Free Ryan's Treasure by Becca Dale

superior. Certain he could not touch her and maintain his meager hold on his wolf, he tossed the shirt at her feet.
    “Put this on.” Nearly inaudible, his voice growled from his throat.
    Fear escalated in Nadi’s expression, but she grabbed the cloth from the ground. Attitude stiffened her shoulders, womanly sass her only defense. She jerked the fabric over her head and down smooth against her thighs. Her nose wrinkled in disgust. “It stinks of Drake.”
    Unwilling to risk misunderstanding, he switched to mental communication. Better him than one of his men. An Alpha’s scent demands respect above anything .
    “You want me to smell like him?”
    No! Mine! His wolf howled, and Ryan stepped forward, invading her space, forcing her to meet his gaze. I can’t allow you to parade naked in front of a bunch of horny males too dazed by your scent to think .
    Trembling despite her brave front, she wrapped her arms around her waist, a glare on her pretty face. “Are you dazed?”
    Desperation rode his shoulders. The heady perfume of desire and fertility wafted from her, an aroma too potent to ignore for long. He had to get her away from the others, somewhere safe from everyone including himself. Catching her shoulders, he pushed her gently against the rock and buried his face in the curve of her slender throat. You smell so fucking good. I can barely resist shoving you to your knees and taking you right here, but I won’t claim you before you’re ready, Nadi.
    He lifted his head to stare into her frightened mismatched eyes, earth and sky—his breathtaking, wounded goddess. He drew his nail lightly over her cheek, anxious to prove he would not harm her no matter his form.
    Every unmated male within a mile radius is imagining mounting you, swelling your belly with his pups. They’ll have to kill me first, but maybe if you reek of an Alpha, and they fear me just a little bit, I can save us both. So shut up and pretend you want me until I get us out of here .
     
     
    Fear and lust screamed in her head, a banshee wailing of death, a siren screeching for forbidden pleasure. Her body did not seem to belong to her. The hybrid animal towering above her scared her shitless. Teeth and claws designed to shed an adversary with little effort, its neck and shoulders too thick to belong to a man, but Ryan remained beneath the fur and fangs. The tender giant wore the skin of a beast, but she wanted him…almost as much as she feared those who prowled behind him. For the first time in her life, she trusted a male enough to desire his seed. The need to sink to the ground and welcome him weakened her knees. Who cared if others watched? Would he be gentle? If he claimed her, the strangers would back off, but what if he couldn’t control his wolf? The idea wasn’t entirely without a dangerous appeal. A shiver washed through her.
    “Ready, gorgeous?”
    His gravel-laced voice tempted insanity, and she reached to stroke the thick beard hiding his rigid jawline. Heat zipped along her nerves, and her wolf cried for his. “Yes, for now, I choose you. No one else.”
    “Fuck, your scent just doubled, and the rogues have circled back. I can hear them.” He grabbed her waist and threw her halfway up the boulder. “Get up there and stay until I come for you.”
    A warning growl sounded behind him, and he spun to face the threat. She scrambled out of harm’s way. The strangers had returned, and while Drake’s scent prevented his soldiers from making a play for her, the leaderless band apparently had no such compulsion. They attacked as one.
    Ryan’s beast grew larger with rage, and he lashed out. Two wolves went flying, blood spraying from vicious wounds.
    Nadi screamed, and he glanced her way, leaving him open to the fangs of his enemy. “Pay attention, you big idiot!”
    He spun in time to protect his throat from oncoming teeth. The wolf bit down on Ryan’s forearm but released as quickly when slammed against the boulder. Blood and brain