"Just like that?"
Kaden pulled off his coat and hung it up. "It will take some more time before we're ready, but yeah. Just like that. And I want you to teleport us there."
"No." I crossed my arms. "I won't do it. I agreed to help get our pack members back from the people holding them hostage, but I'm not going on any raids in other packs' territory—especially when they haven't asked us for help."
He stalked toward me, crowing into my space. "I thought you would be on board with this. Shouldn't you want to free the Aquarius from Leo control?"
"Not if they don't want to be freed," I said. "Have you even asked them?"
"They haven't responded to any of our attempts to communicate with them," Kaden admitted. "But I meant what I said. They will either join us or stand against us."
I threw up my hands. "Yes, because everyone is either your ally or your enemy now. Including me, it seems."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I poked his chest with my finger. "You won't let me see Jordan anymore. Do you really not trust me around him? Still?"
His face darkened at Jordan's name. "You've let your judgment become clouded when it comes to him. He's our enemy, and this is war now. He's lucky he's still alive."
"My judgment is clouded?" I clenched my fists, so infuriated by his words I was practically seething. "You're the one threatening to take out anyone in your way!"
"I'm doing what needs to be done." His voice was low, dangerous, and unbelievably sexy, despite the fact I was so angry with him I wanted to throttle him a little. "And you're going to help me as my alpha female."
"Fine." I trembled a little as I pushed him away from me. "Then I resign as your alpha female."
The words actually shocked him enough that he took a step back. "You can't do that."
"I can," I said, though the words broke my heart. "I'm not technically your mate, after all—and I won't stand by while you destroy everything we've worked so hard to build."
“Bullshit,” Kaden growled. “You're still my woman. Always.”
My heart caught in my throat at those words. His woman. It was true. No matter how much we disagreed, I was still his.
"You'll have to use the alpha command on me if you're so desperate for my compliance," I said.
He stepped closer, backing me against the wall and putting his hands on either side of my head, caging me in. “We both know that won't work." His head lowered, his lips only inches from mine. "Although I think maybe you just want me to order you around."
"Don't be ridiculous." I dug my fingers into his chest, but I didn't push him away this time. He was so close that his scent filled my nose, spreading desire through my veins. I should be pushing him back, yelling at him to stop, but I couldn't help myself. I'd missed this closeness with him over the last few weeks. "You can't make me do anything I don't want."
"True." He nuzzled against my neck, brushing his teeth against the spot where he'd marked me before. "But I can remind you that you're mine."
I inhaled sharply as he captured my mouth with his and kissed me so thoroughly there was no doubt who I belonged to. I couldn't help but kiss him back, but it was an angry kiss, where I dug my fingers into his chest and snapped at him with my teeth.
When his strong hands began fondling my breasts, I knew I should push him away, to tell him that I wanted nothing to do with him unless he was done being an asshole, but I craved his touch even more. I was weak, when it came to Kaden. I wanted.
Kaden grasped my bottom lip between his teeth and bit down, just hard enough that it hurt. I stopped struggling and gasped at the sharp pain, and he pushed me back against the wall harder. Every inch of his body pressed against mine.
“Say it,” he said, as his lips moved to my neck and upward.
“Say what?” I gasped out as he bit down on the lobe of my ear.
“That you're my woman."
“I—” I couldn't, not when I knew what that would mean. It would feel like giving in, and I refused to do that, even as he took control of my body.
He held me tight against the wall and then Kaden yanked open my jeans and slipped a hand down the front of them. His fingers slid to part my folds, instantly searching out my clit. He found it and circled, pulling the reactions straight out of my body. I was helpless against his masterful fingers, which were all too practiced in wringing pleasure out of me. He could tease me all night if he wanted. That wasn't his goal right now though. Right now, he was hell-bent on getting pleasure out of me as quickly as it could.
I gasped as he worked my clit with masterful strokes, making me rock back and forth against his hand to chase my pleasure. I moaned, reaching for Kaden and digging my hands into his shoulders. He didn't slow down, not even when my nails tore straight through the thin fabric of his t-shirt.
The pleasure screamed through my veins, tearing me open like one, big wound, and even when I opened my mouth and begged for Kaden to take mercy on me, he didn't so much as slow down. He brought me right to the edge and then pushed me right over it. I cried his name and pounded my fist against his chest. It almost hurt, the amount of pleasure he was putting me through, and I knew when it was done, I would want even more.
My legs gave way, and Kaden crowded me back against the wall, holding me up with his body. I felt the length of him, hard and hot against my stomach, but he didn't move against me. He leaned forward again, his voice low and dangerous once more.
“Still mine, little wolf,” he said. "Always mine."
I was still coming down from the sudden, violent high he'd pushed me toward, and it took me a few moments to catch my breath and remember why exactly I was angry at him. It hit me suddenly, what this had been. Kaden was proving a point. He knew exactly how to get me to break, and he'd taken advantage of it.
I glared at him and shoved him away. “I'm your woman, but I'm not going to be your alpha female any longer."
Kaden's eyes flared, and for a moment, I thought he would do something to try to change my mind...or stop me in some other way. "Ayla—"
"Go," I yelled. "I don't want to be near you right now."
After a moment's hesitation, he stepped back and turned away. The door slammed on his way out, and I collapsed to the floor.
Whatever strength had let me say no to Kaden seeped out of me, and I closed my eyes and set my head against the wall. My heart still hammered in my chest, so hard that I was a bit worried for my health. The aftershocks of pleasure still ran through my body, a vivid reminder of what Kaden had just done.
I dropped my head into my hands and didn't try to stop the tears this time. There was no one to see them. The pain of the last few days washed over me, mixed in with the way my emotions were running high after that orgasm. I hardly recognized Kaden, or myself anymore. We were entirely different people, and I didn't like how much space had opened between us.
And worst of all, I knew he would be back—and when he did, I would be unable to resist him if he tried to claim me again.