Bound to Kill
Chapter 7

Darius

For the last two years, I’ve avoided relationships like a demon avoids holy water, settling for shallow, no-strings encounters. I swore I’d never open the door for someone to betray me again. Then the Fates throw an infuriating, argumentative, beautiful, fierce, all-around pain-in-my-arse mate my way.

Our battles for dominance are thrilling and make me rock-hard. The bond chips away at my resolve, making me crave her, melting the icy fortress I built to protect my heart. It’s not just the bond that draws me to Lexi; she’s strong, and her fiery nature drives me wild. Hunter was right when he said she is my perfect match. I don’t need nor want a submissive. I need an equal.

Her beauty makes my pulse race, her smart-ass mouth makes my cock twitch, and even though it’s never directed at me, her smile is enough to brighten the shittiest day.

No matter how much I fought my attraction to her and rebelled against the idea of having a mate, I couldn’t overcome the desire to kiss her. I constantly replay it in my mind: her soft lips, addictive taste, the little moans she makes, and her damn intoxicating scent is all I can think about.

Just as I consider letting her in, after opening up to her about Kayleigh, Lexi admits the truth. I keep my composure in her presence, mostly. But as soon as she’s out of my office, my body trembles with pure, unadulterated fury, as unforgiving and untamed as a river of molten lava. The mere thought of her association with the SEB makes my skin crawl. I open my first-floor window and jump, landing in wolf form. A tortured howl rips from my wolf, mourning our dead and what could have been with Lexi. We run through the woods for hours, only returning when dawn approaches.

The pack gathers in the assembly hall after burying our lost packmates. My grief is mirrored on their faces.

“We’ve lost seventeen wolves and have another ten in medical. We’re vulnerable.” Exhaustion has settled so deep I feel it in my bones, but I power through. “I want around-the-clock sentries taking five-hour shifts. Raise the alarm if any wolf comes within five miles of our territory. We will mourn our dead while protecting our land.”

A chorus of “Yes, Alpha” fills the hall. My Beta and the pack healers update me, and then I retreat to my study.

Hunter follows. “What’s going on, D? I can feel your turmoil.”

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “It’s Lexi. She’s a spy for the SEB, an assassin.”

His eyes widen. “Fuck! Why are they after you?”

“Unclear, but I assume it’s because of Kayleigh’s disappearance.”

“Does she know they sent an assassin after yer da?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m sorry, Darius.” The pity on his face makes me feel worse.

“I’ve gotta do this paperwork. Set up the sentries, please.”

“Okay, man, let me know if ya need anything.” He pats my shoulder before leaving me to it. I’m blissfully alone for three minutes when there’s a knock on my door.

“Yes?”

“Alpha. I just wanted to check on you.” Stacey twirls her hair in her hand while giving me bedroom eyes.

“I’m fine, Stacey!”

“It’s just I heard you fighting with Lexi last night. Why haven’t you rejected her? She’s not right for you, Alpha. You need a real woman to satisfy all your needs.” Stacey deliberately licks her lips, then sucks the bottom one. “I’m always available if you need—”

Not this again. I was over this conversation the minute I scented her at my door. I interrupt before she makes my headache any worse. Listening to her badmouth Lexi is making me feel some kind of way. “Stacey, we had fun last year, but I was clear it was a one-time thing. I’m not looking for a repeat, strings or otherwise. As for my mate, do not concern yourself with her. Your opinion is irrelevant. If either of us decides to reject the mate bond, that will not change the fact that I’m not interested in you. I trust this will be the last time we have this discussion?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Good, see yourself out.” My tone and dismissal may seem harsh, but I’ve tried to let her down gently several times. Maybe this time she’ll hear me.

Just as I dive into the business proposal I’ve been putting off reading all week, my phone vibrates right off the corner of my desk. I catch it before it hits the marble floor and see Lexi’s name on the screen. Anger and excitement duel inside me.

A smile tugs at my lips when she tears me a new one for my reaction last night. And she’s right. I misplaced my hatred for the SEB onto her. I fucked up!

I leave early to meet her by the creek as requested. Lexi approaches in wolf form. My wolf yearns to run with his mate, and I have no plans to stop him. I undress, shift and cross the distance between us. There’s excitement in her eyes as she spots me and takes off in the opposite direction. For a stolen moment, our troubles are forgotten as I chase her through the endless woods, playfully nipping at her heel, autumn leaves crunching underfoot.

As the last rays of the sun filter through the trees, Lexi returns to the creek, and we shift to human form. One look at her makes me harder than a calculus equation. There’s a little tattoo on her upper thigh near her perfectly waxed centre. I want to explore both with my tongue.

Claim her, my wolf demands.

Can it, will you? I swear, sometimes I wish I could kick your furry arse.

I would destroy you!

Lexi bends over to grab the bag of clothes her wolf carried, showing off her plump butt. My head tilts as visions of gripping her arse while she bounces on my cock assault me. I barely contain the groan in my throat.

She looks at me as she dresses, slowly trailing her eyes over my physique, pausing on my cock; which is practically waving at her.

Then her beautiful eyes meet mine.

Alexa

My wolf is elated after running with her mate. Now he stands before us, a tall glass of nakie deliciousness. I try to play it cool, but I feel his hungry eyes on me, heating me from the inside.

As I dress, I study his beauty: every inch of him is toned to perfection, just the right amount of hair on his chest, intricate tattoos cover his arms and thick thighs, and his very long, thick shaft has my clit pulsating.

Claim him!

