Alpha Initiation (Alpha Blood #1) (Werewolf Romance) (2 page)

"Perhaps the girl is too feisty, sir?" Alistair commented.

Luke shook his head. "Nonsense, she's perfect, but not quite ready for freedom outside the room." He pulled me to my feet while I clutched at my pained arm. I was shaken and scared, and tears ran down my face. I shuddered when Luke brushed his hand against my cheek to wipe away the tears. "None of that now. You're safe with us, and we won't hurt you." I turned my head away and tightly shut my eyes. I wanted to wake up and have this nightmare end. "Can you walk?" he asked me. I still didn't reply, I couldn't. My voice was choked up with sobs that wanted to escape and show the world my fear.

My eyes shot open when I felt myself lifted into Luke's strong arms and carried up the stairs. I instinctively clutched onto him to keep from falling, and he chuckled. I scowled at him and would have broken free if he didn't have such a tight grip on me. Luke pressed me tight against his body, and through his thin shirt I could feel his muscles ripple with each step. He was a powerful man, one I probably couldn't escape from without the aid of surprise.

Luke carried me back to the white room where he shut the door behind us and laid me on the bed. The moment I hit the covers I pulled away from him and swung my legs over the bed. I tried to make a dash for the door, but he was fast, very fast. He was around the bed before I reached the foot of it, and I stumbled backward away from him. "I'm afraid I can't let you out for a few days, not until I can trust you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Then I'm never going to be let out."

He smirked. "I very much doubt that, but right now wouldn't you rather rest on the bed? That shoulder bruise must hurt."

It hurt like hell, but I didn't care. "I'd much rather be home, so just let me go," I ordered him.

Luke shook his head. "I'm afraid that's just not possible. You see, I've chosen you to be my mate, and once chosen there's no going back."

The finality in his voice scared and infuriated me. "I don't care what bullshit you say! Just let me out of here!" I rammed into him, but this time he was prepared. He caught my upper arms and pushed me onto the bed.

I glanced up and shrank from the wild look in his expression. His eyes were bright and wide, and his lips were curled back in a grin that showed off some long, sharp teeth. When he spoke his voice was more growl than human, and the feral noises in his words made me shudder. Admittedly, it wasn't from fear so much as from a small thrill of desire in me. Everything about him told me he wanted me, and a little wildness deep down in me told me I wanted him. "You shouldn't fight me. It only makes my Beast want you more."

"B-beast?" I shuddered.

Luke slipped onto the bed and I scuttled back to the head. He followed me and placed his hands on either side of my body while he leaned forward so our faces were only a foot apart. "It's what controls me, and chose you as my mate." He glanced up and down my body. I felt stripped naked by his thorough, unblinking eyes, and covered myself with my arms. "I must admit it chose very well." At that moment there was a knock on the door and Luke pulled back. I realized I hadn't been breathing and swallowed a big gulp of air. "Come in," Luke called out.

Alistair came in with a large tray in his hands. He set it down on the small table beyond the mound of pillows and turned to us. "Would you be needing anything else, sir?"

"Just some privacy," Luke replied. The color drained from my face at the subtle context in those words.

Alistair frowned, but gave a bow at the waist. "Very well, sir." He left the room, and I heard the distinct sound of the door being locked behind him.

Luke slid off the bed and wandered over to the table. On the tray I noticed all kinds of fruits, juices, and cereals, and my stomach betrayed me by growling. Luke picked up an apple and grinned. "You must be quite hungry. Take what you want, there's plenty for both of us."

I turned my face away, but the gnawing in my stomach wouldn't leave. "Not until you let me go," I insisted.

Luke tossed the apple at me and it fell at my feet. "At least eat enough for you to escape. You're going to need all your strength and wits to get away from us."

"I almost did," I shot back.

"I must admit you gave us a merry chase, but that wouldn't have lasted long. Alistair and I are proficient hunters, and even if we had lost sight of you we wouldn't have lost your scent." I wrinkled my face. He made himself out to be some sort of an animal. "What an interesting expression on your face. Do I really disgust you that much?" he asked me.

"I don't care, just let me go!" I repeated.

"I'm afraid I can't let that happen, but why don't you have a taste of that apple? I can guarantee you'll like it." I was so mad and afraid that I grabbed the apple and chucked it at him. He effortlessly caught it in one of his hands and grinned. "Nice throwing arm, and a good aim. Yes, I can see how you would make a good mate."

"Stop calling me that!" I shrieked at him.

He shook his head. "I think not, at least not until you start behaving." He paused and rubbed his chin. "Perhaps that would be a suitable punishment. For as long as you disobey me you won't have a name, but you'll still be my possession."

"I'd rather not have a name than be your possession!"

Luke tossed the apple onto the tray. "You'll change your mind. Until then keep your strength up and fight me all you want." He strode to the door, unlocked it with a key from his pocket, and left me alone in my white dungeon.

Chapter 3

I pressed my back up against the wall behind the bed and hugged my legs to myself. Tears rolled down my cheeks and all I could think about were those plain walls around me, trapping me in this horrible place with this insane man and his servant. Only yesterday I'd been a happy college student with my biggest worry being if I was going to miss my friends' calls and if that stupid geology teacher was going to give us homework. Now here I sat in this strange room threatened by these men and with no chance at escape.

Still, there were lingering hopes for escape even in the confines of that white room. I glanced up and looked over the boarded windows. They looked secure, but where there was a will there was a way. I slipped off the bed and hurried over to the window on the left to try to pry the boards off; no luck. They were nailed on with thick nails that resembled railroad spikes, and the other window was the same. I'd need something heavy or sharp to break the wood, or at least to pry the boards loose with leverage.

