Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
Chapter 29

LEANDER’S POV

As soon as I walked into the room, Hycinth got off the bed and faced me. She stared at me for a long moment, expression contrite at first. But then it slowly transitioned into fury.

“What the f**k happened?” I snarled. The Ceremony she’d just recklessly ruined with her hot-headedness was meant to give the wolves in the pack an outlet to express their appreciation and thanks. That certainly wasn’t how it turned out.

I couldn’t believe she’d put me in that position! An open challenge always required a public punishment. There was no way that she was ignorant of that fact, and yet instead of talking to me, like I asked her to do, she decided to issue an openhanded challenge right across my cheek!

If she’d done that in private, I would’ve handled it differently. But she didn’t. And my Wolf would never allow that disrespect to go unpunished.

So here we were, glaring at each other, and I was hoping for an explanation soon, which didn’t look like it was forthcoming with the way her lips were pressed close, refusing to answer my question.

This was ridiculous.

“Where’s the attitude now? Did I spank you docile? If I’d known that’s all it took, I would have spanked you the first day.”

“F**k you!” Her eyes blazed.

“Oh, she finally speaks,” I mocked. “So are you ready to tell me what the hell got into you?”

“I want to see Luca,” she countered.

You want to see Luca?

It was like we were having two different conversations.

“No!” I growled. After that little stunt, she’d be lucky if I didn’t just take his head right off.

She glared defiantly, feet apart, hands on her h**s, shoulders back.

I returned her stony gaze with one of my own. She had another thing coming if she thought posturing like an angry kitten was going to do anything to sway me. I could play this game all damn day. I waited for her next move, curious to see what trick she had up her sleeve.

But then, her bottom l*p quivered. Her shoulders slumped slightly, and her voice lowered to a whisper, “Please, I, I…need…to see him.”

I gritted my teeth together. Finally, a break in her armor and that is what she wants-another wolf.

I reminded myself they grew up together as brother and sister, but that didn’t eliminate the fact that they were not b***d-related and she had spent her entire life practically in his arms.

All right. Fine. She wanted to take things up a notch. That worked for me because I was done holding back. I wanted more. Let’s just see how far she was willing to go. “What will you give me?”

Her eyes widened, anger temporarily lost in confusion. “What do you mean?”

I wanted to chuckle. Sometimes I forgot how innocent she was, how naïve. I purred suggestively, “Everything has a price. We negotiate, remember? If you want something from me, what are you willing to give me in return?”

Her cheeks flushed with color, finally catching up to my intent. My Wolf growled. He liked her innocence. She bit her l*p nervously. So she wasn’t quite as good at this game as she was anger. Perfect.

“What do you want?”

I stifled a g***n. That was the wrong question to ask because she was nowhere near ready for that answer.

Instead of shocking her with all of the dirty things I wanted to do to her, I demanded softly, “I want to see you all of you.” She’d put me through her visual inspection. Now it was my turn. And I thought it was a step she could handle.

She shifted her weight from one leg to the other. “That’s it? Just looking? This one time. And no touching?”

“That’s it,” I confirmed, already excited about having her naked little body in front of me.

“I want to speak to him alone,” she added, trying to lock me into an agreement that worked for her. Not so naïve after all, I contemplated.

OBut I liked this arrangement. “Deal. Shall we go?”

She chewed her l*p a moment longer and then reluctantly replied, “Okay.”

I walked her down to Lucky’s cell and had Ever wait outside for her so that he could walk her back when she finished.

When Ever returned her to me about an hour later, Hycinth stood just inside the door, looking like a deer caught in headlights. I expected her to lay into me about whatever it was she was angry about and was shocked when she just shifted her weight nervously and looked up through her lashes at me.

Apparently, I was going to have to wait for answers, but I certainly didn’t mind waiting like this. I relaxed my back against the pillows and headboard of the bed and motioned her forward.

She took a reluctant step and then another and another until she was just outside of my reach. I made no move toward her, trying to present the illusion of safety. But it was hell holding myself back when all I wanted to do was touch every inch of her creamy flesh with my fingers and tongue. My pants had already tented at the thought, revealing my desire.

Her eyes glanced down between my legs, and she took a startled step back. I was fairly certain if I didn’t say something to calm her down, she was going to make a run for it. I spoke quickly, keeping my tone soft and even, “Sorry, love. It can’t be helped. You’re a beautiful wolf. But I promise to stick to our arrangement…just looking, no touching.”

She hesitated, not looking very reassured. I gave her a moment to work up her courage. I had to remember this type of intimacy was new for her. The air in the room felt thick, pulsing between us, almost alive and tangible to the touch. After another long moment of indecision, it was clear she needed a gentle nudge of encouragement to get started. I swallowed and tried to keep the full extent of my desire from coming out of my tone. I held her gaze and murmured huskily, “Show me.”

They were the same words she demanded of me, and they seemed to jolt her out of her immobility. She fidgeted in place and then brought her fingers to the hem of her shirt. In one smooth movement, she lifted it over her head and let it fall next to her on the floor. My breath caught in my throat. I thought I’d been prepared for what I might see. I had assumed I could guess what was hidden beneath her clothing. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

My brain was still trying to comprehend the shock while she reached behind her back and unlatched her bra, letting it fall as well, leaving her topless before me. I tried to keep my mouth from dropping open, but it was difficult. She had beautiful skin with an hourglass figure, full, rounded breasts, a trim waist and sultry h**s I wanted to run my tongue along. But it wasn’t her exquisite figure which had me in awe.