Free Web NovelChapter 17: Chapter 17
I stared at the message, my wolf whining with the need to respond, to run to him, to let him protect me from the threats closing in from all sides.
Instead, I deleted the message and walked back to my desk.
But as I sat down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. That somewhere in the building, predators were circling, waiting for me to make a mistake.
The afternoon dragged on. I tried to focus on the Blackstone analysis, but my mind kept drifting to Vanessa’s threats, to Christian’s text, to the growing certainty that I was in way over my head.
At five thirty, I started packing up my things. Maybe I could slip out through the parking garage, avoid any more confrontations, and figure out my next move from the safety of my apartment.
I was almost to the elevator when I smelled it.
Christian’s scent, getting stronger. He was coming this way.
The elevator doors opened, and there he was. His tie was loose, his hair mussed, and his eyes were wild with something that looked like desperation. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"Sophie." My name on his lips sounded like a prayer.
"Mr. Knight." I kept my voice professional, even though my wolf was practically purring at his proximity.
"We need to talk."
"No, we don’t."
"Yes, we do." He stepped closer, and I caught his scent—cedar and leather and something darker that made my mouth water. "About what my father said. About Vanessa. About this thing between us."
"There is nothing between us."
"Liar." The word came out rough, desperate. "I can smell it on you. The mate bond. The attraction. You feel it too."
"It doesn’t matter what I feel."
"It’s the only thing that matters."
I stared at him, this powerful man who commanded respect and fear in equal measure, and saw something that looked like vulnerability in his eyes.
"Christian—"
"Don’t." He moved closer, backing me against the wall. "Don’t tell me it doesn’t matter. Don’t tell me you don’t feel this."
His hands came up to frame my face, and I could feel the heat of his skin, smell the desperation in his scent.
"I can’t," I whispered.
"Why not?"
"Because she’ll kill me."
The words slipped out before I could stop them. Christian went very still, his eyes sharpening with dangerous intensity.
"Who will kill you?" freeweɓnøvel.com
"Nobody. I didn’t mean—"
"Sophie." His voice carried enough Alpha command to make my wolf whimper. "Who threatened you?"
I stared at him, trapped between his body and the wall, his scent surrounding me like a cage.
"Answer me."
"Vanessa," I whispered. "She said... she said if I didn’t stay away from you, I’d regret it."
Something dark and dangerous flashed across Christian’s face. The temperature in the hallway seemed to drop ten degrees.
"What exactly did she say?"
"It doesn’t matter—"
"It matters to me." His hands tightened on my face. "What did she say?"
"Accidents happen. That people disappear. That I’m a lone wolf with no one to protect me." The words tumbled out in a rush. "Christian, I can’t do this. I can’t be the reason—"
"You’re not the reason for anything." His voice was deadly quiet. "Vanessa Whitmore doesn’t speak for me. She doesn’t own me. And she sure as hell doesn’t get to threaten what’s mine."
"I’m not yours."
"Aren’t you?" He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Tell me you don’t feel it. Tell me your wolf doesn’t recognize mine. Tell me you don’t want this as much as I do."
I couldn’t. Because he was right. My wolf did recognize his. I did want this, wanted him, despite every rational thought screaming at me to run.
"It doesn’t matter what I want," I said finally.
"Since when do wolves choose safety over their mates?"
The word hung in the air between us like a confession.
"I’m not your mate," I said, but the words felt like lies.
"We’ll see about that." He stepped back, giving me space to breathe. "Go home, Sophie. Lock your doors. Don’t go anywhere alone."
"Christian—"
"I’ll handle Vanessa."
"You can’t. The alliance—"
"Fuck the alliance." The profanity came out sharp as a blade. "No one threatens what’s mine."
Before I could respond, he was gone, striding down the hallway with deadly purpose.
I stood there for a long moment, my heart hammering, my wolf whining with confusion and need. What had I done? What had I started?
The elevator arrived, and I stepped inside on shaking legs. As the doors closed, I caught a glimpse of Christian disappearing around the corner, his scent still clinging to my skin like a promise.
Or a threat.
I made it to the parking garage without incident, but I could feel eyes watching me from the shadows. My wolf was on high alert, every instinct screaming danger.
I was almost in my car when I heard footsteps.
Slow. Deliberate. Getting closer.
I turned around, my keys clutched in my hand like a weapon.
"Hello, Sophie."
The voice came from the shadows between two cars. A figure stepped out, and my blood turned to ice.
It was Vanessa. But she wasn’t alone.
Two men flanked her, their eyes glowing with the unmistakable shine of their wolves. Their scents hit me like a physical blow—predatory, dangerous, hungry.
"I thought I made myself clear," Vanessa said, her voice honey-sweet and deadly. "But apparently, you need more... direct lesson."
The men moved closer, circling me like predators stalking prey.
