“I share you,” the Wolf growled. “None of us truly has you.”
“Is this really how Trevor feels?” I asked softly.
“Beneath the bonds of brotherhood that your lion magic forced on us; yes.” He watched me carefully. “Does that bother you?”
“Yes; it bothers me!” I snapped. “It hurts me. I thought you were happy.”
“He has suppressed me for you from the beginning,” the Wolf growled. “I try to rise, and he pushes me back. No longer, Mate. His kindness has gotten us hurt—it's gotten you hurt—and that is not acceptable. Things are going to change.”
“I can't change, Trevor,” I whispered. “I'm bound to them as I am to you. I have children with Arach and Kirill. It's too late for you to protest.”
“I know what it's too late for and what it's not,” he said calmly. “I have been thinking about this for a long time, Mate. Your magic restricts you, and I have accepted that, but you also promised me that I would be your alpha. You have broken that vow.”
“When did I break my promise?” I snapped.
“When you gave another man children before me!” The Wolf shouted.
I froze. The Wolf stalked forward; his eyes wild and his muscles rippling with fury. He was moving in ways no human man could. It was as unsettling as it was beautiful.
“When you passed me over twice!” He went on. “When you pushed to bring Re into our family; forced me to accept more than I agreed to.” He came closer with every angry step. “When you built me a bedroom separate from yours and told me I could only have you on certain nights. Shall I go on, Mate?”
“No,” I whispered in horror. “No; I understand.”
“You don't understand,” his whisper was deadly.
The Wolf's hand shot forward and closed around my throat, but he wasn't choking me or threatening me. His hand was a cage of bone and blood and muscles; there to make me feel the pain and violence inside him. To make me feel as trapped as he did. I did, and it pierced my heart like a sliver of glass; making me ache and bleed while eluding removal.
“You think that you understand me. You even think that you make sacrifices for me,” the Wolf's voice dropped to a mocking murmur as he laid his cheek against mine. His lips moved against my ear as he spoke, and his thumb caressed the line of my jaw. “You don't know the first thing about sacrifice, Mate. I have given everything I am for you.”
My breath was coming in trembling gasps and stutters as his venom filled me and stung the places Katila had torn open. Was it true? Had Trevor given up everything so my needs could be seen to? Had I not given him what I promised? Had I failed Trevor? Betrayed him?
“Trevor,” I moaned brokenly, “I'm so sorry, Honey-Eyes. Please—”
“Please what?” He whispered and licked the curve of my ear. “What else can I give you, Mate. You want my soul too? Wait; you have it. How about my blood? No; you've taken that too. What more can I give you?” He said the last with a growl and the hand on my throat twitched over my racing pulse. “Bones? Breath? Cum? You have all of me!”
But still, even in his rage, the Wolf couldn't hurt me. Somehow, that drove the pain of my failure deeper. Tears began streaming down my face as I turned myself toward him; reaching for him with my body since I was failing so horribly with my words.
“Oh, is this what you want?” Trevor shifted his erection into me. “You want me to bring you pleasure after baring my pain?”
“No”—I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer, despite the way his grip on my throat made it awkward—“I want to give you pleasure. I want you to be happy, Trevor. Tell me what to do. You say that you've thought this through. So, give me your solution.”
A slow exhalation shook through the Wolf as he released my neck. His body relaxed around mine, and he laid his face along the curve of my shoulder. His hands moved across my back; just skimming the surface before settling into a strong grip.
“That is the first step, Mate,” his voice was exhausted but there was a hint of hope in it.
I clutched him tighter; running my fingers through his hair. “And what's the next?”
“You will make me the alpha as you promised.” He lifted his head and pinned me with his wolf stare. “You will give me final say over matters concerning our family. If I say no, you will support my decision.”
I considered it, knew that it would cause problems with the rest of them, and didn't care one bit. If this was what it took to bring Trevor back, they'd have to deal with it.
“So be it,” I agreed.
The Wolf smiled and relaxed further. “Your bed is my bed; I sleep with you unless I decide to be generous and allow another to take my place.”
“Okay.”
“You will submit to me as your alpha mate; whenever