I looked around the room and spotted the food tray. My stomach growled, reminding me that fear, my earlier mad dash, and trying to pull off the boards had given me an even greater appetite than before. I slunk up to the table and inspected the food. It all looked perfectly normal to me. The apple he'd tossed to me lay beside the other fruit, and I grabbed that and sat down for a breather. I intended to eat only as much as I needed and nothing more, but when I bit into the apple and chewed on the piece I was overcome with this strange, overpowering urge to eat more. My body flushed with a desire to savor everything on the tray, to have all those textures roll across my tongue and slide down my throat.

It wasn't the flavor of the apple that made me grab another apple. It was more like an added spice brushed over the food that created a sensual, overpowering need to consume it all. I dug in like an animal and devoured fruit, juice and cereal. My hands clawed off fruit skins and I drank down the juice, and I relished every moment as my body heated up with each bite and drink. My clothes were splattered with my food, but I didn't care. There was only that burning inside me that demanded I feed the fire. I finished off the last of the food and drink, and found myself craving more. My tense, flushed body ached for another bite, another drink, and I whimpered when I found I couldn't satisfy my need.

It was at that moment the door to the room opened and Luke stepped inside. His eyes fell on the empty tray in front of me, and then to me, covered as I was in the remains of my breakfast. He smirked, and shut and locked the door behind himself. "It seems you enjoyed your breakfast," he teased.

My anger was rekindled by his smirk, but only partially. The need inside of me dampened the flame of ire. "You put something in it, didn't you?" I accused him.

He walked over to me and picked up the apple core. Even that was partially chewed. "Only a little wolf's bane. It adds a unique flavor for our kind that is similar to an aphrodisiac." I didn't understand what it was or what kind about which he was talking, but I understood the second part about the aphrodisiac. That explained the sensual need inside of me clawing to get out. He tossed the core back onto the tray and turned to me with those bright eyes. "It seems to have affected you quite well. How are you feeling?"

"Hot," I hoarsely whispered to him. I couldn't help myself when my hand reached up and brushed the naked skin of my long shirt collar. My flesh was hot and wet from sweat, and I shuddered at the feel of my own fingers caressing my skin.

Through the lens of my sensual emotions I saw his grin take on a more feral appearance as his teeth shone out beneath his lips. His eyes brightened as they had before, and I swear they changed color from blue to yellow. "You look very flushed. Let me help you to your bed." I was languid and submissive as he picked me up in his arms and carried me to the bed. He set me on the soft covers, and my hands grasped them when a wave of heat swept over me. I shuddered, and he sat down at my side. His hand came up and brushed aside wet strands of my hair, soaked as they were in my hot sweat. His touch lit a fire that I couldn't quench with food; I wanted something more. "You look ravishing," he whispered to me.

I gasped for breath. His voice was deep and sultry, and there was a tremor in the tone that told me how badly he wanted me. I wanted the same, and I purred and moaned at every touch of his hands against me. His right hand slid down my soaked shirt and over my heaving breasts. He paused over the pert peaks and teased me with promises, but his hand kept going down over my stomach to the waistband of my jeans. They felt tight, too tight, and I strained to break free of them. It was his pleasure to pop open my pants button and draw down the zipper, but it was all so tantalizingly slow.

I whimpered, trying to tell him that I wanted faster, that I wanted
him
. He chuckled and buried his face into my neck, nuzzling me while his hand toyed with my underwear. I cursed it for being there and for keeping his fingers from touching my naked skin. He toyed with the waistband of those before his hand slipped inside. I wanted
him
inside me, but his fingers danced soothingly over my skin and rustled into my thick bristle of hair. He navigated the jungle and brushed across my folds, and I jumped when he ghosted over the sensitive spot between my legs.

His breath against my throat was harsh and raspy. He strained against his urge to ravish me like we both wanted. "Do you like that?" he growled.

"Y-yes," I stuttered out. I couldn't lie to him. I wasn't thinking enough to say anything but the truth.

"Do you want more?"

"Y-yes."

"How badly do you want it?"

"Badly."

"Good." Luke pulled his hand away, and I cried out in agony and disappointment. He sat up and smirked down at me. "Remember how badly you want it. Next time I might oblige you." I whimpered and squirmed, but he stood and stepped over to the door. His eyes smoldered with need, but his mind was too strong to overcome the sensual demands of carnal desire. "Good morning." He gave his farewell and left me lying there covered in sweat and with my thighs soaked with my own need.

I grasped the covers and kicked my legs, throwing a tantrum like some child punished for disobeying their parent. This child wanted, no,
needed
her desire quenched. I craved his fingers against me, touching me and pleasuring me like no other man. Unbidden my hand reached down and dipped beneath my underwear. I gasped when my fingers brushed against my sensual nerves, sending a shiver up my body.

It wasn't like his, though, and that frustrated me. I wanted that same pleasure of a man touching me and toying with me, but I had to settle for this. My finger dipped between my wet, hot folds and rubbed the bundle of delight between my thighs. I groaned and squirmed above the covers, and my hips rocked in rhythm with the beat of an erotic dance. Little shoots of delicious pleasure pulsed out from between my thighs and swelled over me, penetrating my mind with thoughts of
him
on top of me.

I imagined his strong muscles pressing down against my bare breasts, and our groans filling the air as we thrust against each other. His arms would be wrapped around me, holding me to him as he penetrated me again and again. Our sweat-covered bodies would writhe and squirm together trying to become one as we reached the height of carnal lust. His grunts and groans would echo in my ears, and when my body couldn't take any more I would scream out his name for the world to hear.

"Oh god," I moaned out loud. My finger brushed harder and faster against me. My other hand massaged the bed covers and my back arched to push my pert buds into the air. All I could think about was him; inside of me, pressing against me. My carnal thoughts were unfulfilled with his absence, and that drove me to the brink of insanity. I needed him, desired him, and he had left me.