He growled and grabbed my face in his hand, tilting it to the side. “Why is there a bruise on your jaw?”
Almost immediately, I placed a hand over the bruise, wanting to cover it, if there was one. It ached slightly, but not enough for me to have noticed it this morning. And I got back so late that I didn’t even bothering looking in the mirror before I had to rush out. Ryker must’ve given it to me.
I pulled myself away from him and leaned close. “I don’t know. Maybe you gave it to me at the party,” I whisper-yelled so Mr. Beck wouldn’t hear. He was hard of hearing… hopefully.
“It’s not a hickey,” Roman said, black specks appearing in his golden eyes. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
He stepped closer to me, eyes intensifying. “What did you do, Isabella?”
I pressed my lips together. “Why don’t you ever believe me?”
He stepped even closer, and I pulled the papers to my chest and stepped back, afraid that he would see right through me. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Did you go out last night and kill a rogue?”
“Alpha Roman let a rogue on his property?” I asked, faking surprise.
He shoved me against the wall, clenching my jaw in his hand. “Don’t play stupid.” His lips brushed against my ear. “I smelt you out in those woods this morning when I was training with the warriors.” His fingers dug into my skin. “Now, what were you doing?”
I clenched my jaw. He wasn’t going to let this go. “Like I said before… nothing.”
When his eyes turned pure black, he growled. “All I want is to keep people in this pack safe, but you are set on putting yourself in danger.”
I growled in return, pushing him off of me and stepping forward. “I can take care of myself. I’m strong. I’m smart. And…” I crossed my arms. “I think you’re intimidated by me.”
It all made sense. If I was ranking close to Beta Cayden that could mean that I may outrank him… someday. All the pieces were fitting together. Well, sorta. Roman placed me in the hospital so I wouldn’t get better, so I wouldn’t threaten his innate dominance and rule. He wanted to shut me down, instead of letting me rise.
“I’m trying to keep you safe, Isabella! Safe!” He snatched my chin in his hand again and shoved me against the wall with more force. “That is my job, and I don’t care if you get angry at me for it. I will be placing a guard at your house at all times. You are not to leave your room at night until I say otherwise.”
“And if I do?”
“You won’t.”
“I will.”
“You won’t.” His voice was hard. “And if you do… I’ll have to lock you up in the packhouse with me so I can keep an eye on you.”
I brushed a finger up his forearm, watching him tense. “I bet you would like that, huh?”
He gulped, eyes flickering to my lips. “No, I wouldn’t,” he said. Oh, Moon Goddess, he totally would. “I would rather my pack members follow my orders.”
“You know I don’t follow orders,alpha.” I gazed up into his golden eyes, my heart racing. “Guess you’ll have to tie me to your bed to make sure I don’t go anywhere.”
He growled lowly, and I felt him harden against my stomach. I didn’t know why I was still entertaining the idea of him after visiting the Lycans. I would have to leave this pack soon and get over this all… but right now… all I wanted was him.
Chapter 22
Isabella
His minty scent drifted into my nostrils, and I inhaled like he was a drug. I wouldn’t mind him waiting outside for me, dragging me back into his room, and finishing what he had started. Staring at me from the foot of his bed, his muscles swollen, the pure dominance dripping off of every inch of him. My wolf purred.
“Fine,” Roman said through clenched teeth, his golden eyes fading to green. “No guards.”
My brows furrowed together. “What?”
