Chapter 22

SAMANTHA

Emerick stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut. I was half expecting him to storm into the house, but instead, he swung my door open.

And he extended his hand toward me.

When I took it, he yanked so quickly that I barely had time to throw up my hands to keep from crashing into his broad chest.

I hadn’t even caught my breath when he cupped my chin and claimed my lips with his.

Our kiss was filled with desperation and depth. All the emotions we’d experienced over the past few days fueled it, and I could sense he was fighting as hard as I was to keep control.

Emerick lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around him, my pencil skirt riding up to my waist.

Using one hand to support me, he carried me to the front door and used his other hand to unlock the house.

The idea that he could easily hold me up with just one arm sent a thrill through me, moistening my panties.

He must have sensed it because I heard a low growl sound in his throat.

As soon as we were inside, he pressed me against the door, closing it behind us. He trailed kisses down my neck and used one hand to caress my breast.

I moaned when he pressed his erection against my core.

“Em…please,” I pleaded, reaching for his belt.

He pulled back just enough for me to free his cock, then he pinned me against the wall again, pushed my panties to the side, and guided himself to my entrance.

In one swift motion, he was buried deep inside me. I gasped. He moaned.

I opened my eyes to find one seriously pissed-off-looking male. For a moment, I wondered if I should be afraid, but then he started to move in and out of me, and all coherent thoughts disintegrated.

His pace was relentless. He was a man on a mission.

I felt my climax building as he thrust into me repeatedly, then he began to tease my nipple, and I threw my head back as an orgasm ripped through me, making me cry out his name.

As I came down from my elation, panting and resting my forehead on his shoulder, Emerick carried me to the bedroom.

He set me down gently, only then to spin me around so that my back was to his front. He bent me forward until I was positioned over the edge of the bed before pushing his way inside me again.

He started pounding into me, and I loved it. I knew it was about more than making love to him at the moment. He was marking his territory, showing me who I was dealing with.

But I didn’t care. I was so wet and ready for him. I was lost in the ecstasy of his touch, at how erotic I found his dominance.

He pulled me back against him so that my head rested against his chest, pulling my face toward him as he kissed me deeply.

He snaked his hand between my legs. As he played with my clit, I murmured against his lips, but his iron grip held me in place.

I was no match for his strength. Ayisha would’ve been able to put up a fight against Zef, but she was enjoying the moment as much as I was.

I gripped his forearms, holding on as he continued his onslaught.

“I will never let another man near you, Sam,” he growled.

I opened my eyes to meet his just as I felt another orgasm send me tumbling over the edge.

I screamed his name as he continued stroking me, thrusting into me, prolonging my pleasure until I felt him stiffen behind me.

He roared as I felt him find his own release.

My bones were jelly, and I sank into his arms. With effort, I moved my head back to rest it against his shoulder, and he buried his face in the crook of my neck, breathing deeply.

For a while, all I could hear was our ragged breathing and racing hearts.

I was the one to pull away first. With a sigh, Emerick let me go.

He seemed less disappointed when I stripped off my now rumpled clothes before climbing into his bed. Emerick did the same and pulled me close so I could snuggle my cheek against his chest.

“I love you, Sam,” he whispered.

“I love you too,” I replied, listening to his heartbeat. And it was true. Despite Celeste’s best attempts, I wasn’t willing to lose Emerick.

I felt his body finally relax, and he rested his chin on the top of my head. Despite the truly awful couple of days we had had, my feelings for him were never gone.

“I was serious about mating with you,” he said after a moment.

I pushed away to look at his face. “Emerick, I’m not going to let you make a rash offer after an emotional day and great makeup sex.”

“Hmm,” he mumbled while untangling himself from me.

It was my turn to sigh when he got out of bed. I thought he was going to stomp out of the room. Instead, he reached down and picked his pants off the floor. He pulled a small box out of the pocket.

“Oh my god,” I said. “Where did you get that?”

“While you were dealing with Emilia, I went to see my parents.” He made his way back to the bed. “This was my grandmother’s.”

He opened the box, and the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen glittered back at me. It was a vintage setting, with a large sapphire in the center. Small diamonds formed an intricate pattern around it.

I brought my trembling right hand to my mouth as he took my left one. To my surprise, the ring slid on easily—a perfect fit.

“Samantha Paulson, please make me the luckiest man in the world and marry me?” he said.

“I’ve only known you a few days, but you’ve already changed me for the better. Let me show you every day how much you mean to me.”

“Oh, Emerick…”

Stephen’s words replayed in the back of my mind. Mating Emerick guaranteed that no other man could attempt to take over my pack through the mating bond.

And despite everything, I didn’t doubt the sincerity of his feelings for me. He was a good man. I knew there could be something spectacular between us.

But how could I say yes? We barely knew each other.

On top of that, I was still angry that he’d not been more upfront about his relationship with Celeste. And if he truly had no idea about her feelings, what did that say about him?

Still, I wasn’t sure I wanted to say no.

I looked from the ring to his face, searching for the right words. “I…need to talk to Luke.”

Emerick nodded.

“And the alpha ceremony is in eight days. I don’t want to make any announcements before then,” I added.

He frowned, and his wolf flashed in his eyes. “Okay, Sam. I understand what you’re saying.”

“Please don’t make me feel bad.”

He looked away, working the muscle in his jaw.

“Look, I’m not saying no forever. But this is all moving way too fast. I feel like you’re racing to mark me as your territory rather than letting us enjoy getting to know each other.”

His lip curled in clear frustration. “You don’t get it, Sam. Werewolves can be relentless with she-wolves at the best of times. But a she-wolf alpha? They won’t stop coming.”

“And I’ll handle them,” I said, taking his face between my hands, “just like I’ve handled every threat since I got here.”

“I can’t. I won’t risk it, Sam. You’re mine. I want the whole world to know it.”

I recoiled and stared into the face of a man I no longer recognized.

After a moment, I pushed him back and reached for my shirt. “You know what? I think I’ve had enough of men trying to dictate how I’m going to live.

“My father lies to me my whole life, some alpha thinks he can pawn his son off on me, and now you?”

“Sam, wait, where are you going?”

I was so angry, I ignored his question. “Em, ~you~ are the one who doesn’t get it.

“You stole me from my home, from the life I built, just a few days ago, and thrust me in…into ~all~ of this. Werewolves, challenges, councils, alphas, lunas, and fucking mating. Argh!”

I wanted to scream, but Ayisha’s roar overpowered it and made the walls shake.

“Sam, you’re right. I’m sorry. Please, let’s talk about this.” He desperately reached for my forearm.

I smacked it away. “For the love of God, stop trying to fucking control me!”

We both stared at each other in stunned silence, absorbing my outburst. When I finally spoke again, my voice was softer.

“These last few years, it’s been just me, Luke, and my parents. But I can’t even be with them right now because it’s too dangerous.”

A tear fell. I angrily wiped it away as quickly as I could. “You were supposed to be my support, Em.”

Emerick’s own eyes were glistening, his face full of pain. “Sam, please…”

Slowly, I took off the ring and set it on the nightstand before meeting his tortured gaze.

“Don’t follow me.”

I grabbed my things, burst out of the bedroom, ran down the steps, and shouldered my way through the front door.

~It’s too much,~ I thought. ~All of it. It’s too much.~

For a moment, I thought about going back inside. I needed him. I needed someone.

Then I heard Emerick’s feet pounding on the stairs after me, and my resolve strengthened.

I threw my clothes on the wet ground, shifted into Ayisha, and let out a long howl as I tore into the woods.