Chapter Six: Breaking Point
828 Words
Marcus did not give her time to argue.
He grabbed her wrist. Pulled her out the back door of the cabin just as the howls grew deafeningly close. "Run."
Vera's feet moved before her mind caught up. They sprinted through the pines, branches whipping at her arms and face. Her heart was pounding hard, she could hear it in her ears. Behind them shouts and snarls erupted. Her fathers warriors had reached the cabin.
"Faster, " Marcus growled, his grip firm but not painful on her arm.
They ran for what felt like forever until Marcus tugged her behind a cluster of boulders deep in the forest. He pressed her against the cool rock, his big body shielding her completely. His chest heaved against her back, one arm wrapped around her waist to hold her still.
"Quiet " he breathed against her ear.
Vera froze. His scent surrounded her, overwhelming her senses. The connection between them surged like wildfire. Heat flooded her body making her thighs clench and her breath stutter. She hated how good he felt pressed against her, how safe and dangerous at the time.
She tried to twist. "Let go of me."
Marcus's arm tightened. "They are too close. If they scent you it is over."
Seconds later, heavy paws thundered past their hiding spot. Klaus's voice rang out sharp with fury. "Find my daughter! If Kane has touched her I will rip his throat out myself!!"
Vera felt uneasy on hearing this. That was her father. The man who had raised her, protected her, lied to her... had he?
Marcus's breath was hot against the side of her neck. "Still think I am the monster?
She elbowed him hard in the ribs. "I think you are both monsters."
He did not move away, instead his hand slid lower on her waist - fingers brushing the strip of skin where her shirt had ridden up. The touch was light. It sent electricity racing straight to her core. Vera bit her lip hard fighting the whimper that wanted to escape.
The patrol moved on. The forest grew quiet again.
Then did Marcus ease back slightly turning her to face him. They were still trapped between the boulders, bodies inches apart. His stormy gray eyes searched hers in the light filtering through the trees.
"You are shaking " he said softly.
"I am not " she lied, even as her hands trembled at her sides.
Marcus held her face with one hand thumb brushing over the tiny mark above her lip. "The connection between us does not lie, Vera. Neither does the proof. Your father killed your mother. He is willing to start a war to hide it. And he was going to chain you to Tyler to keep his power, can't you see it?"
Tears burned in her eyes. "Stop. Just... stop."
She did not pull away.
Marcus leaned in slowly giving her every chance to stop him. When she did not, his lips brushed hers. Gentle at first testing. Then deeper. Hungrier.
Vera gasped into the kiss. Her hands fisted in his shirt torn between pushing him and pulling him closer. The connection between them exploded. She could feel every inch of him pressed against her, the solid wall of his chest, the strength in his arms, the way he tasted like wild forest and f*******n desire.
For one moment she kissed him back. Her lips parted, tongue meeting his in a desperate dance that made her knees weak.
Then reality crashed back.
She shoved him hard, breaking the kiss with a breath. "Do not."
Marcus rested his forehead against hers breathing as hard. His voice was rough with need. "You feel it. I know you do, why try to hide it."
"I feel nothing but hate for you," she whispered. The words sounded weak even to her own ears.
He smiled sadly against her skin. "Keep telling yourself that, pretty wolf, your scent says otherwise."
Vera closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. Everything was falling apart. She was just confused. Her father. Her pack. Her own body betraying her with every touch from the enemy. "What the hell is going on with me? " she muttered.
Marcus wiped one tear away with his thumb. "We can not stay here long. The witness is waiting deeper in our territory. Come with me tonight. See the rest. Then decide what you want to do."
She wanted to say no. She wanted to run to her father and pretend none of this had happened.
Instead she nodded once barely.
Marcus pressed one soft kiss to her forehead, surprisingly tender, for such a ruthless Alpha before taking her hand again.
"Come on. We have to move before they circle back."
As they slipped deeper into Shadow Pack lands, Vera's mind spun with confusion, anger and a terrifying new warmth she could not deny.
She was falling. She knew it.
She had no idea how to stop.
- Writer
