The heat

Saint and his men walked me through the hallways that were now crawling with strangers. Unfortunately, in true fashion, they blocked anyone from seeing my skimpily clothed body while keeping me from seeing anyone else. The scents of human hunters, demons, and wolves inside the lodge set off warning bells in my head. Those three types of creatures never went together. No matter how hard they tried to be allies, it always ended in a bloodbath.

At the door to my room, Eryx reached past me, opening it only to groan as they discovered it was filled with women. His startling green eyes moved back to meet mine, and then a deep, loud growl rumbled from his chest, sending the betas and omegas in my room into a frenzy. My body pulsed, and Saint chuckled, yanking me back as his arm slung around my middle, pulling my body against his.

The women slinked out of the room, some of them crawling on their knees in fear. I had to fight the urge to kick Eryx for creating their panic, but I was certain I'd pay for any slight against them. Saint's thumb rubbed my nipple, the action done on purpose to let me know he smelled the arousal that was oozing from my body.

Once the room was emptied and the men had checked it for weapons, Saint shoved me inside without warning. I tripped, catching myself before I could face-plant onto the floor. Turning, I watched as he entered behind me, closing the door. He silently moved his eyes over my scarcely filled room, picking up a chair that he placed at the end of my bed, sitting on it to watch me.

"Strip," he growled, sitting back in a relaxed pose with his hands on the armrests of the chair.

"No," I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest to hide the tremor in my hands from his raspy tone. Saint's lips twisted into a sardonic smile as his eyes sparkled with mirth while he let his gaze slide down my lithe frame.

"Take off the fucking mating gown, Braelyn. I won't ask you again," he warned huskily.

"I told you no, Saint." I retorted. At my response, he stood abruptly and moved toward me without warning.

I back-peddled, and a soft cry escaped my lips when my rear connected with the dresser. Saint's hands landed on either side of me, caging my body against the wood. The amusement in his expression sent a ripple of warning through me. His mouth lowered, brushing against mine, hovering there without touching my lips. I knew he felt my body tremble from his nearness, smelling the anxiousness his proximity created.

"It wasn't a request, Brat. I wasn't asking you to take it off. I was telling you to remove the gown you intended to fuck Carlson in, now," he murmured softly, sending confusion through me. He stood back, watching me as his hands trailed over my shoulders, sliding to the front of the gown before he tore it wide open.

My chest rose and fell with labored breathing. Saint held my stare captive, never dropping his gaze to my breasts. The gown slithered to the floor, pooling around my feet before something cold pressed against my stomach. My entire body shuddered at feeling a blade against my naked belly. My attention remained on his face, uncaring that it would probably be the last thing I ever saw before he murdered me.

Lips trembling. I gasped as the cold blade moved over my heated skin. His lips curled into a sinful smile before he lowered his attention to my bralette, sliding the knife blade beneath it to cut through the lace, revealing my left breast. He did the same with the other, leisurely moving the blade higher to cut the straps and then the middle fabric that hugged my ribs.

"Did you fuck him?" he asked softly, running the dull edge of the blade against my erect nipple.

"No," I replied honestly.

"Did you want to?" Saint stared at my chest as I shook my head in reply.

"Use your words, Princess. I'm playing with your nipple, and I'd hate to slip." “No, I didn't," I whimpered, gasping as the blade cut into my breast. Saint lowered his heated mouth, trailing his tongue over the small cut he'd made. His saliva healed the wound, but the bite of pain remained as he stood back, studying me.

Snorting at my answer, he slid his eyes behind me before he reached over, leaning against my body to light the candles that sat on the dresser. When he was done, he turned me around to face the dresser. His hands grabbed mine, placing them onto the wooden top before he pushed my thighs apart with his foot.

"Are you afraid of me or excited? Your body is responding to mine, but you reek of fear, Princess," Saint chuckled, his tone thick and husky.

"Both," I admitted, hating that he could smell the state of my body. Warm lips moved over my shoulder, sending a violent tremor rushing through me down to my toes. My stomach clenched with need while fear tugged at my mind.

Saint laughed against my skin, sending heat pooling to my core as he stepped back to take in my ass, arching for him. I was twisted, but who wouldn't be with a mate like this asshole? My nipples pebbled into hard peaks, begging for his mouth to pleasure them. My scent released, and no matter how much I fought the wolf within me, she refused to behave with her true soul mate this close.

The dull side of his blade lowered from the base of my neck, slowly trailing to the curve of my ass. I dropped my head forward, fighting the moan that built in my throat. Saint used the blade to cut the soft material that was my only de- fense from him. His heavy stare burned against my skin, and I didn't need to see his eyes to know he was taking in the curve of my spine, bowed in submission.

A deep, rumbling growl built in his chest until he finally unleashed it on me. It quaked against my skin, causing small bumps of awareness to continue until his tone bordered on demonic. The air left my lungs in a whoosh, and arousal coated my sex from the deep, demanding growl he released. My spine lifted and arched up invitingly, begging him to take what I offered. It wasn't just need rushing through me; it was a visceral ache that tore at the genetics embedded in my soul.

"Holy shit," I murmured, hating that my body wanted to gyrate and spread for Saint to fuck me hard and fast before burying his fangs into my body, leaving me marked deeper than ever before. It shouldn't be that easy to get me, yet everything within me was screaming for him.