You Wouldn't Dare

CHAPTER 14 - VIOLET

“Go away,” I mumbled sleepily, curling my body away from the annoying thing

that was nudging me.

Khaos chuckled, sliding his hand under my back, “come on, sleepyhead.”

He raised me until I was sitting up, and I dramatically threw myself back over

his arm.

“What does a wolf have to do to get some sleep around here?”

“Well... We could stay here, or we could go spend the night together in a

comfortable bed, for the first time?”

“Oh, when you put it that way...” I tried to get to my feet but Khaos

swung me high into his arms, cradling me bridal style.

“I can walk you know.”

“Shut up, stupid. I know you can walk; I enjoy holding you. Besides, I

want every wolf watching us to be in no doubt what just happened.” He looked

down at my naked body in his arms and raised his eyebrows as though to prove

his point.

“So, you’ve no problem with every wolf gazing upon your naked mate?”

“Ahh, that’s where I come in handy. I can hold you in such a way that I

hide all your good bits, but I’ll be making sure they get a glimpse of the luscious

body I’m hiding from them – the body that belongs solely to me.”

“Whatever floats your boat.”

“I told you, I want every male in this pack to know you’re spoken for. If

they can’t hear you, they’re damn sure going to get a good visual.”

I rolled my eyes at him, “I think people are aware you have had s*x

before.”

He gave my arse a tight squeeze. “Stop looking for reasons to spoil this -

I’m carrying my victory prize. You submitted to me back there, little one. I’m in

celebration.”

“I did not!” I spluttered indignantly.

“Didn’t you? Your wolf certainly did. It certainly felt like you did too

when you were on your knees in front of me. Face it, I’ve won. I broke that spirit

of yours, you’re officially mine now.” The laughter running through his words

was infectious, bringing out a playful side to me I had had little time to explore.

“Take me, oh dominant one, drag me to your lair and have your wicked

way with me. Oh, who will help such a damsel in distress?” I threw my hand

over my eyes dramatically, my legs kicking out in mock terror.

“Your wish is my command.” Khaos swung me over my shoulder and ran, slapping my arse as he did so, sending me into fits of laughter. He kicked

open the packhouse door, startling the wolf cleaning the hallway.

“Alpha?”

“I can’t talk, I’m afraid. I have a bad, bad girl in my arms,” he called out,

jogging down the hallway. The wolf stared at us open-mouthed. I gave him a

brief wave as I squealed again, my stomach hurting from laughing. I loved,

loved, loved seeing Khaos this playful.

He threw me down on the bed, my t**s bouncing with the force of it. He

had barely gotten both knees on the mattress to join me when I threw myself into

his waiting arms, wrapping my legs around him.

“This day has been perfect,” I whispered, grinning from ear to ear.

“Why, Violet, I never had you pegged as the soppy kind,” he teased.

“Shut up and kiss me.”

I laid against Khaos’ chest, feeling his deep, even breathing.

Goddess knew I loved having s*x with this man, but it was moments like

this, curled up to his side, safe in the circle of his arms, that I craved the most.

It was the intimacy, the trust he placed in me. I was the only woman ever

permitted to hold him like this, no one else was privy to his secrets like I was.

He trusted me beyond anything.

I would treasure these memories forever.

I placed a kiss on his warm skin, and he pulled me in tighter, protecting

me even in sleep.

I knew then that I was in real danger of falling in love with this man.

                                                         KHAOS 

I sat up and I stared at Violet as she slept, watching the slow rise and fall of her

chest, mumbling something in her sleep.

Pushing the hair back from her face, I was once again amazed by the

beauty of her. She looked so young and vulnerable; her face perfectly capturing

an innocence that was as refreshing as it was appealing. There were no tricks

with her.

She liked to pretend that she was this fearless creature, bravely trying to

slap me down with every argument we had, but I could see the truth. In many

ways, she was as lost as I was, struggling to find her place in this world.

I didn’t understand what I had done to deserve a mate like her, but from

this moment on I will do anything in my power to fight the darkness that

threatens to destroy me. I would be the man she needed, the man she wanted. Even in sleep she sought me out, her arm stretching over the bed to find

me. She frowned, finding only a blank space, and opened her eyes sleepily.

