You are mine now!

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EMMA

"It's good. So, Emma, tell me about yourself. I'm intrigued by your personality," he said, and I shared the story of my life so far, leaving out the part where I caught Violet making out with my boyfriend. I told him about my dream of becoming a vet, but how I felt stuck in this situation with him.

"Now, it's your turn," I said. "I know all about your lifestyle, but I want to know why you're so possessive of me. Sometimes, you go crazy when I don't do what you want." I watched him, waiting for his answer.

He chuckled. "Trust me, you don't want to hear it."

"Trust me, I really do want to hear what's going on with you," I said confidently.

His expression shifted, growing intense. "I've been attracted to you since the first time I met you, and not once have you left my mind. You've become my obsession. I can't stand the thought of you with any other man."

I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of disbelief and confusion. "You can't be serious. You have a mate. This isn’t possible. Wolves are only attracted to their mates."

"Trust me, sweetheart, I don’t understand it either," he said, his voice softer now. "I care for Violet. She has everything a man could want—thrill, excitement, but you're different. There's an innocence about you, and I want to touch every inch of your body."

My breath caught in my throat. What was I doing here with him? He was my sister’s mate, and yet we were having this conversation, one that led nowhere good. I felt like I was betraying Violet, and even though he might not care, I did.

"Being a virgin... that doesn't have anything to do with the curse, right?" I asked, feeling uncertain.

"You're a smart one, Emma," he said, his eyes glinting with something I couldn’t place. "I want to know if you're a virgin because I want you all to myself."

I stood up, suddenly feeling suffocated. "Screw you and your curse," I snapped, walking away from the table, but he grabbed my hand and yanked me back toward him.

"I'm attracted to you, Emma. That doesn’t mean you get away with misbehaving," he growled, holding me tightly. I tried to break free, but his grip was unyielding.

I looked around, and everyone in the room was watching us. "Everyone, leave," he ordered, his voice low and commanding. The staff bowed and quickly exited, leaving us alone.

I turned to face him, struggling against his grip. "What is wrong with you? Don't you know the boundaries between us?"

He tightened his hold on me. "Tell me, Emma... don't you feel it too? The attraction? Don't you feel anything when I touch you? When our breaths mix together?" His voice was low and intense, sending shivers down my spine.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the truth of what he was saying. Everything he said was real—I felt it when I first met him. But I couldn’t accept it. Not like this.

"Stay away, Elijah," I whispered, but he only chuckled darkly.

His lips brushed against my neck, and I froze. "You're the only one who calls me Elijah without addressing me as Alpha first. And every time you say my name, I want to fuck you and taste every inch of your body."

I gasped, my breath coming in shallow, uneven bursts. I tried to compose myself, but his words were like a physical blow.

"Elijah, don't do this, please," I pleaded, trying to pull away. He released me, but his eyes were still locked on mine, like a predator sizing up its prey.

"Just tell me one thing," he said, his voice hushed but intense. "Don’t you feel the same way? Whenever you look at me, don’t you feel the connection between us?"

I couldn't lie. Everything he said was true, but I didn’t have the courage to admit it out loud.

"Are you trapping me? Trying to make me your whore like all the other girls?" I asked, my tone disgusted. It felt like he was using me to satisfy his desire, and the thought made my stomach turn.

"Are you out of your mind?" His expression shifted to anger. "I don’t want you to be my whore."

"Then what is it?" I asked, frustration building. "Are you in love with me? Because that’s not possible—you have your mate."

"I don’t know what love is or what’s happening to me, but I don’t want you to be my whore," he said, inching closer. I extended my hand to stop him.

"Elijah, then what do you want from me? I’m already stuck with you because of some curse. What else do you want?" I asked, frustration lacing my voice.

"I want to figure out what’s between us. But I need to know if the feeling is mutual. Look at me," he said, lifting my chin to make me meet his gaze. His eyes were pulling me in, drowning me in their intensity, and I couldn’t deny the truth any longer.

"I’ve felt the pull towards you since the first time I saw you, but it’s wrong to even think about you. This is all wrong, Elijah," I said, my chest tightening as he made me feel trapped.

"Then why does everything feel so right?" he asked, his voice low as he closed the distance between us.

"Don’t do this, Elijah. We’ll regret it," I said, my heart racing as he began planting soft kisses on my lips.

"Let’s drown in this. I don’t know what’s right or wrong, but I want you right now," he murmured, capturing my lips in a heated kiss. He kissed me gently at first, but the intensity grew as we both gave in. I couldn’t help but kiss him back, feeling something I had never felt before. His lips devoured mine, and my body responded without hesitation.

Soon, he had me in his arms, placing me on the table. His hands roamed over my body, and I gasped when he started unzipping my dress. I opened my eyes wide, realizing where this was headed.

"Stop, Elijah," I said, my voice shaking.

He immediately stopped and stood still, his breathing as ragged as mine. For a moment, neither of us said a word. I jumped off the table, adjusting my dress as Elijah ran a hand through his hair, his gaze intense. I noticed my lipstick marks on his face, and it felt like the weight of everything hit me.

"My lipstick is on your face," I murmured, and he wiped it away without a second thought.

"I haven’t played with you. I desire you, and there’s nothing wrong with that," he said, his tone unapologetic.

"This is wrong in every way. You have a mate. I made a mistake in the heat of the moment, and I regret kissing you," I said, and I saw a flash of pain cross his face before it vanished.

"I don’t regret it. What I feel for you is different from what I feel for Violet. With you, I feel complete," he said with determination. "I was wrong. Now I know why I crave you. You’re mine."

"I’m not yours, and I can never be," I said firmly. "This is madness. I’m going home."

I tried to walk past him, but he grabbed my wrist.

"Remember what I said. You’re destined for me. I’ll have you, whether it’s by your will or not. You can tell your sister, but I don’t care. I’ll get what I want, and that’s you," he said, his eyes burning with desire.

"This is madness. I’m going," I said, pulling my hand free. I ran out of the restaurant, not even sure where I was going, but determined to escape. I wasn’t going back to that pack house, not with Elijah losing his mind like this.

I stopped to catch my breath, thinking I was free of him. But then I heard his voice behind me.

"Are you running from me, sweetheart?" He smirked, standing before me.

"Leave me alone. I’m not going back," I said, turning to walk away, but he was already in front of me again.

"You really think you can outrun a werewolf?" he said, his voice dripping with arrogance.

"I can’t give you what you want from me. I won’t be your plaything," I said, my resolve final.

"Whatever you call it, I want you. And if you refuse me, I’ll kill your sister. After that, your father’s next," he threatened, his words like a knife to my heart.

"You can’t do this. She’s your mate, and my father can protect himself," I said, my voice trembling, but he laughed, a dark, cruel laugh.

"Sweetheart, you have no idea what I’m capable of. I don’t care who I have to destroy to get to you," he said, and I shivered, fear creeping up my spine.

"Please don’t do this to me," I begged, tears welling in my eyes. All I wanted was to escape this nightmare.

"Okay," he said, his tone almost mocking as he wiped my tears. "I’ll let you go, but you’ll lose everything you hold dear."

He cupped my face, his touch chilling. "Are you willing to lose everything?"

I couldn’t answer. I was trapped, and I regretted ever coming back to this country. It felt like it was cursed.