Woke Up Lost, Became His Alpha Queen

on Hellb

a Pri

utside her door, the heavy silver ceremonial bowl clutched in my hand. Water, still warm, dripped from it, staining

n anger. In furious, possessive satisfaction. *She

nough to suppress her wolf and keep her weak, manageable-had side effects. Annelise had warned me. This was my fault. The pa

roots of trust and dependence twisting around

remind myself, and her, of what she was: a

her. The instruction was clear: escort the r

de as she took in the vaulted ceilings and tapestries depicting the history of the von Hellberg line. The mo

waist, pressing her face into my chest. Her scent-wild honey and crushed lavender-filled

shirt, her voice thick with ador

to pull her tighter. I forced them into fists at my sides. "I am your

ing pressed against my side. Her dependence was a physical weight

asted quail, root vegetables glazed in honey, fresh bread. It was a display of power, of the

airy tale," she breathed, looking at me with a wors

I cut h

nt wine. I caught her wrist before her fingers could touch the s

said. "N

e fell.

myself that I was in charge, that she was a pawn in a game she didn't know we were playing. I gestured to the sideboard where a chocolate torte sat, a riche

t a choice. A petty

She looked from the goblet to the torte, then back to me. A slow, sly smile touched her lips. It w

had, full from the meal, she leaned back in her chair. H

ack to my r

ft pout on her lips. A d

at her, at the fragile hope in her eyes, and I knew that the cruelty of refusing would be a far greater intimacy th

ms beneath her. She was impossibly light. She looped her arms around my neck and laid her he

howled i

hed us pass, their stern, painted eyes a constant judgment. My great-grandfather, who had conquered three rival packs. My

k this spell. To

e echoing silence. I kept my gaze fixed on the end o

est, her breath warm on m

n you. Faster. I could hurt you, and no one in this house would stop me. You must learn to see the dange

ent, making my fangs ache. She shifted, lifting her head from my shoulder. Her eyes, clear and steady despite

u're di

ing confidence. A blind faith that was the most damning indictment of a

room, pushed the door open, and deposited her on the bed more roughly than I intended. Sh

oor shut behind me, the click of the latch sealing her in, and me out

led silence. I stared at the massive family portrait above the cold fireplace-my father, my mother, and a small, stern-looking boy with blond hair and old eyes standing between them.