Chapter 3

“Mate?” he said, lifting a brow in surprise. “To a Venari? How… interesting.”  

I didn’t know what to say or how to react. My thoughts swirled in confusion. Being mated was one thing, but to a lupari? That was beyond anything I could comprehend.  

“What exactly am I supposed to do with a Venari mate?” he muttered, his voice low and grumbling as he walked to a chair in the center of the tent. He sat down, his piercing gaze sweeping over me like I was prey.  

My anger flared, hot and uncontrollable. Before I could stop myself, the words slipped out. “You might as well reject me. I am not thrilled to be mated to a lupari.”  

The moment I said it, his expression froze, suddenly making me scared. His eyes sharpened, as if daring me to repeat myself. But beneath the icy stare, there was something else, amusement, maybe even excitement. Was he entertained by my defiance?  

“Take off your clothes,” he ordered briskly, his tone as cold as his eyes.  

I stared at him, stunned. The words didn’t register right away. Was he serious? When I didn’t move, his voice dropped into a growl. “Do I need to repeat myself? Take them off. Now.”  

My hands shook as I reached for the straps of my dress. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything else. Slowly, I tugged at the straps, letting the fabric slide off my body until it pooled at my feet.  

Standing there, completely exposed under his gaze, I bit the inside of my cheek to keep the tears at bay. I couldn’t look at him, not directly. His stare was too intense, filled with something that made me want to crawl out of my own skin.  

But as much as I despised this, I knew he was still a better option than the repulsive commander Kael who had  been set to take me before. That thought didn’t comfort me much.  

And yet, despite my fear, I couldn’t ignore what was obvious. The general wasn’t hideous. In fact, he was the opposite—breathtaking in a terrifying way. He was a perfect blend of raw power and beauty.  

His long braided hair, a sign of his victories in countless battles, shimmered faintly in the moonlight filtering through the tent. His silver eyes glinted like steel, cold and his body, scarred and massive was a monument to strength and survival.  He looked too good to be true.

“I... I can’t. I’ve never…” My voice faltered as he stepped closer, each movement predatory.  

I stumbled back, my heart hammering in my chest, but he didn’t stop. He kept coming, closing the distance until my back hit the wall of the tent.  

Trapped between the rough fabric and his strong body, I could feel his heat, his power radiating off him.

Icouldn’t look at his face, it was far too intimidating. My wolf stirred wildly inside me, more restless than I had ever felt, more intense than any Venari could imagine.

His hands trailed up my waist, slowly , until they reached my chest. He cupped my breasts, squeezing them firmly, and I gasped, though the sound barely escaped before his mouth claimed mine in a kissrough and overpowering.

His fingers tangled in my hair, gripping it tightly as he tilted my head back, forcing my lips to part and let him in completely. His tongue invaded my mouth with dominance, moving in sync with the way his rough, calloused hands kneaded my sensitive breast.

I moaned involuntarily when his hand slid lower, brushing over the sensitive bud between my legs while pinching my nipples at the same time. I had never been touched like this before, and I wasn’t even sure if it was supposed to feel this way, so wrong and yet electrifying.

His hand left my chest and traveled further down. Panic set in as I realized where it was headed, but I couldn’t move; his grip on me was too strong. His fingers brushed against my clit, sending a strange feeling  through my body, a sensation I couldn’t understand or resist.

When his finger slipped between my folds, I gasped against his lips, my body betraying me as I felt warmth pool between my thighs. He broke the kiss, giving me a moment to breathe, though his fingers didn’t stop. They moved in and out of me, stretching me in ways I had never experienced before.

I clenched around his fingers, my body reacting instinctively. He leaned in close, his hot breath brushing against my ear as he whispered in a low, threatening tone, “Just so you know, I have no plans of being gentle.”

Before I could process his words, he pushed me against the sturdy table in the tent. My bare body collided with the hard surface, my legs trembling as he spread me with one hand, his fingers sliding back inside me.

I gripped the edge of the table, feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensations running through me. His thumb brushed slow, teasing circles against my clit, igniting something inside me that I couldn’t control.

“You’re wet,” he growled, his voice rough and full of hunger. “Lucky for you. Maybe it will hurt less.”

Without warning, I felt something hard and impossibly large push against me, forcing its way inside. Pain tore through me, unbearable, as I let out a scream.