Alpha's Dark Desires

Chapter 34: Unworthy

Kane’s POV:

I watched her as she lay there, defiant even in her weakened state. This little minx had no idea how close she’d come to breaking me. Just the sight of her reckless stunt had shaken something in me, something dark and furious. She needed to know what it did to me—how I felt when I saw her crash, when I thought for one horrifying moment that I’d lose her. But she was still staring at me with that familiar fire in her eyes, taunting me even now.

"But I still gotta punish you... for the way you made me worry," I said, my voice dropping low, dangerously soft. I saw her shiver, her defiance faltering for a split second as she met my gaze. The darkness I knew was there crept into my eyes, and I watched her cheeks flush, the color spreading across her face. Good. She remembered. She remembered exactly how I’d punished her last time—how I’d taken my time, how I’d claimed every inch of her, and left her trembling.

She tried to keep her composure, to hold onto that little spark of rebellion, but I saw through her. She was remembering every moment of it, her body betraying her in a way she couldn’t hide from me. I could see it in her eyes, hear it in the way her voice wavered as she stammered, "I-I think I’ve been through enough punishment, don’t you?"

Her attempt at defiance was cute, almost laughable. She had no idea what she was in for. I leaned in close, letting her feel the heat radiating off me, surrounding her, pressing down on her. Her scent filled the space between us—feminine, sweet intoxicating scent that I knew would be my undoing just like mine was. Her pulse quickened, and my wolf rumbled with satisfaction at her reaction.

"You think I’d let you off that easy?" I murmured, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face, my fingers grazing her skin. "You scared the hell out of me, Elena. And now..." My hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her just a bit closer, my fingers tangling in her hair, tightening just enough to keep her in place. "Now you’re going to pay for that."

She scoffed, trying to mask her nerves. "I didn’t ask you to worry."

My gaze raked over her, unfiltered and raw, letting her see exactly what she’d stirred up in me. "No," I replied, voice like a low growl, "but you’re my mate, Elena. And when you put yourself in danger like that..." I tightened my grip on her, letting her feel the possessive energy that surged through me. "... you’re testing my patience."

Her breath caught, and I could feel the tremor running through her. She was nervous, but her body betrayed her—she wanted this as much as I did. "You’re insane," she whispered, though her voice barely held any conviction. The way her body leaned into me, the way her heartbeat quickened... it told me everything I needed to know.

"Insane?" I smirked, my thumb brushing along her jaw in a slow, deliberate motion. "Maybe. But I know what I want. And I want you safe... even if I have to keep you in line myself."

Without giving her a chance to argue, I tilted her head up and captured her mouth in a kiss that was both punishing and possessive. This wasn’t a soft, romantic kiss. This was a reminder—a reminder that she was mine, that no matter how much she fought me, I’d always have the final say. My lips moved against hers with a rough intensity, branding her, making sure she’d never forget exactly who held the power here.

The kiss deepened, and I felt her body start to melt against me. Her hands found my chest, clutching at my shirt as if she was trying to ground herself, trying to keep up with the whirlwind I was dragging her into. But she was losing control, slipping into the current I’d created, unable to hold onto that stubborn defiance. I could feel her surrender in the way her body softened, yielding to me, letting me lead.

I broke the kiss, just enough to murmur against her lips, voice low and rough, "This is just the beginning, little mate. There’s so much more I plan to teach you."

She looked at me, breathless, her eyes wide and dazed, cheeks flushed in a way that made my wolf howl with satisfaction. This was what I’d wanted—to see her this way, unraveled and vulnerable, to know that I was the only one who could make her feel like this. She opened her mouth to respond, maybe to argue, maybe to try to regain some of that fire. But she was too far gone, the words lost before she could even find them.

Taking her silence as permission, I claimed her mouth again, deeper this time, leaving her completely breathless and wanting. I knew she hated me for it, hated the way I got under her skin, but she was mine. No amount of fighting or running could change that.

After what felt like an eternity, I pulled back, letting her catch her breath, my thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. She glared at me, frustration and vulnerability flickering in her eyes, a war waging inside her. But I could see it—she wanted more. She couldn’t deny it, even if she’d never say the words out loud.

"Run all you want, little mate," I murmured, my voice a dark promise. "But I’ll always catch you. And next time..." I leaned in close, letting my lips brush over her ear, letting her feel the weight of my words. "...I won’t be so gentle."

Her eyes widened, and I saw her swallow, her defiance flickering under the intensity of my gaze. She was struggling, fighting against the pull, but I could see the desire in her eyes, the way her body reacted to me, no matter how hard she tried to deny it. noveldrama

I ran my fingers down her cheek, a slow, possessive caress. "You belong to me, Elena," I said, my voice steady, leaving no room for doubt. "No more running."

Her mouth opened, ready to shoot back some fiery retort, but no words came. She was breathless, flustered, and I could see her cheeks pinken, even as she tried to glare at me. I’d gotten under her skin, and we both knew it.

