A Breeder For Four Alphas

Nine

Chapter Nine

Gabriella’s POV

The hallway was quiet again, though my heart thundered as if drums beat beneath the floor. My skin was flushed, my body humming, my wolf laughing like a trickster in my head.

Two down, she purred. And neither of them strong enough to take what’s ours. Maybe the next one won’t resist.

“I should stop,” I whispered, pressing my back against the cool wall. My human self trembled at what I had just done — barging into Tristan’s bed, teasing Leo like prey. But my wolf was relentless, prowling beneath my skin, hot and insistent.

We’re Luna, she whispered. They’re ours. They said so themselves. Why should we wait?

I pressed my palms to my burning face. “Because it isn’t right. Not like this. Not when I’m not…”

Not what? my wolf cut in, sharp and taunting. Not worthy? Not strong enough? They want us, Gabriella. They crave us. You can feel it every time they breathe. Why deny them? Why deny yourself?

The words clawed at me, and I had no defense. My feet were already moving. Past my door. Past Leo’s. Across the hall. To the door that smelled of spice and danger.

Rhael.

The mischief in my wolf’s laugh matched the man behind that door.

I didn’t knock. I slipped inside, silent as moonlight. The room was darker than the others, a low fire casting embers across the stone. Rhael lay sprawled on his bed, shirtless, one arm thrown behind his head. He wasn’t asleep. His eyes, gleaming gold in the dim light, flicked to me the instant the door creaked.

“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice rich with amusement. “What’s this? A midnight visit? To me?”

I swallowed, my wolf grinning through my lips. “Tristan was boring. Leo was too serious. I thought you might be more fun.”

His laughter rolled through the chamber, low and dangerous. He pushed himself up on his elbows, muscles rippling, eyes never leaving me. “The little wolf comes prowling, hm? And she thinks I’m the one who’ll give her what she wants?”

I crossed the room, hips swaying, my voice dropping to a whisper. “Won’t you?”

He tilted his head, watching me with predatory amusement. “Careful, little mate. You’re playing with fire.”

“I like fire.” I climbed onto the edge of his bed, hands sinking into the sheets. My wolf purred as I leaned closer. “Don’t you?”

His grin widened, sharp and wicked. “Oh, I love fire. But the problem with fire is it burns. And you, Gabriella, don’t know how much.”

I crawled closer, my knees brushing against his thigh. “Then show me.”

For a heartbeat, silence stretched between us, thick and hot. His eyes darkened, his jaw tight, his hands flexing at his sides. I could smell it — his restraint, his hunger.

Then he laughed again, shoving me gently back onto the mattress. He loomed above me, his face inches from mine. “You really are trouble.”

“Only if you resist,” I whispered, my wolf’s voice full of mischief.

His laughter deepened, vibrating through me. “Resist? You think this is resistance?” His fingers brushed down my arm, feather-light, sending shivers racing across my skin. “If I stopped resisting, little mate, you’d be screaming my name until dawn. Do you want that? Do you want to wake the others with the sound of me claiming you?”

Heat exploded in my chest, my wolf howling her answer. “Yes.”

But my voice broke, too thin, too desperate. And that was all it took for him to see it.

Rhael’s expression softened, just slightly. His golden eyes searched mine, catching the flicker of humanity still trapped beneath my wolf’s boldness. “No,” he murmured. “Not like this.”

I growled, frustrated, trying to push against him, but he pinned my wrists with infuriating ease. His grin returned, sharp and teasing. “Your wolf may be a minx, but your human isn’t ready. I can smell it. She’s fighting inside you even now.”

“Then ignore her,” I snapped, my wolf straining against his hold.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Ignore her? Never. I want both. Not half of you. Not just the wild side. When I take you, little Luna, it’ll be with you — all of you. And I’ll make sure you never forget it.”

I struggled, wriggling beneath him, but he only laughed harder. “Spirited little wolf,” he teased, releasing one of my wrists only to grab my chin. His thumb brushed across my lips, lingering just long enough to make my body burn. “Tempting me like this… do you even know what you’re doing to me?”

“Yes,” I whispered, my wolf triumphant. “And you love it.”

He smirked, wicked and amused. “Oh, I do. More than you can imagine. But not tonight.”

In one swift motion, he scooped me into his arms like I weighed nothing, carrying me bridal-style across the room. I kicked and laughed and cursed, but he only shook his head, chuckling.

“You’re like a naughty pup sneaking into places you shouldn’t,” he said, pushing open the door with his foot. “And pups get carried back to their beds.”

He deposited me gently at my doorway, his grin dazzling in the dim light. “Sleep, little wolf. Tomorrow, maybe I’ll let you play with fire. But tonight, I win.”

The door shut before I could protest, leaving me fuming — and burning — in the corridor.

My wolf only laughed, sultry and satisfied. He wanted us. They all do. He’ll break soon.

I pressed my forehead to the door, trembling. “Why are you doing this to me?”

Because, my wolf whispered, we belong to them. And they belong to us. All of them. Why should we choose only one?

Her voice coiled around me like smoke, hot and insistent. And before I knew it, my feet were moving again.

Down the hall. Toward the last door.

Mark’s.

His room smelled of earth and pine, grounding and warm. Unlike the others, he wasn’t asleep or working. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, shirtless, elbows on his knees, as though waiting.

The moment I stepped inside, his head lifted, his green eyes locking onto me.

“Well, well,” he murmured, a slow grin spreading across his lips. “Looks like the little wolf has made her rounds. Couldn’t resist saving the best for last?”

My wolf purred, smug. Finally, one who understands.

I closed the door behind me, my voice low and daring. “Maybe I just knew you wouldn’t send me back.”

His grin deepened, dangerous and full of promise. “You might be right about that.”