Coveted by Stacey Brutger

since their
escape. An hour passed in silence. She shivered against his back, her teeth chattering,
and he cursed that he had nothing to keep her warm.
    Except him.
    As soon as he
processed the thought, he knew it was his wolf. His beast was trying to protect
Shayla as if she were his mate and not a tool he planned to use for the good of
the pack.
    His wolf prowled
under his skin, claws purposely scraping along his bones. That this might be
his last chance to feel her touch had his heart thumping heavily against his ribs.
    His teeth elongated, and
his nails sliced the ends of his fingertips like a thousand needles piercing
under his fingernails.
    Mine.
    Breathing heavily,
fighting the change, Aiden finally relented. “Fine.”
    He grabbed her hands and
tucked them under his shirt. She stiffened. He waited for her to pull away, but
much to his shock, she shivered and inched closer.
    “Thank you.” The
words were so soft, only his wolf allowed him to hear.
    Her hands were like ice,
the touch of her skin burned, but he scarcely felt the cold. He reluctantly
dropped his hold on her arm, relieved when she didn’t shift away. “We’ll be
there soon.”
    Shayla shivered at his
husky voice. She shouldn’t be snuggling up to him either, not if she valued her
sanity.
    One thought passed
through her mind.
    Sanity was way
overrated.
    She’d mourned a
little when he put on a shirt, wishing she had touched him when she had the
chance. Now she had the luxury, she took full advantage by trailing her fingers
over his chest. She’d expected to encounter a gaunt frame, all skin and bone,
not hot skin and sleek muscles. Shayla no longer felt cold. She was barely
aware of her fingers exploring him, bombarded with too many sensations to
process…except the pure pleasure that filled her every pore.
    She waited for him to
flinch from her touch, but he seemed to lean into it, silently asking for more.
    When they stopped
some time later, she jerked her attention away from her fascination with his
body to see they’d reached the summit of a large hill. Aiden cut the engine.
    Shayla peeked around
him, expecting to see a house, maybe a small village.
    “Holy shit. It’s a
frickin’ castle.”
    Overlooking the
valley loomed an enormous castle chiseled out of sheer rock. Majestic turrets
thrust up against the sky defiantly. The castle pulled her back to an older
time. At least forty feet high, the surrounding wall stood tall and proud,
guarding the occupants like sentries. Beyond, a turbulent sea swelled and
crashed in rebellion, further protecting the castle from any threats.
    The first rays of sun
spilled over the vista, a bright splash of color. The cold stone of minutes before
burst into vibrant warmth.
    Breathtaking.
    “Welcome to Avamoore.”
    At the name, Shayla looked
everywhere, sure some statuesque woman would be waiting on the parapets to
welcome her man home. Wolves and men prowled about the castle grounds in equal
numbers.
    No girlfriend.
    Her brows furrowed.
“No women.”
    As one, beast and man
alike tipped their heads back and howled in a weird harmony of welcome.
    A shiver worked down
her spine. Memories of her Grandfather’s fanciful stories filled her mind. Vampires,
fae, witches…
    Shayla swallowed
harder.
    …and werewolves.
    But that was just
childhood foolishness.
    Fairy tales.
    Right?

 
     
     Chapter Ten
     
    A iden drove through the
bailey, hyper-aware of the woman at his back. Shayla had gone deathly still when
his wolves howled their greeting of welcome. He should be happy. Relieved. He
had no business allowing this attraction to continue. As soon as they entered
the bailey, everything between them would change, end brutally when she learned
she couldn’t leave.
    Unless he could
convince her that staying was her idea.
    As he surveyed the
keep, the once-familiar buildings felt foreign. The surrounding walls of the
castle towered over him. His breathing became shallow as he struggled to suck
in enough air. The