Chapter 9 - You won’t be able to run

EMMA

The prince uses his grip on my chin to silence me. I grip my hands around his thick muscular forearm and try to pull him away from me, but he is unmovable. I stare at him with pleading eyes. He runs his thumb over my bottom lip and matches my stare.

His eyes have a heat to them that draws me into forbidden territory. His eyes cloud over and they turn from angry to seductive. It fogs my brain from rational thought. Something in his eyes has me under a spell and it draws my body closer to him. *Can werewolves cast spells?* His weight presses heavy on mine. He lets go of my chin and leans down to trace his lips down my jaw and neck.

His touches turn slow and enticing instead of hard and forceful. He sucks on the juncture between by neck and shoulder and I let out a breathy exhale. He moves his massive hand around my thigh to hike my leg higher around his waist.

My fingers are drawn to his bare hulking frame and slide over the smooth skin on his shoulders. His fingers move in a trail to my hip and over the side of my rib cage. Heat builds between my legs as I let instinct take over.

For a second my body is consumed by the flames.

He takes a deep inhale and a deep growl vibrates through his chest. For a second I believe that the prince will do exactly as he said he would do, but his weight lifts from my body.

I’m dazed as the cloud fogs my vision. I can see the outline of the prince standing by the window. His back turned towards me and he’s rubbing his jaw as he looks out to the forest.

I sit up on the sofa and blink my eyes to clear the haze from my vision. *What just happened?*

When the cloud disappears and the distance gives me back my conscious brain, I freeze. *What kind of black magic did he just use on me? There is no way I actually would let him do this, right?*

He turns around to face me and his gaze is pensive. “What is it you really want?”

His sculpted torso glows in the fading sunlight. I can’t help but trace the lines with my eyes down his abdomen, the V lines and over the prominent bulge of his trousers.

I blink my eyes again. “What?” I whisper. My mind is slow to catch up.

I’m surprised to see real curiosity in his eyes, hidden beneath a deep scowl. “What did my sister offer you? Money? Fame? Or are you just a masochist?”

I scoff and I adjust the skirt of my dress. I wish it was something as simple as money or fame. Then I could just walk away from this nightmare. “You think I want money?”

I dig my nails deep in my palms. I should be quiet. I should be pliant and convince him, but I can’t. Not after everything. “You think I want *fame* after all the army did to my people. After all the despair you put us through, you think I want to be known for being the mate of the prince?”

I stand up from the sofa. Rage burns hot in my chest when the memories resurface and I walk towards him. I don’t know why, but something tells me he won’t hurt me. Or maybe my subconscious is just as stupid as me.

“And do you really think I want your hands on me when I know what kind of claws hide under it?” I stand directly in front of him and look up. “I'd rather have you kill me right now.”

A loud growl emanates through the room and I freeze. His eyes are narrowed and flicker between black and amber. “You should leave the kingdom and save yourself from suffering.”

I scoff at his statement. I’ve been suffering for most of my life. “What do you know about suffering?”

My nose scrunches as I look up to him. “You’re the Alpha King’s precious son. Inflicting pain and despair is in your blood.”

His fists clench and his jaw locks. “You don’t know what you're talking about.”

I narrow my eyes at him and straighten myself taller. “Tell that to girls that died in my arms, because they were born with the wrong eye color.”

He moves lightning fast as he pins me against the bookcase and covers my mouth with his hand. My vision spins as he looks down on me. His bulging shoulder strains as he presses his forearm against my chest. “Be careful what you say within these walls. Statements like that can cost you your head”

He releases his hand from my mouth and allows me to breathe.

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into." He places a hand on the glass beside my head and his masculine scent messes with my head again.

I grit my teeth. “Why should I listen to you?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Do you even know what’s going to happen if I choose you as my mate?” He moves closer again, towering over me.

“Werewolves don’t marry like humans. We either have fated mates or we choose a mate during a choosing ceremony.” His eyes roam over my face and linger on my neck. “Then marks her.”

I have heard some things about mates before, but I can’t say that I know how it all works, so I listen closely to the new information.

“Mark?” I ask and stay very still.

The prince hums in agreement. He moves my hair over my shoulder. “With my teeth. Right here…” He trails his fingers over the side of my neck, stopping at the juncture of my shoulder. It leaves shivers on my skin that moves all the way to the tips of my fingers.

“It’ll leave a scar and everyone will know you’re mine.” The prince speaks every word carefully, making sure I get the full weight of it.

His eyes bore into mine. “But that’s only the first part, then comes the mating.”

I swallow and blood floods my cheeks. “Mating as in…”

The prince follows the movement of my throat. His eyes return to mine and he gets impossibly close. His breath fans over my face. “Yes, the ceremony is not complete without me mating my chosen female. Only then it’s final. My wolf will demand that I do it.” His voice is low and raspy.

I don’t like how his words create a sea of lava in my stomach. His words should not have that effect on me. He’s a werewolf, he’s my enemy. I should hate every word that comes out of his mouth.

I press my hand against his chest to give myself space to breathe. He grabs my wrist instead and extends my arms high above my head and stretches my body against his. The stretch of his muscles draws my attention with every movement.

He runs his nose along my jaw and temple and inhales deeply. “I will have my way with you then.”

My limbs have no strength compared to his. He can mold my body any way he deems fit. I’m powerless under his command.

“And believe me when I tell you this, little human.” His manhood presses into my stomach. It’s hard and threatening with the promise of torment. “You won’t be able to run from me.”

My body burns hot under the gravity of his words, of his proximity. Everything about him is hefty and strong. His voice, his body, his presence. He can crush me with a snap of his fingers and I don’t dare to say that it will all be unwilling.

His chest expands with the deep breath he takes. He waits to let the words sink in, then he backs off. “So think carefully about what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

A cold shiver runs over my body when he backs off completely, taking the warmth of his body with him. I shudder visibly, and the prince must see it as fear.

He grimaces. “Like I said. You don’t know what you're getting yourself into. This is no place for a human, and my sister is not someone you should make a deal with.”