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But then his hand shoots out. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m aware of every inch of him. From the way his nostrils flare to the twitch of his tiniest finger, I know where he is even with my back turned. He might think he has some claim to me, some right to touch me, but if so?
He thought wrong.
So his hand shoots out, but I’m ready. I spin, catching it. The warmth of his skin just about sears mine, and it takes every ounce of self-control I profess to have to keep from pulling back.
Hell if I’ll give him the satisfaction.
I’m not the only one affected by our touch. His eyes light up, a deep rumble from low in his chest starting up, like he’s a freaking machine and I just pressed ‘start’.
I realize too late that this was a trap. Like everything else he’s ever done, this was planned. It was a pure Alpha move. Somehow, he knew exactly how I would react.
He’s quick, too. Before I can pull away, he switches our positions, using his hand to grab mine. With the other, he reaches for my throat. Using the tip of his pointer claw, he hooks the chain looped around my neck and gently eases it out from beneath the collar of my Charlie’s shirt.
“What,” he says in a voice so icy, it feels like I just walked into the back fridge, “is this?”
“None of your business.” I slap at his hand. “And don’t break it. I just got it fixed.”
He doesn’t let go. “It’s a vampire fang, Gemma.”
“So you do know what it is.” I quirk my eyebrow at him. “Then why did you ask?”
Another rumble. I’m pushing his buttons, but I can’t find it in me to care. If he came here expecting to find Omega Gem, he’s wasting his time.
“Let go.”
“No. Take it off.”
I slap his hand again. “Don’t tell me what to do. You’re not my Alpha anymore.”
“No,” Ryker says, “but I am your—”
“Gem. Is everything okay here? Do you need me?”
Oh, shit.
So distracted by Ryker, I didn’t even notice that Aleks has returned to the counter until his soft voice washes over me. I can only imagine what he thinks is going on. I’ve got an obvious shifter male standing behind the bar with me, his paws still holding tightly to the necklace Aleks gave me while I’m slapping at him ineffectually.
This time, I pinch Ryker. He lets go, though I think that has nothing to do with my pinch and everything to do with the politely possessive way that Aleks regards me.
Uh-oh.
Ryker turns his attention on the bigger threat—and I don’t just mean that because Aleks is a vampire.
“Who are you?” he demands. He sniffs, his cheeks going suddenly taut as he sucks in a breath. “Bloodsucker.” His gaze darts to my necklace, and I can just about see the gears inside of his skull whirring as he puts two and two together. “You? You gave your fang to my mate?”
Oh, he’s got to be kidding me.
I open my mouth, a “not your mate” already halfway to my tongue, when Aleks answers before I get the chance to.
“Yes. Because she’s not yours, wolf.”
The unsaid she’s mine hangs in the air. After that? There is no chance.
Ryker bends his knees, then leaps. He clears the bar easily, swiping with his claws as he aims right for Aleks.
Aleks holds his ground. A powerful vampire, I’m sure he’s earned his reputation—but whether he meant to or not, he challenged an alpha wolf shifter. He has his fangs, but Ryker has berserker strength, killer canines, razor-sharp claws, and the instinct to eliminate any threat.
And, for some terrible reason, he’s shown up in my life a year later convinced he’s my mate.
