Chapter 5

The biting Chicago wind tore through the alleyway, instantly freezing the tears on my cheeks. I stumbled over the uneven asphalt, my strappy heels slick against the damp ground, but I didn't care. I just needed to put distance between myself and the suffocating silver glare of Roman’s eyes.

Behind me, the heavy metal door of the club flew open with a violent bang, crashing against the brick wall.

"Allie! Stop!"

Roman’s voice sliced through the cold air, dropping an octave into a deep, desperate Alpha command that sent a involuntary tremor straight down my thighs. My wolf clawed at my insides, begging me to freeze, begging me to submit to the call of our mate.

I forced my legs to keep moving, but in these heels, on this slick pavement, I didn't stand a chance.

Before I could even reach the mouth of the alley, a blur of motion cut through the shadows. Roman didn't just run; he moved with the terrifying, unnatural speed of a dominant predator. In a fraction of a second, his massive frame materialized directly in front of me, cutting off my escape.

I gasped, throwing my hands up to skitter backward, but my heel caught in a groove in the asphalt. My ankles gave out.

"I've got you," Roman growled, his arms sweeping out like a vice.

Before I could hit the cold ground, his large hands clamped around my waist, lifting me effortlessly. He hauled me flush against his chest, locking me into his hold. The second our bodies collided, a literal electric shock detonated through my skin. The mate bond didn't just hum; it roared, sending a wave of blinding, treacherous pleasure straight into my core. My body instinctively melted against his solid muscle, my hands gripping his unbuttoned silk shirt for balance.

"Let me go!" I cried, the anger finally bursting through my shock. I beat my fists against his chest, trying to push myself away from the intoxicating scent of cedarwood and whiskey that belonged to him. "Don't touch me, Roman! Put me down!"

"No," he growled, his voice a low, gravelly vibration that rattled against my ribs. He didn't let go. Instead, he pinned my lower body against his, his fingers digging into the satin fabric of my dress, anchoring my hips to his. "You're running on pure ice, Al. You're freezing. And you're not running away from me."

"I can do whatever I want!" I choked out, tears spilling over my lashes as I looked up at him.

The alley was dark, illuminated only by a single flickering security light, but Roman’s eyes were still glowing a fierce, volatile silver. His jaw was clenched so tightly the muscles looked like carved stone, his nostrils flaring as he took in my scent, mapping the tears, the adrenaline, the absolute heartbreak rolling off me.

"Look at me," he commanded softly, his tone shifting from dominant Alpha to something agonizingly raw. He raised one hand, his thick, calloused fingers cupping my jawline, forcing my chin up. His thumb brushed over my wet cheek, his touch surprisingly gentle given the absolute fury radiating off his wolf. "Allie, listen to me. What you saw in that room—"

"I saw exactly what you were doing!" I spat, my voice cracking as a fresh sob cut off my breath. "It was one minute to midnight, Roman! Sixty seconds before I turned twenty-one. Sixty seconds before our bond could even activate, and you were in a back room with your hands all over some puck bunny, letting her kiss you!"

A dark, dangerous growl ripped from the depths of Roman’s chest, the sound so primal it made my wolf shiver.

"She kissed me, Allie," he hissed, his grip on my jaw tightening just enough to emphasize his words, his face dropping lower until his breath fanned across my lips. "I went back there to clear out the hall detail. She followed me. She cornered me, and the second she put her mouth on mine, I froze because my wolf went completely dead inside. And do you know why?"

I tried to shake my head, tried to look away from the silver fire in his eyes, but he wouldn't let me.

"Because my wolf was waiting," Roman whispered, his voice dropping into a rough, possessive purr that sent a shiver straight to my core. He leaned in until his forehead rested against mine, his heartbeat hammering a frantic, violent rhythm against my chest. "He knew it was midnight. He knew what was coming. The second you pushed that door open, the bond snapped, and I threw her off me so hard she barely hit the floor. I didn't want her, Allie. I haven't wanted anyone else in a long, damn time."

My heart did a pathetic, hopeful flutter, but the mental image of the blonde girl on his lap flashed in my mind, re-igniting the burning sting of rejection.

"You didn't look like you were pushing her away when I walked in," I whispered brokenly, the fight draining out of me, leaving me feeling hollow and exhausted in his arms. "You had your hands on her waist, Roman. You always have your hands on someone. You're a player. You sleep around, you take whatever you want... I can't do this with you. I can't be just another girl in your rotation, even if the universe decided we're fated."

Roman’s silver eyes flared with a sudden, violent intensity. The possessive Alpha aura flared around him, thick and undeniable.

"Don't you ever say that to me," he growled, his hand leaving my jaw to slide down, his fingers wrapping firmly around the back of my neck, tilting my head back. "You think you're just another girl to me? Allison, I have spent the last five years watching every guy in the pack, every guy on my team, look at you like a prize. I've spent five years wanting to rip the throat out of anyone who even breathed too loud in your direction."

His hand on my waist tightened, pulling my hips so hard against his that I could feel the rigid, thick length of his arousal straining against his trousers, pressing directly into my lower stomach. My breath caught, my core aching with a sudden, throbbing heat.

"I slept around because it was the only way to keep my wolf quiet," Roman confessed, his voice a dark, sinful whisper against my lips. "Because I was terrified that if I didn't distract myself, I would lose control and claim you. But it's midnight now, Al. You're twenty-one. We are mates.

He didn't wait for me to answer. He didn't give me a chance to run again.

Roman brought his mouth down on mine, and the world completely exploded.