Chapter Nine

ANNALISE

Dante’s mouth meets mine and a surge of energy courses through me. Fireworks exploded beyond my shuttered eyes. I’m as light as a cloud. Nothing could separate me from Dante. My soul could explode any second, and I relish the sensation.

He teases my lips, and I succumb to him. I find it hard to catch my breath because he kisses me with such intensity, but I don’t mind. I never desire this to cease. I shove my fingers through his locks, yanking the strands as I pull him closer to me, gyrating my clit along his erection. Thank goodness, I'm donning a dress. Moaning, I deepen the kiss as Dante massages my glutes. I'm certain to come if we keep this up. A fierce flame courses through my body and sweat breaks out on my skin. This is all far beyond remarkable to be true.

A sound of throat clearing emanates from near us. He withdraws and we gasp for air.

“I had greater expectations, Annalise. Join me before the Alpha catches you. Take a hike, Dante. You plastered your scent all over Alpha’s daughter. He will have your head on a pike.” Cadance commanded, grabbing my hand and yanking me away.

I grin while placing my fingertips on my mouth. “My first kiss, Cadance, and it was epic.”

"I’m ecstatic for you, Annalise, but you need to be more cautious. Particularly concerning Dante. Maximilian wouldn’t hesitate, ripping his heart from his chest.”

What Cadance says is true. Daddy would kill Dante if he learned he had touched me. Cadance was unaware that Dante’s smell was already strong from the journey Titan took me on before. She’s most likely detecting his wolf, more so than his human smell. I'm amazed Jarek failed to notice it.

“I want you to go in through the back entrance. Rush up and have a shower. Promptly now, before anyone else notices,” she commands, pushing me in the opposite direction of where she was going.

XILLON

“Bring him to my place that I may observe him overnight. Alpha, I suggest you take a sleeping aid. I know you want to stay with your son, but you need ’t worry. I don’t require any outside interference. I demand quiet so I might pull Jarek out of his comatose state. He is breathing and has a strong pulse. I am certain he’ll be back to terrorizing Annalise by tomorrow. I’ll prepare a room for him,” Cadance states and walks off before Maximilian could protest.

“You heard her boys. Look after my boy,” Maximilian insists, and marches away.

Once he’s out of earshot, Zane and I kneel to lift Jarek from the ground.

“Damn, dude. I think we broke her to the point of no return. Did you see how swiftly she snapped? I warned him this afternoon to step away. He better pay attention.”

“I believed for a second there we were next. It scared me shitless. Damn, he’s heavy. Silver’s dominance turned me on, though.”

Zane grunts as we tug Jarek’s comatose body from the ground.

“Annalise straight up, whooped his ass good. He had it coming. Don't keep up with your mischief, Zane, or you'll be sorry."

“Funny, you say so, Xillon. You're a far cry from a Saint. The abuse inflicted by you is comparable to that of myself and Jarek. Maybe not as harsh as we dish it out, but still.”

“Trex has deserted Jarek. Or he would have woken by now. You’re right, the fuckers heavy. We are launching dead weight. You better remain silent talking about Annalise. I’ll admit her kicking his ass was hot, but you’ll end up like Jarek if you don’t keep your mouth shut. Alpha will beat your ass.”

“Should we apologize to Silver? Clear the air, so to speak. Training is going to be brutal tomorrow if we bypass it."

“Fuck, no. She was drenched in Dante’s scent. Like they fucked or something. Xavier was clawing at me to take over and kill his ass. Oh, look. There’s the fucker now, fleeing.”

Dante sprints around the corner, jumps in his car, and hauls ass, once the doors to his vehicle have closed.

If we weren’t holding Jarek’s life in our hands, I would kill the mother fucker. Annalise is like a sister to me. I protect my sisters with all my being. Dante will not escape unscathed after touching her. I will make his life hell for the next couple of years. Silver will be placed near me from this point forward. I won’t allow a single man near her. Not even Jarek or Zane. I’m tired of all the bullshit. It all has to be over.

“I’ll tell you just once. If you and Jarek don't stop your harsh treatment of Annalise, you'll have to face Xavier's wrath. She merits security from the likes of you. Trex often abandons Jarek, if you haven’t noticed. Our wolves cherish and try their hardest to shield her from us. That should be a sign that what we’re doing is wrong.”

“Get off your high horse, Xillon. You’ve been such an ass since you gained Xavier. News flash, Xillon. Jarek and I will persist as we desire. He’s right, you know. Silver doesn’t belong here. It is up to us to make her comprehend that, so she'll depart the pack once she becomes an adult. This is what will be most favorable for her, and all the others in the pack. She’s a deformed human stuck in the largest den of wolves in the country. She will be the pack’s destruction."

“I hope she gains her wolf, so she can whoop your ass and have you eating your own shit with that mouth of yours.”

“Fat chance man. I say we let Dante have his way with her. Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll take her off our hands. I mean, she’s fine as hell, but that’s all she has going for her.”

“You better be glad we’re bringing Jarek to Cadance’s, or I would knock you into next week.”

“I’d like to see you try, man.”

ANNALISE

I sprint up the two flights of stairs, relieved that it’s late and everyone in the pack house is asleep. My core is throbbing, in need of release. Encountering a male wolf shifter right now would leave me exposed to incurring punishment for having Dante’s odor all over me. Jarek, being incapacitated, saved me from being scolded by my father. So at least one good thing came from him being a jerk tonight.

I slam the door shut and rush to the bathroom. After that, I activate the shower and then move to the basin. I concoct a plan to eliminate Dante’s scent by filling the sink with water and body wash. As soon as the liquid gets to the required level, I take off all my clothing and hand-wash them, then leave them in the fluid. If my strategy fails, I’m screwed. Without my shifter powers, I'm merely able to detect the body wash. I’ll need to take a load of laundry with the dirty garments I wore tonight and start a load after I know that my mother and father have returned to slumber.

Under the pounding spray, I reflect on mine and Dante’s kiss. It was as if my body was being electrified. Never have I ever felt anything like it. My heart beat erratically to the point I thought it would burst from my chest. Arousal was clear in my panties when I stripped.

Could Dante be my mate? Unfathomable; we are too young. I can’t shake this feeling coming over me. Is this how it feels to be infatuated with someone? I need to keep my distance from Dante. No good could come from us being together. I'm uncertain if I can, though. Maybe I have these emotions because he is the only guy who has shown me kindness. As well as accepting me for who I am and not punishing me for my deformities. All I comprehend is I miss him, all the while fearing my affections for him.