001

Ember's POV

The water dripped down my skin, cold and scalding but it could not soothe the fire burning with a feral intensity inside of me.

I tilted my head backwards, my finger curling against the slick tile as another wave of heat throbbed in my lower belly.

It was intoxicating and at the same time agonizing. It was coming soon, I could feel it.

I thought I had a little more time to at least fight or control it. To suppress that primal, raw urge and ache that had been slowly building up for some days now.

But unfortunately, it had come too suddenly and I couldn't control my body from betraying me. I couldn't stop the thick slick pooling between my thighs, the way my knees trembled beneath me or the way my nipples erect and throbbed under the water.

I was in heat.

And I couldn't control it, it was unbearable.

With each shaky breath I took, my lungs were filled with that intoxicating scent of cedarwood and dominance.

Zane. It belonged to him.

It lingered in all corners of the hall, the walls, the towels! Even the fucking floor I stood on!

I took a deep, shaky breath, a soft sigh escaping my lips, my eyes fixed to the ceiling.

Zane was not even home. I convinced myself about that before entering the shower, stumbling, barely walking straight.

I had convinced myself that I was safe, he wasn't here. But much to my horror, my words became a bland lie when I heard the floorboard creak just outside the bathroom.

I widened my eyes, my heart stopping.

No….no, no, no!

I jolted up, panic flooding my chest as I quickly turned off the faucet.

In an instant, I was hot, cold and frozen all at once, my heart pounding vigorously in my chest as I held my breath, listening.

There was silence then…..

A slow click, the door unbolted.

The hairs on my skin rose, my eyes flying open.

I had bolted it, I was very sure it was locked.

“Za…Zane?” I croaked, my voice faint and almost inaudible. “Sto…stop…..”

The bathroom door creaked open.

There he was, my almighty step-brother.

Six foot four of muscle and threat. Wide shoulders covered in a black shirt that stuck to every inch of him.

His jaw was tight, hard enough to break bone. But it was his eyes that stopped me, those golden, shining balls flickering with leader power.

He caught the scent. He smelled me.

“Fuck” a low growl rumbled from his chest, low and rough but it stirred up something within me. “What did you think? That I wouldn't smell that?”

I flexed my knee to my chest. “Get out” I muttered, barely able to hold myself upright.

He arched his brows slightly as he stepped in fully, shutting the door behind him as it locked with a loud, taunting click.

“I warned you not to wear that fucking towel around me, Ember” he growled, his nostrils flaring slightly as his eyes scanned every inch of my soaked, naked body. “You knew the effect it has on me”

I stood up in a start, almost stumbling, water still dripping from my body and inner thighs.

“I…I didn't expect…expect it to come early” I whispered in a stutter, my voice shaky.

“You didn't expect it?” He repeated, his voice echoing as he inched closer to me. “Tsk…” he clicked his tongue. “Bullshit. For three days now you've been reeking of raw, untamed arousal. You've been dripping through your panties in every corner of my house and you thought I wouldn't notice?”

My breath hitched. “This is our house, not yours, Zane” I snapped, a slight frown forming on my face. “You don't own me nor this house”

He was silent, he didn't need to say anything.

Because the second those words rolled out of my lips, his wolf came at the edge, pushing forward as he slammed into me like a wall, paralyzing me.

“Ahh!” I whimpered as my back hit the cold tile of the shower before I could even process what the hell was going on.

My breath hitched as I gasped, struggling to break free but unfortunately, he pinned my wrists above my head with one of his hands. The other grabbed my wet hair in a tight fist as he buried his face in my neck.

“You belong to me” he snarled slowly. “Say it”

“Never” I breathed, ignoring the urge in my body to yell out ‘yes’ a thousand times over.

“Fuck it” he growled again, his tongue tracing the column of my throat. I shivered under his touch, legs trembling as my core throbbed. My scent was stronger, wet with arousal and desperate.

“Say it” he snarled, grinding his hips into mine. “Say you belong to me Ember. Or I swear….”

“No” I cut him off, hissing. “You….you are my step-brother” my voice came out weak, almost trailing.

