The Lycan’s forbid desire

Chapter 5

Thorne Pov

She stood on my balcony looking trapped. Wide eyes, shallow breathing, ready to bolt at any moment.

Good. She should be afraid.

"You ran from me." I kept my voice low. Controlled.

"I didn't mean to intrude." She wouldn't meet my eyes. "I was just trying to get some air."

"You're a terrible liar." I pushed off the rail and moved closer. "Your face shows everything you're thinking."

She took a step back, hit the balcony rail. Nowhere left to go.

"I should go back. People will talk."

"Let them talk." I stopped just close enough to smell her. Sweet and warm. "I want to know your name."

"You already know it. My father told you."

"I want to hear you say it."

She swallowed hard. "Elara. Elara Harworth."

"Elara." I let her name roll off my tongue and tasted it. "You were in my garden tonight."

"It's the palace garden. Not yours."

Bold. Even terrified she had fire.

"Everything in this palace is mine." I leaned closer. "Including the gardens. Including that bench. Including what you saw there."

Her face went red. "I didn't see anything."

"Another lie." I could hear her heart racing. "You saw everything Elara and you didn't look away."

"I was leaving. I was trying to leave."

"Were you? Because from where I was standing you looked frozen. Fascinated."

"I was shocked. Anyone would be shocked."

"Shocked." I let the word hang between us. "Is that what you're calling it?"

She pressed back against the rail. "Please. I'm engaged, I shouldn't be alone with you."

"Engaged to Darius Myrlander." I said his name like it tasted bad. "Third wife. How fortunate."

Her eyes flashed with anger. Finally. "It wasn't my choice."

"No. I imagine it wasn't." I tilted my head. "Your father sold you for fifty thousand marks. That's what you're worth apparently."

She froze. "How do you know that?"

"I know everything Elara." I watched her process that. "I know your father gambles, i know the creditors were circling. I know Myrlander offered to clear the debts in exchange for you."

Her face went white. "You had me investigated."

"Of course I did. You watched me in my garden. Did you think I wouldn't want to know who you were?"

"What do you want from me?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

"What do I want from the omega who spied on me? Who stood there watching while I was inside another woman? Who ran away with her cheeks flushed?"

"I wasn't aroused." But her voice shook.

"Your body doesn't lie Elara." I leaned down until my mouth was next to her ear. "You felt it, that pull and that heat. Your body responded to me in that garden and it's responding to me now."

"No it's not." But I could hear her heart hammering.

"Yes it is." I pulled back to look at her. "And that terrifies you doesn't it?"

Tears shimmered in her eyes. "You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough. I know you're trapped. I know you hate your engagement. I know you came hoping for one night of freedom before your cage closes forever."

She stared at me. "Why do you care?"

Good question. Something about her had caught my attention, the way she'd frozen in that garden. The way she'd looked at me with those huge eyes.

"I don't know yet." I admitted. "But I intend to find out."

"I'm getting married in three weeks."

"So you keep saying."

"Nothing can happen between us. It would be wrong."

"Would it? Or would it be the first honest thing in your entire engagement?"

She shook her head. "You're trying to confuse me."

"I'm trying to wake you up." I moved to the balcony doors. "Go back to your father Elara. Play the obedient daughter, pretend this conversation never happened if that makes you feel better."

I opened the doors. Music and voices spilled out.

She didn't move. Just stood there staring at me.

"Go." I said it gently. "Before I change my mind about letting you leave."

That got her moving. She hurried past me without looking back, her scent lingered. Sweet and warm.

I watched her disappear into the crowd, i watched her father intercept her. I watched her shake her head at whatever he asked.

Then I felt Rhys beside me.

"That was interesting." He said quietly.

"Shut up."

"You're smiling. That's never good."

I was smiling. I couldn't help it.

"Find out everything about her." I said.

"I already did. You had me investigate her this afternoon remember?"

"I want more. I want to know every single detail about her life."

Rhys sighed. "You're interested."

"She watched me with Celeste. And she didn't look away."

"Most people don't look away from you."

"This was different. She felt it Rhys, that pull. She's mine."

"She's engaged to someone else."

"Not for long."

"Myrlander is connected and wealthy. Taking his bride will cause problems."

"Good. I like problems."

"Your mother won't."

"My mother can deal with it." I turned to face him. "Send an invitation to the Harworth house, i want to see her again tomorrow."

"What reason should I give?"

"Tell them the crown wishes to meet all newly engaged omegas. A courtesy before their marriages."

"That's not a real thing."

"It is now." I smiled. "Make it official, use the royal seal."

Rhys shook his head. "You're going to start a war over an omega."

"Probably. Make sure we win."

She was mine. She just didn't know it yet.

I watched her all night. I watched her try to hide. I watched her refuse to look at me. I watched her leave early with her father.

Her defiance irritated me more than rejection ever had.

Later I stood in my study with Rhys.

"The invitation has been sent. Courier confirmed delivery."

"Good."

"Are you sure about this? Your mother will be furious."

"Political danger means nothing compared to what I want."

"And what do you want?"

I thought about Elara's face. The fear and the attraction.

"Her. I want her."

"What if she says no?"

I smiled.

Find her, and prepare an invitation she cannot refuse.