Page 28 of Unmarked
His brow lifts. Classic. Arrogant.
Annoyingly symmetrical.
“Fiery,” he muses. “That’ll burn itself out.”
My rage flares. So does my heat.
God, it’s getting hard to tell the difference.
“Not if I put a heel through your throat first.”
Ash makes a noise that could be surprise. Could be respect.
Could be him mentally ordering popcorn.
Lucian, unfazed, tilts his head.
“You think this is strength?” he asks, tone sharp enough to trim hedges. “This little performance?”
“Thisresistance,”I bite back, “is the only thing keeping me from kneeing you in your designer balls.”
He steps closer.
Ash growls. I burn.
Lucian doesn’t flinch.
“Your body knows what it is,” he says. “You can fight it, but that won’t save you.”
“Newsflash,” I snap, “biology isn’t destiny. You don’t get to play caveman just because my hormones decided to throw a rave.”
Lucian’s gaze goes flat.
“You’re wasting energy,” he says. “You’re going to break.”
“Maybe,” I admit. “But I’ll break on my own terms - and preferably not into a puddle beneathyou.”
Ash shifts again, subtle and protective, and Lucian notices.
He turns his attention toward the other alpha for the first time, gaze narrowing with aristocratic disdain.
“Go,” he says coolly. “Before instinct does something you’ll regret.”
Ash growls again, louder this time. The air hums with threat and testosterone as the alphas stare each other down.
And I swear, if someone doesn’t either fight or kiss soon, I’m going toscream.
But I don’t fall.
Not yet.
My body is fraying at the edges, but I hold.
Because Lucian Vale doesn’t get to win. Not by scent. Not by threat. Not by sheer alpha smugness.
And especially not onmygoddamn birthday.
“I don’t want an Alpha,” I whisper, voice raw.
