One Night with the Wolf. Anna Hackett
Читать онлайн книгу.
if he wasn’t an exile, she had no doubt he’d be alpha.
She glanced around them, saw strange wolves studying her. On the other side of the fire she noted one of the alphas who’d arrived early for the Courting. He watched her with flat, dead eyes that made her skin crawl. She looked away and noted a small group of women watching Christian with speculation in their eyes.
Jade’s wolf scraped her insides, eager to bare claws. “Not here.”
His head tilted, his golden eyes searching her face. Without a word, he pulled her toward the trees.
They didn’t go far, just enough to block the prying eyes. The music still echoed around them.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
She turned away from him, her mouth going dry.
“Jade?” His tone softened.
She swallowed. The way he said her name made her want to believe he cared about her. More than just as his alpha.
Foolishness. She couldn’t afford to dream. Life had taught her harsh practicalities. For just this night, she wanted something real. Something that could never be taken from her.
“I need a man.”
Christian moved up beside her, a dark frown creasing his forehead. “I know. That’s why we called the Courting.” His tone was biting.
She shook her head. “I’m not talking about that.”
Silence.
Christian’s face showed no emotion, but she sensed the tensing of his muscles. The silence grew until Jade’s nerves itched like a bad rash.
“What are you talking about?” The words were a low growl.
She lifted her chin, met his gaze. “I want a lover. Just for one night.”
Chapter Two
Forbidden.
Christian’s hands compressed, his claws threatening to burst from his skin. He stared down at Jade—the woman he’d wanted since he’d dragged his broken, beaten body onto the Thorne Ranch.
As he had that spring day, he fought not to notice her face, her crystal blue eyes, her lush lips.
She wasn’t beautiful. How many times had he repeated that to himself? She was pretty at best. But there was something else that drew him.
There was a deceptive strength in that appealing face. In the last few months, he’d seen her steel core, her sense of duty and her unfailing dedication to her pack.
But unlike the others who depended on her, he also saw the woman beneath the alpha. He saw the reflection of loneliness in her eyes, the yearning on her face when she thought no one was watching.
She’s forbidden to you. He forced his wolf to relax and uncurled his hands. Jade Thorne was as unattainable to him now as she was when her husband was alive.
She needed to marry an alpha to keep the Thorne Pack from being torn apart. There was no room in her life for an exiled wolf with no belongings, no connections, no power.
A year ago his life had been ripped apart and he had nothing left to offer anyone. He had no idea who he was anymore. He was nothing.
But she could be yours for one night.
The words echoed in his ears, tormenting, taunting. He gritted his teeth. He knew his wolf wouldn’t tolerate having this woman for only one night.
It would demand everything from her—body, mind and soul. He’d dominate her. Own her.
One night would never be enough.
“Christian?” She pushed a strand of honey-brown hair back behind her ear. “Say something.”
“What the hell do you want me to say?” He hadn’t intended to bark the words.
Her eyes narrowed. “I was hoping you’d help me.”
He studied her face. Her skin was a golden shade that begged a man to touch. He knew there were numerous wolves in attendance who’d leap at the chance to take this woman to bed.
“Why?” He had to know.
Her big, blue eyes dominated her face. “Do you know how old I was when I married?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “Sixteen. My parents led a small pack and we were under attack by a larger group that surrounded our land. My parents offered me to Marius in return for his protection.”
Luna, sixteen. Heat welled in Christian’s chest. Not even an adult.
“He was kind. He was in his eighties and had no heir, so he needed to marry.” She pulled in a long breath. “He’d lost his mate a few years before.”
Air hissed through Christian’s teeth. Wolves mated for life but few actually found their mates. Once they’d left the forests, abandoned the wild ways and started to blend with humans, they’d started to marry those they liked rather than waiting for the rare lightning bolt of mating.
He’d heard the loss of a mate was near debilitating and killed a wolf’s naturally high sex drive. The only way to know your mate was at the height of making love, that moment when two people were so close their souls brushed.
If a wolf lost their mate, well, there wasn’t much point in needing sex anymore. Despite having an attractive young wife, Christian doubted Marius would’ve cherished Jade.
“Marius waited until I was older until he…consummated our marriage.” She spun away, like she couldn’t face Christian, her arms wrapping around her middle. “He was a kind man, a good alpha and he taught me so much about leading a pack.” She turned back. “But I want…” Her arms fell to her sides, pressing against denim. “I want someone to show me passion. I want strong hands on my body. I want to know what it feels like to be held.”
Her words were a kick to his gut. The look in her eyes slashed him open.
She reached out, her fingers gripping his arm, burning into his skin. “Tomorrow I’m going to marry another alpha. You’ve seen the list, you know the ones who are coming are Marius’s contemporaries.”
Christian had seen the list. There wasn’t an alpha under seventy on there. And some he wouldn’t let near her. They were too hard, too cruel.
Thank Luna the Bane pack hadn’t learned of the Courting. He’d deliberately avoided inviting them. They were powerful, covering much of Canada, but he knew from personal experience their alpha was beyond vicious.
“I want one night for me.” Jade’s fingers tightened. “Please help me, Christian.”
The plea in her eyes was something he couldn’t fight. His jaw tightened until it burned. He doubted he could deny this woman anything.
“I trust you to find someone…suitable,” she whispered.
His wolf clawed at his belly. It begged him not to let another touch her, it begged for a taste of her.
In that moment, he knew he’d give the power to shift to be the one to show this woman desire, to watch pleasure explode in her eyes and hear her cry out his name.
But this was about her needs, not his.
His stomach twisted, hard and vicious. He stared down at his scarred hands and opened his palms. She deserved better than the tough calluses of an exile on her skin.
He knew himself well enough to know his raging, carnal urges would dominate her, demand her submission. It would be rough, hot and violent.
No, he’d find her a nameless, faceless wolf to serve her needs. One who’d walk away tomorrow and never utter a word.
“Go wait in the clearing by the stream. I’ll send someone.” He forced the words past his stiff lips.
Her teeth dug into her