“Y-You dare?” Jessica’s screech sputtered into accusations as juice dripped down her body to a puddle on the floor.
Everyone in the mess hall had stopped to watch the spectacle. I noticed more than a few hiding their smiles behind a hand or cup.
At a table nearby, I saw Gideon’s doctor brother, Hudson, watching us. He raised his cup and did a silent clap.
I guess not many people like Jessica. Can’t imagine why. I thought with satisfaction.
Next to me, Melody’s mouth was hanging open in shock. She kept glancing between Jessica and I.
“Just you wait.” Jessica snarled, frantically wringing juice out of her shirt, “I overheard Gideon and Tegan talking. Gideon was saying he despises women like you and will never marry you. We’ll see how much of a ‘Luna’ you are when he abandons you!”
My heart panged at that. It was too similar to what Gideon himself had said to me in my room.
“Luna, she’s lying!” Melody whispered in an undertone as Jessica continued to rant about how Gideon would find me flawed. ” She just loves to make trouble!”
Even if it’s a lucky guess, it still has the ring of truth to it. I thought. Gideon is consistently disappointed in me. And we still haven’t scheduled a wedding…
I shoved the thoughts down and fixed my face into a smirk.
Never let a bully see when you’re wounded.
“You overheard?” I shot back, “If I tell Gideon you were spying on him, what do you think he’ll do?”
Jessica’s juice-splattered face went slack. She shut her mouth with a click, then spun on her heel and stalked out the door.
“Go get a fresh tray, I’ll clean this up.” Anna said, appearing from the back and taking the spilled trays and empty cups. Quietly, Melody and I refilled new trays of food and sat down at a table.
Softly, conversation returned around us as people went back to their meals.
“Jessica is just upset that she’s not Gideon’s mate.” Melody told me confidentially as we ate. “I heard Tegan tell Gideon that he was impressed with your garden plans. The Alpha respects people who work hard.”
I hoped she was right. It felt like everything I did around Gideon put me on the wrong foot.
After dinner I said goodbye to Melody and made her promise to tell me if Jessica did anything further to her.
My muscles had locked up while we’d sat. The aches and pains of gardening, combined with the fifty laps I’d run, all caught up with me as I struggled to climb the steps up to the third floor.
I was ascending the last flight when I noticed Gideon leaning over the bannister at the top, watching me slowly climbing while wincing in pain.
“Even Luna’s are subject to pack hierarchy.” He said, warningly, watching me struggle up to him. “Once you become my wife, you won’t be excused.”
I heaved myself up the last few steps and stopped at the top to look at him.
I think you’re trying to scare me. I thought, exhausted. You just don’t want to marry me.
Gideon frowned and I realized I’d said what I’d been thinking out loud.
I’m more exhausted than I thought.
T23 DUS
I turned my back on him and began to weakly make my way down the hall to my room. After a few feet, I heard Gideon stomping after me. Those strong fingers grabbed my arm and spun me to face him.
Again? I thought wearily, as he pinned me to the wall. I was so tired I sagged against him, despite trying to hold myself away.
“Woman, if I was trying to scare you, you’d know.” His arms held me up as he growled the threat in my ear.
When he growled, I felt it rattle my core. Adrenaline rushed through me as my body responded to the threat, and also our intimate position.
He was so strong, I had no doubt he could break me if he tried. Still, my body betrayed me and I wiggled closer into his warm, muscled body. It felt so good on my tired muscles.
“You underestimate how many times I’ve been punished by tyrants pettier and more mean spirited than you.” I whispered hoarsely, tired of fighting. “Do your worst.”
I tipped my head back, showing him my throat. My fingers rested around his biceps. They felt like iron.
The sound Gideon made was downright predatory. His hand snaked across iny shoulder and gently wrapped around my throat. He ground his hips against mine, trapping me effectively as he bent his head to my neck.
I felt his breath behind my ear, heard him inhale sharply as he breathed me in. His fingers tightened oh-so-slightly against my throat. I hummed at the pressure, at the way it made fire ignite in my core.
Gideon groaned, his lips brushed against my earlobe.
“You don’t want to see me at my worst.” I heard him say, throaty and rough in my ear. Suddenly he nipped at my ear and I yelped in surprise. His hand slid from my throat to clap over my mouth.
I stared at the ceiling past his shoulders as his teeth grazed down my neck. Muffled by his hand, the sounds I made were obscene. I could feel when his fangs extended, pricking into my skin as his mouth hovered over my hidden mark.
Oh goddess. I breathed. Something in my pulsed, wanting him so badly to plunge those fangs into my neck and mark me.
I arched into him, tugging him closer. His other arm slid around my waist and lifted me, shoving one knee between my legs. His muscled thigh pushed against my sore muscles and I could feel the heat of him radiating against me.
I moaned loudly.
“Hush…” Gideon snarled. His hand slid from my mouth along my cheekbone, cupping my jaw gently. His fangs retreated as his mouth moved to hover over mine.
His fingers slid through my hair, curling into a fist at the back of my head. I tried to be quiet, but his lips were right there. Mine parted. I wanted to taste him so badly.
Sharply he yanked on my hair and tipped my head further back. His gaze met mine as I panted at the pressure of his pull on my scalp and let out a startled yip.
His stare was heated and smoldering. His thigh moved between my legs and rubbed against me through my work pants teasingly.
I squeaked helplessly, pinned between his body and the wall. Between pleasure and pain.
“Seems like you’re not just scared, are you?” the corner of his lips twitched up in a smirk as he looked me up and down.
Then, fast as a snake, he released me.
I dropped to my knees on the carpet, feeling the blood rush back into my scalp where he’d held my hair so tightly. I let out a pathetic noise as he retreated down the hall and down the stairs.
Then he was gone.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply