Ch. 3

Tresia

Would Emereo take the bait? I could be wrong, maybe my wishful thinking made me believe that his gaze meant he wanted me. If I was wrong, my entire plan tonight would be ruined.

I had no intention of sleeping with Lincoln Timber. I wasn't even sure I could stand being alone with the man for more than a few minutes without wanting to throw something at his head. But he was handsome, charming enough, and, most importantly, Emereo's friend.

He was the perfect man I could use. Emereo wouldn't stand watching his best friend with a rotten reputation actually sleep with me.

And Emereo had been watching me all night. I'd caught the murderous looks he threw our way, and every time I smiled at Lincoln, my dear brother looked ready to commit a crime.

I couldn't have been wrong, so what would you do, brother? Your friend is in my room.

My gaze fixed on the door of my mother's chamber as Lincoln traced my neck with his lips. My mother's chamber was small, dusty, and tucked away. The exact hole they'd shoved me into to rot for thirteen years. Lincoln didn't care about the peeling wallpaper or the drafty window. He was too busy being high on his own ego, his hands already sliding down my waist the second the door clicked shut behind us.

He thought he had scored the easiest prize of the night. The pack's notorious outcast, desperate for a bit of attention. I let him smile, even tilted my chin up, playing the part just enough to keep him moving.

My heart drummed hard with every passing second.

Where was Emereo?

Lincoln's lips moved lower, and I fought the urge to shove him off. If I had to endure one more minute of his smug face, I might actually slap him. But I needed him here. I needed Emereo to know exactly where his precious friend was and what he was doing with me.

"You're awfully quiet, sweetheart." Lincoln lifted his head, smiling down at me. "Don't tell me you're nervous."

"Would that disappoint you?"

"Not at all." His grin widened as he leaned closer. "I could help with that."

I almost rolled my eyes.

Just come, Emereo. Or was I wrong about those looks he'd been throwing my way all night?

Lincoln's mouth was back on my neck when the door flew open with a deafening bang. Before either of us could react, Emereo crossed the room and punched him square in the face.

"What the fuck!" Lincoln staggered backward, clutching his jaw.

Emereo grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the door. "Get out."

"Are you fucking crazy? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Emereo's eyes turned murderous. His killing intent flooded the room, thick enough to make my breath stuck in my lungs. "Get out before the Timberlock Pack buries their Alpha by morning."

Lincoln went still.

Everyone knew Emereo had never shifted or shown his wolf. Nobody understood the full extent of his strength, but when he was angry, his aura alone could make even the strongest wolves feel as though a hand was closing around their throats.

And Emereo wasn't bluffing. Lincoln knew it as well. He'd actually kill him.

He straightened his shirt, glaring at my brother as he backed toward the door. "What kind of brother acts like this? You're so possessive and protective. What next, you'll marry your own sister? The Bellamy family is weird as hell to begin with."

Emereo took a step toward him.

"Fine! I'm leaving, you fucking psycho!" Lincoln stormed out, muttering curses under his breath.

Emereo shut the door and locked it. My heart was beating so hard I could feel it in my throat.

He actually came.

I'd spent the entire night wondering if I had imagined his jealousy, if I'd been stupid enough to mistake his anger for something else. But there he was, standing in my mother's chamber after throwing his best friend out like a piece of trash.

Emereo turned toward me.

I lay on the bed, my dress disheveled, my white hair scattered across the pillow. As he approached, his gaze moved over me, lingering on the marks Lincoln had left on my neck. His brows drew together, and his jaw tightened.

Those hazel-green eyes were going to melt me if I wasn't careful.

"You are quite skilled, Tresia." He stopped beside the bed, looking down at me. "Playing around all night just to get on my skin, huh?"

I tilted my head, letting a slow smirk spread across my face. "And you came anyway."

His eyes narrowed. "Let's cut to the chase..."

The look he gave me sent a thrill through my body. This was what I'd wanted all night. Not Lincoln's attention, not the pack's gossip, and certainly not another man's hands on me.

Emereo.

I reached for him, my smirk refusing to fade. "Then stop talking, Emereo."

That was all it took before his lips crashed into mine, savoring every bit of me like a beast in heat.

That night, we crossed a line neither of us could pretend hadn't existed. I had expected to feel victorious, and I did, but I hadn't expected Emereo to look at me afterward as though he had discovered something he couldn't bear to let go of.

He stared at me for a long time, his expression shifting from disbelief to something that made my stomach flutter.

"Really, Tresia?" His lips curved into a smirk. "All those men you've supposedly been entertaining, and you never slept with any of them?"

I met his gaze, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer.

His smirk widened. "You let everyone believe you were sleeping around, and you were still untouched?"

"Does that bother you?"

He didn't answer. He only pulled me closer, that strange, satisfied look remaining on his face.

And throughout the night, Emereo seemed unable to get enough of me. The same man who had spent years keeping his distance now held me as though he had no intention of letting me go.

Well, wasn't that interesting?

I'd wanted him to stop seeing me as the little girl he'd watched suffer for years. I'd wanted him to look at me as a woman, to want me enough to forget every reason he should stay away.

And now he had.

I smiled against his chest, already imagining the chaos waiting for us in the morning.

It was what I wanted…

Now, how exciting would the look on Father's face be when he found out?