“I’m here, little one,” I said, placing her hand flat against my chest so she

could feel the steady heartbeat beneath her fingers. She closed her eyes once

more, and I took that as my cue to lay back down beside her, tucking her close

into my side and settled down to sleep.

For the first time in a long time, the nightmares that plagued me stayed at

bay. Instead, I was blessed with amazing dreams of a golden wolf that

shimmered like a diamond in the sun.

                                                    VIOLET 

The sunlight streamed through the curtains, warming the room as I woke.

I reached out for Khaos, as I had done many times throughout the night. I

was shocked when my arms hit an empty, cold space instead of the body I had

become so familiar with.

I sat up quickly, still not completely sure of this relationship or the trust I

had in us to make it work, my mind automatically thinking the worst. I wanted to

believe in everything that he told me, but I knew how quickly his mood could

change.

To say I was relieved when I saw the note folded on the pillow was an

understatement.

Had some pack business to attend to. Will be gone for a few hours. 

Stay out of trouble. 

Khaos.

I smiled thinking how very... Khaos, the note was. Straight and to the point. He

wouldn’t waste time with mushy words and declarations of missing me, but I

saw what he left unsaid.

He was placing his trust in me. Only mere days ago he had threatened to

never let me out of his sight, and yet here we are. It must have taken a lot on his

part to willingly leave me, no doubt he had the same hesitations about our

relationship as I did.

Not that I had any idea how to occupy myself though, I didn’t know the

routine of the pack well enough to plan on joining them with their day to day

activities. And I was too much of a chicken to go out exploring in case I came

across any of the warriors without having people around to protect me.

Although, Khaos probably took the warriors with him if he’s left the pack

grounds, right? Or at least most of them, according to Jasmine.

Thinking of her had me jumping up, seeing her as my beacon of hope.

She was my only friend here so far, and I was willing to bet that she wouldn’t

mind showing me around the pack and introducing me to a few new people.

I was moments away from leaving, finding Jasmine, and having her

entertain me until Khaos returned when I felt a pressure in my head that brought to my knees.

What the f**k was that?

I massaged my temples as the pressure increased, feeling as though

something was trying to force its way in.

“Violet,” I heard whispered over the mind-link, although it was choppy

and distorted.

“Can you... me?”

I forced myself to relax, waiting for the next message to come through. If

I fought against it, I would be stuck with this pain for the rest of the day. I laid

back down on the bed, closing my eyes hesitantly as I waited for the next

contact, my heart heavy in my chest.

I had a feeling of who it would be.

Only a powerful Alpha like Khaos had the ability to communicate with

someone outside his pack. The only reason I had managed it with him, was

because he was my mate. The bond between our wolves made it easier. I would

never have been able to do that with anyone else.

Which could only mean that it was someone from the Atlantis pack.

Here.

On enemy territory.

I didn’t have to wait long until I confirmed my worst fears.

“Violet. For f**k’s sake! Violet! Please tell me I’m close enough! That

I’m not too late.”

Logan.

“What are you doing here?”

I heard his enormous sigh of relief, “thank the Moon Goddess! I was so

worried I was too late! That the mating would be complete, and I wouldn’t be

able to link with you. I should have known you wouldn’t do it, that you wouldn’t

give up on us! I’ve missed you so much, Violet, I’ve been going out of my mind

wondering what was happening to you, what he was doing to you! I...”

“Logan, slow down! You need to tell me what you’re doing here? You

can’t just drop by for a chat to see if I’m okay! Khaos will kill you if he catches

you here, you know he will!”

“He’s not here, Violet, I know that. I’ve been watching all morning. He’s

gone on some murder mission as usual.”

I rolled my eyes, not bothering to correct him. “For the third time - What

are you doing here, Logan?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve come to rescue you. You don’t have to live this

way; I will keep you safe. He’ll forget about you eventually, but I can’t, I won’t!

Leave with me. We can be choice mates; you don’t have to accept what the Moon Goddess gave you! She must be insane to think this match would work!”

He was going too fast for me, my mind spinning with every word he

spoke.

Was he crazy?!

We always knew that our relationship was going to end, we had planned

for the day my parents would mate me to someone else. He knew that it would

never be him, so why was he acting this way now? Why would he risk his life

like this?

A feeling of guilt nudged at me as I remembered his declaration of love.

