she went to run to Jake, Jax commanded her.
“Do. Not. Move.” Jax held his hand out to stop her.
The rush of his command slammed into Katrina, and she heaved for breath. She’d never experienced the negative energy that could be utilized by an Alpha. Clutching her gut, her eyes teared. Despite the passion she’d felt earlier for Jax, she hated him for attempting to force her submission. Refusing to lower her eyes, she glared at Jax in defiance.
“No, Jax.” Katrina stopped cold, her voice a shaken whisper. Although he’d overpowered her, she refused to submit when Jake’s life was at stake. “Maybe I was wrong about…”
“Don’t interfere,” Jax warned.
“Quintus.” Katrina’s scolding tone morphed into a soft plea, begging for mercy. “Please. Jake is my friend. He meant no harm.”
“Ah, bella, what they did. I could not let them have you.” Quintus’ hold on Jake loosened and the wolf gasped for breath.
“I never expected you to save me that day.” Katrina wiped the moisture from her cheek as she recalled what had happened. “I just knew I had to save you. One of us had to get out of there.”
“Cara mia, I was a fool. I should’ve known when I saw her…it was too good to be true.” Quintus shoved Jake to the floor, and took a seat in a large leather chair.
Katrina noted the change in the vampire’s demeanor and speculated that he spoke of someone he’d lost long ago. Slowly, she backed away, noting that Jake was unhurt. Jax’s eyes narrowed on her, his displeasure evident.
“I need your help, Quint,” Jax stated, his gaze remaining locked on Katrina. “ We need your help. This thing, these demons, whatever the fuck they are…they’re trying to kill her.”
“I see, and your interest in her?” Quintus spread his legs open, lounging backward. He paused, contemplating his words, and stroked his beard. “What is she to you? Don’t fuck with me, Jax.”
“Why do you need to know? Katrina’s relationship to me is no concern of yours,” Jax growled.
“Interesting,” Quintus mused with a small smile. “Why does the great Alpha answer my question with a question?”
“All you need to know is that she’s mine. She belongs to me.”
Katrina seethed at his statement. After tonight, their future was uncertain. She would not mate with an Alpha who could not trust her, one who’d use his power to force her into submission.
“We’ve been friends a long time,” Quintus continued and barked a laugh. “Maybe that’s a stretch. Perhaps, we have a mutually beneficial relationship. Regardless of what you call it, I know you, Chandler…perhaps better than you think.”
“Then you’ll tell me everything you know?” he pressed.
“Sit.” Quintus pointed to the chair next to him. “These two,” he gestured to Jake and Finn, “we talk alone.”
“Go get a drink. Don’t leave her alone,” Jax ordered.
Jake’s mouth closed tight, his lips pursed in anger. Finn’s temple pulsed in concern but he didn’t challenge his Alpha. Finn gestured for Katrina to follow Jake.
Jax expected her to obey, to allow them to talk without her. Katrina’s anxiety rose as she debated her next action. Defying Jax twice would further anger the Alpha. Quintus called her name, requesting her presence, and without asking, she stepped forward.
“She stays. Tell them, Alpha.”
Katrina noted the amusement in Quintus’ eyes even though his mouth revealed no emotion. Jax nodded in acknowledgement, his eyes going to hers. Although he didn’t speak, she sensed his irritation with the vampire.
“I’m fine,” she assured Jake, in the hopes he’d go willingly with Finn.
Jax sat next to Quintus, in a set of matching intricately carved mahogany chairs. The plush leather seats, embroidered with fleur-de-lis, reminded her of New Orleans. With no room to sit, she stood in front of the small round coffee table, protectively crossing her arms.
“Shall we begin again?” Quintus tapped the
“Do. Not. Move.” Jax held his hand out to stop her.
The rush of his command slammed into Katrina, and she heaved for breath. She’d never experienced the negative energy that could be utilized by an Alpha. Clutching her gut, her eyes teared. Despite the passion she’d felt earlier for Jax, she hated him for attempting to force her submission. Refusing to lower her eyes, she glared at Jax in defiance.
“No, Jax.” Katrina stopped cold, her voice a shaken whisper. Although he’d overpowered her, she refused to submit when Jake’s life was at stake. “Maybe I was wrong about…”
“Don’t interfere,” Jax warned.
“Quintus.” Katrina’s scolding tone morphed into a soft plea, begging for mercy. “Please. Jake is my friend. He meant no harm.”
“Ah, bella, what they did. I could not let them have you.” Quintus’ hold on Jake loosened and the wolf gasped for breath.
“I never expected you to save me that day.” Katrina wiped the moisture from her cheek as she recalled what had happened. “I just knew I had to save you. One of us had to get out of there.”
“Cara mia, I was a fool. I should’ve known when I saw her…it was too good to be true.” Quintus shoved Jake to the floor, and took a seat in a large leather chair.
Katrina noted the change in the vampire’s demeanor and speculated that he spoke of someone he’d lost long ago. Slowly, she backed away, noting that Jake was unhurt. Jax’s eyes narrowed on her, his displeasure evident.
“I need your help, Quint,” Jax stated, his gaze remaining locked on Katrina. “ We need your help. This thing, these demons, whatever the fuck they are…they’re trying to kill her.”
“I see, and your interest in her?” Quintus spread his legs open, lounging backward. He paused, contemplating his words, and stroked his beard. “What is she to you? Don’t fuck with me, Jax.”
“Why do you need to know? Katrina’s relationship to me is no concern of yours,” Jax growled.
“Interesting,” Quintus mused with a small smile. “Why does the great Alpha answer my question with a question?”
“All you need to know is that she’s mine. She belongs to me.”
Katrina seethed at his statement. After tonight, their future was uncertain. She would not mate with an Alpha who could not trust her, one who’d use his power to force her into submission.
“We’ve been friends a long time,” Quintus continued and barked a laugh. “Maybe that’s a stretch. Perhaps, we have a mutually beneficial relationship. Regardless of what you call it, I know you, Chandler…perhaps better than you think.”
“Then you’ll tell me everything you know?” he pressed.
“Sit.” Quintus pointed to the chair next to him. “These two,” he gestured to Jake and Finn, “we talk alone.”
“Go get a drink. Don’t leave her alone,” Jax ordered.
Jake’s mouth closed tight, his lips pursed in anger. Finn’s temple pulsed in concern but he didn’t challenge his Alpha. Finn gestured for Katrina to follow Jake.
Jax expected her to obey, to allow them to talk without her. Katrina’s anxiety rose as she debated her next action. Defying Jax twice would further anger the Alpha. Quintus called her name, requesting her presence, and without asking, she stepped forward.
“She stays. Tell them, Alpha.”
Katrina noted the amusement in Quintus’ eyes even though his mouth revealed no emotion. Jax nodded in acknowledgement, his eyes going to hers. Although he didn’t speak, she sensed his irritation with the vampire.
“I’m fine,” she assured Jake, in the hopes he’d go willingly with Finn.
Jax sat next to Quintus, in a set of matching intricately carved mahogany chairs. The plush leather seats, embroidered with fleur-de-lis, reminded her of New Orleans. With no room to sit, she stood in front of the small round coffee table, protectively crossing her arms.
“Shall we begin again?” Quintus tapped the
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