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She stared up at me, eyes wide, the pulse in her throat throbbing. She was lying to me and herself. She felt it, too. I slid my fingers over her shoulder and lightly gripped the side of her throat. “Iris…Please.” The words were dragged from me, desperate, needy, soul bearing.

She was trembling. “I…I can’t.”

“Please,” I said again. Christ, begging her to accept me.

Her lip trembled, and I growled, pulled her in close and kissed her, kissing away her denials.

She whimpered against my lips and tried to pull away, but I held her tighter, claiming her mouth, kissing her deeper, harder. In moments, she went from shoving at my chest to yanking me closer. I growled and lifted her from her bed, then, taking two steps, pressed her against the wall.

“You may not want to give in to this,” I said against her perfect, full lips, “but you need it. You need me as much as I do you.” I kissed along her jaw. “Give in, petal.”

“I can’t,” she said, panting. “We aren’t good for each other.”

I lifted my head and cupped her cheek, sliding my thumb between the flushed, heated skin and the cool, black markings there. “You don’t know that.”

“I know I remind you of Selene, the person you hate most in this world, the person who hurt you and your pack.” She shook her head. “I’d have to be an idiot to get into any kind of relationship with you.”

“If I can look past who you’re related to, you can get over these fears you have. I don’t look at you and see her, not anymore.” That was mostly true. No, I didn’t see Selene, but there was still wariness. It was hard to let go of three hundred years’ worth of anger and hatred. I’d conquer it, though. We just needed time together.

She licked her lips, and her gaze slid from mine. “I said no.”

Her words were final. She meant it. She wouldn’t have me. “Denying me and our connection will have repercussions.”

“I’m…I’m okay with that,” she said and pushed at my chest.

Christ, I was close to dropping to my knees and begging for real, but there was fear, real and stark in her eyes. Iris wasn’t afraid of me; she pushed and goaded me, fought with me. No, the male who had hurt her, he was behind that look in her eyes, and it was enough to make me take a step back, to let her go. “You’re making a mistake.”

“Maybe, but this is the way it has to be.” Her lip trembled again. “Now, I need you to leave.”

If she thought I’d just give up, she was wrong. I needed her…we needed each other. “I’ll go,” I said. “For now. But you need me for this task you’re doing.”

“I have no idea what my task is anymore. Nothing makes sense.” She hugged herself and looked out the window to the night sky.

I could feel her frustration, that fear, even stronger now. It rolled off her, and I had to stop myself from pulling her back into my arms. My wolf wanted to comfort her badly. “Iris…”

“Please…just go.”

I swallowed down my growl of frustration and did as she asked.

This isn’t finished, little witch. I promise you that.

And as I walked away, I knew exactly what I had to do to get what I wanted, what we both wanted if she’d only allow herself to see it, to feel it. She was going to hate me for it, for a while at least, but she hadn’t given me any other choice.

I needed to claim her.

And I couldn’t wait any longer.

CHAPTER 20

Iris

I watched Draven go.

This couldn’t be happening.

He believed what he’d said—that I was his mate.

My heart thundered in my chest. Could he be telling the truth?