Would you simmer down? We’re here on business, end of.

How about business and then pleasure?

Ignoring my wolf, I move this along before I take her horrible advice. “Get dressed, wolf. We have work to do.”

His seductive smile says, ′I’ll work that ache between your thighs.′ I squeeze them together, feeling hot all over.

“Whatever you say, little wolf.”

Once dressed, we sit together on a fallen log.

“Lexi, I want to apologise for not hearing you out last night. I appreciate you being honest with me. It’s just—”

“Forget it. I wouldn’t take kindly to an assassin stalking me either.”

“Please, just let me explain.” He exhales. I feel his distress through our bond and fight the urge to reach for his hand. “I reacted that way because the SEB killed my da.”

My mouth gapes. “I had no idea. I’m sorry!”

Darius nods with sadness in his eyes, pulling my heartstrings. “He was a great Alpha, ran everything by the book, but a small group of wolves didn’t agree with his decisions. They left and formed the Silver Moon Pack.” I rack my brain but haven’t heard of them. “Everything was fine for about a year, but word got back to us that Silver Moon was mistreating their female wolves, so my da visited their territory with his Beta. That’s where he found Stacey. She requested to join our pack, and my da accepted.”

Darius takes another deep breath. This time, I don’t stop myself from offering him comfort, squeezing his hand.

“Peter, the Silver Moon Alpha, challenged him to reclaim his wolf. My da won easily, but the Silver Moon Pack rebelled. Attacked him and his Beta. They had no choice but to kill them in self-defence.”

“Anyone would have done the same,” I admit.

“Agreed,” he growls. “But the SEB declared my da ruthlessly eliminated the entire pack for simply leaving ours. He was assassinated a week later.”

“Darius, I had no idea they operated like that. All of my marks have been evil... until you.”

My stomach is in knots, and my mind races with a whirlwind of questions. What if I killed an innocent for them? No, I’m diligent. There was always a cause for my hits until now. Is this why the SEB are after him? I can only imagine the look of horror on my face. ”Did you report them to the Supernatural Council?”

“I did.” Darius’ eyes darken as his wolf rises to the surface. “They slapped the SEB Director on the wrist. I plotted my revenge for a while, but I couldn’t put the pack in danger. There’s no taking on the SEB.”

He’s right. They’re an invisible enemy, an enemy I work for. I feel like I’m about to throw up.

“We’ll clear your name, and then I’m done with them,” I tell him with conviction. He squeezes my hand. “Do you know this man?” I pass him my cell, showing a picture of the Agent.

Darius shakes his head. “Never seen him before.”

“This is my handler; he has a hard-on for seeing you six feet under. It seems personal. Are you sure he’s not related to or a friend of Kayleigh’s?”

Darius looks at the picture again. “If he is, we never met.”

Fuck! “Can you tell me about the man Kayleigh had an affair with? I’m sorry to open old wounds.”

The Alpha turns on the log to face me, crossing his left leg over the right. “His name is Paul Murray. We grew up together, friends since nursery.”

Darius shows me a photo on social media. He’s average-looking at best. Someone else for my hacker to dig into.

“Paul was my Beta until I found out about the affair. After his exile, he challenged and killed the Alpha of the Lakeside Pack. Their territory is about fifteen miles east of ours.”

“Is there a conflict between your packs?”

“Yes. Paul hasn’t the balls to challenge me but sends wolves into our territory. It never ends well for those wolves.”

“So why does he keep sending them?” I ask, genuinely confused.

“Cos he’s incompetent,” Darius smirks. “When I look back at our childhood, I realise he was jealous of me. I just never saw it until it was too late.”

“Is he causing trouble now? I noticed security is amped up.”

“Just a precaution. Our numbers are low since the hybrid.”

I feel his grief shoot through the bond like it’s my own, sharp and suffocating. I only wish I’d gotten to the hybrid sooner.

“One last question.”

Amused, he opens his arms wide. “I’m an open book.”

A small smile tugs at my lips as I wonder where this side of him has been up til now. “Did you have suspicions about how close Paul and Kayleigh were?”

He scoffs. “Around me, they didn’t get along, always complaining about the other. I never understood how they got from hate to fucking, until I met you.” The bastard smirks when I give him my dirtiest glare. “Don’t worry, little wolf. I don’t hate you, but our fights are an aphrodisiac.”

Damn him for being right. I get wet just thinking about our battles for dominance. I squeeze my thighs together to relieve the ache between my legs.

“I’ve no idea what you mean.” His answering grin indicates I’ve forgotten my training and need to work on my poker face.

Invading my personal space, his gaze drops to my lips as he asks, “Are you sure about that? I’m positive that each time we argue, your panties get soaked.” His pupils dilate, and there’s excitement in his eyes as he challenges me to deny it.

“Alpha, I believe you are projecting. That strain in your pants looks uncomfortable. You should take care of that.”

I stand and turn to leave, but he grabs my wrist, pulls me to his chest and presses his lips against mine. Not hurried and desperate like our other kisses, but slow and passionate. Damn my traitorous body for wanting him. I kiss him back, but it’s hostile; that only turns the fucker on more. My nipples immediately harden, begging to be touched. His hands caress my ass, pulling me closer.

Suddenly, he breaks the kiss and brushes his thumb across my swollen lips. “To be continued, little wolf, my sentries just alerted me. Lakeside wolves are approaching our land. Would you do me the honour of fighting by my side, mate?”

Thrilled that he sees my worth, I grin. “Like you even have to ask.”