C2

ELOWEN WHITLOCK POV

"Why are you sitting in the dark like a ghost?" Caelan Thorncroft barks as he slams my bedroom door open. He drops his wet leather coat on the floor and does not look at me. "Get out of my way."

"You are completely wet from the storm," I say. My heart beats fast against my ribs. I stand up from the bed, my big human arms shaking as I grab clean clothes from the wooden chest. "Take these."

"Put them down and stay silent," he says. He walks straight into the washroom, and the hot water starts making a loud noise.

I do not sleep because my mind is too full of the wolf baby. I walk to the edge of the room and look out the glass window. The dark clouds are heavy over the Alpha Dominion District, and a cold rain hits the glass.

The washroom door opens with a bang. Caelan steps out with just a small fur wrap around his waist, and his big alpha muscles are shining with water drops.

"What are you staring at, human?" Caelan asks. His dark eyes look mean and angry when he sees me watching him. "Come here right now."

"I am right here," I say. I walk over to him, and he throws a dry cloth straight at my head.

"Dry my hair," he commands.

"Sit down on the bed then," I say. I climb up behind him and use my hands to rub the cloth over his wet black hair.

"You are too slow," he growls.

"The funeral for Alpha Alaric Thorncroft is tomorrow morning," I say. I try to make my voice strong so he does not hear my fear. "The Thorncroft Pack Elders want us at the family house early."

"I know when my grandfather's ritual is," he snaps.

"I just do not want you to forget," I say. "I know your mind is with Isolde Ashbourne tonight."

"Keep your mouth shut about her," he says. He pulls away from my hands and gets under the heavy blankets.

I am surprised because he usually goes to his alpha study room until the middle of the night. I lie down on the very edge of the mattress, keeping my big body away from him. My stomach feels sick because of the six-week baby growing inside me.

Suddenly, a heavy arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back against his hot chest. His mouth hits mine in a hard, angry kiss.

"Caelan, stop," I say. I push against his big shoulders. "I am not ready for this."

"Are you saying no to your Alpha?" he asks. His eyes glow a bright, scary wolf gold in the dark room. "You belong to this pack."

"Please," I say. My hands go down to protect my belly. "Just be gentle with me tonight."

"You do not give me orders," he growls. He rolls on top of me and presses his heavy body down.

I bite my lip so hard it bleeds, and I curl my legs up to save the little baby from his rough wolf strength. Outside, the sky breaks with a huge flash of lightning, and the thunder makes the whole pack house shake. He finishes quickly and walks back into the washroom without looking at my tears.

I lie in the dark, shivering from the bad pain in my stomach. I want to look for medicine, but I know human pills might hurt the wolf baby.

A loud ringing noise cuts through the sound of the falling rain. It is his phone on the small side table. I look at the clock, and the hands show it is eleven o'clock at night.

The washroom door opens, and Caelan runs out with the fur wrap around him. He grabs the phone fast.

"Isolde, stop this madness right now!" Caelan yells into the phone. His face looks very worried. "I told you the rogues are dangerous!"

He cuts the call and throws his black pants on. He is getting ready to leave into the storm.

"Can you please stay in the pack house tonight?" I ask. I jump up and grab his big wrist with both of my hands. "Just this one night."

"Did I make you feel too good just now?" Caelan laughs, and his voice sounds like sharp ice. "Now you think you can control me?"

"That is horrible to say," I say. I look up into his mean face. "Your grandfather is being buried tomorrow. You need to show respect to the Thorncroft Bloodline instead of running to her."

"Are you trying to threaten an Alpha wolf?" he whispers. He reaches out and squeezes my jaw so tight I cannot breathe. "You have become very brave tonight, Elowen Whitlock."