I Dare You, Alpha!

Roxy’s POV The first rule of dealing with arrogant men was simple: never let them think they were intimidating. Unfortunately, the enormous man blocking my motorcycle looked like he’d practiced his intimidating face in a mirror since birth. “Turn around,” he ordered. I pulled off my helmet and gave him my sweetest smile. “I’d love to, sweetheart, but my bike doesn’t run on bad instructions.” His jaw tightened. Behind him, two guards exchanged a look. One seemed to regret every decision that had brought him to work today. “You’re on private territory,” the man snapped. “And you’re standing in front of my tire. We all have problems.” “Do you know whose land this is?” I glanced past him at the towering iron gates, the security cameras, and the enormous estate rising beyond the trees. “Judging by the attitude, someone who desperately needs a hobby.” “Last warning,” the guard said. “Turn around.” “Last warning?” I glanced at the road behind me. “Should I be scared? I left my fear at a gas station two counties back.” A low voice came from behind me. “She’s got a death wish.” I turned. The guards straightened immediately. The man in front of my bike practically swallowed his tongue. Interesting. The newcomer stopped a few feet away. His eyes settled on me, cool and assessing. “Problem?” he asked. I pointed at the guard. “Your employee seems confused about whether he’s guarding an estate or auditioning for a prison movie.” The man beside him coughed into his fist. The newcomer didn’t look away from me. “Name.” “Do you always demand introductions, or am I getting special treatment?” His gaze sharpened. Mine didn’t move. “You’re trespassing,” he said. “And you’re handsome. We all have flaws.” The stranger stared at me as though he couldn’t decide whether to throw me out or have me arrested. “Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?” “Not a clue. But I’m guessing your mother tells you you’re special.” His mouth twitched. It was so brief I might have imagined it. Then his expression hardened again. “Get off the motorcycle.” I looked at him, then at my bike. “No.” One of the guards inhaled sharply. The stranger took a step closer. “Excuse me?” “You heard me. My hearing is excellent, but I’ll speak slower if it helps.” His eyes flashed an unnatural shade of silver. “Is the eye thing supposed to scare me?” I asked. “Because it’s working a little. Mostly, I’m worried you need an eye doctor.” The man behind him lost the battle with his laughter. “Jace,” the stranger warned. “I’m not laughing,” Jace replied, sounding exactly like a man who was laughing. “You’re doing a terrible job of not laughing.” “I’ve been told.” The stranger’s attention returned to me. “You’re very brave for someone standing on my land.” “You’re very possessive for someone who hasn’t even bought me dinner.” Then he stepped close enough for me to see the faint scar cutting through his left eyebrow. Something inside me snapped tight. My breath caught. For one impossible second, every clever remark waiting on my tongue vanished. Then a voice that wasn’t quite mine stirred deep inside me. Him. I stiffened. Absolutely not. Whatever that was, it needed to get its life together. The stranger’s fingers curled at his sides. His gaze dropped briefly to my throat, then returned to my eyes with an intensity that made my pulse stumble. “No,” he muttered. I blinked. “No what?” He didn’t answer. Instead, he took a step back, as if distance could undo whatever had just happened. Jace’s amusement disappeared. “Knox?” I glanced between them. “Wonderful. The brooding act comes with a name tag.” Knox ignored me. His attention had shifted inward, his jaw clenched so tightly I wondered whether his teeth were in danger. Then I noticed his eyes. Silver had swallowed the blue. Something growled. Not from the forest. Not from the guards. From him. The sound vibrated through my chest, and the strange presence inside me answered with a low, pleased rumble of its own. My stomach dropped. Oh, hell. I knew what this was. I’d heard the stories. Every wolf had. The Moon Goddess’s favorite joke: the fated mate bond, supposedly the most sacred connection two wolves could share. I’d always assumed people exaggerated. Apparently, the universe had decided I needed a demonstration. I looked at Knox. He stared back as if I’d personally ruined his life. I raised my eyebrows. “Let me guess. You felt that too.” His expression turned murderous. Jace looked between us, his mouth slowly falling open. “You’re his...” He stopped, apparently deciding that finishing the sentence might get him killed. I slid off my motorcycle, planted my boots on the gravel, and held out my hand. “Roxy Hayes. Unfortunate to meet you.” Knox didn’t take it. Instead, he looked at me with all the warmth of a blizzard. “I’m Knox Wilder.” I glanced at Jace. “Is there supposed to be applause?” “He’s the Lycan Alpha,” Jace said quietly. Ah. I looked Knox up and down again. The Lycan Alpha. My fated mate. The man looked like a walking bad decision in a very expensive shirt. I sighed. “Of course you are.” His eyes narrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?” “It means the Moon Goddess has terrible taste in men.” Jace made a choking sound. Knox took one slow step toward me. Every guard at the gate went silent. “You will watch your mouth when you speak to me.” I smiled up at him. “Make me, handsome.” For one heartbeat, neither of us moved. His wolf surged behind his eyes. Mine answered, restless and curious, as though this arrogant stranger had just become the most interesting thing in the world. Then Knox’s expression changed. Not anger. Something colder. Something that hurt far more than it should have. “Vanessa has my heart,” he said. “And it isn’t you.” I smiled. “Relax, Your Highness. I wasn’t planning a wedding.” I put my helmet back on the seat and swung one leg over my motorcycle. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a shower to find and a terrible decision to recover from.” Knox’s voice stopped me. “You’re not leaving.” I turned the key without starting the engine. “Sorry?” “Until I understand what happened between us, you will remain on my territory.” I stared at him. Then I laughed. “You think you can order me to stay?” “I’m the Lycan Alpha.” “And I’m the woman who just met you and already regrets it.” His wolf flashed in his eyes again. “Roxy Hayes, you will come inside.” I leaned forward over my handlebars and smiled at him. “Careful, Knox. Keep ordering me around, and I might start thinking you like me.” I started my engine. Knox’s voice cut through the rumble. “Turn that thing off.” I revved it once. His jaw clenched. I grinned beneath my helmet. Oh, this was going to be a disaster. And judging by the heat crawling beneath my skin, I was going to enjoy every minute of it.