Renata stumbled previous her, whirling with a noise of concern earlier than throwing a proper hook. The one factor she hit was air. Unamused, Cortana swooped underneath the she-wolf’s open defenses to grip a hand round her neck.

Making the most of the additional velocity, Cortana slammed the she-wolf to the bottom, utilizing her different hand to dam a sloppy jab the defeated girl tried to land.

“Don’t assume you possibly can win in opposition to me, wolf.”

The vampire’s expression betrayed her dislike for the opposite girl and her misguided possessiveness over the person who’d already acknowledged he was Cortana’s mate.

“Yield.”

Bared tooth have been Renata’s solely response, the werewolf writhing beneath Cortana’s smaller physique however gaining no leverage. From the sidelines, a whistle sounded. Ava entered the vampire’s peripheral imaginative and prescient however made no transfer to separate them.

“Yield, Ren. She’s overwhelmed you.”

A second later, the she-wolf stilled beneath Cortana, the look of defeat twisting her flawless options into one thing depraved. When the concession lastly fell from Renata’s lips, the chokehold was launched, and the girl clutched at her neck.

In an effort to be sporting, Cortana provided the opposite girl a hand up.

Renata took one have a look at the providing and sneered, “I’d somewhat chew off my very own tail than settle for your hand in friendship, vampire.”

Leaping to her toes, she brushed the mud from her garments and straightened, heavy bitterness nonetheless on her options. Cortana maintained eye contact, establishing her dominance over the opposite girl, till Renata averted her gaze in submission. She slowly backed away, lastly turning tail and all however stumbling into the den.

A clap drew her consideration.

Riaz’s smirking face appeared out of the darkness, palms nonetheless connecting in a present of appreciation. “Properly accomplished, Pet.”

A swell of delight burst in her chest, her cheeks blushing as she regarded him. Seeing his approval made a distinction to her, she was stunned to find. As he drew close to, she exhaled to cleanse the aggression that also simmered under the floor.

“I take no pleasure in kicking puppies,” she drawled, “however for one as spiteful as her, I’ll permit myself a little bit of enjoyable.”

Riaz’s grin was ravishing. “A celebration is so as. I’m taking you into city.”

“Don’t you will have someplace to be?” Cortana waved a hand towards the place the pack had vanished to create the hearth line. “And when did you even return?”

“Renata choreographed her intentions by skulking behind the pack, and when she circled, it was a no brainer.”

Squinting at him by narrowed eyes, Cortana requested, “Why didn’t you intervene?”

“I don’t intervene in dominance battles except they’re my very own.” The whole lot about his tone was stoic. “Renata wanted to be put in her place and never by me. Her place within the hierarchy beneath you has nothing to do with our relationship or lack thereof. In addition to,” there was that lopsided grin once more, “I knew you had it effectively in hand.”

“And I’m certain your abstinence had nothing to do with the truth that we have been preventing over you?”

A masculine satisfaction gleamed in his eyes, the russet brown glinting with delight. Mockingly inserting a hand over his coronary heart, he requested, “Me? Nah, Pet, I’d by no means derive pleasure from such a violent expression of your admiration for me.”

Mumbling about ridiculous wolves, Cortana simmered as Riaz glanced to Ava. “I’m taking the Bat Queen into Estes. We’ll be again earlier than the solar rises.”

“Good,” Ava retorted. “I’m not a fan of roast vamp.”

***

By the point they’d gotten into Estes Park, the vast majority of retailers had already closed. Streetlights have been nonetheless lit, and bubbly chatter nonetheless wafted from bars, however most shops have been quiet and darkish, asleep for the evening.

Using on the again of Riaz’s bike once more had been a problem. Not solely did she now perceive the place the wolf’s head was at, however Cortana’s personal want had been slowly however certainly taking the reins.

She’d spent the vast majority of the experience attempting to cease her fingers from exploring the inflexible planes of his chest and abs, marveling in his physique and snuggling in opposition to his again.

As she was about to swing a leg over the bike and hop off, Riaz’s hand captured hers, resting it on his coronary heart, tough fingers delicately tracing her knuckles. For a second, Cortana didn’t transfer. A shiver feathered over her flesh, her physique craving for his on a primal stage she barely understood.

Neither of them spoke; they didn’t must. And when Riaz launched her, ending their tiny, stolen second of peace, she felt immediately bereft.

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