Alyssa’s eyes popped wide open when she heard the unyielding possessiveness in his words. But before she could react, a soft knock sounded.
Dorian dragged his burning gaze away from her and walked toward the door. He opened it just a crack, nodded curtly at the maid who curtseyed low before him, and took the bronze tray she held.
Then, he slammed the door shut. Balancing the massive tray effortlessly on one large palm, he moved back toward the desk and lowered it.
From where Alyssa stood, her mouth watered from the heavenly aroma that filled the room. Her gaze involuntarily followed the movement of Dorian’s strong arms, tracing the intricate wolf and dragon tattoos drawn in swirling, black ink across his skin.
She still couldn’t get her head around the words he had spoken seconds ago, or the way her heart palpitated every time the phrase replayed in her mind.
You’re mine now. What did that even mean?
Dorian turned slowly, his golden eyes falling back on her.
"Come here," he murmured, holding a hand out. "Your body is still weak, and you need all the strength you can get."
Before she could stop herself, her feet moved, carrying her across the polished floor toward him. A part of her still didn’t trust him, but she concluded that if he wanted to kill or hurt her, he would have left her to die the night he found her.
She slowly placed her small hand in his wide palm. In the next instant, he pulled her firmly into his arms.
Her heart skipped several beats. A surprised gasp escaped her lips at the unexpected, radiating warmth of his massive body. One of his hands locked firmly around her waist, keeping her petite frame pressed flush against the rock-hard muscles of his chest.
His other hand cupped her chin, tilting her face up. His lips were just inches from her own, and she could feel his warm breath wash over her skin.
Dorian hadn’t been able to resist. He had longed to feel those soft curves pressed against him again, to lose himself entirely in the sapphire depths of her eyes.
His gaze dropped to her lips and darkened. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Goddamn it, he wanted to kiss her so badly, to feel the crushing pressure of her soft lips locked with his.
Earlier that morning, he had convinced himself that his strange, three-year obsession with her would vanish the moment she awakened. But looking at her now, he knew he could never let her go, not when she had so much control over his inner beast.
"Don’t be afraid of me," he murmured, his thumb gently tracing the smooth line of her jaw. "I told you I wouldn’t hurt you, and I meant it."
He brushed back a long strand of her dark hair, letting the silkiness linger between his fingers.
"What do you want with me?" she whispered.
Dorian could feel her heart pounding rapidly against his ribs. It wasn’t fear; her body was only reacting to his close proximity.
"To be honest, I don’t know yet," he answered truthfully. "Since that single night we shared in Iridian, I haven’t been able to claw you out of my mind. I searched the entire continent for you, Alyssa. Do you know that?"
Alyssa gulped, shaking her head. She had never imagined a powerful Alpha would search for a wolfless girl after she fled the next morning. She had forced herself to believe their night meant nothing to a man like him.
"I have a lot of questions," he continued, his deep voice soothing. "About who you are, your disappearance after that night, and why you suddenly turned up three years later, bleeding and running for your life."
Alyssa licked her dry lips to moisten them, but the simple movement caused Dorian’s gaze to drop and darken to near-black.
"I’ll get my answers eventually," he said, forcing his gaze back to her eyes. "But for now, you need to eat. Later, the healer will give you something to soothe the soreness."
Alyssa had a mountain of questions of her own, but she held them back and simply nodded.
"Thank you," she murmured. "And... if it’s okay with you, I would like to use the bathroom first."
"Of course," Dorian nodded without hesitation. "You’ll need help."
"I can do just fine on my own, thanks–"
His grip tightened slightly around her waist, sending a wave of tingling shivers down her spine. "You’re in pain, and you’re injured. You will need someone to assist you."
It wasn’t a request, so Alyssa didn’t waste her breath arguing. She watched his expression go blank, his eyes turning cloudy as he opened the mind-link.
He looked so devastatingly handsome in his quiet authority that she had to lower her head to hide the sudden blush creeping up her cheeks.
Minutes later, two young maids stepped into the room and curtseyed deeply. One held a fresh pile of towels and clean clothes, while the other carried a basket of scented oils and toiletries.
Dorian released her, his touch lingering for a second before he pulled away entirely. "Go with them."
