The Taming

Alpha's Wisdom

"Do not!" Elsabet shoved against Sebastian's chest in the hopes of cutting off the filthy thing he was intent on saying, as she tried frantically to get away.

"I'm weary of your games, Elsabet." He sighed.

"My games!" She spat in outrage. Tossing her arms illustratively "I'm surrounded by men in this castle!"

She poked him in the chest. "Handsome ones. Gentlemanly ones. Hell, even Rhyers is more of a gentleman, than you! Something I never thought I'd say, yet it hasn't been I with my arms tangled around one of them."

"You mistake me!" He hit the wall next to her. Making her wince.

Reminding him how important it was that he rein in his beast. He couldn't be so aggressive.

Not with her.

You can't lose your temper with her. He calmed. Blowing a long breath and rolling his eyes Heavenward as he willed himself patience.

The dragon in him was roaring. Pressing its bladed spine against his skin. Casting gold scales over his face and neck before he could get them stamped down.

The wolf in him strained to mark her. Flexing his teeth into pointed edges and hyper-focusing his gaze on that tender, delicious spot on her neck.

Where her scent is the strongest.

He wanted to sink teeth into her, to roar at her, to make her listen.

His nostrils flared as he pushed each animal to its individual compartment and closed the lid on them. Forcing his gold eyes to turn turquoise again as he huffed at her. Once calmer he focused on her face again.

This time he was contrite. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to scare you."

His whipcord arms relaxed, though he didn't let them fall. "I need you to listen to me. Very carefully, Elsabet."

She wetted her lips, as she looked at him nervously. Awaiting what he'd say.

"I've no interest in any other woman. Dorena has been here to recover, no other reason."

"Was she recovering in your arms?"

"No!" He expostulated in a tone that made the walls of the castle tremble. Rumbling through the corridors and hinting at the voice of the dragon.

Despite his recent promise to himself he'd calm, she was pushing him back toward the brink.

"Dorena!" He lifted his head to bark back in her direction.

The other woman materialized at the edge of the stairs. Step faltering. "Have I done anything ontoward?"

"No." She murmured. Eyes falling to the floor.

"Said anything inappropriate?"

"No."

There you have it! His gaze leveled back on Elsabet. Pinning her where she was as effectively as stakes.

"You've heard it. From another's lips."

Elsabet gnawed her lip. Eyes sparking with impatience.

Or annoyance at Dorena's presence, perhaps.

"Why was I hugging you?" His jaw ticked as his eyes were riveted on Elsabet. Though it was clear to all that the question was for Dorena.

"Because you were telling me goodbye." Her voice broke as she barely said the word.

"Why?" Elsabet blurted to the other woman. Head turning to cut to her.

Bast chose to let Dorena answer. Looking over his shoulder to encourage the more diminutive woman to speak. "Because he was telling me to go."