15. Zara

15

ZARA

I 've lost the plot. As Axel bites at my skin, devouring me like a hungry animal, I realize how fucked up this all is.

He's killed people. He intended to murder me before we met.

And somehow, I still desire him. How is that possible?

I hesitate, my heart racing as Aksel's intense gaze pierces through me. His large, calloused hands grip my arms, pulling me close.

"Get out of your head, little bird," he demands. "I would never hurt you. Only make you feel exquisite pleasure for the rest of your life."

I shudder at his words, a mix of fear and unwanted desire coursing through me. He pauses, his eyes searching mine.

"Do you want to play with me, Zara?" he asks, his voice low and seductive. "Hunter and prey?"

Part of me wants to run and get as far away from this dangerous man as possible. But another part that craves his touch, his domination, is intrigued.

"I..." My voice trails off as I struggle to find the words.

He lifts me off the bed, my body bare and exposed, and carries me into the hunting room. It still gives me the creeps.

"I'm not sure about this..." I start, my voice trembling.

He silences me with a fierce look, setting me down on the floor. My legs feel unsteady as he turns to the wall, selecting a mask and a knife. My breath catches in my throat.

"We'll play hunter and prey," he declares, his eyes gleaming. "You'll run, and I'll chase. When I catch you..." His gaze travels down my body, and I shiver. "We will mate."

I swallow hard, my mind racing. Part of me wants to flee this madness and return to the normalcy of home, but another part craves Aksel's touch as if it's the oxygen I need to breathe.

"Okay," I whisper.

A predatory gleam ignites in his gray-blue eyes. "Good girl." He puts on the mask, and suddenly, it feels like the air shifts—as if I'm no longer in the room with the same man.

"Run, little bird," Aksel growls, his voice muffled by the mask. "The hunt has begun."

I take a deep breath, then turn and dart away through the cabin, my shoes slapping against the wooden floor. Adrenaline surges through me as I flee, the hunting room fading behind me.

I burst out of the cabin door, the cool air hitting my bare skin like a slap, but I barely register it because of the adrenaline coursing through my veins. The dark forest engulfs me as I dash away from the cabin.

My feet pound against the damp earth, twigs and rocks threatening to trip me. The trees loom over me, their shadows stretching long and ominous in the dim light filtering through the canopy.

I can sense Aksel behind me, stalking me like the predator he is. The crunch of his boots against the forest floor makes me shudder.

I veer off the path, my heart hammering in my chest as I weave between the trees. Branches whip at my face, leaving stinging scratches, but I don't slow. I can't let him catch me.

The anticipation builds, a heady mixture of fear and arousal. I risk a glance over my shoulder and immediately regret it. Aksel is closer than I thought, his powerful form cutting through the trees like a force of nature. The mask conceals his face, rendering him a faceless, unstoppable pursuer.

A root catches my foot, and I stumble, gasping as I throw out my hands to break my fall. The damp leaves and soil stick my palms as I scramble back to my feet, my chest heaving.

Aksel's boots appear in my peripheral vision, and I whirl, backpedaling away from him. He advances slowly, deliberately, the knife gleaming in his hand.

"You can't outrun me," he growls, his voice muffled by the mask.

I back away until my shoulders hit the rough bark of a tree trunk. Trapped. Aksel closes the distance between us, the mask mere inches from my face.

"It's over," he murmurs, and then his hands are on me, consuming me with searing, possessive touches.

His eyes are wild and hungry, peering at me through the holes in his mask as he grabs my hips and drags me into a nearby clearing. I stumble, falling onto my back, and before I can catch my breath, he's on top of me, his body aligning with mine.

There's no gentleness in his touch, only raw, animalistic need. He enters me in one swift thrust, filling me so completely that I gasp. Then he begins to move, his hips snapping as he drives into me over and over.

It's savage and primal, nothing like our first time. There's no tenderness at all. This is pure, unrestrained passion.

I arch my back, matching his rhythm, my hands digging into his muscular shoulders. The sensation is intense and overwhelming. I can feel him everywhere, claiming me and marking me as his own.

The world narrows to the feeling of him moving within me, the sound of our harsh breathing and grunts of pleasure filling the forest. I'm dimly aware of the rough ground beneath me and the cool air on my skin, but all I register is him.

His pace quickens, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts. I sense his control slipping, the raw power of his body taking over as he gives in to his most primal urges.

Our gazes lock, his eyes burning into mine. I can see the desire, the possession, the need to claim me shining in their depths. He surges into me even harder, his hips slamming against mine with enough force to hurt.

His fingers dig into my hips with bruising pressure, but I crave it, needing this primitive connection with him. I wrap my legs around his waist, urging him on, my nails digging into his skin.

"You're mine," he groans, his voice rough with desire. "Mine to mark. Mine to breed."

His words send a shockwave through me, and I realize I want this—all of this. I want him to brand me as his, to leave his mark on my body and soul. As insane as it sounds I want to have his children, to create life with this wild, intense man.

A cry tears from my lips while the pleasure builds, my body tightening around him. Aksel swears, his control snapping as his thrusts become erratic, his body bowing as he pushes me deeper into the earth.

"Little bird, I'm—" he grunts, his eyes clenched shut.