Her eyes met his briefly, the intensity in his golden-brown gaze stealing the breath from her lungs. She turned away quickly, following the maids into the adjoining bathroom.
The space screamed of pure, elite luxury, unlike anything she had ever seen in the Southern pack.
The oval tub was crafted from solid gold, large enough to easily accommodate Dorian’s massive physique. Obsidian tiles lined the walls and the counters, reflecting the light from a crystal showerhead hanging from the high ceiling.
Alyssa was beyond amazed. Just how wealthy was the Alpha?
The maids were gentle and entirely professional, ensuring she didn’t feel an ounce of shame as they helped her strip.
She did, however, notice the curious glances they exchanged as they washed her hair, marvelling at the perfect blend of black and red.
By the time they finished, she felt refreshed. She changed into the cream, silk gown they provided and stood perfectly still as they dried and brushed her hair, letting the long tresses spill down her back.
When she stepped back into the bedroom, Dorian was waiting. He was glancing absent-mindedly at the phone in his hand, but his head snapped up the moment she entered. His gaze raked over her with quiet approval.
"Leave us," he muttered to the maids.
They curtseyed and slipped out, closing the door behind them.
Dorian tossed his phone onto the mattress and walked up to Alyssa. Without a word, he reached out and combed his long fingers through the silky length of her hair.
"So soft," he murmured, his eyes momentarily glazing over with a dangerous, golden light. "So beautiful."
Alyssa froze. He sounded different now, as if someone else was speaking through him. The primal flare in his eyes was completely different from the gentle look he had given her before.
"I’ll leave you to eat," he said, stepping back as his eyes focused again. "If you need anything at all, come to me, or meet the guards."
"Are you leaving?" she asked, her eyes widening slightly with a trace of panic.
"No," he assured her, his tone softening. "I just want to handle the incident that occurred while I was away."
"Oh." She nodded, relieved that he was dealing with it. She certainly didn’t want another furious she-wolf breaking through her door.
Dorian’s gaze roamed over her features for a final moment, as if committing her face to memory, before turning toward the door. He was just about to step out when her voice stopped him.
"Wait," she said softly. "I... I don’t even know your name."
He turned, his gaze softening beautifully. "You can call me Dorian."
"Dorian," she repeated. "What did you mean earlier? When you said I was yours."
Dorian’s lips twitched into an amused smile. "I meant exactly what I said, Alyssa."
Without another word, he stepped out and closed the door firmly behind him.
As he walked down the hallway toward his private study, the smile expanded across his face. He couldn’t remember the last time he had actually smiled like this, or the last time his beast had been in a genuinely calm mood. This was all her doing.
But the moment he reached the threshold of his office, the smile vanished, replaced by an icy, lethal mask.
[Jake! Send Pandora, Anthony, and Alec to my study immediately.]
[Yes, Alpha.]
Dorian stepped into the dimly lit study and sat back in the leather chair behind his desk. When the door opened a moment later, Pandora, Anthony, and Alec entered the room, their heads lowered.
"I’m going to give you exactly one minute to explain what happened today," Dorian muttered in a terrifying low timbre.
Pandora was the first to speak, her voice tight. "It was my fault, Ri. Samantha got on my nerves. I didn’t think she’d go crazy."
"So you told her about the girl?"
Pandora shook her head quickly. "No. She already knew about her. Gossip travels fast."
Dorian’s sharp gaze snapped toward Anthony. "Is this true?"
Anthony nodded. "It is. Samantha went completely insane and tried to attack the girl. If Alec hadn’t thrown himself in front of the blow, she would be dead."
Dorian’s eyes flicked over to the gamma. The claw marks on his face had healed completely.
For a long, agonizing minute, he remained completely silent. His jaw was clenched so tightly the muscles clicked.
Everyone who knew him knew his silence was merely the calm before the storm.
Dorian stood up slowly, the sheer force of his Alpha aura flooding the study with a suffocating pressure.
"Jake, bring the car around," he commanded, eyes flashing eerie gold. "We are paying a visit to the Bennington pack."
"Yes, Alpha," Jake nodded from the doorway and vanished to ready the vehicle.
As Dorian walked past his sister, he stopped, leaning in until his freezing breath brushed her ear. "I am only letting this slide because the same blood flows through our veins, Pandora. Do not test my boundaries again. You will not survive the outcome."