ALPHA LYALL.

   Once again, Aria standing here was a result of my uncontrollable need to have her around me.

   It hadn't been so hard to do. All I had employed was a guard to snuff her out and cart her away from the Palace to one of my cabins on the hill.

     I guess Trenton had given him the same threat too because he had no idea I had come here.

   The cabin was situated on the cliff of the rock far away from the Pack but close enough for me to hear whatever was happening. I had directed him to hide her there while threatening him to shut his mouth if he wanted to leave.

   Her body had been brought here, an hour before I arrived from the training grounds. She had been asleep when I arrived, definitely still from the effects of the drugs she had inhaled. She looked so beautiful.

  With every passing day, the urge to love her increased but I couldn't just do that without her wanting the same. Yes, I knew she wanted me too but she was being held back by the fact that I had a wife— which was starting to not excite me anymore.

   I wanted to be close to her. Close enough to feel her skin against mine.

   I had spent the better part of today staring at her sleeping form and fighting with my wolf not to reach out to her because hell, it was all I wanted to do and more.

   But something about her wanted me to protect her. I couldn't just touch her without consenting and it was funny because most of what I'd done was force her to be with me. Hell, I'd kidnapped her, brought her here and I talked about protecting her?

   I had let down my guard and I had let Adonis, my wolf, flood me with his emotions. It was what led me to make this rational decision.

   "I know you're scared as hell but I need you to know that I did none of this to scare you."

   She scoffed and folded one hand over the other, her blue eyes narrowing in disapproval. "We have talked about this already. I can not be your mistress or your breeder. It is the lowest thing. Even lower than being a palace slave."

   I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath. "Of course, I totally understand that. I understand how you feel also but I need you to know that there is nothing I can do. I am married and I can not just walk away from it because of you— I'm really sorry. You understand what I mean."

   She shook her head and backed away from me. "I do not understand, Alpha Lyall. Do you know how hurtful your words are? Do you even care about me?"

   "I do."

   "No, you don't. You don't give a fuck about anyone. As long as you are benefiting from it, it's all about you."

   She was right. Hell, I'd always been concerned about my own interests. And now, she was my own interest and I was concerned about her. I wanted her and no one else. That was all that fucking mattered! Why was she finding it hard to understand for fuck's sake?

   "I care about you, Aria. That's why I brought you here."

   "It's why you kidnapped me!" She screamed. "You brought me here against my own will and you think this would make me consider your offer? Or make me feel the least important? I will not settle for less!"

   "You aren't settling for less," I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her close to me. Even when she tried to pull away, I shook my head and stopped her. "I will give you everything you want. Clothes? A beautiful room, with access to everything. You will be respected by everyone and I will have you in my bed."

   Her eyes brimmed with tears but none escaped. She was a stubborn woman.

   Shaking her head, she drew close to me. "No, Alpha Lyall. I do not want that. I do not want the beautiful things because all that glitter isn't gold. Have you ever spoken to your wife about this? I understand that I am a slave to you but I do not and will never settle for this. I'd rather slave away. We are mated together. We are bonded and meant for each other and it's..." Her voice cracked and she turned her face away from me. I tried to reach out to her but she moved away. "As fate will have it, it's not possible for us to be together. I really need you to stop this. It's already hurtful enough that we can't be together. Do not make this worse. I beg of you."

   I inched close to her, cupping her cheeks to look at me. Her eyes were sorrowful and by the gods, I wanted to make her not feel this way. I wanted to make her happy. I wanted her to be mine. Not just my breeder but my woman. My Luna. My Queen. My Luna.

   It hurt so bad. So bad and I understood where she was coming from but it was impossible to just live without her. I'd spent the past few days miserable.

   She turned away from me. "I have no idea where you have brought me but I need to go."

   "Uhm, this is my cabin. It's on top of a hill."

   "I need to go back to the palace. Please. If there is anyone you can send to get me, I would really appreciate it. We just need to stay away from each other for our sanity. I- I don't think I can do this."

   "Aria."

   "Please." She cried.