Chapter 2

Eleanor slammed her free hand against his chest, pushing with every ounce of strength she had. It was like trying to move a mountain. Jace didn't budge an inch.

He lowered his head. His rough nose brushed against the sensitive skin of her neck, right at the collarbone. He inhaled deeply. His Adam's apple bobbed against her forehead.

A violent shudder ripped through Eleanor's body. The sheer animalistic nature of the gesture made her stomach heave.

"Let go of me, you psycho!" she screamed in English. She jerked her knee upward, aiming straight for his groin.

Jace's combat instincts were instantaneous. He shifted his hips slightly, taking the blow against his thick thigh muscle without a flinch. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him. He squeezed.

The air rushed out of Eleanor's lungs. Her ribs groaned under the pressure. Tears of pure, physiological pain sprang to her eyes. She stopped fighting, gasping for breath.

Jace paused. He looked down at the moisture gathering in her eyes. A flicker of confusion crossed his harsh features, but his grip didn't loosen. Instead, he grabbed both of her wrists with one hand, pinning them firmly behind her back.

With his free hand, he reached into the leather pouch tied at his waist. He pulled out a thick cord of animal sinew. Strung on it was a massive, pristine white wolf tooth, sharpened to a lethal point.

He held the tooth up to her face. He spoke a single, harsh sentence in a guttural language, his voice vibrating deep in his chest.

Eleanor stared at the bone. She thought he was going to stab her eyes out. She thrashed wildly, throwing her head back to avoid the sharp tip.

Jace frowned. His jaw tightened in annoyance. He reached out and clamped his large fingers around her jaw, forcing her head still.

He slipped the sinew cord over her head. The heavy wolf tooth dropped against her collarbone. The bone was freezing cold against her flushed skin.

The moment the necklace settled on her chest, Jace's eyes changed. The predatory calculation vanished, replaced by a dark, consuming possessiveness.

Eleanor looked down at the tooth. A primal instinct warned her this was a mark. A brand. She shook her head frantically, her pinned fingers twitching as she tried to reach up and snap the cord.

Jace swatted her hands away with a low warning growl. His grip on her jaw tightened, tilting her face up toward his.

He crashed his mouth down on hers.

There was nothing gentle about it. It was a brutal, claiming force. His teeth clashed against her lips, tasting of copper and raw power.

Eleanor's mind went blank with terror and humiliation. She clamped her lips shut, refusing to yield.

Jace growled against her mouth. His fingers squeezed her jaw, applying just enough painful pressure to force her lips apart. He invaded her mouth, his tongue sweeping inside, claiming everything. His rough hand slid down her spine, pressing her closer.

Nausea rolled through Eleanor's stomach. A desperate, violent anger flared in her chest. She waited for a fraction of a second, then bit down hard on his lower lip.

She tasted fresh blood instantly.

Jace grunted in pain and pulled back. A drop of bright red blood swelled on his torn lip.

Eleanor gasped for air, bringing her shoulder up to wipe her mouth violently. She glared at him, her chest heaving, her eyes burning with defiance.

Jace ran his tongue over his bleeding lip. He didn't look angry. He looked thrilled. A low, dark chuckle rumbled in his chest.

Before Eleanor could process the sound, Jace bent his knees. His thick arm swept behind her knees and around her waist.

The world flipped upside down.

Eleanor shrieked as he hoisted her into the air and slammed her face-down over his broad shoulder.

His shoulder bone dug painfully into her stomach. She hammered her fists against his scarred back, kicking her legs wildly.

Jace ignored her completely. He walked over to the dead wolf, bent down, and yanked his stone spear out of the mud with one hand.

Eleanor stared at the ground moving beneath her, the dead wolf shrinking in the distance. The blood rushing to her head made her dizzy.

Jace broke into a jog. His long strides ate up the distance, carrying her deeper into the suffocating green hell of the prehistoric forest.