Chapter 3 Hot and beautiful

"Come on, woman. Don't keep us hanging. Let us see you. You know you want to play with us. This brings back memories, doesn't it? Us hunting you down, and you finding out your mate was one of us, only to fuck him over in the cruelest way? I didn't take you for a sentimental bitch, Princess." Zayne's tone held amusement, causing a shiver to rush down my spine.

I heard them pounce where I'd discarded my robe, and grunts of laughter escaped to fill the room. I lifted my eyes to the window that led into the court- yard, beyond where the pack had gathered. My body trembled as I dashed forward, hearing their cries of discovery as I left my hiding place, rushing toward the window.

I launched my body into the air and yelped as something solid collided against me. I bounced, landing on the floor with a bone-jarring thud. Flipping onto my ass, I stared up as Saint looked down at me. His men formed a V behind him, all foreboding in their attire.

They'd grown up. Saint was the largest and roughest around the edges. Phenrys was smaller than the others, but he was Saint's beta and always had been. Eryx was sex incarnate in his impeccable suit. Tattoos peeked from be- neath his rolled-up sleeves and the collar of the crisp white shirt, running up his jawline to vanish in his hair. Cassian, aka Sian, was covered in blood with too much flesh showing. A deep V-line led into his jeans, whispering promises of sin, tattooed in the lines leading to his cock. Zayne, the nerd of the pack, wore red suspenders with a bright blood-red bowtie, also covered in blood that had splattered his glasses. Not that Zayne needed the glasses, but he still wore the things because he thought they made him look smart. And Bowen, the brute of the group, known to make women scream for hours on end, even before he'd become an adult.

"Miss me, Brat?" Saint asked, causing the surrounding men to chuckle. His stare slid over my scantily clothed body with hunger and a glint of something sinister and cold in his eyes that terrified me. My chest rose and fell with my labored breathing as they all watched me, hoping I fought against them. Saint's generous mouth curved into a wicked grin as he strode closer, lowering to his haunches and grabbing my thighs painfully. "I asked you a fucking question, Braelyn."

"Why the hell did you come back here? You were free. All of you were free of this place. You could have gone anywhere and done anything you wanted with your lives. Yet you came back here?"

"I promised to destroy you. Don't you remember? I've always kept my promises, haven't I? Unlike you, Princess. I should have known you were just like your father. Guess I won't make that mistake again. Right, boys?" Their sinister laughter filled the library, sending a tremor of fear rushing down my spine.

"Get up, now." Saint stood, watching as I struggled to get to my feet. The moment I succeeded, I kicked my foot out, gasping as he dodged it, grabbing my arm to yank my body against his. The nearness caused my wolf to peer out, itching to get to his. My body heated from his touch, burning for what we'd failed to do the last time we were together.

Saint's eyes glazed over, turning crimson as his wolf peered into my gaze. Our bond wasn't something either of us could ignore, but apparently, he intended to fix that issue. The scent he oozed caused my lips to part as a soft moan escaped my throat. He walked me backward until my spine slammed against the wall, and his hand slid up and around my throat. He didn't apply enough pressure to cut the air off to my lungs, but it was enough to feel the dominance he held over me.

"Fight it all you like, Brae. In fact, I hope you fucking do fight me. This thing between us it's happening. After I've claimed you, you can do whatever the fuck you want as long as I approve of it. You're about to know how the bitches beneath you feel when they're nothing but a fucking breeder. That was your worst fear, wasn't it? Being nothing more than a pretty womb that some alpha used to breed his pups?"

I didn't answer him. Instead, I studied the changes in his face. He'd grown into a primal male that exuded alpha pheromones. He'd surpassed all my expectations. Sea-green eyes that changed with his mood held mine, and the mid- night hair that dusted his forehead and shoulders held a blue tint beneath the moon's illuminating light.

His eyes drifted over the changes in my face, no longer the teenage girl he'd fallen in love. My body had blossomed in his absence, and my breasts had gone from an average B-cup to a D. My hips had filled out, accentuated by a slight bubble butt that gave it a healthy bounce. I'd also shot up, reaching six feet in height, which still made me seem fragile and delicate to his nearly seven-foot frame.

"You grew up, Brat. You grew up good, didn't you?" Saint mused with a thickness in his tone that caused my nipples to harden from an eagerness to feel his heated breath against them. His thumb moved, rubbing over my full lips before he snorted. "Red isn't your color. What's the matter? Can't speak without your daddy present to hear your words?"

"I don't need my father to tell me how fucked I am right now, Saint. I can do the math on that one myself." He lowered his mouth to my ear and nipped my earlobe. He tugged it with his teeth, releasing it as a growl escaped his chest with a deep vibration that slithered over my body.

"You have no idea how fucked you really are, but you will figure it out soon enough. Now be a good girl and show me to your bedroom. I can't have you watching me slaughter your daddy while you're still wearing your fucking mating gown; now can we, boys?" Saint smiled cruelly as they laughed. "Move, or I'll remind you why pissing me off isn't a good idea."