Page 5 of Orion

Orion’s brow is furrowed when he looks at Brea. “Text Navin so he knows you’re safely in the cabin.”

“I will.” She turns and skips toward one of the cabins.

Orion takes my left hand. “Come, Little doll.”

My head is spinning with this new development. I turn toward where Brea disappeared. “I’m supposed to help her make lunch.”

He chuckles. “Brea doesn’t cook, Little doll. She doesn’t even make sandwiches. That was a ruse. Come,” he encourages again, giving me a slight tug.

“But…” I can’t believe I’m letting him guide me toward another cabin. My heart is racing. I’m alone with a man. As soon as we get into his home, I’ll be even more isolated with him. Vincent will have a fit if he finds out.

“You said you were going to drop us off,” I point out.

“I lied.” He chuckles as he opens the door and ushers me inside. “I would have told him that I needed you to scrub the floors in my bathroom if that’s what it took to get him to let me take you away.”

My breath hitches. “Is that what you want? You want me to clean your bathroom?”

He shuts the door and leads me across this living space toward the kitchen area. “Fuck no. Never.” He turns on the overhead lights, making it really bright in here, and lifts me by the hips to set me on the island. “Did you need to go potty, Little doll?”

I swallow hard and shake my head. “No. I was just hoping for a break from him.”

Orion smiles. “Good girl. Let me look at your arm.” He takes it as he speaks. He’s in my space. Crowding me with his enormous body.

I lift my gaze to look at him more closely as he gently turns my arm over. He’s breathtaking. If it’s possible, he’s growing more attractive to me by the minute. Did I fall and crack my head on something?

Orion pushes my sleeve up and leans in closer, his hair falling in front of him. “I was going to ask if he shoved you to the ground, and you broke your arm bracing yourself, but I see his fingerprints on your tender skin. He fucking twisted it, didn’t he?”

I gasp. How does he know that?

Not daring to move or utter a word, I stay very still.

“When did he do this, Cora?” he demands.

I say nothing. There is no way I’m going to verbally confirm his suspicions.

He pushes my sleeve up farther. “Jesus, Little doll. There are bruises all over your arm. New and old.” His voice grits out between his teeth. He’s furious. On my behalf. I can’t remember when anyone has ever been on my side like this.

I lick my lips. “It’s just that he doesn’t know his own strength,” I murmur.

Orion growls. The sound startles me, reminding me that this man is a shifter. He could turn into a lion at any moment and eat me alive. I’ve never heard of any humans going missing since the lions moved to this mountain, but my knowledge of what happens in the town or up on the mountain is limited to what I overhear when I eavesdrop.

Orion’s voice is low and oddly calm when he speaks. “There’s no need to make excuses for that man. I have keen senses. He’s evil. And you’re never going near him again.”

I shudder. Orion is so determined. He’s freaking me out. “I should go.”

He cups the sides of my hips with his hands. “I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to be blunt, Cora. You’re mine.”

My entire body goes rigid as I stare at him.

He rubs my thighs with his thumbs. His touch is oddly soothing. I’m so deprived of kind human contact that it’s possible I’m desperate enough that I’m imagining things. My instinct is to lean forward and let him hold me. I’d give just about anything for a hug.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I whisper, though a part of me knows exactly what he’s saying.

He brings his hands up to cup my face, gently angling my head back so he can look me in the eyes. “My lion recognizes you as his mate, Little doll. The urge to claim you is strong.”

I can’t breathe. I don’t know what his intentions are. Part of me doesn’t even care. Whatever he wants from me can’t be worse than my current life. But it’s not that simple. He doesn’t understand. Vincent will never allow me to leave him.

“Is Vincent your father, Little doll?”