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ERENDINA. The stench of sex clings to the air as my orgasm slams into me, making my legs tremble against the solid floor while my heart goes wild in my chest. The scent of my arousal fills every inch of the room along with the noise of my pants, and when Emilian’s head drops, his gaze sliding lower, my stomach tightens at knowing he must smell it—he must know it. “Good girl.” He raises his head again, thumb stroking my cheek slightly, and my lips part, but before another word can roll out, he backs away, taking several steps. “Get dressed and leave.” His quick dismissal should hurt. It should make me feel no less than a whore that’s been used and now discarded. However, in place of embarrassment or resentment, what pumps through my blood is anticipation of what’s to follow this—of the fulfillment of his promise. Especially when his eyes follow as I move to my feet, walking to where I had left my dress. As I slip my clothing back on, I feel the heat of his gaze through it all—scorc

12.

ERENDINA. There’s something behind me. Swallowing, with my hand hanging in the quiver, I turn around and gasp as it stands too small a distance away, paws digging into the mud with a deadly stare that makes me shiver. That… can’t be a wolf. The breath that leaves me as that knowledge sinks in is labored, sweat rolling across my forehead with wetness trickling down my bare back, soaking through the fabric of my shirt as my stomach tightens in a mess of knots. My hand clamps around the bow, and my heart pounds in my chest as my predator’s eyes remain on me. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Anything I’ve ever hunted. It looks like a wolf, but with its pelt shaved and unsightly veins stretching across its glistening skin like lightning. It stands tall—its size unnatural and its eyes seeming possessed as though there’s something else beneath all it is. When it bares its venom-coated yellow fangs at me, its paw digging deeper into the ground, I attempt to waddle back but immediatel

13.

ERENDINA. My stomach drops at that sentence, apprehension curling through me, and I force a swallow through the tightness in my throat as I look back to Dominic. There’s no reaction from him, eyes giving away nothing, and I let out a bated breath before bobbing my head and following the guard. The throne room opens to me, and my step falters at the sight of my father in the middle of it, speaking to a man—a warrior. I blow a breath, reminding myself I’ve done nothing wrong before walking in. As the doors shut behind me, I have to force my feet to keep moving ahead. Once I’m only a foot away from him, I pause, and though I know he’s aware of my presence, my father doesn’t acknowledge it until he’s dismissed the Head warrior, Gabriel. The silence that fills the room after his absence is terrifying, as is my father’s gaze. My tongue darts out to lick my bottom lip, and my hands clench by my sides. He doesn’t speak still, and the tension in my muscles grows the longer the quiet goes

14.

ERENDINA. I don’t know how it started. Or how it came to be. I don’t know when it sank in. I just woke up one day and realized I wasn’t who I was meant to be—I wasn’t like others. I didn’t have the speed, the senses, or the strength that others were gifted with. I was nothing. There was nothing special to me. I was just a fragile human with no extraordinary abilities. For a long time, I didn’t want it to be true. It couldn’t be. From what I heard—because I have no memories of her—my mother was one of the strongest wolves in the kingdom. And my father was the Alpha King, a wolf that many others feared. I was the offspring of these special beings, so I had to be special too. I was meant to be, and I believed something must have gone wrong somewhere. I couldn’t accept what was staring right at me. I refused to. And I waited. There were tales of many wolves being powerless until their late teens—they were called late bloomers. Perhaps I was one of those. Perhaps there was nothing wron

15.

ERENDINA. Still, I continue, “I’m the Alpha’s daughter. You won’t go unpunished.” Something I don’t quite recognize passes through his eyes, but it’s gone before I can register it, and the silence stretches for a few beats more before his touch is gone. He takes two steps back without a word, taking me in again before he turns away. I rush forward the second he’s out of the room, clicking the lock on the door. I fall against it with my hand clenched to my chest, and the breath I’ve been holding the entire time escapes as my head drops back, eyes closing. ‘You’re wolfless. All those rumors, they aren’t true.’ I bite down on my tongue to hold back the sound that leaves my throat as his voice resounds in my head, sinking into my flesh and leaving nothing but ache behind. I fall on my ass as the tears roll down my cheeks, and I stay there for a long time, hating how easy it was for him to figure it out. Hating my existence itself. •FOUR DAYS LATER• I draw the string with one eye c

16.

ERENDINA. What the… he couldn’t have seen me, could he? “Princess?” Mia moves closer to me, lowering to my height and taking my hand in hers. “I’m fine. It’s okay. That’s enough.” She releases me at my words, and I glance at the window again before turning my back to it, unwilling to give another chance for a repeat of what just happened. I move out of bed, walking into the bathroom with my heart still pounding. • I bounce from one corner to another, arms crossed over my chest and eyes darting to the window every few seconds. It’s been a few hours since Dominic left and he should be back by now. It was just to check on the situation so what the hell is taking so— The door opening cuts off my train of thoughts and Mia has hardly stepped in when I ask, “Are they here? Is he back?” She jerks her head, a sympathetic look in her eyes. “I’m sure they’re fine. They left with enough men, and your brother is more than capable.” I know he is, but I’m still so restless. I pace across

All Chapters of Her Alpha’s Secret: Chapter 11 - Chapter 16

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