Chapter 2

[Kaelen's POV]

Vivian's daughter. Stepfather.

Those words were like rusty knives stabbing my heart.

I looked at the girl.

She was too young. She looked like a college student. Her blue eyes were red from crying. Her messy blonde hair stuck to her sweaty cheeks.

She looked delicious.

She was my Mate. The only woman who could drive me mad.

But she was the damn daughter.

I looked at the red marks on her white neck, my marks. I wanted her. But I couldn't have her.

My wolf howled in mourning. He didn't want to give up. I bit my tongue until I tasted blood, using the pain to force myself back.

One second later. If she spoke one second later, I would have been burying myself inside her.

I stared at her. My voice sounded like a demon.

"Get out."

If she didn't leave right now, I would ignore every rule. I would chain her to my bed and fuck her until she forgot the word "Stepfather."

[Sia's POV]

My body betrayed me.

The taxi hit every pothole in the Valley district, but I didn't care. I was burning up.

It wasn't a fever. It was desire.

I clutched my dress, gasping. Every breath smelled like him, cedar and gunpowder. It was stuck in my hair, my skin.

He is your stepfather.

I repeated it again and again. But the image of Kaelen's golden eyes only made the ache between my legs worse.

I could still feel his hand on my hip. His tongue on my neck.

"Miss? You okay?" the driver asked.

"Just... drive faster."

When I got home, the smell of antiseptic hit me. Mom was there.

She was slumped on the sofa in her scrubs. She looked gray and exhausted. The hospital work was killing her.

Seeing her like that felt like a slap.

She worked herself to death for me. To pay my tuition. And what did I do? I went to apologize to her fiancé and almost let him claim me on the floor.

"Sia?" Mom sat up. "You're back. Was Alpha Kaelen angry?"

Guilt choked me.

I couldn't tell her. I couldn't ruin her chance at safety and status.

"I..." I swallowed the lie. "He was... scary, Mom. I apologized and left."

Mom smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, honey. He has a cold reputation. But he's powerful. Neither I nor Alpha Jacob can refuse him." She sighed. "Maybe he will protect us."

Protect us. I shivered. That man didn't want to protect me. He wanted to own me.

"I'm tired, Mom. Goodnight."

I ran to my room and locked the door.

I curled up under my duvet, trembling.

My hand slipped inside my shirt, touching my breasts. They weren't big like Mom's. But when he touched them, my nipples got so hard.

I wasn't safe. My body craved the monster. But I couldn't have him.

[Kaelen's POV]

The water was freezing.

I stood in the shower, head down. My knuckles were white.

"Fuck!"

I punched the wall. The black stone cracked.

It wasn't enough. My cock was painfully hard. It throbbed, demanding release.

But I couldn't touch it. My wolf snarled. He refused any relief that wasn't her.

Sia.

I closed my eyes. I saw her trembling body. I heard her broken whimper. I tasted her fear and sweetness.

She was mine.

But she was forbidden.

I turned off the shower and walked out naked, dripping wet. On the table lay the file my Beta compiled.

I opened it. The photo on top was a family portrait.

Vivian Bennett. Elegant. Suitable. The perfect trophy Luna.

And next to her... Sia.

In the photo, she smiled like an angel. But I knew the truth. She was a siren, dragging me to hell.

I couldn't mark her. She was 18. A fresh college student. I was the Summit Alpha, her future "father." The scandal would destroy her and humiliate her mother.

'Let her go,' my conscience whispered. 'Never', my beast roared.

If I couldn't eat the prey, I would cage it. I needed her close. I needed to ensure no other male looked at her.

If I left her in the Valley Pack, some stupid pup might try to court her.

The thought made my vision red. I would kill any male who breathed near her.

I grabbed my phone. 3,00 AM. I didn't care.

"Prepare the cars," I commanded my Beta. "We're moving Dr. Bennett and her daughter to the Estate. Today."

"Why?" Theo sounded sleepy.

"Security," I lied. But the hunger in my voice was obvious. "The Valley isn't safe. I want my... family... where I can see them."

[Sia's POV]

The next morning, loud engines woke the neighborhood.

I dragged myself out of bed and looked out the window.

My breath stopped. The street was blocked by a line of black, armored SUVs.

And leaning against the lead car was him.

Kaelen.

He wore a suit that cost more than my building. He wore sunglasses, but I felt his gaze snap to my window instantly.

He knew where I was.

"Sia! Get dressed! Alpha Kaelen is here!" Mom yelled excitedly.