Every step I take towards my bedroom makes my heart seem to race even faster. I'm almost having to jog to keep up with the Alphas large strides. He's a giant compared to me, easily over 6 ft 7 in height whereas I'm only a mere 5 ft 2. Even for a she-wolf I've always been smaller than most. A small gasp escapes my lips when I feel Drakes large thumb make circles on my hand. I thought he'd drop it as soon as he'd helped me up from my armchair, but the huge brooding Alpha has yet to let go.

Cautiously, I side glance at the large beast dressed in just shorts that's at my side, his body is mouth-watering perfect with all his tattoos on display. Drake clears his throat, obviously noticing that I'm staring at him, so I quickly divert my eyes back to the floor with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry about your father." Drake says quietly as he guides me down another hallway.

"Thank you." I murmur as a pang of sadness fills my heart. I hold back my tears as I'm not quite ready to deal with the loss. It's all too new, it just doesn't seem real just yet. I know by morning I will no doubt be a blubbering mess, but for now I think shock and grief have made me numb and I want it to stay that way for now to help me keep it together.

Not wanting to talk about my father any further, I try and steer the conversation away. "I'm surprised you remember where my bed chamber is. It's been many months since you stayed with us." I say quietly.

Drakes deep throaty chuckle sends shivers down my spine, and I dare to peer back up at his ice blue eyes that are staring down at me. "As if I could forget, your scent is unmistakable."

Heat climbs up my neck like a wildfire, once more, I look away remembering the night Alpha Drake danced with me for the first time in our grand hall when he'd stayed with us. How he'd leaned into whisper in my ear that I smelt of Peaches and Vanilla.

I bite my lower lip as we continue down to the Packs high ranking family bedrooms, passing one of Drakes warriors whose standing guard after securing the floor. Drake finally drops my hand when we reach my room and pushes the large door open with ease before guiding me in.

I silently glide over to the window and look down below. Through the darkness, I can just make out Lucas barking orders and his warriors slowly tearing apart fighting wolves to bring the courtyard back under control. I've barely met my intended. Even though physically he is almost identical to his brother, my skin doesn't burn for him like it does for Drake.

"He'll be busy until dawn." Drake says quietly just from behind me. For such a large wolf, he'd been so quiet I'd not even heard him approach.

"I guess as he'll be ruling this pack it make sense for him to be the one to bring it back to peace. The Red River Wolves will respect him more for it." I reply nervously.

Silence fills the room for a moment before I feel Drake run his hand through a long lock of my hair and I freeze up. Why does he have to affect me like this every time we meet?

"I'm going to run you a bath." Drake murmurs before pulling away and I finally let out my breathe that I didn't realise that I was holding.

Slowly, I turn to watch Drake as he kneels down next to my large copper bath that stands in the corner of my room and turns on the taps.

A little giggle leaves my lips before I can stop it making Drakes eyes snap to mine. "What is it?" Drake asks looking puzzled.

"Just that I have an Alpha from one of the most powerful packs in our lands pouring me a bath." I shyly smile.

A huge heart stopping smile spreads across Drake's face. "Perhaps I like looking after you."

My smile drops instantly, I can't do this again. I can't let my feelings for Drake get the better of me once more. I fooled myself believing that he felt the same way when he was last here for him to only crush my heart when he made it clear that he wanted the union with his brother to happen. He even had to chase me down and stop me running away in our secret tunnels when I panicked about the arranged union.

"Drake." I whisper shaking my head and looking to the floor. "Maybe you should leave."

I hear Drake slowly stand up; I think he's walking to the door when suddenly his strong hand cups my jaw forcing me look at his piercing blue eyes. "I'm not going anywhere." He growls.

Before I know what's happening, Drake suddenly picks me up from behind both my thighs and slams me into his chest, so we're face to face. My breathe catches in my throat as I tremble nervously in his huge arms. "You see tomorrow, my brother will not be claiming you. You're mine Allannah."

"Yours?" I whisper confused, but Drake cuts off my words when he slams his lips onto mine and I forget everything.