“We aren't related by blood,” he sneered. “Just a fucked up law. No force on this earth is stronger than the bond that connects us both”

Before I could realize what was happening, his lips crashed against mine.

I screamed, mumbling against his mouth, it was not in fear, but because it felt as though I was being consumed.

I squirmed, but not hard enough.

I should have fought harder, I should have stopped him!

But I didn't, in fact, I couldn't.

His tongue thrust past my lips into my mouth, raw and possessive. As his thigh pushed between mine, a moan tore through my throat.

I was soaking wet, heat slick dripping down my thighs onto my legs.

“Fuck!” He groaned against my skin as though it drove him mad. “You smell like need, like fucking desire! Like you've been rubbing yourself thinking about me”

“I…I haven't” I lied, clenching my teeth as I tilted my head backwards.

“Liar” he snarled.

Finally, he let go of my wrists but I didn't move, I couldn't. Then, he leaned in, kissing me again, this time slower as though he was savoring every inch of my lips, how I tasted and every hitch of my breath.

“Zane….” I muttered under my breath, letting him do what he wanted.

"I'm trying," he growled against my lips. "I'm trying to be good. I'm trying to walk away. But you…."

He grabbed my hips, pulled me forward. My legs wrapped around his waist without me thinking.

His dick was hard, thick, and hot even through his jeans, and it pressed against me with a promise I wasn't ready for. Or maybe I was.

"You want me to stop?" he whispered, his forehead against mine, his breath shaky. Silence.

Then…..

”No.” I whispered.

That was all it took. He ripped his shirt off, and I gasped. I'd seen him without a shirt before, but not like this.

Not when I was this turned on and shaking and needing him. His body was built from anger and power, every part of him screaming dominance.

His stomach muscles tightened as he unbuckled his belt, letting it fall with a soft clink on the floor.

“You’re not leaving here without me touching you, Ember,” he said in a low tone. “Not when your smell’s been driving me crazy. Not when my wolf’s ready to burst out of my skin just to get to you.”

“You shouldn't crave me” I whispered, my heart pounding. “You…you said it yourself, I was a mistake”

He paused for a brief second, lifting his hand towards my face as he tilted my face upward.

“You are a mistake, yes, but…..” he murmured, his golden orbs searching for mine. “You are my favourite one”

His fingers then trailed between my breasts, slow, menacing and possessive. “I'm going to ruin you and make sure you're mine alone”

Then I felt it…..

His hands slipped even lower, down my stomach, between my thighs. I swallowed a moan as he found the slick heat there.

“Ahh….” He purred. “So wet, all for me”

His mouth returned to me quickly, hot and intense and then he knelt down.

His tongue, lips, and teeth created a sensation that was overwhelming. I cried out, holding his hair, as the pleasure washed over me repeatedly.

When he stood up again, his eyes shone brighter than before.

“Turn around,” he commanded, his voice rough.

I obeyed, placing my hands on the tile for support.

A second later, I felt him behind me, thick and hard, pressing against me.

“This changes everything,” he said, voice softer now. Almost… broken. “You know that, right?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I know.”

Just as he was about to thrust into me, we heard it.

The unmistakable sounds of footsteps.

No, not now. My stepfather. The floor creaked outside the bathroom, and for a moment, everything was quiet.

But Zane wasn't bothered. He smiled with a carefree attitude, his golden eyes shining with confidence. He didn't stop or hesitate. Instead, he looked at the door, then back at me. "No one will see us," he said softly, but with a hint of challenge.

He wasn't scared, he was excited by the danger. My stepfather's voice could be heard from the other side, faint but clear. "Zane?"

Zane laughed quietly, his hand touching the cool tile next to me, his body so close I could feel its warmth. He wasn't afraid at all. If anything, he wanted a reason to take things further.

"Get out," I whispered urgently, feeling a knot of panic in my stomach. With one last, playful smirk, Zane didn't hurry.

He moved slowly, his eyes meeting mine one last time before he quietly slipped away, his body making barely a sound as he disappeared into the hallway.

After he was gone, I released the breath I didn't realize I was holding.

If we were caught, that meant one thing;

Death.