His Miraculum

CHAPTER 003

Hayley's POV

Strong arms encircled her waist and yanked her back, slamming her into the man's solid chest behind her.

She parted her lips and let out a quiet gasp.

His gaze, which had just been blazing into hers, slowly lowered itself to her lips.

He tightened his hold, drawing her inexorably nearer."My miracle," he whispered softly, pressing his lips against the curve of her neck and inhaling her.

His hair touched her skin.

She hardly noticed it. Fear had numbed her entire body.

Even when he spoke softly, she shuddered because beneath that softness was a hard, primordial quality that made every instinct in her scream to flee.

She made an attempt to move away.

His chest rumbled with a deep growl that threatened to make her struggle more, but it had no effect.

He didn't even appear to be aware of her opposition."Calm down."

He seemed to be making an effort to seem less intimidating by purposefully softening his voice.I promise not to harm you.

She gave up fighting in the hopes that silence would persuade him to let her go.

She was able to lift her head up to finally see his face as his arms remained locked around her waist before lowering and settling at her back.What's your name?

It took her a moment to even comprehend the question because of the tremendous intensity of his blazing gold eyes."H, Hayley."Hayley.

He spoke slowly, experimenting with its form.Gorgeous.

Despite herself, the word sounded low, almost like a growl, and heat shot up her cheeks.My folks are downstairs.Take the lead.

He cupped her face tenderly in one big palm as he gazed at her with an almost affectionate expression.

She quickly withdrew, almost running for the door, but he easily kept up with her, grasping her hand.

He held her firmly but gently as they descended the stairs, his gaze riveted on the side of her face the whole time.

Something heavier started to take the place of the initial panic that had overcome her.

Fear.

With each stride, it seemed as though everything she had ever desired and strived for was slipping away.

This was hardly a brand-new tale. Humans experienced it on a regular basis.

A human handed up everything once it was claimed. Their spouse now controlled their destiny, which was totally determined by what the wolf permitted.

Wolves were possessive by nature, protective to the point of smothering, because humans were frail in compared to them.

Without their wolf watching over them, no human mate was ever allowed to pursue an education, find employment, or even spend time with their own family.

Everything Hayley had wanted for herself was suddenly out of reach, trapped behind the arms of a man who believed the mate bond gave him the right to claim her as his.

Tears welled up in her eyes as the reality sank in.

Now she was his.

A prisoner enmeshed in his fixation.

She turned to face him, her eyes blazing with something akin to anger as she met his adoring gaze.

His head tilted slightly to the side as he attempted to decipher the expression on her face, his brows pulling together in bewilderment.

Then he noticed the tears.

He rushed for her as panic flashed across his face, but she escaped his grasp because they had already arrived at the banquet hall.

Everyone in the room looked at her as she staggered into the space.

Panic still gripped her chest, but heat shot to her face.

Desperate to be close to her parents once more, she saw them across the room and made her way toward them.

Prepared to sprint, she gently raised the hem of her dress.

Before she could take a single step, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her forcefully back against his chest, suggesting that he knew precisely what she was going to do.Where do you anticipate traveling?

Despite everything, the strength in his low, smooth voice made her gasp for air.

Unquestionably, there was something alluring about him, something low, dark, and tempting that caused her thoughts to momentarily go irritatingly silent.

In an attempt to dispel it, she shook her head.

She made another attempt to break away. He did not release his grip in the slightest.

She couldn't figure out why everyone was still staring at them.

A wolf holding his mate in this manner was not uncommon. People would frequently ignore a person's obvious misery because they believed that affection would be sufficient to ease it.

As though the wolves were indeed blind to the effects of their hold.

or didn't want to find out why.

The question that seemed to be on everyone's thoughts was finally asked by a neighboring Alpha who mustered the confidence to do so.

Her whole body became paralyzed at his words.Is this young woman your mate, Sire Duke?