C17 That can be arranged

I did. I stayed in the human world for a while, hiding my magic and camouflaging my wolf. It won't be so easy to stay hidden this time, not as long as Luke has a direct line to my mind, but it's doable. The car stops, scattering my thoughts, and I turn to look out the window, trying to see where we are. Quaint stores line the main street, with the American flag fluttering in the wind over one door. There are a few people wandering around, completely oblivious to the danger around them. The hunters are no threat to the humans, but that doesn't mean they won't be caught in the crossfire if there is an attack. As Carrie exits the vehicle, followed by Dech and Jared , I open the door and step out. No sooner do my feet touch the asphalt when Luke is already behind the van and beside me. I expect that suffocating, suffocating feeling to hit me, but it doesn't this time. Before I can say or do anything, he pushes me against the side of the car and his fingers wrap around my throat. His touch isn't strong, but it's insistent. Still, I wait for that choking sensation, but it doesn't come. I know I should fight, but my traitorous body melts at his touch. Capricious bitch. "Are you trying to drive me crazy? "he demands, as if this is all a personal attack on him. "I don't need to drive you anywhere, Luke . You took the keys and drove yourself." He lets out a low growl from the back of his throat that makes that spot between my legs throb. It becomes more insistent as he leans toward me to sniff it. "I can smell it on you." I'm confused, though a shiver of need runs through my body. "Who?" "Alec !"He pulls away and grimaces." I could have killed him for that little ruse you used. Don't use other men to keep me away from you." I cross my arms over my chest and feel the waves of jealousy ripple through the bond. Is he really upset about this? I feel a twinge of guilt in my stomach for hurting him, but I also don't want to encourage this behavior. I feel like I'm being pulled in so many directions and the loss of control is overwhelming. "So sitting next to someone else is a problem now?" His fingers stroke the bridge of his nose. "You're testing my patience, honey." My stomach churns-why do I like it when he calls me that? "Then maybe you should go along with my plan to undo the bond between us. " Even as I say it, I'm not sure I want to. I know this is the power of the bond, pulling me into its orbit, but it's impossible to fight its pull. When his nose comes up to my neck and sniffs along my throat, all my resolve disappears. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and a shiver runs down my spine. I squeeze my thighs together, willing my body to remain indifferent, but I no longer have control over myself. "I will never let you go "he whispers the words in my ear, making them sound like a promise but also a threat. "You are mine, Alison . The sooner you accept that, the happier you'll be " he licks my pulse, no doubt sensing the intense fluttering of my heart under his tongue and the tremor of need that runs through me." You push me away, and yet your body longs for me." "I ask nothing of you. It's a lie and I have no doubt he knows it. I can smell my arousal, so I'm sure he does too." "You are afraid. I can feel it through our bond. Alison , I saw a glimpse of something...a memory, I think. What happened to you?" did he see it? I never wanted to open that part of me to anyone, and shame runs through my body. I was weak that day, pathetically weak. My wolf was hidden and my magic was out of control. I let my pack hurt me because I couldn't defend myself. That feeling of helplessness is something I never want to experience again. Needing to regain control (of this conversation or my emotions, I'm not sure), I push him back and, to my surprise, Luke releases me. "Stay out of my mind " I snap at him." We may be friends, but you have no right to poke into my private memories." His bushy eyebrows draw together. "That's not what I did, but I can't help what you convey through the link." He can't, and I'm not being fair at this point, but I don't care. I dodge it and walk toward the others. Alec and Dech look at me as I slide in next to Jared . I can't hold either of their gazes, but I know they are gawking at me. I straighten my spine and focus on the task ahead: saving the hybrids from the Order. "Where do we think those hunters are?" I ask Carrie , ignoring the tension radiating from the rest of the group. Amy smiles at me as Dan looks at the others and me. I feel Luke behind me, but I don't look at him, not even when Carrie looks at us. "I'm not sure. Let's spread out in pairs and see if we can pick up any scent." "I'll go with Dech "I say immediately. I don't want to be alone with Luke . He'll keep asking questions about my past and I don't want to give him those answers. Besides, every time he touches me, my walls crumble a little more. I can't let him in. This suggestion is met with open hostility from him, "Over my dead body." "That can be arranged " I smile sweetly at him. "I'll go with Alec " says Dech before we can discuss further. Traitor. I look at him angrily, but he looks at me blankly before walking away with his brother. Carrie glares at us. "Is there going to be any trouble here?" "No " I say. I don't want to be left out. I have something to prove and that's precisely what I'm going to do. Carrie looks at Luke , who snorts. "No." " Good, because this isn't a game. It's dangerous and I can't let your... whatever this is... distract the others from our task." "That's why I think I should be paired with someone else." "I told you that's not going to happen " Luke snaps before Carrie can respond. I feel a little sorry for him, but that sympathy fades as soon as he says, "He's your partner, Alison . Stay together." "What? No!" "If you split up, you'll get distracted and kill whoever you're partnered with." He walks away to join the others as my mouth opens and closes like a fish thrown on land. My hands clench into fists at my sides. " Can you look at me? " Luke demands . "I don't want to." "Alison" ... "No! Let's do the job we came here to do." As I pull away, he grabs my bicep and stops me in my tracks. My heart races and my stomach fills with a hundred butterflies flapping their wings "Stop grabbing me all the time " I want to yell at him, but it comes out somewhat choppy. "Then stop running away from me. I understand this is a lot to take in. It's a lot for me to take in too. Do you think I woke up that morning expecting to meet my fated mate? I was fine living life alone."