CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA HEIR

The burning pull

I could still taste him on my lips when he pushed me away.

Vincent stepped back like I had burned him, chest heaving, eyes wild with that golden glow fading slowly. "We cannot do this. Forget what you saw out there. Forget the wolf. Forget me."

"Forget you?" I laughed but it came out broken. "How am I supposed to forget the way you kissed me like I was oxygen? Like you needed me to breathe?"

He ran both hands through his hair, looking tortured. "You do not belong in my world, Ella. You are human. Soft. Good. I am none of those things."

"You felt pretty human when you had me against that wall," I shot back, stepping closer even though my legs were still shaking. "Tell me the truth. That wolf was you. I am not crazy."

Vincent looked away. "Knowing the truth will only get you killed faster."

"Then let it," I whispered. "Because living here without answers, without you, feels worse than dying."

He stared at me for a long moment, something raw and painful crossing his face. "Go to bed. Please. Before I do something we will both regret."

I left him standing there, but sleep never came. All night I replayed every touch, every growl, every desperate word. The heat between my legs refused to fade. By morning I was exhausted and restless.

Victor found me in the hallway. "Vincent will take you into the city today. You need clothes and supplies. Consider it part of settling in."

"I can go alone," I said.

"No," Vincent's voice cut in as he appeared behind me. "You will not."

The drive into the city was pure torture. We sat in the back of a luxury car with dark windows. The space felt too small. His leg brushed mine and neither of us pulled away.

"You are quiet today," he finally said, voice low.

"What do you want me to say?" I turned to look at him. "That I keep seeing that wolf every time I close my eyes? That I keep feeling your hands on me?"

Vincent's hand landed on my thigh. Heavy. Warm. "It was an accident."

"Was it?" I challenged. I did not move his hand. "Because it feels like you want to touch me as badly as I want you to."

He squeezed my thigh gently. "You are playing with fire, Ella."

"Good," I whispered. "I am cold all the time since Mom died. Maybe I need to burn for a while."

Vincent cursed under his breath. His fingers traced small circles on my leg. The tension in the car grew thicker with every mile. When we finally reached the stores, he stayed close. Too close. His hand never left the small of my back as we moved through the shops.

"You do not have to buy me things," I said as he handed the clerk his black card again.

"I want to," he replied simply. "Let me do this. It is the only safe thing I can give you right now."

Later in the car on the way back, the silence returned but it felt different. Charged. His hand found my thigh again. This time higher. I sucked in a sharp breath.

"Vincent..."

"Tell me to stop," he said roughly. "Tell me and I will."

I covered his hand with mine instead, pressing it harder against me. "I do not want you to stop."

He groaned. "You are going to ruin me."

Back at the mansion I slipped away to the library while he took a phone call. I needed to understand what was happening to me. To us. Dust floated in the air as I pulled old books from the shelves. One caught my eye. Ancient looking. The title made my heart skip.

I opened it carefully. Words about the Blood Moon Prophecy jumped out. Fated mates. A child that could save or destroy everything. Two bloodlines that should never mix.

The book trembled in my hands.

"You should not be reading that."

Vincent's voice behind me made me jump. He closed the library door and locked it.

"This is real?" I asked, turning to face him. "The prophecy. Fated mates. Is that why I cannot stay away from you even when you push me?"

He crossed the room slowly. "Put the book down, Ella."

"No." I held it tighter. "Tell me if this is why I feel like my soul recognizes you. Like I have been waiting for you my whole life."

Vincent reached me and gently took the book, setting it aside. Then he pinned me against the bookshelf with his body. Not hard. Just enough to feel trapped in the best way.

"You have no idea what you are waking up," he murmured, mouth right next to my ear. His breath sent shivers down my neck.

"Then wake me up," I begged softly. "Stop fighting this. Stop fighting us."

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes. The hunger there took my breath away. "If I start, I do not know if I can stop."

"I do not want you to stop."

That was all it took. Vincent's mouth claimed mine in a kiss that felt like coming home and falling apart at the same time. His hands gripped my waist, lifting me slightly as he pressed me harder into the shelves. Books shifted behind me but I did not care.

I kissed him back with everything I had. My fingers dug into his shoulders. A soft moan escaped me and he swallowed it greedily, deepening the kiss until my head spun.

"God, you taste good," he growled against my lips. "Better than I imagined."

"Imagine me more," I whispered, nipping at his bottom lip. "Touch me more."

His hands slid under my shirt, palms hot against my skin. I arched into him, wanting everything. His mouth moved to my neck, kissing and biting gently. The sensation made me dizzy with need.

"Vincent," I gasped. "I have never felt anything like this."

"Neither have I," he admitted, voice rough. "That is what scares me. You make me want to throw away every rule."

I pulled his face back to mine and kissed him harder. Our bodies moved together, grinding, seeking. The heat between us built until I thought I might explode from it.

"I want you," I breathed between kisses. "All of you. The man. The wolf. The heir. Everything."

He groaned loudly and lifted me higher, my legs wrapping around him. "You are going to be the death of me, Ella."

"Good," I said, smiling against his mouth. "Die with me then."

We were lost in each other. Hands exploring. Mouths desperate. The world outside the library disappeared completely.

Until Victor's voice cut through from downstairs.

"Vincent! Ella! Where are you two? We need to talk. Now."

We froze. Vincent's forehead pressed against mine. Both of us breathing hard.

"s**t," he whispered.

I did not let him go. "We cannot keep stopping like this. It hurts too much."

"I know." His voice was pained. "But if Victor finds out what is happening between us..."

He did not finish the sentence. He did not have to. The fear in his eyes said enough.

We quickly straightened our clothes. My heart was still racing as we headed toward the door. Whatever Victor wanted to talk about, I knew one thing for certain.

The pull between Vincent and me was only getting stronger.

And sooner or later, we were going to break every rule in this cursed empire.