Chapter 2 ~ The Alpha’s Claim

The heat from Dominic’s body was palpable, thawing the frigid horror that had frozen Clara only moments before. It was like walking into a furnace, pressing up against his strong, powerful chest. Every point of touch, his giant hand lying solid on her small back, the wall of his body pressing into her breasts, sent sparks of pure, unadulterated electricity flowing through her veins.

Her inner wolf no longer whimpered; it purred, wanting to melt into his touch, demanding she succumb to the overwhelming might of the man holding her.

"Mr. Vance?" One of the elder business associates in the bar cried out tentatively, breaking the oppressive quiet of the room. "All's well? If you do not like the girl, we can request the manager to bring another. We just want to make sure this merger goes smoothly."

Dominic didn't take his eyes off Clara. His eyes drilled into her face, watching her luscious lips separate to gulp for air. His eyes flared with a gold light, a sure sign the inner beast was almost at the surface, striving for control. "She stays," Dominic commanded, his voice low and strong. The human businesspeople shrank back at the very authority of his tone, though they had no idea why. "Yes. Clear the room. The merger is complete. My assistant will send the signed documents tomorrow morning.

"But, Mr Vance, we haven't discussed the offshore percentages—"

"Out," Dominic growled.

The word was not loud but it had the dreadful weight of an Alpha King's proclamation. The two businessmen did not delay. They grabbed their coats, shot a quick, bewildered look at Clara and virtually ran out of the VIP suite, pulling the thick mahogany doors closed behind them.

The click of the lock echoed through the room, signalling the end of Clara’s sanity.

They were alone now.

Dominic held on to her waist. Instead, his fingers sank a little deeper into the silk of her emerald gown, drawing her so close she could feel the stiff strain in his thighs. The cedarwood and dark chocolate smell deepened, mingling with her suppressant's artificial vanilla in a thoroughly addictive manner.

"You smell like poison," Dominic whispered, his voice falling to a gravelly whisper. He bent his head and pressed his face into the hollow of her neck.

Clara whimpered. Her hands went up to his big shoulders, automatically, to support herself. Her fingers gripped the rich fabric of his suit jacket. His warm lips caressed the exact place she’d painted with the silver liquid, and a stab of searing pain mixed with a deep, pulsing pleasure raced straight into her core. “It burns,” she said, her voice trembling with the truth.

Her nostrils flared against Dominic. He breathed deeply, his keen mind slicing through the chemical barrier she had so carefully established. “You’re masking your scent. You cover yourselves in silver. Why would a she-wolf torture herself to act as a human whore in a den of billionaires?"

The she-wolf word was a pail of freezing water to Clara. He knew it. Even with the black market drug, his Alpha senses were too strong to be misled.

Panic returned in full force. Clara moved, trying to push away from his chest. "I don't know what you mean, Mr. Vance. I’m just a labourer. "Please let me out."

“Don’t lie to your Alpha,” Dominic growled gently, the sound vibrating just against her collarbone.

In one swift seamless movement he jerked her around and pushed her back hard against the leather couch. He bent over her, holding her between his huge arms. He was so big that it was hard for her to see beyond him to the room. His grey eyes were dark with a frightening possessive hunger that made Clara’s breath catch. The weight of his Alpha aura dropped onto her like a blanket of physical weight, turning her muscles to water.

You think you can escape from me? ’ Dominic said, his eyes falling to her mouth. The minute you walked through the door my wolf knew you. Rogue, I've got you.

Clara defied, voice trembling but eyes sparking with a flare of her own, suddenly veiled. "I don't belong to anyone. Her body needed servitude, but her rogue nature despised to submit. You don't know me.

Dominic laughed, a dark, seductive sound that sent a shiver through her. His long fingers reached up and closed lightly around her throat, not to strangle her, but to make her keep her head inclined up. His thumb stroked her lower lip, tugging it down a little.

"I know your heart's beating like a drum," Dominic muttered, bending down until his lips were millimetres from hers. “I know your body is burning for my touch like mine is for yours. And I know whatever secret you have, I'm going to rip it out of you.”

Clara gasped as his thumb crept into her mouth and caressed her teeth. The intimacy of the gesture made her core throb with frantic yearning dampness. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted him to tear the dress from her body and fuck her on the leather couch. The fated mate link pulled at her with a terrible, overwhelming gravity.

But if she surrendered, if he learned she was a renegade from the northern lands, then he would have no choice. As local Alpha King, it would be his responsibility to execute her. He was a despot. He would murder any threat to his territory, mate or not. “Please,” Clara mumbled against his thumb, her eyes imploring. "Just let me go. "I've got to get back to work.

Dominic’s eyes turned absolutely black, the gold fully eclipsing the grey. A primordial, territorial rage surged across his gorgeous features.

"You'll never work in this place again," hissed Dominic. He reached into his coat pocket and drew out a thin black chequebook and tore off a blank page. He tossed it down on the table, his eyes never leaving her. Name your price. I'm buying your contract out of this club tonight. "You are mine from this hour."

Clara’s eyes widened in shock as she looked from the blank cheque to the furious, possessive Alpha looming over her. Before she could utter a word, the huge mahogany doors of the VIP suite sprang open.

The big werewolf guard, his face scarred and panicked, stormed into the room. Alpha Vance! We have a breach. The rogue trackers have just crossed the boundary of the silver pack. They say they've traced a she-wolf fugitive right into this room.

Clara's blood ran freezing. They'd found her.