Chapter 28

Zander

When the evening neared, my panic crept inward, seeping into me like cement, promising to harden my heart into stone. Carve me into a creature of the beast forever.

The next few hours, if William was right with his timing, could determine my fate. I promised I'd make the most of it. After a quiet dinner, where Piper hardly glanced away from her plate, I slipped from my room and toward hers.

With the blinds drawn, and the lights dimmed, I knocked on her door.

She cracked it open. "Vivian, I'm busy—,"

I briefly wondered what Vivian had bothered Piper with, but I shoved it aside because I needed to focus. "Are you too busy for me?"

She chuckled and tucked her hair. "Depends on the reason you're interrupting my reading, Mr. Zander—," she stopped. "What's your last name?"

I chuckled, realizing I knew far more about Piper than she did me. "Blackwood."

"Very fitting," she smiled. "What does Mr. Blackwood need from little old me?"

"Many things, but now," I said, pulling her out into the hallway. I noticed her nightgown, and my blood warmed. It would benefit me for what I had planned. "I want to play a game."

Piper looked around, noticing the dim lighting, "You have my interest. What's the game?"

"Hide-n-seek, as promised."

I watched a jolt of electricity race through her body. The look on her face mimicked a kid in a candy shop. "You weren't kidding about it being dark," she whispered. "What if I run into a ghost?"

I closed the door behind her. "Good thing a beast lives here to run them off."

She gave me a sheepish look. "The entire castle is game?"

"You look scared, Little One?"

She huffed. "I've slept inches from a beast, a little darkness won't hurt too much. Plus, there is nothing in the dark that isn't there in the light."

I pinched the tip of her chin. "You don't look like you believe that."

"You hide first," she said, turning to face the wall. "I'll count to fifty."

Leaning forward, I whispered into her ear. "I won't need that long." She watched me descend the stairs. I gestured for her to turn around once I made it to the floor. "No cheating, Ms. Sloane. I expect better from you."

Leaving her to her counting, I walked down the east hallway, toward the heated pool, and into a small alcove. It wasn't fair that she didn't have the abilities that I had to track, but I loved the wait.

The minutes slowly ticked by when I heard her mumbling to herself. The irritation in her voice made me smile. She squealed quietly, and I heard her footsteps quicken toward me.

I launched out and grabbed her around the waist when she passed by. She howled in fear, and then she kicked her foot back against my leg. "Oh my God, Zander," she said out of breath. "You've got to be kidding me."

I nuzzled my mouth against her neck, memorizing her scent, and tightening my arms around her. "I caught you, Little One. That means get rid of that nightgown."

She wiggled her way free, a spark of mischief in her gaze. "Yeah? Make me. It was my turn."

"But I caught you, and don't taunt me, because I will make you take it off."

Piper chuckled, and slowly pulled the nightgown over her head, and let it pool beside her. "Now," she said. "I say we limit our game to a certain area of the castle. This thing is huge, and there are parts I haven't seen yet."

I tucked my bottom lip in between my teeth and nibbled. Her porcelain skin in nothing but an underwear set pumped my blood wildly. "The first floor, from William's office to the pool then. Fair enough?"

"Fair enough. Now," she said, motioning her finger in a circle. "Turn around, and don't cheat. Your wolfish abilities are already an advantage."

"I'll turn them off, I teased.

"Right."

I stuck my nose into the alcove and listened to her quick footsteps down the hallway. Once I hit fifty, I shoved from the wall, following her scent, because my body reacted so wickedly to it, that there was no turning it off.

"Little One," I said softly into the dining room. "I smell you."

Her heart rate picked up, the smell of her skin lured me closer, and I crouched to my knees. Skimming by the island in the kitchen, I stopped in front of a cabinet nestled in the corner.

Opening it slowly, Piper squeaked and tossed flour into my face. Stunned, I sat back on my feet, while she scurried upright and ran from me. The little boy in me loved the chase. While wiping the flour out of my eyes with the back of my hand, I followed her laughter toward the hallway with William's office.

"Little One, you're going to pay for that."

"We'll see," she shouted.

She rounded the corner into the library, her scent leading toward the last place I'd had fun with her. The lounge chair.

"This was an unfair match from the beginning," she said, crossing her legs, and folding her arms. "I refuse to take off any other garments for you, Zander Blackwood."

Sliding the tip of my finger against the nearest bookshelf, I chuckled. "Oh, the lady refuses? However, will I get her clothes off?"

Her stare met mine, and I swiftly reached around and snapped her bra from her body. Piper's eyes rounded, though she didn't reach to cover herself, her perfect pink nipples on display for me.

"Dear God," I mumbled, dropping to my knees in front of her. Palming her thighs, I watched her watch me. "I love everything about you."

"That's because this castle has good lighting."

I chuckled. "You're going to lose this game, Little One."

"I'm banking on it. I want these clothes off, maybe you'll break tradition and bury yourself into me, and put me out of my misery."

