Chapter Three

Laina

Trey and his men marched me through the hallways, which were now crawling with strangers.

I barely had enough clothing on to preserve my dignity, and thankfully, Trey's men seemed determined to make sure no one got a good look at me. 

They surrounded me from every side, blocking the curious stares while keeping me from seeing exactly who had invaded the lodge, but I could smell them.

At the door to my room, Duke reached past me and opened it, he immediately groaned.

His startling green eyes swept over the room, and then a deep growl ripped from his chest and the women inside froze.

A few whimpered before scrambling toward the door, while others dropped to their knees in fear.

“Out,” Duke snarled.

They didn't need to be told twice.

Trey chuckled beside me, his arm tightening around my waist as he pulled me against his body.

Those women had done nothing wrong, and now they were terrified because of him.

I considered kicking him, but one look at Trey made me reconsider.

I wasn't sure what punishment awaited me for defending anyone in this room.

Trey's thumb brushed lazily over my breast, deliberately reminding me that he could smell the arousal my body was betraying as heat rushed through me I hated him for noticing.

Once the room was empty, Trey's men searched every corner, checking for weapons or anything that could be used against them.

When they were satisfied, Trey shoved me inside.

I stumbled forward, barely catching myself before my face met the floor.

Trey stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

For several seconds, he said nothing, his eyes moved slowly around my sparsely furnished room before he picked up a chair and placed it at the foot of my bed.

Then he sat down relaxed as though he owned the room, as though he owned me.

“Strip.”

“No.”

His lips twisted into a sardonic smile.

“Take off the fucking mating gown, Laina. I won't ask you again.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, hiding the tremor in my hands.

“I told you no, Trey.”

He stood up and the sudden movement sent me stumbling backward.

I barely had time to breathe before my back hit the dresser.

Trey's hands slammed against the wood on either side of me, caging me in his face was inches from mine.

The amusement in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine.

“It wasn't a request, Laina.”

His voice was low and dangerously calm.

“I was telling you to remove the gown you intended to fuck Carl in.”

Confusion flashed through me before I could respond, his hands moved to my shoulders, he grabbed the front of the gown and ripped it open.

The fabric slid down my body and pooled around my feet.

I stared at him, breathing heavily then something cold touched my stomach and my eyes dropped, it was a blade.

Trey slowly dragged it across my naked skin and I forced myself to look at his face.

If he intended to kill me, I refused to give him the satisfaction of watching me beg.

His lips curved into a sinful smile.

The blade moved higher, slipping beneath the lace covering my breasts.

He cut through it with slow precision, exposing my skin.

“Did you fuck him?”

“No.”

The answer came immediately.

“Did you want to?”

I shook my head and Trey's gaze hardened.

“Use your words, Princess.”

“No, I didn't.”

The blade moved again, and I flinched when its edge nicked my skin as a sharp gasp escaped me.

Trey lowered his head, his tongue passing over the tiny cut before he straightened.

His saliva immediately began healing the wound, but the sting remained.

He stepped back, his eyes moved over me before narrowing.

“You are not marked.” My stomach dropped, he had noticed.

“How is it you intended to mate that prick tonight, yet his mark doesn't grace your skin?”

“I wasn't going to mate him.”

His eyes flashed.

“Then why was he here?”

I opened my mouth but no answer came.

Trey stared at me.

The silence between us became heavier.

Then he stepped closer.

“Turn around.”

I didn't move, hisbhand settled around my waist.

He turned me toward the dresser, placing my hands on its wooden surface.

My heart hammered.

Trey pushed my thighs apart with his foot.

“Are you afraid of me,” he murmured against my shoulder, “or excited?”

I swallowed “Both.”

A low chuckle rumbled behind me.

“Your body is responding to me, but you reek of fear.”

His lips brushed my shoulder.

A tremor traveled through my body.

I hated myself for reacting.

I hated my wolf even more, She had recognized him. My true mate.

The one person she had apparently been waiting for all these years.

Trey's blade traveled slowly from my neck down my back, barely touching my skin.

My breathing became uneven.

The closer he got, the harder it became to remember that this man had come back as my enemy but my wolf didn't care, she wanted him.

She wanted to submit to the mate her soul recognized.

I clenched my hands against the dresser.

“Stop.”

Trey laughed softly “You don't mean that.”

“I do.”

