"Please go, Draven." I tried to sound stern. Staring up at him dominating my hut with his oversized presence.

He crossed the room in two long steps and knocked the chair aside with one swing of his hand. Leaving me vulnerable and trapped in the corner between the wall and the table.

My eyes skid sideways as I debated trying to slide down the wall past him. He's too close.

He's going to have me here. Just like he just said he would. I was starting to sweat in my panic.

He sniffed. "You smell good. Sweet like the first morning of spring."

He slammed his hands to the wall on each side of me which made me jump.

My eyes immediately falling to the floor next to me as I struggled to ignore his presence.

Far too close!

His earthen scent filling my nostrils and making something low in my belly tighten. Heat and power rolled off him in waves that made me want to shrink into the wall.

He growled and molded his body against me. Planting his knee between mine and against the wall so he was flush against my fitted gown.

I gasped and flattened my palms on the wall. Shocked by the feel of his hard body, nearly shaking from something he was experiencing.

He dropped his nose into the hair along my neck and shoulder and inhaled deeply. "I can't wait to have you."

"Please..."

"I've wanted you since we were pups. Since father first brought you to camp. I knew then I'd mark you."

That made my head snap up and my temper flare. I shoved him back hard. "You will not! I don't want marked! Not yet."

I didn't want to become a male's possession. I enjoyed the what was mine and time with Marta and doing things that mattered to me. He'd never let me do that if I belonged to him.

His eyes were always on me now. I doubted he'd hardly let me out of his bed, much less his hut.

Draven liked to control all things.

Himself, the pack, the supplies, our walls...Me.

"You will be." He lowered his head dangerously. His eyes flaring yellow. "Marked as mine. Tomorrow night. When I take you under the Mating Moon."

He lunged back at me and before I could react he caught my neck and shoulders and slammed his lips down on mine.

I opened my mouth to scream or to tell him to leave.

But he swallowed whatever words I'd tried to make. His tongue caressing my mouth and sending swirling rivers of pleasure through me.
He deepened the kiss. As though he wanted to taste every corner of my mouth.

Like he wants to be inside me.

Even as naïve as I was, I sensed the connection.

He broke away. Shoulders heaving and face a dark cloud.

"Tomorrow night." He vowed. "I will be inside you Lyra Lani. And by morning, you'll be screaming my name."
***
I was hungry. I needed to eat.

Tonight was the Full Moon, the Mating Moon.

And the males would be hunting.

For breeders.

And I don't intend to be one of them! I slinked from my hut. Closing the door as quietly as I could.

I'd go check my traps and hopefully I'd have a rabbit or two to feast on tonight.

I saw the larger males gathered around the bonfire. Laughing and enjoying robust companionship. Sipping on ale as they convened in anticipation of tonight.

They live for the Mating Moon.
The rush. The hunger.

The males were stronger, faster and their predatory instinct enhanced to an over sensitized level. They could smell everything, see over miles, and hear anything.

Making them the most dangerous predators in Warwood, this time of the moon's cycle.
***
Despite my care, he scented me.

I should've known. He always does.

Draven stepped from the fire. Gray eyes intent on me.

He's always watching me...I scurried from his view.

Sometimes he'd try to talk to me, but I'd duck my head and shy away.

I knew the males were stronger than me.

Grandmama, a dear friend of Marta's, had been warning me for years of their aggression and how to avoid them.

Stay away from them. Stay out of reach. Don't make eye contact. Do nothing to tempt them!

I'll never be their toy. I'd made the vow to myself long, long ago. His toy.

I understood what few of the other females did.