SAMANTHA

Jaecar was on top of me. Kissing me as he'd done hours ago. His gold body glistening in the firelight. His long adept fingers expertly winding through the laces of my dress. Freeing my body to his penetrating view.

He took in the sight emotionlessly. His expression as unreadable as always. He said nothing. Merely taking in the sight of me in his usual quiet way.

What was he thinking?

Lifting my skirts in his rush to get to my center.

His fingers bit into my thighs as he forced them apart. Dropping his hips between so I could feel the rigid hardness that I'd sensed earlier when he'd kissed me. Though I couldn't see it, I'd had a mental vision of what it might look like.

Something to be feared.

Something that meant he could claim me. Penetrate me and eventually he could choose to mark me. Whether I wanted him or not.

I saw him swaying over me as I'd glimpsed one of the males doing on Aloira once in the woods.

It was a strange sensation. Like rubbing bellies.

He leaned over and opened his mouth wide. His canine's coming to pinpoints as he snarled, descending over my shoulder to mark me.

"No!" I shouted. Sitting up in my bed and wiping away at the sheen on my forehead.

***

JAECAR

Jaecar woke from the dream of mounting Samantha. Unaware that they'd shared the same dream from their differing perspectives. But nonethless, feeling overheated and overexcited. His fists working into his blanket as he fought the urge to roughly take her.

Even in his dreams he was restraining himself. Thinking he couldn't let go. Not even then without hurting her.

He'd been holding himself back for all these years, he was unsure how dangerous it would be when his wolf reared it's ugly black and silver head.

He slowed his breathing. Staring at the rough wood of his ceiling as he contemplated his reluctance to do what was needed.

He was already forming a plan and knew he'd have to rise early to carve a circle of wood. Catching Samantha would be no easy feat.

She was determined to be no man's mate. And too young to understand the need for pack pups to continue the pack.

Jaecar was aware he was going to have to hunt her. Wear her down. Give her time to flee and think for her to come to terms with his betrayal.

Complete and utter betrayal.

Unforgiveable betrayal.

Sighing he flopped onto his side. Dragging an aggravated palm down his face.

His alpha's demands were going to rush all the plans for a long game he'd formed.

Jaecar was aware this was all spurred by Lara's escape. The she-wolf that'd made it over the wall.

An unexpected abandonment that made the females in the pack even more imperative and mating them a necessary. They needed to remain in the pack. There were so few females left after the devastation of the pack plagues that they were rare and hard to find. Especially young, healthy ones, sturdy enough to take on the increased aggression of the males of the Asara pack.

The females understood something better than most of the males. When Edrick, the former Alpha, had collected the fiercest and strongest strays remaining after the plagues had forced them to leave their packs or die, he'd assembled a crowd of the biggest and most ferocious males.

Males which could, theoretically, prove alphas over every other pack to further the generations of a fresh new pack. The downside was that it meant that all the males had the increased aggression that was typically only warranted to the dangers of mating with an alpha.

It made the Asara females fear the mating of the males. And it didn't help that most of them were essentially found captives that Edrick or Draven had come across and brought beyond the wall to further the pack.

It didn't always mean the females were particularly willing to be bred.

Certainly not Samantha!

***

Jaecar awoke before the morning sun, knowing that there'd be few Border Guards on duty today. And it was his day off. Leaving only one of the Hayden brothers patrolling.

Easy enough to get around.

Jaecar found Samantha's favorite tree and went to work matching the wood.

Then he moved on to her favorite berry bush and lifted the bottom to verify her stash of dried food was still beneath it.

Because she forever had the munchies.

And it dawned on him how truly well he knew Samantha.

He almost felt bad for her. She'd have no chance of escaping him because he knew everything about her.

Everywhere she'd go.

Everywhere she'd hide.

Any kind of retreat she could assemble.

"Dammit." He murmured. Cursing himself for the worst kind of betrayer in the land.

***

He turned and met Draven's gray eyed look.

The alpha gestured to the round bit of wood, Jaecar had smoothed. "What is all this about?"

Jaecar sighed and blinked at him. Unsure how to even explain.

"You understood our discussion last night, correct?"

Jaecar nodded reluctantly.

"After Lara's escape we can't risk the loss of any more breedables. I had to send my very own brother after that one to retrieve her. And God only knows how long that will take."

"Alaric never fails you." Jaecar said. Knowing the alpha's younger brother was the most dogged among them.

"Mate her, Jaecar. Tonight. Or I'll find someone who will." Draven gave him a long, meaningful stare to emphasize the threat.

Jaecar knew well he wasn't bluffing. And there were plenty of other males in the pack. Over fifty and many would be happy to have a pretty young female with supple flesh to climb atop.

"I could have Fury do it." Draven warned.

Fury was a horrible wolf. Scarred and vicious and barely socialized.

He'd destroy Samantha. And extinguish the light she exuded everywhere she went.

Jaecar crouched over the bit of wood and went back to work. Twice as determined as before.