CHAPTER 6: ISADORA

His scent hit me first and just like before, it had my wolf doing cartwheels in my mind.

In that moment, I concluded that the mating bond was a cruel thing. His scent was specially designed to bring me to my knees, but I forced myself to remain strong.

I took a deep breath before turning slowly.

He was still shirtless and he had his hands crossed over his chest, unintentionally drawing emphasis to the muscles in his arms.

He leaned against the wall with ease, his eyes roaming my body before lingering at my exposed legs. I knew I shouldn’t have worn the short sundress.

“You came out of your room.” He said it like he was both surprised and impressed.

“Erina dragged me out.”

He hummed. “She has that effect on people. I’m glad.”

“I should go-” I began but he cut me off.

“How do expect to convince people that we’re happily mated if you can’t even stand to be in my presence?” he asked and I fell silent instantly. “People are bound to catch on.”

I opened my mouth to speak but no words would come out.

He was right. If we were going to do this, then I had to pretend better. I had to stop avoiding him and stop acting like he had the plague.

“Tell me something, Isadora,” he pushed off the wall and took a slow step towards me. “Do I scare you?”

Perhaps it made me insane, but I wasn’t scared. I knew his reputation, I knew who he was. I knew that not even the mating bond would save me if he suddenly decided to kill me, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel fear in respect to him.

I shook my head.

“So why did you try to run?”

He took another step forward and I took one back instantly. His eyes tracked the movement but he didn’t stop moving towards me. I tried to keep as much distance as I could between us until my back hit the firm wall.

A gasp left my lips but I didn’t run, not even as he stood directly in front of me, towering over me. I forced my eyes up to his and held his gaze.

“We made a deal, Isadora. Do you want to back out of it?”

I shook my head. “I’m getting my revenge, even if I-”

I trailed off, but he understood what I meant.

Even if I had to mate with him to do it.

“Don’t sound so excited about it.”

He tried to hide it, but I could hear the slight annoyance in his tone. I wanted to tell him that I didn’t mean it that way, but before I could say any words, he cut me off.

“You’ve hidden away for too long. My pack needs to know who you are. They won’t buy the mating otherwise.”

“Why not?”

Something flashed in his eyes, but it was gone before I could decipher it. “It doesn’t matter. Tomorrow, you’ll go out with me to the packs.”

He stepped even closer until there was barely an inch of space between us. My breath caught in my throat as I tried to remind myself to breathe.

Up close, his scent was everywhere and it made me hazy.

When he placed his hands on either side of my head, I could’ve sworn that I stopped breathing for a moment.

“You’re too close,” I managed out but he didn’t move.

“If we want to convince them that we’re mates then I’m going to be a lot closer.”

He lowered his head until his lips were by my ears. My heart hammered in my chest but I didn’t move. I ignored the goosebumps all over my skin and the way my heart pounded in my chest. I ignored the way my skin buzzed with anticipation and his hot breathing by my ears.

“If you’re going to be my mate, Isadora, then you have to be comfortable with me,” he whispered. “Are you?”

“I’m still here, aren’t I?”

I felt his lips curl against my skin.

He began to speak when I heard footsteps. They seemed to be getting closer. I placed both hands on his chest to push him away.

“Someone’s coming-”

The words were barely out of my mouth when his hands wrapped around my throat. I one sharp tug, he pulled me towards him and covered my lips with his own.

It took me a second to realize what was happening.

“You want to make it believable?” he asked against my lips. “Then kiss  me back.”

He was right.

That was what I told myself as I kissed him back.

I told myself that I only did it for the benefit of whoever was coming.

Even as I let my hands trail up his arms and towards his neck, I told myself that it was just for appearance sake.

A throat cleared behind us. “Alpha.”

Elias didn’t pull back immediately. He still took his time to kiss me lazily before pulling back.

When I felt the loss of his heat, I told myself it was nothing. I told myself that it was fine.

“Do you need something?” Elias asked as he turned towards the person who had interrupted us.

It was a soldier. He was sweaty from the exercise they’d been doing, but at least he had his shit on. His eyes flickered between Elias and I and my cheeks burned a bright shade of pink.

This situation had the potential to be far messier than I’d imagined and I needed to catch myself before it did. The last thing I needed was to find myself getting attracted to Elias.

I already had the mating bond against me. I couldn’t go around kissing him in hallways and making things worse.

Elias spoke to the guard and I took that opportunity to slip away. I smoothed my dress and slowly walked back until I had a clear space to run.

I felt his eyes on me as I ran down the hall but I didn’t look back, not once.