“Hunter,” I growl furiously. “What do you think you're doing?”
Hunter peels himself from the counter behind him, remaining oddly calm for someone who just kidnapped me.
“Wolfsbane,” he says smoothly, unfolding his arms and lifting a paper off the coffee table between us. “It was the only way I could subdue you, because I know how strong you are. You wouldn't go down without a fight.”
My gut churns at the way his eyes twinkle mischievously.
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” I scoff. “Should I be flattered that you've snatched me and tied me to this chair?”
“Well, you can get out of it if you want to; I know that, too,” he chuckles. “But I needed to get you out of Portland.”
I clench my jaw with anger filling my nerves. “Where are we?”
“Long Island,” he reveals nonchalantly.
“A human town? Why? What do you want?” My scowl deepens as he comes closer.
“It's not so much whatIwant, Delilah. But rather, what youneed.”
“WhatIneed?” I frown. “What are you talking about?”
Hunter sighs as he straightens out the paper with a flick, then holds it out for me.
The bold heading at the top startles me when I read it aloud. “Marriage license…?” I lift wildly disbelieving eyes at Hunter, who remains calm and collected. “I don't understand.”
“It's simple, really,” he says with a shrug. “Marry me, and you won't have to marry the prince.”
“M-Marry you?” I gasp in shock. “Why would Imarryyou?”
Hunter raises one brow shaped like a blade. “Do you wanna marry the prince?”
The question has me spinning, my shoulders slouching as I mentally reel from his offer. “I—I don't.”
“Then marry me,” he offers with a charming smile. “That way, you don't have to marry the guy your parents picked for you.”
I bat my eyelids in disbelief as I stare at Hunter, my mind racing at the speed of lightning with too many questions.
“What's in it for you?” I ask, to which Hunter turns around, giving me his back, as if that answers my question.
There's a moment of hesitation that has me almost believing that he cares about me more than he's let on in the past, and I'm suddenly sprung into those memories when I'm able to trace my gaze over the outline of his firm build, from his broad shoulders to his tiny waist, and firm butt cheeks pulling his pants taut…
No, Delilah! Stop it!
Hunter clears his throat and turns around as if he's aware of my ogling, wearing a cool expression that betrays my suspicions.
“There's nothing in it for me, really,” he sighs. “But it's the squad I'm concerned about.”
“We're not in black ops anymore, Hunter.”
“I know, but I heard about the trouble with the rogues and how you helped Tyler's mate with her powers. We may have retired, but trouble will always exist. And the squad? They need you.”
“You're doing this for them?” I ask with raised brows.
Hunter nods measuredly. “Think about it—if you marry the prince, you'll be whisked off to Europe, and they'll never seeyou again. You're important to the squad, and they need you. You know that.”
My lips part as if I'm going to object, but I snap my mouth shut when I recall everything that's happened these past few months, along with my conversation with Emily.
How can I accept the marriage to the Lycan Prince when it means I won't see my friends again? When I won't be there to help them?