He knew as well as I did that I had met Khaos and immediately ran back to the

pack, to the safety of his arm. I cringed as I remembered the force with which I

had attacked him. I had made him think I was wild with passion, when instead I

was wild with fear. I hadn’t wanted Khaos as my mate back then. In denying the

call of the bond, I had unwittingly dragged Logan into a dangerous situation he

didn’t fully understand. I owed it to him to set the record straight.

“Where are you, Logan? I’ll come to meet you.”

And hopefully, get him the f**k away from here before Khaos returned.

I agreed to meet Logan in the woods, near to the packhouse. As soon as he saw

me, he scooped me into his arms, lifting me off my feet as he squeezed me into a

tight hug.

“You look amazing, Violet. You’ve no idea how worried I’ve been! I’ve

barely slept thinking of the barbaric things he’s done in the past, things he could

be doing to you.” He thrust me away from him, patting down my body as he

inspected for himself anything that would show someone had hurt me. Once he

was satisfied that I was in one piece he grabbed me into another hug that almost

broke my ribs.

“Logan!” I half-laughed, half choked, “I’m fine! I like it here. Khaos...

He’s not what you’re thinking, I promise. He wouldn’t ever harm me.”

“That’s what he wants you to think because he wants to mate with you,

everything will change once he’s got you under his thumb, I promise. Jeez, to

think the guy killed his own parents, Violet. They took him in when he had

nothing, raised him as their own, trained him to be the next Alpha and he

murdered them in cold blood! I’ve heard the stories of what happened to his

chosen mate and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let that happen to you! We have

to get you out of here!”

“You don’t know the full story, Logan… He... Louisa… You just don’t

get it! She wasn’t a good person! He was not to blame for what happened to her!” Logan pushed me away from him, staring down at me as though he didn’t

even recognise me.

“Violet, he’s lying to you. He’s hardly going to admit that he killed her

when you’re the next in line to be his mate! Talk about scaring you off!”

“Logan, please. You must get out of here; he’ll be back any minute.”

“I’m not leaving without you. He ripped her teeth out and bit her n*****s

off! That is not the act of a sane man!”

“For the last time, that’s not what happened! It’s not my story to tell, but

you must trust me on this one! In fact, why am I even explaining this to you?

This is my decision to make, not yours. You don’t know the full story about

what happened and I’m not leaving him, end of!”

“Did he kill his parents?”

“Well, yes, technically--”

“Then I know the full story!”

“No, you don’t! There were reasons. He... Look, I can’t tell you. It’s up

to Khaos what he lets the world believe, and I won’t betray him by revealing his

past!”

“Violet! Come on! What has gotten into you? You never would have

accepted this before! He’s brainwashed you!” He shook my shoulders as he

spoke to me. “The sooner we get you back under your mother’s influence, the

better.”

“No!” I yelled, shoving on his chest with all my strength, “I want to stay

here! I don’t want to be stuck living my life following my mother’s ridiculous

rules! You’re saying all these things about Khaos, but he is the only one in my

life who has let me just be me! He has never expected me to be anything I’m

not!”

“If that’s what’s on your mind, you needn’t worry! Your mother is

different now, Violet. She’s forgotten all about her luncheons and socialising.

She’s done nothing but plot and scheme to get rid of him. You won’t fall back

into the same routine; you’ll finally be free to do as you please! You don’t have

to be afraid that he’ll follow you and hurt us! That’s the only reason you left; I

know this!”

“Things change! I’m happy here! Yes, he forced me here against my will,

but he’s not the man you think he is! Please, Logan. You need to go before he

returns.”

“You’re afraid of him! Any normal wolf would have no problem with

you being in contact with your old pack! He would never make you break those

friendships!”

I almost punched him I was that angry. How could he not see that I was happy? That Khaos had every right to be upset with my remaining friends with

Logan? Maybe in the future we could be, but everything was too raw and fresh

right now to even think about keeping our friendship.

“We’re different, Logan, you know that. You know what we did the day I

met him. It haunts him to know I betrayed him like that! Think about your mate

and how you would feel if she--”

“There is no mate for me! It’s you, it’s always been you. I don’t want

anyone else!”

