SAGE

"Jealous, are we?"

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I scoffed, "Why would I be?" I replied, raising my eyebrow. "I'm just trying to understand your logic here. Why get a breeder when you have your queen?"

"That's none of your goddamn business," he replied coldly.

"It is my business," I insisted. "We're talking about my life, my body, and my child here. You can't tell me it's none of my

business."

I saw him clench his jaw as if he was trying to control his anger. Probably, in some other situation, I would

be frightened by now. But honestly, that's far from what I am feeling right now. He's slapping it on my face that he already has a new queen. I don't see why he still needs me.

After a couple of minutes of deafening silence, he speaks again. "Just sign the paper, Sage, then we're done here," he ordered in between gritted teeth.

I put the papers back inside the envelope. Titus was frowning as he watched me like a hawk. His frown deepened when instead of signing it, I stood up from the chair and faced him head-on.

"I'm not going to sign a paper without reading its content. I'll let you know if I need to make some changes," I said.

I was startled when he slammed the table loudly. "You don't get to have choices here, Sage. May I remind you that even though people here call you lady, you are nothing but a slave, a breeder," he said. His icy blue eyes turned red in anger.

"You may call me anything you want, but I will not sign anything unless I know what I'm getting myself into. If you have a problem with that, you can end this now. It will save both of us the trouble of each other's presence," I bravely replied.

In a blink of an eye, he moved swiftly like the wind. One moment he was standing behind the desk; now he was standing in front of me, our bodies were pressed against each other while his hand was wrapped around my waist and the other one was holding my nape steadily.

I flinched when I felt his sharp claws digging against my nape. His eyes were still red. I can sense danger in his eyes, and for the first time, I regretted pushing him to his limit. I was acting brave when I told him to end it now, but now that there's a big chance he would probably kill me, I realize that it's not a good idea to challenge the most powerful lycan in the territory.

"You are frail like a human. Without your healing power, I could snap your neck in any minute, and you'll be dead in a second," he whispered, but his words were so loud that I could feel my body shaking.

I can feel a lump in my throat as he slowly takes the distance between our lips but stops right when our lips are brushing against one another. Instead of my lips, he pressed his lips against the corner of my lips and then continued brushing against my jawline.

I was taking a sharp breath as the heat brought by the closeness of our bodies started creeping through the fiber of my being. I gulped when I felt his lips against the burrow of my neck. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from creating any more sound when he started to run his tongue against my neck.

"I could bite off this part of your neck, and you'll bleed to death," he uttered.

"Ahhh..." I moan escapes my lips when he dug his teeth against my skin.

"Hmmm... you're enjoying this as much as I do, right, kitten?"

It feels like a bucket of ice was poured over my head.

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Titus' words sent a jolt through me, snapping me back into reality like a cruel wake-up call. The heat, the tension, the intoxicating pull of his closeness-all of it vanished the moment I registered the amusement in his voice. He was toying with

1. me.

I stiffened, pushing against his chest, but he didn't budge. His grip on my waist remained firm, his fingers pressing into my skin like he was making sure I wouldn't slip away. His breath was warm against my neck, his presence overwhelming, suffocating.

"Let go of me," I spat, my voice sharp despite the tremor running through me.

"And if I don't want to?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Whatever game you're playing, I want none of it."

Titus chuckled lowly, the sound vibrating through my body. "Oh, but my sweet darling kitten, you're already playing right into my hands."

I clenched my jaw, refusing to let him see how much his touch affected me. "If you want me to sign those papers, you need to let me go."

His grip on my nape tightened; his gaze burned with something unreadable, something that sent a shiver down my spine.

"I could force you," he said, voice laced with dark amusement. "I could command you to do it, and you wouldn't have a choice."

I lifted my chin, meeting his challenge head-on. "Then why haven't you? Because honestly, that's the only way you can get me to sign those papers right now."

Titus' eyes darkened; his fingers twitched against my skin before he finally released me, stepping back like he needed the distance just as much as I did.

"You should be grateful, Sage," he murmured, his voice deceptively calm. "Most women would kill to be in your position."

I let out a bitter laugh, rubbing the spot on my neck where his teeth had grazed. "Then give them my spot. I'm sure your queen wouldn't mind."

His expression hardened instantly, his jaw clenching so tightly I thought he might snap. But instead of answering, he turned away, running a hand through his silver hair as if reining himself in.

I took a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. Damn him. He knew exactly how to get under my skin, how

to make me question everything, how to make my body betray me even when my mind screamed for distance.

But I wouldn't let him win.noveldrama

"Since we're done here, I'll be leaving," I said, turning on my heel.

"Tonight," he said, that makes me stop in my tracks.

I turned in his direction. I looked at him as if waiting for him to clarify it further.

"I'm giving you until tonight to sign those papers. If you refuse, I'll use my Alpha command to make you do

it. One way or another, you're signing them." His voice was cold, final. Then, as if the conversation no longer concerned him, he shifted his focus back to the documents on his desk, dismissing me without another glance.

I stood frozen, trying to process what had just happened. I thought I understood him, thought I knew exactly what he was capable of-but there was something about him now that didn't add up. If he truly had no intention of giving me a choice, why wait? Why not force me now?

He claimed I had no power here, yet somehow, I still had a sliver of control. And that terrified me more than anything.

14 Wed, 26 Feb FEEL

Would he really use his Alpha command on me?

I wanted to believe he wouldn't. But the man sitting before me, the one who barely spared me a glance as he drifted his focus back to the documents on his desk, wasn't the same man from three years ago. This Titus was colder, sharper, and more ruthless.

My hands curled into fists at my sides. "You could force me now" I said, my voice quieter than 1 intended but steady, "Viny

wait?"

Titus didn't look up, but I caught the way his jaw tensed, the way his fingers momentarily clenched around his pen before he relaxed again.

"That's none of your concern," he replied flatly, his tone dismissive,

I hated that answer. I hated the way it sent a shiver through me.

I swallowed hard. "And if I still refuse?"

Titus finally lifted his head, his blue eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, he studied me, his gaze unreadable. Then he leaned back in his chair, his expression impassive.

"Then you'll leave me no choice."

My pulse quickened. He said it so casually, like it was just another matter of business, another problem to

be handled. Like I wasn't a person with thoughts and feelings, but a pawn in his grand game.

I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to hold my ground. "You keep telling me I don't have choices, yet you keep giving me time," I pointed out. "Why?"

A flicker of something crossed his face-annoyance, maybe, or something deeper. Something I wasn't sure I wanted to understand.

"You're wasting the time I gave you," he muttered, looking back down at the documents. "Leave."

I stared at him for another moment, waiting for him to say something else, to offer any hint of explanation, but none came. He was shutting me out, closing himself off like a locked door.

Fine.

Without another word, I turned and walked out, though my heart was pounding violently in my chest.

I had until tonight.

**