He doesn't need to finish the sentence. I know he's falling, and I'm right there with him, hurtling toward the edge.

Our cries echo through the forest, a chorus of primal satisfaction as we find our release together. Aksel collapses onto me, his breath hot against my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

I hold him tightly, my arms and legs still wrapped around him, never wanting to let go. He lifts the mask and tears it off his face, pressing kisses along my shoulder while his cock remains solid and twitching deep inside me.

"You're mine now," he whispers, his voice husky and filled with possession. "My little bird, my mate."

I turn my head, and we kiss slowly, passionately.

Breathing heavily, Aksel shifts his weight, rolling to lie beside me on the forest floor. He pulls me close, his arm wrapping protectively around me, and together, we stare up at the canopy, where the branches sway gently in the breeze.

"Zara," Aksel murmurs, his voice soft and full of wonder, "I?—"

But whatever he's about to say is cut off by a rustling sound nearby. We freeze, our gazes snapping toward the source of the noise. My heart pounds in my chest as I spot movement in the underbrush.

There's another predator in these woods, and it's closing in.

Could it be the wolf?

The rustling in the underbrush grows louder. Aksel tenses beside me, his arm tightening around my waist protectively.

"Stay still," he orders.

I hold my breath, straining to make out the source of the noise. Is it an animal? Or something far more sinister? After what Aksel revealed about his twisted intentions, I can't be sure of anything anymore.

Leaves crunch underfoot, the sound drawing nearer. Aksel shifts beside me, his muscles coiled and ready to strike like a predator sensing its prey. I can feel the adrenaline thrumming through his veins, mirroring my rising panic.

A figure emerges from the bushes. I nearly choke on my relieved exhale when I recognize Tor, the rugged outdoorsman who sat beside me on the flight from the States. His brow furrows as he takes in our entwined, naked forms on the forest floor.

"Well, well," Tor drawls, a knowing smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Seems you two have been getting better acquainted."

Heat floods my cheeks as I scramble to cover myself, clutching fistfuls of leaves and dirt to my chest. Aksel doesn't move, his gaze locked on Tor with violent fury.

"We didn't expect company," Aksel says coolly, not a hint of embarrassment in his tone. His hand trails lazily along the curve of my hip, and I swallow hard, suddenly very aware of my nakedness.

Tor's eyes track the movement, his smirk widening. "So I see. Though I must admit, this isn't quite the scientific research I had in mind when you mentioned it, Zara."

My cheeks burn hotter at his implication. I open my mouth to respond, to defend myself, but Aksel beats me to it.

"How the fuck do you know her name?" Aksel demands.

I clear my throat. "He was sat next to me on the plane. How do you know him?" I ask, glancing between the two men.

"Tor is my cousin," Aksel rumbles. "What do you want, Tor?"

I stare at Tor in disbelief, my cheeks burning with embarrassment at being caught in such a compromising position. What are the odds of me sitting beside Aksel's cousin on the way here? And Aksel never mentioned he had family living nearby.

Tor smirks. "Didn't Aksel tell you? I live a few miles from here at my own cabin." He raises a brow. "Maybe you should visit sometime if this is the kind of treatment you give your hosts."

Aksel growls and scrambles to his feet, not caring that he's completely naked. "Careful cousin."

The smirk on his face makes my skin crawl. There's something predatory in how he looks at us, and I'd have preferred the wolf stumbling on us. I pull the leaves tighter against my chest, suddenly feeling more exposed than ever.

"What are you doing in my territory, Tor?" Aksel's voice is low in warning.

Tor raises his hands in a placating gesture. "Easy there, cuz. I was just out for a hike to come and visit my cousin, enjoying the fresh air." His gaze drifts back to me, and I feel my face flush anew. "Didn't mean to interrupt your activities."

A twisted sort of thrill seems to dance in his eyes.

"Well, you did interrupt," Aksel growls. "Now fuck off."

But Tor doesn't move. He simply stands there, watching us with that infuriating smirk. The silence stretches, thick and heavy, until finally he speaks again.

"You know, when Zara told me on the plane that she was coming here for research, I'll admit, this isn't quite what I pictured."

I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. What could I say to that?

Aksel starts toward him, and I can feel the tension radiating off him in waves. "I won't tell you again, Tor. Get the fuck out of here."

For a long moment, Tor doesn't move. Then, finally, he shrugs.

"Suit yourself," he says easily. "I'll leave you two researchers to it."

With one last lingering look, he turns and disappears back into the bushes, the crunch of leaves and snap of branches marking his retreat.

I release the breath I've been holding, my body sagging with relief. Aksel doesn't relax, though. He stays standing before me, tense.

"He'll be back," Aksel mutters, turning to face me. "We should go. It's not safe out here anymore."

As much as I hate to admit it, he's right. I don't want to be around whatever twisted game Tor is playing when he decides to make his next move.

So I nod and allow Aksel to pull me to my feet. He takes my hand, walking me back toward the cabin briskly.

I can't help but glance over my shoulder as we go, half-expecting Tor to reappear from the tree line. But the forest remains silent, almost mockingly, as if it's holding its breath in anticipation.

And I can't shake the feeling that this is far from over.