“Then why is your body telling me otherwise?”

I had no answer for that, his hand slid around my waist, pulling me back against him.

The contact made my breath catch.

“You can fight me all you want,” he whispered. “Your wolf knows exactly who I am.”

His fingers moved lower, teasing the desire he had awakened, a helpless moan escaped me.

Trey chuckled “Tell me this isn't for me.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“You are not my mate.”

“Then why does she respond to me so easily?”

I remained silent.

His voice became almost taunting.

“You'd let me take you right now, wouldn't you?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

His hand tightened around my waist.

“She knows I'm hers. She knows she's mine.”

I hated that a part of me knew he was right.

But knowing he was my mate didn't erase everything that had happened. It didn't erase the ten years between us. It didn't erase the pain. And it certainly didn't erase the fact that he had returned with murder in his eyes.

“You're not marked,” he said again.

The sudden change in his tone made me look over my shoulder.

He had stepped away.

“How did you intend to mate Carl tonight when he hasn't marked you?”

I pulled away from the dresser and turned to face him.

“I didn't.”

“Then explain.”

“I don't owe you an explanation.”

His jaw tightened.

For the first time, the calm mask slipped and Anger flashed through his eyes.

“Come here.”

I stayed where I was.

Trey leaned back in the chair.

“Come here, Laina.”

“No.”

His gaze darkened “Don't make me come get you Laina.”

I swallowed hard, something told me I wouldn't like what happened if I forced him to come after me.

Slowly, I walked toward him and stopped just beyond his reach.

Trey moved faster than I expected.

His hands caught my hips and dragged me forward.

I fell against him, instinctively grabbing his shoulders.

He leaned back, forcing me to straddle him and for a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then his eyes lifted to mine.

“Did you miss me?” 

I shook my head but my body betrayed me as usual.

His expression softened for the briefest second.

“I missed you.”

His fingers moved up my spine.

“I missed your lips. Your eyes. The way they sparkled whenever you were thinking something inappropriate.”

My cheeks heated.

“And I missed the way you used to blush when I caught you staring at me.”

I looked away.

Trey's fingers curled around the back of my neck.

“Mostly, I thought about how I'd punish you for what you did to me.”

My heart clenched.

“I didn't do anything to you.”

“You did.” His voice was suddenly cold “You just don't want to admit it.”

Before I could answer, his mouth covered mine.

The kiss was hungry, angry, and far too familiar.

For one terrible moment, I forgot everything.

My hands tangled in his hair as my body leaned into his and my wolf screamed for him. Then Trey pulled away.

The warmth disappeared as quickly as it had come.

His expression changed and the softness was gone.

He looked at me as though he hated me.

“You are exactly what your father told me you were.”

My blood ran cold.

“A needy, willing whore.”

The words struck harder than any blade could have.

He looked me up and down with disgust.

“Someone who would fuck anyone willing to touch her.”

My eyes burned.

“I have never been with anyone.”

He snorted “Cover yourself.”

I quickly grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around my body.

My hands shook as I moved to the dresser and pulled on a pair of black panties, shorts, and a tank top.

Trey watched me silently.

“I suggest you don't fight me when we leave this room,” he said.

I turned toward him “Why?”

His expression was terrifyingly calm.

“Because if you do, I'll have you tied to a bed and left there until I'm finished using you.”

My stomach turned, he stood and walked toward the door.

“I am going to murder your father.”

My breath caught.

“And Carl?”

Trey looked over his shoulder.

“If you beg me enough, perhaps I'll let your intended escape.”

I stared at him “Why?”

His smile was cold.

“He was lured here by the promise of your pussy, wasn't he?”

Tears burned my eyes.

“Kill him.”

The words came out barely above a whisper.

Trey studied me for several seconds before turning away.

I stood there, staring at the man I had once loved more than my own life.

And finally, I understood.

I had spent the last few minutes desperately searching for the boy I remembered, the boy who had loved me.

The boy who had made me believe we would always be together was gone. 

Trey had been banished because of me, and whatever he had endured during those years had carved something dark into him.

The tattoos covering his body were proof that he was no longer the boy I remembered. The coldness in his eyes was another.

He hadn't returned to reclaim our love. He hadn't returned because he still wanted me.

He had returned for one reason, Revenge.

And I was certain he wouldn't stop until he had destroyed me, my family, my pack and everything I loved.