Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 65871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“You’re awake.”
Alexei steps into the bedroom and makes an obvious observation.
He is not only awake, it looks as though he has been awake for some time. He’s dressed, and a faint scent of fresh pine is clinging to him, suggesting he’s been for a walk. Interesting. Alexei’s not usually the type to go for early morning walks. He’s more of a breakfast and work sort of man. He likes to shift in the evenings and run with the pack then. I’ve been wanting to do that myself, but ever since the first shift, which hurt like hell, I’ve been reluctant to do it again.
Until yesterday, of course. The memories of yesterday are just starting to filter through my mind. There are flashes of a bar, a house, of blood. I was a busy girl, wasn’t I.
“Morning.” I smile at my alpha.
As I meet his gaze, I notice he’s very, very angry. It is coming off him in waves, even though he’s very contained.
“Are you mad at me?”
“Am I mad at you?” He repeats the question in a slow, incredulous tone. “Yes, Anya, I am angry at you. You left the restaurant, got drunk, and murdered two men, and a…”
“Only because they tried to touch me,” I say, interrupting him before he can give a full litany of my sins. “It was self-defense.”
He pauses for a moment, and I watch his expression shift as he tries to take all of that in.
“I did get drunk,” I admit. “And they carried me off and tried to… so I killed them.”
He sighs, understanding against his will. “You didn’t just kill them. You ate them. All of them.”
I look at him under my lashes. “Are we not supposed to do that?”
He looks at me, and for a brief moment a smile breaks through. “You are quite something,” he says. “But no, we are not supposed to do that. Human flesh is taboo for most wolves naturally.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
He laughs, a short sound, and picks something up from one of the many side tables and surfaces in this room. He’s now holding a thick paddle in his hand, leather I think, but intimidating in appearance. I know he’s going to spank me with it. I know he’s going to do that and a whole lot of other things. I’m smelling more than anger now. There’s arousal in the air.
The realization makes my stomach do little flips of excitement. This is going to hurt, but maybe I want it to. I knew when I ran out of the restaurant, I was inviting trouble. I think I wanted this response. I think I was tired of being his good little mate. I wanted to be bad, and he has always known how to handle me when I am bad.
“You will never run from me again, Anya,” he says, approaching me sternly.
“I won’t?” I try to stop myself from grinning, but it is practically impossible.
I know that this is bad. I know that I am in trouble. But I don’t know… something changed inside me that day in Prague. I feel stronger. I did what I wanted to do. I defended myself. I turned people who were trying to victimize me into my victims.
“I’m not sorry for what I did to them,” I say. “But I am sorry for the first part. I should have asked.”
“Asked? To leave lunch and go and get drunk?”
“Yes,” I nod. “Or not asked, maybe.”
“Because that is obviously unacceptable…”
“I should have told you I was going to get a drink somewhere more interesting.”
“That’s it,” he says, growling at me. “Turn over, present your ass. You’ll soon learn to be respectful when you’re in trouble. I don’t want attitude right now, Anya. I want you to be sorry.”
“But I’m not sorry. I mean, I am, but I’m also kind of not. First of all, I didn’t need to be rescued. I saved myself. Easily. It wasn’t even hard. I’m a fucking wolf, Alexei. I can kill things.”
“Yes, and other things can kill you,” he reminds me, glowering at me for the attitude I know he doesn’t appreciate. “When I discipline you, you won’t take that tone with me. Understand? You’ll submit, like you’re supposed to.”
“Haven’t you worked it out yet? I don’t do anything I am supposed to.”
“You will once I am done with you.”
He puts the paddle down and picks up a rod of some kind, a sort of short cane. It’s black and looks like it’s going to hurt. I know it’s way too late to ask him not to punish me. I’ve been practically begging him to hurt me, I guess, pushing his buttons, refusing to just apologize.
The truth is, I am proud of myself. I did defend myself. I did save myself. I don’t need to be treated like some kind of weak little pup. I am dangerous as hell in my own right.