His wolf sensed hers beneath the surface, pacing, waiting to strike. Waiting for a moment that he’d mess up just so she could pounce on him. His own wolf liked it. He wanted her to pounce and to play.
Poking at his chicken, he wrinkled his nose, and this time added more pepper then more salt.
“Bland,” he said.
Everything tasted amazing, but he wanted to play with her, to push her.
“Why do you keep messing with the food?” she asked. “If you don’t like it then stop me from cooking.”
“Someone’s got to do it even if it’s badly.”
There was silence at the table. They all knew the food was excellent. They hadn’t eaten so well since his mother’s passing, and that was some time ago. In fact, there were people here who hadn’t eaten his mother’s cooking.
“I can’t do this.”
She stood up and was about to take her plate as if to move. Before she could do that, he grabbed her wrist.
“You will not move. You will sit at this table and do as you’re told. That’s what good little wolves do, as they’re told.”
“Stop it,” she said.
The violence was there.
Years of rage at being kept locked up with no way out.
Fear keeping her in place.
You don’t need to be afraid, little wolf. I’m here.
“Stop what? You’re lucky I’m even allowing you to eat. They didn’t let you, did they? You must’ve cost a fortune to keep.”
That unleashed the fury. He couldn’t contain her arm as she pulled back, and then she threw her chair at him.
“Leave!” He yelled for everyone within the room to go as he grabbed Cassie and threw her across the room away from his pack.
She landed with ease on her feet, throwing her head back. He saw the amber of her eyes as the wolf came so close to the surface. She probably wouldn’t turn, but the risk was there. The beast was close within her, and wanted out.
Her wolf wanted to attack.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw his pack leave the room, taking as much food as possible with them.
She didn’t wait for the last person to leave as she charged toward him. He had no intention of hurting her.
He simply dodged her attack, making sure to keep her safe in the process. When she pulled away, she lifted up the table and threw it out of her way to come and get at him. He noticed broken plates, shattered wood, and other items that could hurt her.
Finally, catching her in his arms, he pressed her down onto the floor, knocking the wind out of her.
Straddling her waist, he caught her hands and pressed them above her head, keeping her down.
Cassie didn’t let up easily. She kept struggling against him, convinced that she could get away, but he wouldn’t let her.
She was at his mercy, and now he was the one in charge.
After several minutes of fighting, she finally gave in, and only when he saw the amber of her eyes retract did he know she was back in charge of her wolf once again.
Tears shone in her eyes, and she stared up at him in shock.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
Then she burst into tears, curling up on her side and sobbing into her hands.
Chapter Four
Cassie’s throat hurt from the crying, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at anyone as the shame was just too much. She’d known he’d been trying to draw out her wolf, to make her attack, to make her do something she didn’t want.
Today had been a bad day, a really bad day. Standing in front of the large swimming pool overlooking the night sky, she breathed in deeply, feeling her chest tighten from the pain. She couldn’t remember a time she’d cried so much in her life. She’d never been more embarrassed than right now.
The water looked so soothing that she began to remove her clothes. No one had come near her since she lost her shit at dinner. Part of her wondered if she should risk being alone. Maybe death by becoming feral wasn’t such a bad thing.
Once she was completely naked, she stepped into the water and sighed, loving the calm that came over her.
Dipping down into the pool, she closed her eyes before coming up to the surface with a moan.
At least Abel had kept her and his pack safe. She’d not hurt anyone, and that meant a great deal to her.
“You know I was lying.”
She dropped down into the water and turned to see Abel in the room. He wore a pair of boxer briefs and nothing else.
“What?”
Nakedness was something she’d been accustomed to, but around this new man, a man she had tried to hurt, it didn’t feel right. Abel would be well within his rights to demand her death.
“Your food is delicious. I couldn’t fault it.”