Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 43296 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43296 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Maybe she was being ungrateful, but there was a part of her that refused to bend to this male, who expected everyone to bow before him.
A low, deadly rumble left his chest, and she swallowed roughly. Had she pushed him too far with her defiance? They had saved her, after all, but she couldn’t go back to living as something that was ornamental. She wanted her freedom, but would these alpha males allow it?
Forcing herself not to cry from her turbulent emotions, she licked her lips and flicked her eyes to the other two men standing stoically behind Erak.
Genet and Raimi were just as physically superior as their brother, but unlike Erak, they could actually wield a gentler disposition and not be so intimidating and blunt.
“I just want to be free.”
The muscles under his cheeks ticked as he ground his teeth. She knew she should have kept her mouth shut. They had saved her and made it clear she was their mate and would stay with them, and here she was acting ungrateful.
But in her defense, she felt she had every right to feel this way, to not bow down and let another dictate how her life should be. He may say she wasn’t a prisoner but a treasure to them, but in reality, how much leeway could they give her when she wanted nothing but freedom?
Erak moved back, and she could see his unrestrained anger. She knew he wouldn’t harm her, could feel that he wanted to do the opposite—protect. That didn’t mean the aggression and testosterone that emanated from him didn’t frighten her all the same.
“You think we mean to keep you in a cage like a pretty, little bird?” His voice was low, deadly, and she pressed herself fully against the wall. Genet and Raimi glanced at each other warily, and their reaction had her growing even more uncomfortable.
They moved closer to their brother, and each laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Brother, calm down,” Genet said softly, but Erak shoved their touch off and lowered his head but kept his eyes on her.
“Well, Luna, answer me. Is that what you think, Fallina, that we intend to keep you as our unwilling, little captive, to have our wicked, filthy alien ways with you?”
God, did she? She looked between the three brothers and knew, in her heart, that Genet and Raimi would be gentle, coaxing, if she ever agreed to any such acts with them.
It was strange because she didn’t know these males and certainly had no way of knowing what they were capable of. Then she looked back into Erak’s powerfully pulling, violet eyes, and knew that if she ever gave herself to a male like him she would be ruined, make her scream out in pleasure and beg for more.
Did she really want to let herself be consumed by a male like that? She hadn’t even touched them or let them touch her, yet she just knew that if she ever did, that would be the end.
The thoughts that played through her mind had her feeling disgust and hatred for herself and for Erak. How could these men confuse her that thoughts of her independence, running in an open field without the fear of being followed and enjoying the sun upon her face, vanish so quickly?
Luna knew about different species finding their mates going territorial and possessive and carrying the females back to their lairs. And even if the Aktullas weren’t like that, she couldn’t allow that, wouldn’t allow her mind or body to be taken.
Even though her body was on fire and the image of being under these three, powerful built and physically superior men played through her like a broken hologram recording, she refused to back down.
The escape had changed something inside of her, forced her out of the victim role and into a survivor.
“Yes, that is what I think, and I won’t let it happen.” She straightened her shoulders and made herself appear strong and warrior-like even if she didn’t particularly feel that way at the moment.
Erak took a step forward, and when Genet and Raimi followed suit as if they meant to stop him, he held up his hand. They halted immediately, but she didn’t miss how their bodies were tense, waiting for what would happen next.
Erak stepped closer to her, so close that she felt his body heat surround her and smelled the scent of him wash through her. Placing his massive hands on the wall on either side of her head, he leaned in so close she swore their lips brushed together.
He may look human but that was the only thing their kind had in common. In front of her was an animal, one that smelled her every emotion, felt her every tremble, and wanted all of her whether she agreed or not.