Page 39 of Rejected By the Winter Wolf

“Nothing else seemed to be working. You’re covered in blood. You pinned me to the freaking floor.”

He bares his teeth. “Did you summon a demon to try and kill me?”

I scoff. Even if I did—but I definitely didn’t—I wouldn’t admit shit to him. That would be asking for trouble.

“You don’t even know what goes into summoning a demon, asshole. There’s no way I’d do that.”

He leans in, inhaling at my neck. “You smell of magic.”

“Fuck off,” I snap.

I squirm again, trying to free myself from his grip. What I won’t do is tell him I was just trying to find my mother. That seems a little too much like admitting a weakness he can use against me, and he’s got enough ammunition as it is.

“Let. Go. Of. Me.”

He chuckles. His nails cut into my skin, and drops of blood roll down my forearms. He drags my wrists over my head, keeping them locked there with one hand.

I open my mouth to argue, but his other hand covers my mouth. He pins me in place with his hips, regardless of my wriggling. And it doesn’t seem to matter what I do.

“You’re an impossible creature,” he growls.

“And you’re a psycho,” I answer, my voice muffled by his palm.

He moves his fingers a bit, as if curious if I’ll continue.

“You wanted to abduct my mother. Didn’t get there in time, so you take me instead? Almost get me killed in the process⁠—”

“Yes, Astra.” He leans in. “And I’d do much worse than that to save my pack.”

“I’d forsake your whole fucking pack to save my mother,” I hiss.

His gaze drops to my lips. “We have something in common, then.”

My tongue darts out and wets them. Nerves, maybe.

Is he going to kiss me? He’s naked.

We’re in the middle of an argument.

Also, he’s a fucking wolf. A witch hunter. He’s probably got more witch blood on his hands than anyone I’ve ever met.

“I don’t see the common ground,” I manage to whisper.

“Really?” He shifts his weight, and my God. He has an erection. It presses into my belly. It’s hard and long, and the weight of it is surprising. He seems unashamed of it—or he wants to draw my attention to it. Just another thing to keep me off-balance.

I saw him naked once, I don’t need to again.

“You’ll fight to the death for the person you love,” he supplies.

I slant my gaze away from his searching one. His words ring true, and it’s the same for him. Except he doesn’t love one person—it’s his whole pack. A hundred shifters versus my mother.

“If you want my help…” Don’t fucking look at him, Astra. It’s getting harder to breathe in here. Sweat pricks my skin. I give in and turn my head back, meeting his ice-blue eyes. “I need the truth from you.”

He lowers his head and stops a breath away from my mouth. There’s a sudden ache between my legs, crashing through me like nothing else I’ve ever known. I don’t understand my body’s reaction to him, and I fight to smother it.

“Really, Astra?” His voice curls in my ear. His breath touches my lips. “But what if I don’t think you’re ready for it?”

Chapter 9