Standing up, I bent down and hauled her to my shoulder, slapping her ass, the sound echoed against the walls. I carried her toward the hallway when she whipped herself down to the floor and turned me against the wall.

With her bare breasts pressed against me, she lifted onto her tiptoes and kissed me. It was deep, hungry, and it fed the passion resting inside of me. The whirlwind of our first kiss didn't compare.

This was need.

It was elegant savagery.

Bringing her to my hips, I fed from her mouth, tangling my fingers into her chocolate-colored hair. "I want this so bad, Zander. Please don't make me wait."

Hearing her beg broke me.

If I hadn't already been hard and ready, I felt as if I'd break through my sweats at any moment. "Tell me you'll stay, Piper, and I'll screw you right into this wall until you're too sore to move."

A cry of frustration vibrated in her chest, and she fisted my hair in her hand, the rough tingle of pain turned my stomach into liquid fire. "Say it," I bit out, bringing her down to the hallway floor, pressing my weight against her spread thighs, I sucked her nipple into my mouth.

She cried.

It'd been so long.

Decades for me.

I needed to sink into her and mark her.

She moved underneath me, sliding her underwear off her thigh. Swiftly, I gripped her wrist, stopping her from taunting the only self-respect alphas had on their side.

The respect of their Luna.

"I'm begging you," she said, as I tasted the sweet scent of her mouth against mine. "Please, Zander—,

I ignored her plea, leaning over to suck the other into my mouth, loving the arch of her back, and the desperate roll of her hips. Piper, quicker than I realized she could move, grabbed my hand and placed it between her wet thighs.

My fingertips touched her most sensitive place, and my wolf stirred, banging against my restraint from the insides.

"Say it—," I demanded, feeling my eyes turn hazy, and knowing she stared up at the beast"s honey colored stare.

Ding-dong.

My fingers stilled, my heart leaped from my body, and my entire world crashed into a fiery pit of doom. "They're here."

Piper stopped squirming, her body heaving in the remains of our need for one another. "Maybe it's not them," she said.

I crawled to a standing position and pointed for Piper to get dressed. She didn't call after me as I walked down the hallway, an umbrella of dread following, and my heart slowly tearing into two pieces.

Stopping in front of the front door, I grabbed the knob but stopped when William put his hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Ding-dong.

"They aren't leaving," I whispered.

William furrowed his brow. "They will leave eventually. Let them go—,"

"I can't," I hissed. "I can't let them go. I promised she could leave if she wanted, and I'm not going to keep her here from her family. Get out of the way."

I opened the door, coming face-to-face with who I assumed was her mother and ex-boyfriend. He was dressed in waders, with rubber boots, and a baseball hat. Most likely an attempt to make it through the bayou. Her mother was dressed similarly, except she wore a "have you seen this woman" t-shirt on.

"Hi," he said, sticking his hand out.

My wolf pushed me to bite it, but I didn't, I stared at him. "Can I help you?"

Henry, I thought she said his name was, retracted his hand and glanced over at Mrs. Sloane. With nervous hands, she handed me a picture. "We're here searching for my daughter. She has been missing, and her cell phone dinged nearby."

The picture of Piper didn't do her justice. The smile didn"t meet her eyes, it reminded me of the look she wore when she first arrived. It wasn"t the lighthearted girl tossing flour into my face, or carving her name into my heart.

"Have you seen her?" Mrs. Sloane asked.

Panic trickled down my spine. I told Piper she could leave if she wanted to leave, and yet, I didn't want to let her go.

"Buddy," Henry said, snapping his fingers.

William stiffened beside the doorframe where he hid from sight.

"Do not snap your fingers at me," I said quietly. "Or I'll break them off."

Mrs. Sloane gasped. "I'm sorry we disturbed you," she said quietly, turning to leave.

"Wait," Henry said, glancing over my shoulder. "Have you seen her or not? You're the only residence within ten miles of where her cell phone lost service."

I opened my mouth to say something when Piper touched my wrist where I clutched the doorknob. It was light, but she didn't walk into the light. She stayed where they couldn't see her.

I glanced in her direction, and she shook her head. My mind would replay that moment over and over. The look of acceptance on her face. The look of my mate ... staying for me.

"No," I said, breathlessly. "I haven't seen this woman."

Henry huffed. "You're sure? Does anyone else live here with you? It's a big place, why don't you ask them—,"

Piper put her foot on the door and gave it a gentle push, encouraging me to shut it. "I live alone. I haven't seen her. I'm sorry. Maybe she'll come around."

Her mother narrowed her eyes a bit and nodded, though I didn't think she believed me. Henry mumbled under her breath. "Whatever. Let's go Mrs. Sloane." He ushered her down the steps, and with their back to us, Piper closed the door with her foot.

The silence enveloped me, while William slipped away silently, leaving us alone. Piper stepped in front of me, blocking the door, and waited until I looked down. Demanding my attention.

"I want to stay, and I want your mark."