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My dove stayed behind me as we walked through the woods, and I was alert to every breath, every sound, every subtle move she made.

I was closer to the edge than I’d ever been, and if she touched me just once more tonight…

I sucked in a steadying breath and growled low when the scent of her need reached out to me. My female was wet and achy and still she turned me away. No female had ever refused me. I knew I could be intimidating, my size alone could frighten them away. So I let them come to me, like Willow did tonight, and if one made their interest known and I offered to fuck them, they enthusiastically accepted.

But after my dove touched me, she wouldn’t let me do the same in return.

I didn’t understand. She confused me, was driving me to madness from wanting her.

She wanted me too. I was in no doubt about that, yet she continued to deny herself. Deny us both.

By the time we reached the Grand Valencia, the moon had slipped behind the clouds. I scanned the area. The place had been cleared out, cleaned up, and locked down. The aftermath of death, all evidence of the horror show that had taken place, hidden from the humans who worked here, their minds wiped clean of the memory.

I could still smell the blood in the air, though, and the beast surged closer to the surface, growing more alert.

Willow cursed, and I turned to her. She was looking up at the darkened hotel.

“What is it?”

She planted her hands on her rounded hips, her torn, bloodstained dress clinging to every inch of her smooth flesh. I wanted to bite her and leave a mark, cover her in my scent so every male knew she belonged to me.

“Warrick? Did you hear what I said?” She shook her head and scooped up the delicate heels she’d been wearing, slipping them back on.

I wanted to fuck her while she wore those shoes.

“Warrick?”

Dragging in a breath, I made myself focus on her words.

She sighed. “I dumped my purse when I took off after you. My phone, the keys to my truck were in it. Someone probably took it inside.”

“I’ll take you home.” I strode to my bike, yanked a pair of jeans from the saddle bag, and tugged them on, leaving the suit I’d stripped off earlier in a heap on the ground. I’d never have reason to wear it again. I’d only forced myself into the fucking thing so I could be here tonight. So I was here to protect my dove.

She paused. “It’s fine, I’ll call Iris.”

I held back a vicious growl, my anger rushing forward again. “You don’t have a phone, remember?” I swung my leg over the seat and started my bike, the engine roaring to life.

Still, she didn’t move.

“Get on my bike, Willow. Now.” Fury ignited in her green eyes, and she opened her mouth to fire more attitude at me, but I got in first for both our sakes. “I’m not a man, I’m a hellhound, I’m an animal, and we do not like being denied. So don’t fucking push me, not tonight.” I tried to breathe through the feeling growing inside me, not just the urge to claim what was mine but something else, a feeling I didn’t understand. Fuck, there was an ache in my chest and the urge to rub at it was overwhelming.

“Not a fan of what you’re implying, Warrick,” she said, the hilt of her blade slipping into her hand.

I fought the growl trying to crawl up my throat. “No?”

She shook her head.

“I fought one of my brothers tonight, a loyal brother I have to hunt down before he murders anyone else, and then put him down. The animal in me doesn’t like that idea, and that part of me is also struggling to understand why my female, who smells ripe for fucking, who finally touched me, still won’t submit to me. There is no reasoning with that side of me, do you understand? I’m not some weak, pathetic human you can play with. I’m at breaking point, female, and if you turn and walk away right now, the beast will break free, that’s how close to the edge I am. That’s not me trying to scare you, that’s just what will happen. So either you get the fuck on the back of my bike, or I’ll pick you up and put you on it.”

She stood motionless for several long seconds, eyes razor sharp on me, then she gripped her blade tighter and the muscles in her arms tensed.

“You going to try and kill me, dove?”

Her eyes narrowed. “I haven’t decided.”

I took in her stance, the tension in her beautiful body. “What is your blade telling you?”

“That you meant what you said.”