Page 50 of A Tale of Two Dukes

“And?”

“And never lie.”

“So you do know.”

A soft whine erupts from her throat as she writhes against the bunched sheets between her thighs. The scent of her arousal blossoms, stealing my breath for a moment. However, I will not be deterred.

“Answer me, omega.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” she cries out.

“Then why, at every turn, do you refuse to obey me? I give you everything, and yet all I ask in return are two simple requests. Did I not say to have no association with Hugh? That he was a dangerous man?”

“Yes, Your Grace.” The tears pool, but I am not swayed.

“And yet you meet with him in my drawing room.”

“Please, Your Grace. I- I-.”

“You what, little omega? You yearn? You ache? You desperately need my touch? You can have it, but first you must tell me what the meeting was about. What was so important you had to risk him going into a rut and raping you on the drawing room floor?”

This time, her eyes widen in shock as she edges away from me. “He couldn’t. The servant-”

“Is a beta female. No match for an Alpha in a rut. Nor are you in that fact. He would have had his way with you, stripping you bare and fucking you on that floor. Is that what you wanted? Hmmm?”

“N- no, Your Grace.”

“Then what, pray tell, was so important.”

“I- He-” She falters, glancing back to the side.

“No matter,” I grumble, reaching the bed. “I’ll soon have all those pretty thoughts of yours once I claim you. You’ll never keep anything from me again.”

She freezes as my words settle on her. Oh, but she had no idea of my plans. It’s as if her brain is churning, calculating each word until terror shines from her eyes.

It’s as if the idea of being bound to me is so abhorrent to her, clouding my thoughts for a moment. Did I really misread our interactions that much? There was something there between us. I know it. Unless Hugh did or said something to turn her mind to him.

Angry as I am, I’m more hurt than anything else. By all rights, I should just take her back to The Rose and Thorne and hand her over to Hugh. But I can’t.

No matter what happens, she is mine, and no one will ever take her away from me. Deep down, I know she wants me over him. Her body craves mine, yearns for my touch. There’s just this one pesky thing in the way, and soon, it will no longer be an issue.

However, fear permeates the room, washing over me like a splash of cold water. There’s something she doesn’t want me to know. What could possibly warrant this sort of reaction?

“Does he have some hold over you? Are you in some sort of trouble?” This goes far past illicit affairs and hidden lovers.

For a moment, her gaze slides to the side. Damnation. Even now, she cannot tell me the truth. It guts me, tears at me until I can no longer think straight. All I know is, whatever comes out of her mouth, I will not believe it.

“I- Please, Your Grace. I- I just can’t.” Tearing herself away from the sheets, she flees, not caring that she is in her shift, a scandalous sight indeed.

Well then, if my little kitten wants to run, then who am I to deny her a chase? With determined strides, I exit the room, my nose twitching as I follow her scent down the stairs. Instead of turning at the base to follow her, I instead walk over to the butler.

“Seal off the house. She does not leave, and no one comes in. As you are well aware, she is in heat, and my rut will soon overtake me. Send word to the main house to have beta males standing guard to ensure our safety. Have the maids gather fresh blankets, sheets, pillows, and some of my unwashed clothing. They will pile them all in the corner of my pleasure dungeon.”

Without waiting for an answer, I pick back up on her trail, following it throughout the house. The poor thing is frantic, frightened, but all that does is make my cock lengthen in anticipation. I go into each room, making a grand show of calling her name.

When I do find her, she’s in a spare bedroom, her eyes wild as her gaze looks around for a place to hide. Shutting the door behind me, I cut off her escape and head toward her.

“S- stay back. I mean it.”