Free Resounding Truth: (Werewolf Novella) (The Resounding Series) by Kate Thomas Page A

face once before pulling off his shirt and holding it to his wound, a smile on his face and wickedness in his eyes. "When he wakes up … he's gone. I see the way you look at him, and you'd better get prepared."
    "For what?" she barked out and moved back a step, more than ready to leave him.
    "To look at me like that. You're mine, and whether I threw you away years ago or not is irrelevant." He laughed, pulling the shirt from his face. "We will be mated on the next full moon, and you will stand beside me like I'm everything you've ever dreamed of."
    "Doubtful." She narrowed her eyes, the feeling in her stomach doing nothing to offer comfort. He had the power to make all of his threats come to fruition, and she would be helpless against the demands of her Alpha. Derik had yet to use his powerful position and the strong magic of his command to force her to do anything, but that was sure to change.
    He tilted his head as his eyes moved down her body. She jolted as warmth spread from her belly out across her body, the deep desire of lust grabbing her violently. She moaned, unable to help herself, and his smile deepened as he moved toward her and wrapped her tightly against him. She looked up, hating herself for the emotions he had the power to cause, which left her weak and useless against him.
    "I don't want to force you into wanting us to be one. Know that I could not create something that doesn't already exist. I can only cause it to grow." He leaned down and licked at her lips, his smell intoxicating. "You want me, whether you know it or not. I just plan to fulfill that want soon."
    She growled low in her chest, her wolf not liking the power of his pull. He smiled and kissed her quickly, releasing her and walking toward the tent where Caleb lay. Dru turned and tried to catch her breath, the power of their Alpha palatable. She needed to run before Derik used the fullness of his power to rein her in. To live a life of servitude to a madman wasn't in the cards for her.
    Something had to give. 
     
     
    "Where are you going?"
    Dru turned toward her sister's voice, the pensive look on her face giving her pause. "I need to get out of here for a little while. I assume Caleb is safe with Merilla, so now is my chance."
    "I'll come with you." Her sister jogged up to her.
    A feeling of trepidation slithered across Dru’s senses, but she ignored it, chalking it up to the situation with Derik. His power was far greater than she'd given him credit for.
    "Okay, but I'm not in the best of moods."
    Her sister laughed and snorted, the sound causing Dru's lips to turn up in her own smile. It had been a while since the two of them had spent quality time together alone. The idea of it calmed her nerves and soothed her a little.
    "Can't say I'd be in the best of moods either with my future mate laid up in the infirmary and my ex working hard to get my attention." Karis shrugged as Dru stared at her.
    Despite Karis’s handicaps, she was the most beautifully sensitive creature to all that happened around her. She was far more graceful and aware than most of the pack gave her credit for.
    They walked toward the edge of the camp, Dru taking a quick look over her shoulder before they slipped through the dense brush. "Yes, well, it doesn't seem like Derik has to try too hard at all. He had me groaning in his arms for his attention a few minutes ago."
    "Ewww … gross." Karis wrinkled her nose and Dru laughed.
    "It wasn't gross at all, and that's more concerning than if it had been." Dru sighed loudly, pulling back a large branch and motioning for her sister to move in front of her.
    "He's the Alpha. He has the power to make all of us bow down before him. I wouldn't be surprised if that's not where we all end up someday anyway."
    "He said that he can't create new feelings, but only increase old ones, so I guess there is still something in me that wants him." She shivered at the thought, disgust settling over her. He was everything physically and