
Whenwe reach the castle doors, we approach them. They address him and bow their heads. Dax doesn’t acknowledge them and busts open the door so hard it bangs the wall, almost coming off its hinges.
I look around the castle, not having seen it without its ethereal shimmer. While power and authority still emanates from the structure before me, gone is the welcoming energy. Where I wanted to explore and get lost in its interior, the threat of no escape is foreboding. I wouldn’t be found if I strayed off the beaten path, and Dax knows that.
He ushers me through the foyer and to the staircase. My heels click briskly on the floor, echoing throughout the castle, but they lose their rhythm as I try to keep up with his pace. This doesn’tstop him. Instead, his grip just tightens, preventing me from falling. Mercy is the furthest thing from his mind.
When we’re up the stairs, we turn down a large hallway lined with dimmed lights illuminating portraits of royalty blurring past my peripheral. We’re heading to what I can only assume is his bedroom. My mind races, and I struggle in his grasp.
“No, Dax, let me go!”
Dax lets out a low, throaty laugh that sends more chills, and I realize I’m dealing with his wolf. I try to pry his fingers off me. My tanned complexion blanches under his white-knuckled grasp.
Fear ices through my veins as my brain scurries to reveal his intentions. With his wolf in control, I can only imagine what cruel plans he has for me. The tips of his claws indent my skin as his grip tightens. I thought Dax had control issues, but his wolf displays more possessiveness than I expected.
I know what it looks like for Dax to hold back his beast... What happens when he lets him out?
My mind races as fast as my feet. He’s relentless as he drags me back to his lair to do who-knows-what to me.
His temper sparks fear to swell my heart.
Will he force himself on me? Will he mark me against my will?
My inner wolf judges me, insulted I’d ever think our mate would harm us. The pain shooting from my arm doesn’t help my wolf’s case. My skin will surely be bruised.
