Chapter Three

Red chuckled to find me so wantonly dripping.

"Bad girl." He admonished, biting my shoulder.

I jolted in his arms, but he held me fast. Two fingers now slipping into me.

"Let GO!" I kicked back against him, connecting with a shin.

He grunted and I struggled loose.

I bolted forward and he tackled me to the ground.

"Nnnnnnggghhh-!!!" I screamed, clawing at the leafy ground.

He flipped me around so I was on my back, and he ripped my T-shirt open. He ran his hand across my bare chest, grasping my breasts, pinching my nipples.

I slapped at him, which only amused him.

I punched him and he slapped me back. Very lightly, but enough to stun me still.

I stared up at him, completely shocked at the smack on my cheek.

He grinned. Then leaned down and kissed me.

I slapped him again.

He took my hands and pinned them alongside my head. "Go on a date with me?"

"What?!"

"Sorry, I don't know how to go about this!" He admitted, almost sheepishly. "I want you to be my Mate."

***

I wake the next morning feeling incredibly sore.

The storm has passed from overhead, but not from my Alpha's eyes.

He glares at me as he washes and dresses for the day, scarfs some eggs and sausage for breakfast then leaves me to clean without saying a word.

"Have a good day, honey!" I call after him.

Braiden storms back in and I inwardly groan.

"Test me one more time, woman, and I will chain you to this stove! You will do your chores here then you will leave to go help your grandma this afternoon, then head STRAIGHT back here, no detours. Is that understood?!"

I swallow and nod. He was my Alpha, I was in no position to argue. He commanded my body and will, and would til the end of his days.

"Yes sire." I murmur, head lowered in submission.

"Good. I will see you at sundown." And he left.

* * *

I cleaned up after his breakfast and took a bath. I didn't feel like eating.

I gathered some supplies for Grandma and headed out after combing my hair and curling my eyelashes, adding a little red lipstick and rouge to my pale cheeks.

Donning my flannel hoodie, I trudged out of the house and up the lane to Grandmother's house.

There would be no skipping today. And certainly no detours! No big bad werewolf today.

I was going to be a good girl.

***

I heard my grandmother's laughter and raised my head.

It was a beautiful fall day after the rain and the air was smelling of our sweet aspen pines.

Her little stone cottage was just up ahead. I could see the smoke curling up from her chimney through the trees.

I could smell her homemade bread baking, but it was her laugh that made me hasten my step. I hadn't heard her laugh like that since Grandpa died.

"Grandma?" I pushed through the partly open door and drew up short at who I saw sitting there with her by the fire, in Grandpa's chair no less!

* * *

Gold eyes glittered at me in amusement

"Misha, darling! Come in, come in! You're letting in the cold!" My Grandma cried, looking up from her knitting.

"Yes, dear, don't be a stranger."

I wanted to run, but we all knew how that went, didn't we?

Reluctantly, I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.

Red stood up and the little house suddenly seemed impossibly too small.

"What're you doing here?!" I whisper-hissed at him.

"Oh, your granny and I go way back, don't we, Birdie? I've been coming around and helping her out since shortly before George passed."

"That's right, dear." Grandma Birdie beamed at him over her half-moon spectacles as if he was the darlingest of kittens. "I honestly don't know what I would've done without Red's help patching my roof last winter! Goodness knows Braiden was never gonna do it!"

My mouth dropped open.

Red took my basket from me and I let him.

Grandma patted the seat next to her and I dutifully sat with a sigh. I shot Red a glare as he resumed his seat - which was usually MY spot - in the other rocking chair.

I had been demoted.