Vlad
Iknow the information from my informant wasn’t good news. It meant the Council was really gearing up for this thing. There was a part of me that was hoping all of this was merely a nightmare. Some idiotic decision made by a hotheaded General that would fizzle out with time. But it wasn’t. It isn’t. This war is happening. And with the intel we’ve all gathered, it doesn’t look good. There are talks of serum-tainted spears and experiments that work. Whispers of the Primal races surviving and evolving into bigger, better, stronger entities. Talk of my father—the “betrayer”—caged and fighting for his life.
Then there’s Clarissa.
My attempts to get her to notice me aren’t working. She’s cold. Distant. She’s friendly to the other men but not to me, and I can’t put the pieces together. I don’t know how many times I can apologize for what happened between us. I don’t know how many times I have to prove my restraint to her for her to trust me. I need her. Not just carnally, but for the mission as well. We’re freeing Kyle, got it. Not a promise I made, but if it gets me what I want, then I’ll play the game. But if I want my father freed, I have to be able to work with her.
I have to get her to see that my father isn’t a bad man.
The men are surrounding the table and Clarissa is in the middle of all of them. I can smell her from the doorway as my body leans against it. I know if I approach, they’ll stop talking. They always do. If it’s not talk about battle plans or war or food, then they don’t talk to me about it. I’m an outsider, despite my strength. I’m a loser, despite my status in the Wolf world.
I don’t like it, and I can feel my anger bubbling within me.
Clarissa looks up and catches my eye. I feel my heart beginning to pound in my chest. That feeling takes over me again. The strong pull I felt toward her the first time we met. The incessant need to have her. To kiss her. To claim her. To sink my teeth into her and rake my tongue over the wounds so I can feel her pull me deeper.
Closer.
I force my eyes away from hers as I shake my head.
“What?” Clarissa asks.
I whip my head back around to her as she steps away from the guys.
“What is it?”
“Nothing,” I say.
“It’s something. I can see it in your eyes.”
“So you look into my eyes now?” I ask.
I hear a growl emanate from across the room. Sebastian always makes it very clear to us whose she is. Despite the fact that Kyle’s still alive and despite the fact that I can tell Toshi and Theo are both hurt at their consummation efforts, Sebastian still tries to own her.
Doesn’t he get it?
He can’t own a woman like Clarissa. She’s different. Like us, but better. She was made to be claimed by many, and I want a piece of her. I want to leave my mark on her and be a part of her world. I look into her eyes as she slowly approaches me, her smell pungent and her hips swaying.
If she is the future, then I want every part of it imaginable.
With her at my side.
“Knock-knock,” Josie says.
I push myself away from the door and open it for her. I have to get Clarissa to back down. The more she approaches me, the more I can feel myself careening out of control. Images of all the things I would do to her are flashing through my mind, and I can’t contain myself. I feel my cock throbbing and my nostrils flaring. I feel my claws itching to get out. I lock eyes with Josie, and she smiles up at me. A ginger little smile that gives me an idea.
I wrap my arm around her and draw her close, and the motion stops Clarissa in her tracks.
“Um, what are you doing?” Josie asks.
“How was training?” I ask as I look down into her eyes.
“Good? Is something wrong?”
“Why would something be wrong?”
“Because you have your arm around me.”
“Why would affection from a man mean something’s wrong?” I ask.