chapter 25

Tali's POV

Regan opens her mouth, but after shooting a glance at Dayne, she turns to me, and before she even has to say a word; I know what she's going to say.

"Sorry, Talis," she whispers, sounding full of apology before she reluctantly heads to her chair near Jenna's.

Of course, she would side with Dayne. He's her alpha. Did I really expect her to take my side me, who's been in her pack, not even a week over her alpha?

I'm the only one still standing, and once again I'm the focus of attention. The last thing I want. My gaze shifts from Dayne, who's watching me as if can't understand what my problem is, to the spot on the floor beside his seat, and back to him again.

At least there's a rug on the floor so I don't have to sit on the hard floor.

But still, it's the floor, and it's a place no one else is being forced to sit.

"We don't have all night," Dayne says, sounding like he's coming to the end of his patience.

With the first sparks of my rage igniting, I make my way over before dropping on the floor beside Dayne's denim and cowboy boot-clod leg.

I don't dare raise my head since the last thing I can deal with is seeing the expressions on the pack's faces. Instead, I wrap my arms around my raised legs and stare at a spot on the floor to the side of Luka's leg.

I can't imagine the pack meeting will go on for long since the last one they had was over in less than thirty minutes. And really, all it sounded was like they were laughing and joking for most of it.

So, I can sit here on the floor beside Dayne's chair for fifteen-to-twenty minutes, tops, and then I can make my escape.

I just have to ignore the sound of my wolf growling in my head at having to sit lower, much lower than anyone in the pack.

At first, I'm paying attention to the meeting, and really, it's nothing all that interesting. More updates about plans coming up a BBQ, another pack run, events happening in town, that kind of thing.

Then, as my wolf becomes increasingly enraged, I focus less on Dayne's words and more on the battle going on inside me. But I'm okay. I can do this.

By now, it's been maybe ten minutes and it sounds like Dayne's winding down, so there can't be too long to go now.

But out of nowhere, Dayne's hand comes down on the back of my neck and the pressure forces my head down to the ground.

The fuck!

And that's it. I've had enough. Or rather, my wolf has.

It's one thing for him to order me to sit lower than everyone in the pack, but that's not enough he's now shoving my face even lower?

No. Just no.

I move to stand.

Without missing a beat, Dayne tightens his grip around the nape of my neck as he continues to talk about upcoming pack events, exerting even more pressure. Pressing me back down and keeping me there.

I can feel them watching me. The pack. I know what they must be thinking. Weak. Submissive. An embarrassment as an alpha's mate.

For a brief second, my wolf slips the leash and a low growl emerges from my throat as I jerk my head out from beneath Dayne's hand.

Only I don't get far. I'm free for maybe half a second before his hand locks back into place. And still, Dayne doesn't let up as he continues to coolly warn the pack about hunting season coming to an end, and to ensure they stay on pack land while in their wolf shape.

"Now. Does anyone have anything else to add?" Dayne asks, still cool and collected as if he didn't just hear me growl.

No one says a word.

"Anyone?"

I'm trembling now in rage, or humiliation, I can't say what emotion dominates. Only I know, I am absolutely certain that if Dayne continues to press my head down like this, it isn't going to be a matter of if, but when I snap and rip out his throat. And thinking this, I freeze as I realize what's at stake if I lose control.

Gritting my teeth, I work at hauling all the rage, all the fury back down inside where it can't hurt anyone. Because one thing is certain, the second I lash out, Luka will put me down in a heartbeat for attacking his alpha. And he won't be alone.

"Then perhaps we might discuss the plans for felling the trees we discussed several months ago." Dayne crosses one leg over the other as he settles back in his seat as if he's in it for the long haul.

Are you fucking shitting me? Trees? He wants to talk about trees?

Ignoring my own warning, reaching up, I grab Dayne's wrist and tear his hand away before surging to my feet, spinning around to face him, a snarl on my lips.

Calmly he gazes up at me from his chair, then uncrossing his legs, he stands in a graceful smooth unwinding that speaks of power and control. The complete opposite to how I'm feeling.

The look in his eyes is mild, non-threatening, but something about it makes me realize I've just made a terrible mistake. Even my wolf seems to recognize it and she goes quiet.

"Leave. Now," Dayne says, his voice whisper-quiet.

The pack doesn't hesitate for a second. Although I don't see them leave, I hear the rush toward the door and the footsteps hurrying up the wooden stairs.

Finally, the door slams shut on the last pack member.

"Alpha, I " I backed up, jerking my eyes from his and down to his chin.

"You what?" He pursues me.

I keep going until I hit something. The wall. "I didn't mean… I just…"

I don't get a chance to finish my sentence, or even consider how I'm going to extricate myself from this situation before Dayne is pinning me against the wall, one hand coiled around my throat.

He's close. Close enough for me to see the flecks of silver in his ice-blue eyes, feel his breath against my cheek, draw the scent of his skin deep into my lungs.

"You will stay where I put you," he murmurs.

I open my mouth to speak, only no sound emerges.

The hand around my throat tightens in warning. Tight, but not quite choking me.

I stare up into his eyes, not knowing what I should be doing. Running? Screaming? Begging for my life?

While I'm still working it out, he dips his head and kisses me.

It's nothing short of a mark of possession, a claim, which doesn't surprise me in the least. Dayne's never given off the impression he's the sort of guy who's about soft, coaxing kisses.

No, his mouth is hard and insistent, and when his tongue strokes along the seam of my lips, I know what he wants. He's demanding entry.

With his hips flush against mine, his erection digging into my lower belly, and arousal spiking through me, my eyes flutter closed, even as I part my lips and let him in.

Good god, the man knows how to kiss.

Grabbing at his shoulders, I try to force him closer as he torments me with his kiss. With every thrust of his tongue, I'm reminded of how good he felt moving inside me, and I'm curling one leg around his hips as I cling to him.

Ripping his mouth from mine, he spins me. Leans into me with enough force for my cheek to press against the wall, and then he's brushing the hair away from my neck as one hand drops away from my hip.

When I hear his zipper echoing in the room, my insides go liquid and I go taut with anticipation.

Then someone is shoving the basement door open, and I'm jerking my head around. Only Dayne steps into my body, stopping me from seeing who it is.

"Alpha?" a voice murmurs. Luka.

"Get out!" Dayne snarls.

But Luka doesn't go anywhere. "Sorry Dayne, but

"Dayne?" a new voice says. "I'm sorry, but there's something I need to tell you. It's important."

He wasn't alone. Luka wasn't alone. And if I hadn't been so enveloped in the scent of Dayne. If I hadn't been more concerned with his fucking me, then maybe I would have realized sooner than now.

Dayne's hands fall away from me as he steps away, and I turn and catch sight of the woman who'd come down the stairs with Luka.

It's her. The woman with the long blonde hair who I hadn't seen for the last few days.

"Savannah?" Dayne doesn't hide how surprised nor how pleased he is at her return, and I feel my jaw clench in response.

Taking advantage of Dayne's distraction, I dart past him, only just dodging his hand when he reaches out to stop me.

"Talis, where "

I don't stop to hear what else he has to say.

I feel the barest brush of his fingers against my bare arm as I evade him. Keeping my head down, hoping my hair is enough to shield my face, I shove my way past Luka and the blonde girl Dayne is so happy to see, and sprint up the stairs, leaving Dayne and his blonde… whatever the fuck she is, to him, far behind me.