The scorching kiss makes my toes curl and my pulse race from its intensity. It's my first ever kiss and I never want it to end. Desperately, I wrap my arms around Drake's neck and pull him in closer, begging for him not to stop and he doesn't disappoint as he kisses me with bruising force. In two long strides, Drake pushes me up hard against the nearby wall and rocks his body into making me gasp with pleasure. His lips leave mine as he slides his tongue and mouth down my neck as I grab onto his hair to pull him even closer to my pulse. My core throbs when I feel his teeth graze my skin.

"Drake." I whisper breathlessly as I pant.

A deep growl rumbles from Drake's chest as his lips pepper my delicate skin all the way back up until he reaches my ear and nibbles on the ear lobe. "I'm going to feast on the honey between your legs every fucking night once we are mated" Drake rasps.

The words make my core explode with juices that I know that he can smell. He pulls back to look at me once more in the eyes, his stare is so hypnotising I can't look away as his gold wolf peers down at me as my wolf shyly peaks back.

"But you've promised me away to your brother. My pack needs a leader, and you already have Grey Crescent. Back in the tunnels, you said you could never claim me." I stutter out confused as tears fill my eyes remembering how his words stung the night I tried to run away, and he refused to let me leave.

Drake sighs before he gently drops me to my feet, his eyes never leaving mine as he takes my hand and pulls me over to the Copper bath that's now almost full with water. I watch as he stops the taps then tests the water before turning back to me.

"For many years I've tried to win back my brother affections. I wronged him by not choosing him as my second and have regretted it ever since. So, I promised him you and this pack to try and make amends for that. Thinking I could buy back his favour. I knew of your packs debts and that there was no male heir, so I agreed with your father to pay the debts for your hand. It seemed a good plan until..."

Drake stops for a moment as he scans over my face. "... until I met you. I tried to put duty first, but I just can't let you go Allannah."

Moving a large mass of my golden locks from my shoulder, Drakes hands glide down to the buttons at the front of my dirty dress, that got heavily soiled when I lay in the prison cells and starts to slowly unbutton them one at a time. My skin quickly covers with goosebumps at his tender touch. I've never been touched or seen like this by any male before, my father would have deemed this highly inappropriate, but I make no move to stop him.

"I've come to realise that even with my best intentions, that the union between yourself and my brother would not have been a happy one for either of you." Drake says quietly. "As soon as I saw how distraught Lucas was when we reached the attacked convoy and he found his lover was hurt, I knew his heart would never be yours. That you'd never make each other happy."

"But my pack? He's expecting to rule it." I question. Nervous that he'll change his mind once more.

"Leave Lucas to me, I have a counter offer I think will work well for him." Drake smiles at me before his eyes drop to my soiled clothes.

I take a large gulp of air as Drake pulls the dress off my shoulders and it falls to the floor in a heap at my feet, leaving me with just my white lace panties on. The cold air makes my nipples harden as my chest heaves up and down. Drake's eyes drop down to take in my form before he gently strokes one of my breasts and makes a circle on my nipple with the pad of his thumb. I close my eyes for a moment overcome by his touch. My head slightly falling back as I pant breathlessly at every caress.

My eyes only flutter open when I feel Drakes other hand strokes my face gently. I melt to his touch, as our eyes collide once more before he dips down to land a slow but demanding kiss on my lips.

"I want to spend the rest of my life loving and protecting you, Allannah." Drake whispers against my lips. "I want you for you, not for your pack. I need you at my side." Drakes rasps as his other arms coils around my waist and pulls me into his chest firmly as my whole body turns into flames.

"Say your heart is mine." Drake says earnestly as he pulls back to look at me in the eyes once more.

"It always was yours." I whisper back.

Drake rests his forehead against mine as he closes his eyes and seems to exhale a breath as if in relief before pulling back and smiling down at me.

"Come Allannah, let's get you bathed beautiful." He grins, his eyes gleam playfully as he tugs down his own shorts as I gasp when his huge hard erection springs free. "You didn't think you were bathing alone now did you?"