"One kiss doesn’t mean you own me," she muttered, her voice shaky, betraying her.

I leaned back, smirking, letting my hand drift from her face, but not before tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Oh, Elena, I think it means exactly that. And you can deny it all you want, but we both know you felt it too."

She scowled, her cheeks flushing as she looked away, muttering something under her breath that I couldn’t quite make out. But it didn’t matter. I knew I’d left my mark, a reminder that would stay with her, no matter how much she tried to resist.

Stepping back, I took in her breathless, flustered state, satisfaction settling deep in my chest. "Now," I said, voice soft but unyielding, "get some rest. You’ve got a long night ahead of you." With one last, lingering look, I turned and left the room, feeling her gaze on my back, knowing I’d left her completely undone.

And as I closed the door behind me, I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips. She could run, she could fight, but in the end, she was mine. And sooner or later, she’d realize there was no escaping it.

She was my mate. And one way or another, I’d make sure she never forgot it.

Now that she was resting, the reality of what lay ahead hit me square in the chest. I needed to deal with Ashley. Our three-month contract still had time on it, but that arrangement had lost any appeal the second I saw her—my mate. Ashley had been... a nice pretty distraction, someone that filled the emptiness of not having my mate. She had nothing on the fire that Elena lit in me, the hunger that gnawed at me every time I was near her. Hell, just the thought of Elena was enough to make me clench my fists and breathe through the heat that tightened my body, an ache so intense it was nearly maddening.

I’d seen her now. Touched her. Felt the softness of her skin, the way her lips responded to mine, tentative but willing, her innocence blindingly clear with every kiss. I’d tasted her, for real, not just in the fantasies that had been haunting me from the moment she first looked at me with that defiant glint in her eyes. And somehow, the reality of her was even better than anything I’d ever imagined.

Damn it, I’d wanted more than just that kiss. I’d wanted to pull her closer, to feel every inch of her against me, to claim her in every way a mate could. But I had to hold back—she was bruised, sore, and not ready. I hated myself for even kissing her while she was in that state, but with her scent filling the air between us, teasing me with every breath, I couldn’t resist. It was like the very essence of her was designed to make me lose control. One taste of those lips, and I was already addicted, unable to go back to just imagining. Now, I knew exactly how she felt against me, how soft her mouth was, how she responded to me without even knowing what she was doing.

And that was the thing—I knew she was innocent, untouched by the darker desires I harbored. She wasn’t used to this, wasn’t used to someone wanting her the way I did. The way she’d kissed me back was so tentative, so unsure it was like her first kiss. She didn’t know how to move, how to match the intensity I threw at her, and it was driving me wild. She was pure, and that innocence made her all the more tempting, all the more precious. I wanted her in a way I’d never wanted anyone, and it made me feel something I wasn’t used to feeling—protective, yes, but also... unworthy.

She deserved better than someone like me. She deserved someone who could make her feel cherished, someone who didn’t have the kind of past I did, the kind of dark urges that burned in me whenever she was near. She was like a princess waiting for her prince charming instead she got a big bad wolf. But she was mine, and even though I felt unworthy, there was no way I was letting her go. I’d do everything in my power to give her the gentleness she deserved, to make her first time with me as pure as she probably envisioned, even if it killed me to rein myself in. But I couldn’t promise not to keep her away from my dark desires. With her always defying me holding down my dominant side will be impossible.

That kiss had nearly undone me. She had no idea what she was doing to me, how close I’d been to losing every shred of control I’d built up over the years. She didn’t know that I’d spent every moment since she’d crashed into my life trying to balance the feral need to claim her with the desire to protect her, to let her ease into this at her own pace.

But now I had to deal with Ashley, to sever ties cleanly, completely. I’d explain it to her, end it without any mess. That part of my life—the part where I used others to fill the emptiness—was over. Elena filled that emptiness just by existing, and the thought of anyone else touching me felt wrong, repulsive even. I was hers as much as she was mine, even if she didn’t know it yet.

And still, the thought of Elena tormented me. I couldn’t believe I’d seen her, felt her, tasted her... yet I hadn’t claimed her. It was a kind of torture I’d never known before. She was close enough to touch, yet so untouchable in ways I couldn’t explain. This wasn’t like anything I’d felt before. I wanted to bury myself in her world, to be the one she trusted, the one she reached for. I wanted to protect her, to shield her from everything that would ever hurt her, even if one day that meant protecting her from myself.

I hated the hold she had over me, hated the way I couldn’t stop thinking about her, couldn’t stop wanting her. I’d never felt so out of control, so vulnerable, and it terrified me. Because if something ever happened to her, I didn’t know what it would do to me.

She was my mate—my perfect, innocent mate. And as much as I wanted to believe I could give her the world, I knew she deserved better than a man like me. But fate had bound us together, and I wasn’t going to let anyone—or anything—stand in the way of what was mine.