Fearful secret-2

[ SELENE ]

The threat hung in the air, raw and heavy. Lena was scratching at the walls of my mind now, howling to be let free, sensing that the game was finally over. I backed up until my heels hit the edge of his desk, trapped between the wood and the wall of muscle heading straight for me.

"I can't," I whispered, tears pricking my eyes. "Alpha, please."

He didn't stop. He leaned in close, his nose brushing against the pulse point at my neck, inhaling deeply as if he could peel the suppressant right off my skin with his breath. "You have three seconds, Selena. One..."

"Two..."

His voice was a vibration against my skin, sending a traitorous jolt of heat through my body. My heart was thumping so hard I thought it might actually burst through my ribs.

"Three."

I couldn't hold it anymore. The wall I’d built around Lena for months didn't just crack, it shattered. As the mental barrier collapsed, my scent exploded into the room like a physical wave. The heavy, sweet smell of jasmine and honey flooded the air, mixing with his sandalwood and rain in a way that felt like a puzzle piece finally clicking into place.

A low, guttural groan escaped his throat as he caught the full force of it. He didn't hesitate. His hand flew out, his fingers tangling in my hair to tilt my head back, exposing my throat.

"There she is," he growled, his eyes scanning my face with a terrifying intensity. "There's my mate."

"Alpha, please," I gasped, my hands coming up to rest on his chest, whether to push him away or pull him closer, I didn't even know. "You... you're supposed to be notorious. You're supposed to hate Omegas like me. I thought you'd kill me."

He let out a dark, dry chuckle that sent chills down my spine. He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear.

"Kill you? Selena, I've spent the last three weeks tracking your scent through the hallways like a stray dog. I've been losing my mind wondering why my mate was hiding in the kitchens like a common servant."

He tightened his grip on my hair, not enough to hurt, but enough to make sure I knew I wasn't going anywhere.

"And as for being notorious..." He moved his mouth back to my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin right over where my mark would be. "You haven't seen anything yet. You’re going to stay right here, in this room, until you realize that you aren't going anywhere ever again."

Every touch sent a wave of tingling through my body, making my knees buckle. He didn't let me fall. Instead, he gripped my waist and hoisted me up, pinning me against the wall. The fabric of my maid's gown hiked up around my waist, exposing my thighs to the cool air before his hands replaced it with a searing heat.

When his hand found the edge of my panties, I sucked in a sharp, jagged breath, my head hitting the wall behind me.

"Alpha..." I moaned, the sound escaping me before I could stop it.

He growled against my neck, his teeth nipping at the skin there as his fingers hooked into the lace. He was marking his territory without even using his fangs yet.

"Karl," he corrected, his voice a rough, commanding rumble that vibrated against my throat. "Call me by my name, baby. Say it like it’s yours. Because it is."

He shifted his weight, pressing his hard frame firmly against me, making sure I felt every inch of his desire. My hands, which had been trembling with fear only minutes ago, were now buried in his thick hair, pulling him closer.

"Karl," I whispered, the name feeling like a sin and a prayer all at once.

"Again," he demanded, his hand moving with a sudden, possessive intent that made my toes curl. "Tell me who you belong to, Selena."

"Karl," I gasped out, my voice breaking as the heat between us reached a boiling point. "I... I belong to you."

The moment the words left my lips, his control snapped. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent like a man starving, while his hand moved with a fierce, possessive rhythm that had me arching my back against the cold stone wall. I was vibrating, my entire body humming with a need I had spent so long trying to suppress.

"Damn right you do," he growled, his breath hot and ragged against my skin. "And if I ever catch you reaching for those suppressants again, I'll burn every bottle in this pack. You’re never hiding from me again, Selena. Do you understand?"

I couldn't even find my voice to answer. All I could do was nod frantically as I felt him tugging at his own belt, the friction of his clothes against my bare skin making my vision blur.

Lena was howling in triumph now, her spirit finally merging with mine in a way that felt whole. There was no more running. No more saving up money to flee to another pack. My world had narrowed down to this room, this scent, and the man holding me like I was the only thing keeping him grounded.

"Look at me," he commanded again, his thumb catching my chin and forcing my gaze up to his.

This time, I didn't look away. I saw the raw hunger in his eyes—a dark, swirling storm of lust and something that looked terrifyingly like devotion.

"Say my name one more time," he whispered, his lips just a breath away from mine. "Then I'm going to show you exactly what happens to little wolves who try to run away from their Alpha."

"Karl," I breathed out, the name finally feeling like it belonged in my mouth.

Instead of the rough kiss I expected, he slowed down. He took my hand, his large fingers dwarfing mine, and brought my knuckles to his lips. He kissed the back of my hand with a tenderness that caught me off guard, his eyes never leaving mine. It was a silent promise, a claim that felt deeper than just physical heat.

"Good girl," he murmured against my skin, his voice dropping to a gravelly silk.

The contrast of his gentle kiss on my hand while his body pinned mine ruthlessly against the wall made my head spin. He was marking every part of me, from my soul down to my fingertips.

"You thought I was a monster who would throw you away," he said, his thumb stroking my palm, sending sparks shooting up my arm. "But you’re the only thing that’s kept me sane since I took over this pack. I’ve been hunting a ghost, Selena. Now that I’ve caught you, I’m never letting go."

He let go of my hand only to cup the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my hair as he pulled me in. "Now, let’s finish what we started."

He crashed his lips onto mine, and this time, there was no hesitation. It was a collision of hunger and relief, the taste of him overwhelming everything else until the rest of the world, the kitchen, the other maids, the fear of rejection, simply ceased to exist.