Chapter 2: The Cold Alpha

His words hung heavy in the room.

 

“You’re finally here.”

 

He didn’t wait for an answer, he came around the desk and closed the space, his hand caught my jaw and tilted my face up, his mouth pressed against mine hard and demanding, I gasped and he pushed his tongue in, tasting me like he had the right to, my palms went to his chest to push him off but he pulled me closer, his body pressing into mine, his erection hard against my stomach, my breath caught in my throat.

 

He dragged me backward until my thighs hit the desk, he lifted me easily and pushed me down flat on the cold surface, his hands were already pulling my clothes out of the way, his lips on my neck and down to my chest, I tried to say something but it came out as a moan and he smirked against my skin, his fingers shoved my panties aside and slid between my folds, I clenched around nothing and grabbed at his shirt, nails scraping.

 

“Wet already,” he muttered against my ear, his voice low, his fingers circling my clit until I arched against him, then he pulled back just enough to undo his belt, the sound sharp in the quiet, he shoved his pants down and freed his cock, thick and hard, he didn’t give me time to think, he lined himself up and thrust into me in one deep push, my cry filled the room, my body stretched and burned as he drove deeper, his hands gripping my hips so tight it almost hurt.

 

He set a rough pace, fucking me against the desk, the wood creaking under the force, each thrust slammed me back and pulled another sound from my throat, his name slipped out and he groaned, burying his face in my neck, his breath hot and uneven, my legs wrapped around his waist and I held on, my nails leaving red lines down his back as he pushed harder, faster, my orgasm hit sudden and sharp, my body clenching around him as I shook, and he kept driving until he growled low and came inside me, filling me deep, his body heavy on mine as we both caught our breath.

 

He pulled out slowly, tucking himself back into his pants like nothing had happened, his eyes cold again when they met mine, like the heat we just shared didn’t exist, like I was nothing more than an outlet for him.

 

“Who are you?” I rasped when I finally got the strength, my voice trembling despite how hard I tried to keep it steady.

 

He raised a brow, leaning back in his chair. The leather creaked under his broad shoulders. “You don’t know who I am?”

 

“Should I?” I snapped back. I was beginning to hate myself for just giving out myself so easily, lifting my chin. I didn’t care if my legs shook. I wouldn’t bow to this stranger.

 

Something flickered in his eyes, an amused glint quickly snuffed out by cold indifference. He stood up slowly. My breath caught when I realised how tall he was. The black T-shirt clung to his chest, outlining every hard muscle. Tattoos curled up his arms and neck, dark and intricate. He walked around the desk with slow, heavy steps until he stood in front of me.

 

The scent of him hit me first – smoke, pine, and something raw that made my stomach twist.

 

“I’m Jaxon Wolfe,” he said softly, though his voice was anything but gentle. “Alpha of the Moon Riders.”

 

My chest tightened painfully. Alpha. Like the man in the car said. What did that mean?

 

“What do you want from me?” I whispered.

 

His gaze raked over me, slow and assessing, like he was looking for flaws. “Your stepfather owed me a debt. Instead of paying, he gave me you.”

 

I swallowed down the bile rising in my throat. “But I’m not property.” 

 

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Here, you are.”

 

My heart hammered so loud it almost drowned out his words. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him to go to hell, but my voice refused to come out. All I could do was glare at him, hoping he’d see the fight in my eyes and know I wasn’t giving up.

 

He stepped closer, and I forced myself not to flinch. His eyes darkened slightly, flickering to my lips before settling back on my eyes.

 

“You will stay here,” he said, his voice like gravel scraping against steel. “You will follow the rules. You will give me what I want, and in return, you will be protected.”

 

“Give you what you want?” I echoed, confused.

 

He didn’t blink. “An heir.”

 

The floor seemed to tilt under my feet. “An heir? You… you mean a child?”

 

“Yes.” His eyes were hard as iron. “Nothing more.”

 

My chest burned with rage and humiliation. I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug into my palms. “So that’s it? You’re just going to… use me and then what? Throw me away?”

 

His lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “That depends on you.”

 

I shook my head, fighting the tears burning my eyes. “You can’t just force me to –”

 

“I can,” he cut in sharply. “And I will, if I have to.”

 

For a second, everything inside me froze. The room felt smaller, the shadows deeper. His presence swallowed all the air, leaving me dizzy.

 

He turned away, walking back to his desk. “Blaze will show you to your room. You start training tomorrow.”

 

“Training?” I croaked.

 

“To prepare you for your role here,” he said without looking at me. “You are weak and unprepared. I can’t have that.”

 

I wanted to scream. To grab something heavy and smash it into his skull. But I didn’t move. I just stood there, shaking, staring at the back of the man who had just torn my life apart with so few words. No, that blame would go to my stepfather. I was so stupid for thinking I could escape him by running away. 

 

The golden-eyed man from the SUV stepped forward. Blaze, I suppose. He gestured for me to follow him. My feet felt heavy, like blocks of cement, but I forced them to move. As I turned to leave, Jaxon spoke again, his voice low and final.

 

“Reese.”

 

I stopped, my shoulders stiff.

 

“Don’t think about running,” he said softly, but there was no warmth in his tone. “Don’t think about defying me. You’re only here for one reason. Cross me, and you’ll regret it.”

 

My throat tightened, but I didn’t look back. If I did, I might break, and I couldn’t afford that. Not here. Not now.

 

I walked out of his office with my heart thudding in my chest, each beat echoing with the same thought.

 

I had just been claimed by the coldest man I’d ever met.

 

And I had no idea how I would survive him.