All Chapters of The Untamed Matriarch : Chapter 51 - Chapter 57

Nikolai freezes, his gaze drilling into mine, waiting for the rest of my thought to surface."I mean," I start, the words tangling as I stare down at the condensation on my beer bottle. "I’m aware that the dive bar you took me to was crawling with eyes from every rival pack in the Syndicate. It was humiliating. It drove a massive wedge between me and Julian when he caught wind—from multiple snitches—that I was out scent-marking the air with you. And regardless of the mess Julian and I are in, I still value him."I lift my eyes to his, letting him see the raw sting there. I catch a flicker of genuine remorse crossing his features. He’s either the most gifted actor in the Northern Territory or... maybe he actually gives a damn about the collateral damage he causes me."I like you, Nikolai," I whisper, the confession bleeding out before I can pull it back. "I like you... more than I should. But I don't know if there’s a drop of silver-truth in any of this, or if I’m just a convenient too

I glance at Mason’s face, my pulse thrumming in my ears, but I do as he says. I walk stiffly toward the stone wall, staring at the silver loops while Mason moves with predatory grace to a sleek cabinet nearby."What are these for?" I ask, my voice sounding small against the roar of the ocean outside."I’m going to show you," Mason murmurs. He steps up behind me, so close that the heat of his large, powerful frame radiates through the thin silk of the corset. I fight a traitorous, primal urge to lean back into him, to feel the solid strength of his chest against my spine."Hands up," he commands. "Over your head."I obey, lifting my arms, my palms flat against the cold stone. I wait, breathless."Good girl," he rumbles. He catches my left wrist first, wrapping a wide, fur-lined leather cuff around it. I twist my head to watch, my heart hammering when I see a delicate silver chain extending from the cuff to another one in his hand. Mason threads the second cuff through a D-ring above me

"Wait," Julian says, leaning forward and cutting through my thoughts. "Did you go out on another hunt with Nikolai? When?""Last night," I say, picking up my fork and prodding at my breakfast."What!?"I sigh, meeting Julian's eyes. "Honestly, Julian, if you want to be part of this pack, pay attention. You’re the last one in the Cross Estate to realize it." I shove a forkful of food into my mouth. If he’s so committed to this fake engagement, he should probably start tracking his 'mate' a little better.Julian studies me, and I see the exact moment he reaches the same conclusion I have."So," he says, flashing a sharp smile. "Let’s shift gears tonight. We’ll watch some movies, just like we used to back in the territory.""Maybe," I say, hesitating. I don't want to commit to anything if there's another box of silk waiting at my door. Or if Mason has another 'assignment' for his newest asset.At eleven, I walk into the Cross garage with a heavy heart. Caleb is already there, leaning aga

"I’m an analyst, Mason," I snap, the fire in my veins making my voice tremble. "Or I was. That was my path until you stripped it away, until you caged me in this fortress. You made it clear that the only way to breathe in this territory was to submit to Julian or bind myself to your Code of the Claw. You backed me into a corner.""I forced you into nothing!" Mason growls, closing the gap until the scent of cedar and storm clouds rolls off him in waves. "You marked that contract of your own volition, Rowan! You—""I am more than a bargaining chip!" I scream. The sound echoes through the timber beams, startling the horses.Mason flinches back, his pupils blown wide. "Rowan—""No," I say, stepping into the space he vacated, my jaw set as I stare into his glowing eyes. "Don't you dare try to talk your way out of this. It’s all a lie—the contract, the Syndicate laws. It’s just ink on parchment. None of it reflects the pull between us. All your protocols and your 'Code'? They’re just tools