Chapter 4:A Taste Of Power
527 Words
Silas didn't let go of my wrist. Instead, his thumb swept lazily across my pulse point, feeling the erratic, frantic rhythm of my heart. He knew exactly how much power he held over me, yet his own scent was shifting, growing heavier, thicker, and deeply possessive.
"An alliance," Silas mused, his voice a low purr that vibrated right through me. "You stand in my home, rejected and penniless, offering me territories I could take by force if I truly wanted them. What makes you think you're worth the trouble, Clara?"
"Because force leaves a mess, Alpha. Alliances leave a legacy," I replied, refusing to back down even as his proximity made my head spin. "More importantly, you know Julian isn't ready to lead. He’s reckless. He’s easily swayed by pretty words and expensive alliances. If he takes the throne with Vivian by his side, he will tear down everything you spent a decade building."
A shadow crossed Silas’s face. It was a hit. I knew from the rumors in the pack that he despaired over his son's arrogant, short-sighted nature. Julian was a spoiled master; he didn't know the first thing about real sacrifice or strategy.
"And you think you can manage him?" Silas asked, leaning in closer, his lips almost brushing my cheek.
"No," I whispered, turning my face slightly so my lips were a hair's breadth from his jawline. "I think we can crush him. Let him think he’s won. Let him parade his new mate around. While he wastes his time celebrating, you and I will quietly rewrite the pack laws. By the time he realizes what's happening, the alpha title won't belong to him anymore."
Silas let out a dark, rough chuckle. The sound was incredibly intimate, sending a flush of heat straight down to my toes. He finally released my wrist, but before I could breathe a sigh of relief, his large hand cupped the back of my neck. His fingers tangled in my hair, tilting my head back ruthlessly.
"You are a vicious little thing," he murmured, his golden eyes burning into mine with an intensity that made my knees weak. "A dangerous trait in a she-wolf."
"Only if she’s your enemy," I countered, my breath hitching as his thumb stroked the sensitive skin under my jaw.
Silas stared at my lips for a fraction of a second, a primal, predatory hunger flashing across his face so quickly I almost missed it. The raw power radiating off him was overwhelming, a stark contrast to Julian's superficial arrogance. This was a real Alpha. A king.
Suddenly, the distant sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the main corridor. Julian’s loud, obnoxious laughter cut through the quiet air of the executive wing. He was heading this way.
My heart leaped into my throat. If Julian caught me here with his father, the game would be over before it even started.
But Silas didn't flinch. A wicked, amused glint appeared in his eyes. He didn't let go of my neck. Instead, he pulled me closer into the shadows of the stone alcove, his massive body completely shielding me from view as the footsteps drew nearer.
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