“You’ll feel differently when you meet her, I promise. I never thought I

would feel this way about Khaos, but I do. I can’t leave, I can’t imagine a life

without him! I’m sorry for what we did that day, I’m sorry for leading you on

the way that I did, but my place is here. I belong with Khaos and I’m exactly

where I want to be. Please just go.”

My heart broke as I saw the tears spring into his eyes as my words

registered. He wiped them away with his fist and pulled me to him once more,

resting his forehead against mine.

“You don’t mean that, you don’t!” He whispered, rubbing his nose

against mine, “I know you; I know you want me. You came to me, not him. You

wanted me!”

“Logan... I was in denial. I was using you to forget about him. I’m sorry.

You know how it is for our kind when we meet the person made for us, we can’t

give them up.”

“What are you even saying? You can’t fake what we had, what we did!

Give me the chance to prove to you we are made for each other!”

“Stop!” I hissed, scanning my surroundings as I thought I caught Khaos’

scent. I was growing frantic, sweat beading on my forehead.

I gave Logan a shove, “you need to get the f**k out of here, quickly! If

Khaos comes back and catches you, he won’t hesitate to kill you. You’re on his

pack, his territory, he’s got every right to get rid of you.”

“Violet,” he sobbed, clamping his mouth down on mine. I was so taken

aback for a moment that I didn’t move and he took this as a sign of

encouragement, using his tongue to pry my lips open, sliding it along mine as he

gave a triumphant moan, pulling me even closer to his body, his erection firmly

pressed against my stomach.

I ripped my lips away from his, placing my hands on his chest, both of us

breathing heavily. I took a deep breath, trying hard to curb my temper before I

let loose on him, demanding that he get the f**k out of here once and for all.

I was just a split second too late.

One minute we were both staring at each other, both unable to comprehend what had just happened, the next thing I knew I was thrown away

with brute force, looking up from my landing place on the ground to see Khaos

tackle Logan around the waist, both of them crashing into the trunk of the

nearest tree.

Khaos let out a ferocious growl, saliva dripping from his canines as his

face shifted, fur sprouting around his snout as his wolf came forward.

“Khaos, no!” I screamed, watching in terror as he grabbed either side of

Logan’s head and dug his claws in, causing blood to pour from his temples.

“Khaos!” I screamed again. “Stop! Don’t do this!” My breath was

coming in frantic gulps that soon turned to hiccoughs as I struggled to control

my fear.

Khaos turned to look my way and I gasped out loud. I had never seen

him this way and I hoped never to see him like this again – it would haunt my

dreams for the rest of my days.

He was half man, half beast, lost to the calling of his wolf. He wasn’t my

mate in this moment, he was a stalker, a predator, a killer.

I finally got it.

This was the beast that everyone whispered about.

This was the man that instilled fear wherever he went, the one that held

no prisoners.

I shuffled forward, my arm outstretched, trying to reach for him. He

opened his mouth wide and let out a roar of such fury that I fell back, my hand

clamped over my mouth. I was truly terrified of him in that moment.

He looked back at Logan and grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, raising him off

his feet until they were face to face.

“Big mistake. You. Were. f*****g. Warned!” Birds flew from the trees,

scared away by the booming of Khaos’ growl. He was no longer in control. His

voice didn’t even sound like him any longer, it was disembodied, thunderous…

terrifying.

Logan cried hysterically, spit flying from his mouth as he pleaded

forgiveness and promised to leave and never come back.

“Too. f*****g. Late”

He was demonic, nothing like the man I had grown to love. He slammed

Logan back against the tree, his head bouncing off the bark, leaving a sticky

circle of blood. Khaos scented the air and grinned, licking his lips as his teeth

elongated further.

“No…” I whispered, my voice barely there. I had never seen such an evil

smile, so full of hatred.

Just as he had the first time I met him, he sank his teeth into his victim’s neck. Logan’s feet kicked against the tree, his body jerking under the assault. I

pushed my hands against my ears, trying to drown out the sickening squelch of

flesh being ripped apart.

Khaos raised his head to the sky and howled, chunks of Logan’s skin

falling from his chin.

I closed my eyes, shaking my head against the scene in front of me.

It was the loud snap that had them flying back open. It was just in time to

see Khaos stand up, turning to me with a blank stare. In his hands, he was

holding Logan’s severed head, a look of pure horror forever frozen on his face.