Chapter 12

Lincoln

The feel of her shoulders under my hands was strange. Different to holding her hand as she lay naked on that table. Back in the facility she had been stiff with anger and self righteousness and I had kept my eyes on her face and not let them travel down the beautiful naked body I had glimpsed.

I had wanted to look. I had wanted to touch, and lick and fill so completely that it took all my willpower not to kill Alpha Nell out of the room so I could be the one to fill Hope for the first time.

I had wanted to know how she would feel stretched like a silk glove around my thick knot. The thoughts I had were so strong, that I had sworn not to touch her again.

And I had instantly failed when I offered my arm to her. Just like I had failed just now as well because my hands were still on her shoulders. I just couldn’t seem to let go and step away.

“You live in the shard?” Her words were a breathy whisper and I couldn’t help but smile at the wonder in her voice.

“That’s the old name for it, yes.” I flexed my fingers into her flesh. Only there wasn’t much flesh at all. She was too skinny. Beautiful but in need for food. “You have an interest in history?”

“Something like that,yeah.” She mumbled something under her breath with a sigh  that I didn’t quite catch because I was too busy trying to keep myself under control. The sigh had relaxed her body against mine. And her ass was pressed against me.

And it was driving me insane.

“I like history as well.” I admitted. “What else do you like?”

She gave the smallest of shrugs. “Why do you want know Lincoln.”

“It’s alpha Lincoln , Hope.” Almost roughly I dropped my hands to her hips  and pulled her into me. “You need to use my title.”

It might have been my imagination but I was sure I heard her give a breathy little whimper.  The tiniest of noise that made my cock throb with a sudden and overwhelming need.

“Alpha Lincoln.”

“Good girl.” Over and over again I dug my fingers into her hips in time with her heartbeat. “So tell me what else interests you.”

“Living, not dying.”

“They are the same things, Hope.” My hands still on her hip, I turned her. And she was so close her small high breasts brushed against me. I had seen them , so I could imagine easily how each perfect little mouthful with look as I took them into my mouth and teased up her buds.

“No they are not Lincoln. Being alive is not the same thing as living at all. I’m alive right not but I’m not living.” She lifts her chin almost defiantly. “I mean alpha Lincoln.” She flashed me a small , sarcastic smile.

Chuckling I rolled my eyes but this time I didn’t chastise her. In a way I kind of liked her own unique way of showing her little spark.

“Would you like to see my home?” I blurted before I could help myself.

Twisting her head to the side she sighed. “I went there once. For my sixteenth birthday. We are-“ she trailed off, her eyes darted to me.

She was crazy. She had to be crazy because none of what she was saying made a lick of sense. Maybe that’s why she had never been put forward as a companion before. Maybe there was something wrong with her that stopped her coming into her heat like she should.

Maybe she was delusional and seeing things.

Or maybe she was the most beautiful creature I had ever been around. More than just a pretty face , it was everything about her that drew me to her. Her scent, her defiance.

Her conversation.

I liked talking to her, I realised with a start. She interested me more than any other person I had ever met

“I mean I would like that.” She mumbled under her breath. “But it’s probably not a good idea. I should get into the markets before-“

My eyes flashed and a growl flew from my lips. “Is that old man still making you go into town for him. I thought I said-“

“We haven’t needed to yet.” She countered quickly. “But I will have to go in today otherwise we won’t eat tonight.”

“He might not eat but you will. This man you call your father. He isn’t really your father is he?”

Hope bit her lip and looked away.

“You can tell me.” Reaching up I brushed her red hair behind her ears. The tips of my fingers sliding across her cheek.

Sparks flew up my arm. A literal current of need and shock and I had to step away before I lost all of my control.

“He pretends you are his daughter, but I don’t think that’s right. What are you to him?” I couldn’t help myself. I cupped her cheek and drew her back to me. Because as much as I hated to admit I liked her better when she was pressed against me.

I’d like her even better if I could get her somewhere private so I could taste her.

I looked around. My eyes narrowing as I searched a shadowy doorway. At a push that would do. It wasn’t ideal but-

“Are you his lover Hope?” The words slipped from my mouth and I tightened my grip on her.

My control was hanging in a knife’s edge. At any moment I would fall and take her. It wouldn’t even matter if she wanted it or not. I just wouldn’t be able to help myself because she smelt so good.

“Is that why you aren’t untouched but have never been rutted. Does you daddy-“ I sniffed and my nostrils flared and my heart raced with every breath I took.

She smelt so good. Why did she smell so damned  good. Almost like-

My head rocked back with the force of her slap. It didn’t hurt but she had taken me by surprise. Narrowing my eyes I straightened. Staring at her.

She cradled her hand against her chest and glared at me like I was the most disgusting creature in the world.

“Don’t say things like that. That’s disgusting.”

Letting my eyes drop from hers I examined her purple and red fingers. A few of them seemed to be sitting at off angles.

“Your hand-“ I reached out and she took a step away from me.

“Stay away from me Alpha Lincoln. Stay the fuck away from me.” Whirling on her heels she took off. Sprinting down the street on sure steady feet.

I almost told her not to run because it would trigger the beast in me and if I hunted her down and caught her not even my iron will would stop me from rutting her wherever she fell but for some reason the words just wouldn’t come.

Instead I watched her run. I watched her delectable ass move as she sprinted away from me and I knew it was for the best because she smelt like the most delicious treat in the world and I was already starving.

Hope had enough problems in her life , she didn’t need one more alpha adding to them.