Chapter 4: Dangerous Desire

The room was becoming dark as dusk crept in, the silence of the Crescent pack compound broken only by the occasional howl in the distance. My wolf paced restlessly, her agitation mirroring my own. But worse was the ticking clock in my head. Rowan could wake up any moment, and if he remembered what I did to him, I was as good as dead. I needed to act, and sitting in this cell wasn’t getting me anywhere.

I stood, smoothing my red dress. The dagger strapped to my thigh was still my ace, but I needed more than a blade if I was going to get out of this room. I needed leverage, information, or a distraction, preferably all three.

My gaze flicked to the door as I heard a soft scrape outside. I slipped to the side of the door, pressing myself against the wall, my hand hovering near my dagger. The lock clicked, and the door creaked open, revealing a man I had seen before.

He was tall like Kael and Rowan and just as imposing, with tousled black hair and eyes like molten gold. His aura was predatory, not an alpha, but definitely high-ranking. A beta, maybe, or an enforcer with serious clout. He wore a fitted black jacket and jeans, and a sly grin curled his lips as he stepped inside, closing the door with a quiet click.

“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth as whiskey. “You must be Gwen.”

“Rowan?” I inquired.

“I’m Zane, the younger triplets to Kael and Rowan. You can call me their problem-solver.”

I raised an eyebrow, realizing that the brothers were triplets and not twins. “Problem-solver, huh? So what’s the problem, Zane? Me?”

He chuckled, his golden eyes taking my form in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. “Oh, you’re a problem, sweetheart. But the kind I like.” He leaned against the door, crossing his arms. “Kael’s got the whole pack on edge because of you. Figured I’d see what all the fuss is about.”

My wolf perked up by his scent, smoke, cedar, and a hint of danger. I ignored him, tilting my head with a teasing smile. “And? Verdict?”

Zane’s grin widened, and he pushed off the door, closing the distance between us in a single, fluid step. “Verdict’s still out,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “But I’m thinking you’re a big problem wrapped in a very tempting body.”

The air between us crackled with primal attraction. My body responded before my mind could catch up, heat pooling low in my belly. I stepped closer, letting my hips sway, the red dress clinging to every curve. “Careful, Zane,” I purred, brushing a finger down his chest. “Play with fire, and you might get burned.”

His eyes darkened, and he caught my wrist. “Oh, I like fire,” he said, his thumb brushing the inside of my wrist. “Question is, how much heat can you handle?”

My breath hitched, and for a moment, I let myself lean into the flirtation and the chance to turn this to my advantage. Zane wasn’t Kael, but he was close to him, and that made him useful. I tilted my chin up, letting my lips hover inches from his. “Why don’t you find out?”

His grin turned feral, and before I could blink, he spun me around, pinning me against the wall with his body. His hands braced on either side of my head, caging me in, and his lips brushed my ear, hot and teasing. “You’re very bold,” he murmured, his breath sending shivers down my neck. “I like that.”

I arched into him, letting my curves press against his hard frame. “Bold’s my middle name,” I whispered, my hands sliding up his chest, fingers curling into his jacket. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

His lips grazed my jaw, a featherlight touch that made my knees weak. “Of course,” he said. “I just want to have a taste.”

He kissed me then, hard and hungry, his mouth claiming mine with a possessiveness that stole my breath. I kissed him back, matching his intensity, my nails digging into his shoulders.

The room narrowed to the heat of his body, the taste of smoke and cedar on his tongue. My wolf purred, reveling in the raw pleasure, even as my mind screamed to stay sharp.

Zane’s hands slid down my sides, gripping my hips and pulling me closer. The dagger pressed against my thigh reminded me of my mission, but I ignored it, letting myself get lost in the moment. His lips trailed down my neck, nipping at the sensitive skin, and I gasped, my head tilting back to give him better access.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” he growled, his hands slipping under the hem of my dress, fingers brushing the bare skin of my thighs. The touch was electric, and I arched into him, my body craving more even as my mind scrambled to regain control.

His senses were now clouded with lust, and that was when my survival instinct kicked in. I could kill him right here, right now, with a silent stab to the back, clean and fast, and one slash of the dagger to his throat, and he would be dead in a matter of seconds, giving me enough time to run away before anyone knew.

Just as my fingers wrapped around the head of my dagger, the door slammed open, and a furious growl filled the room. Zane and I pulled away as Kael stormed in, his golden eyes blazing with rage.

“What the hell is this?” Kael roared, his aura crashing over us like a tidal wave.

Zane stepped back, his grin fading, but he didn’t look guilty, just amused. “Easy, broski,” he said, raising his hands. “I was just trying to get to know our guest.”

Kael’s gaze snapped to me, and the mate bond flared, raw and possessive. His eyes raked over my disheveled dress, my swollen lips, and the flush on my cheeks. “Get out,” he snarled at Zane, his voice dripping with menace.

Zane smirked, giving me a wink before sauntering out. “Catch you later, Gwen.”

The door closed, leaving me alone with Kael. His chest heaved, his fists clenched, and the aura between us was thick with anger, jealousy, and something darker. My wolf whined, torn between guilt and the undeniable pull of our bond.

“You’ve got some nerve,” Kael said. He stepped closer, and I backed up instinctively, my back hitting the wall. “Zane? Really?”

I tilted my chin up, refusing to cower. “What’s the matter, alpha? Are you jealous?” I let my lips curve into a teasing smile, even as my heart raced. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

“I don’t,” he growled, closing the distance until he was inches away. His scent overwhelmed me, pine and leather and storm, and the mate bond roared, urging me to touch him. “But you’re mine.”

The words hit me like a punch, possessive and raw, and my wolf howled in agreement. I shoved her down, forcing a laugh. “Yours?” I said. “That’s a bold claim for someone who’s got me locked in a cage.”

His hand shot out, cupping my jaw, his thumb brushing my lower lip. The touch was gentle, and it sent a shiver down me. “You can feel it,” he said roughly. “Don’t you?”

The mate bond was undeniable, a living thing tying us together, but I couldn’t let it win. Not when my mission and my mother’s life hung in the balance.

“You don’t know me, Kael,” I whispered, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. “You don’t know what I’m capable of.”

His expression darkened, but before he could respond, a sharp knock on the door interrupted us. Jace stepped in, his face grim. “Alpha, your brother is awake.”

My blood ran cold. Rowan was awake. The one man who could expose me and ruin everything. Kael’s eyes flicked to me, suspicion creeping back into his gaze.

“Stay here,” he ordered, then followed Jace out, locking the door behind him.

I sank onto the bed, thinking. Rowan was awake, and my cover was about to be blown. I needed to get to him and kill him before he could talk. But how, with Kael’s men watching my every move?