feels different

Chapter Four

I couldn't stay at the ball.

Not with him looking at me like that. Not with the bond screaming in my chest every time our eyes met across the room.

I told my parents I needed air. Didn't wait for permission.

I slipped out of the ballroom. Walked down a hallway. Then another.

The pack house had changed. New wings. New corridors. Nothing looked familiar.

I turned a corner and stopped.

This wasn't right. The hallway was dimmer here. Quieter. Private.

I'd gone too far.

I turned to go back.

Footsteps echoed behind me.

Heavy. Deliberate.

My heart jumped into my throat.

I turned slowly.

Alpha Daemon stood at the end of the hallway.

Alone.

No Isabella. No guests. No witnesses.

Just him.

His eyes locked on mine. Dark. Intense.

Predatory.

"You shouldn't be here," he said.

His voice was low. Rough.

But he was walking toward me.

I took a step back. "I got lost. I was just leaving."

"Stay."

The word hit me like a physical force.

Alpha command.

My body obeyed before my brain could argue. I froze in place.

My wolf purred. Submitted.

No. No no no.

He kept coming. Each step measured. Controlled.

Like he was stalking prey.

I forced myself to move. Backed up.

"I should go back to the ball," I said.

My voice sounded breathless. Weak.

"Should you?"

Another step closer.

I kept backing up until my spine hit the wall.

Nowhere left to go.

He didn't stop.

He came right up to me. Planted his hands on the wall on either side of my head.

Caged me in.

His body was so close I could feel the heat coming off him in waves. His scent surrounded me. Pine and earth and something darker. Something that made my knees weak.

I couldn't breathe.

Couldn't think.

"I can't stop thinking about you," he said.

His voice was strained. Like the words were being ripped out of him against his will.

"Since the moment you walked into that ballroom, I can't think about anything else."

"You shouldn't—" I started.

"I know." His face dropped lower. His breath fanned across my lips. "You're her sister. My wife's sister. This is wrong."

Wrong.

The word echoed in my head.

He was my mate. There was nothing wrong about that.

Except everything was wrong. Because he didn't know. Because he married someone else. Because he was my brother-in-law now.

Forbidden.

"Then let me go," I whispered.

"I can't."

His eyes searched mine. Wild. Desperate.

"Every time I see you, something in me..." He trailed off. Shook his head. "I feel like I'm losing my mind."

My heart was slamming against my ribs so hard it hurt.

"You need to stop," I said.

But I didn't push him away.

I couldn't.

His hand left the wall. Touched my waist.

The contact sent electricity through my entire body.

I gasped.

His fingers tightened. Pulled me closer.

"You feel it too, don't you?" he murmured.

His lips were an inch from mine. Maybe less.

I could barely see straight.

"Feel what?" The words came out broken.

"This." His other hand came up. Cupped my jaw. Tilted my face toward his. "This pull. Like I need you. Like I'll die if I don't—"

He stopped himself. His jaw clenched hard.

"You're my brother-in-law," I said.

The words tasted like ash in my mouth.

"You're married to Isabella. You're her husband. Her mate."

"I know."

But he didn't move.

His thumb traced my bottom lip.

I stopped breathing.

"This can't happen," I continued. My voice was shaking. "Whatever you think you feel, it's wrong. She's your wife. Your Luna. You chose her."

"Then why does it feel like I chose wrong?"

The question shattered me.

I stared at him.

His eyes were tortured. Conflicted.

"Why does it feel like you're the one I'm supposed to be with?" he whispered.

Tell him. Tell him the truth.

But I couldn't.

He wouldn't believe me. He'd think I was lying. Manipulating. Trying to destroy his marriage.

Just like they all thought I tried to destroy Isabella.

"You need to go back to your wife," I said.

My voice cracked on the word 'wife.'

His eyes darkened. "Don't tell me what to do."

Pure Alpha. Pure command.

My wolf whimpered. Submitted.

But I wasn't just my wolf.

I lifted my chin. Met his gaze. "I'm not part of your pack anymore. You exiled me, remember? You don't get to order me around."

Something flickered across his face.

Regret.

Guilt.

Pain.

"Why did you come back?" he asked.

"My exile ended."

"You could have stayed away."

"Maybe I should have."

His hand on my waist tightened. Hard enough to bruise.

"Don't say that."

"Why do you care?"

"I don't know!" The words exploded out of him. Frustrated. Angry. Raw. "I don't know why I care! I don't know why I can't stop looking at you! I don't know why every instinct I have is screaming at me to—"

He cut himself off.

Closed his eyes.

Leaned his forehead against mine.

We were both breathing hard. Fast. Like we'd been running.

The bond between us pulsed. Alive. Burning.

"This is insane," he muttered.

"Yes."

"You're off-limits."

"Yes."

"I'm married."

"I know."

His nose brushed against mine.

"I have a wife."

"I know."

"Then why..." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Why can't I walk away from you?"

I opened my eyes.

His were still closed. His face was twisted in agony.

"I don't know," I breathed.

His lips were so close.

One movement. One tiny movement and they'd be on mine.

I could feel the heat of them.

My body was screaming at me to close the distance.

To kiss him.

To claim what was mine.

But he wasn't mine.

Not anymore.

Maybe he never was.

"We can't," I whispered.

"I know."

But neither of us moved.

His hand slid from my waist to the small of my back. Pressed me against him.

I could feel every inch of him. Hard. Strong. Perfect.

My mate.

My forbidden mate.

"Just once," he murmured. "Let me just—"

"Daemon? Are you down here?"

Isabella's voice rang out from somewhere nearby.

We both froze.

His eyes snapped open.

Reality crashed back.

He pulled away from me like I'd burned him.

Stepped back.

The loss of contact felt like losing a limb.

"Daemon?" Isabella's voice was closer now. "The pack elders are looking for you."

His face went cold. Blank.

The Alpha mask slammed back into place.

"Go," he said.

His voice was ice.

"Before she sees you."

I stared at him.

Two seconds ago he was pressed against me. Whispering about needing me.

Now he looked at me like I was nothing.

Like I was a mistake.

"Go," he repeated.

Footsteps. Getting closer.

I ran.

Down the hallway. Around a corner. Through a side door.

I didn't stop until I was outside. In the gardens. Alone.

I pressed my hand to my chest.

The bond was still there. Still burning.

Still wanting him.

I heard voices from inside. Isabella's laugh. His deep response.

Playing the perfect couple.

While I stood out here in the dark.

The hidden sister.

The forgotten mate.

The forbidden one.

I closed my eyes.

This was my life now.

Watching him love someone else.

Wanting something I could never have.

My brother-in-law.

My mate.

My punishment.