“He hurt Tori and ordered her to come here?” David asked.
“Yeah. I never told you this, but she wanted to kill herself that first night. She was ready to jump out of the window to end it all. I know you don’t trust her.”
“She’s been through a lot. The fact she’s told you the truth puts her back up in esteem in my book. I’m sorry for causing this shit-storm.”
Scorch nodded. “I don’t want anyone treating her differently.”
“No one will know what happened until you tell them.”
For the next half an hour Scorch got in touch with over five alphas from packs in the surrounding areas. They all agreed to make their way north for a meeting in three days. He would need to set off tomorrow to make it there in time. Going back to David’s room, he took Victoria back to her room, making sure the window was closed before going to his own.
David was rounding up three more men to go with them for protection. Staring outside of the window, he downed two glasses of brandy one after the other. The expensive taste didn’t register with him.
When he heard his door opening, he knew Victoria was the one responsible for invading his peace.
“I’m sorry,” she said, whispering the words.
Turning to look at her, he saw she wore a long nightshirt. On closer inspection he recognized it was one of his old shirts.
“What are you sorry for?” he asked, pouring himself another drink.
“I didn’t want to do what Chain asked. I wanted to tell. I just didn’t know how.” She wrapped her arms around her body as if she was trying to ward off the pain.
“I don’t hold you responsible for what happened, Tori. Far from it.”
“You won’t even look at me.”
He held her gaze letting her know he didn’t have any problem looking at her. “I’ve not got any issues with you, baby.”
“Then why are you holding yourself back? I know David hates me, and I bet all of the pack hates me.”
The glass he’d been holding crushed in his palm. She yelped, jumping back.
“None of the pack will be saying a word to you. David knows the truth, and he’s aware of the fact you didn’t want to do it. I’m trying to process everything you’ve told me, Tori. It’s not like you’ve told me you prefer women to men. What Chain is doing and what he’s got planned is f**king serious.”
Looking out of the window he tried to stop the anger from developing into something more.
“I know.”
“No, you don’t understand. Chain hurting his pack and then wanting to kill another alpha goes against everything that makes us leaders. If he succeeds in killing another alpha then we’re all done for. It’s a natural balance for us to lead without inflicting harm on another pack member.”
The tears coming from her eyes were killing him.
“I need you to know that I couldn’t have done it. I’d rather die than lead you to him.”
“I’m a lot stronger than you give me credit.”
“No, he knows how to hurt you. If you attack him that makes you vulnerable if your wolf forces the change. I know it makes you all hurt once the change is forced. Please, understand what he’s capable of.”
Closing the distance, he cupped her face staring into her eyes. They were such a beautiful green and filled with so much worry. “I know what he’s capable of. I’m not stupid, and I will never put myself or my pack in any danger, do you understand me?”
He cupped her cheek, and she sank against him. Her hands held onto the shirt covering his chest. Scorch hadn’t changed since their confrontation.
“If anything happens to you I would never forgive myself.”
“I’m sorry about your parents.”
She gasped. “Thank you. It has been so long I haven’t even processed what the hell is happening to me. One moment they’re there in my life, and the next moment my father warns me to be careful. I can’t do this.”
Tilting her head back he stared into her face.
Take care of her. She needs us now more than ever.
Dropping his head down, he touched her lips with his own. “I will never let anything happen to you or to me.”
“I can’t lose you as well.”
“Are you making some sort of declaration?” he asked, teasing.
“I don’t know what I’m making. I also don’t know how you can be so glib at a time like this.”
Taking hold of her head, he pressed her palm against his heart. “You feel that?”
She nodded, wiping away her tears.
“I’m alive. I’m breathing. My heart is beating, and my c**k is getting hard because I want you, Tori. Nothing has changed between us. I still want you, and when all of this goes away I will want you afterwards.”
“Stay with me tonight,” she said.
“No, you know what I agreed to.”
“I don’t care. If something goes wrong and if he knows what I did, then we’re not safe.” Her hands were rubbing up and down his chest becoming more insistent as the seconds passed. “I don’t want to risk being in Chain’s hands with him being my first.” She looked up at him, melting him. “I want you to be my first, Scorch.”
“What are you asking?” He knew what she was asking, but she had to say it out loud before he even considered taking the next step with her.
She breathed deeply and looked up at him. “I want you to be my first,” she said. “Scorch, I want you to f**k me.”
His c**k took on a mind of its own as it stared at her. Fuck yeah, he wanted to be her first and last lover. Dropping his head down, he claimed her lips.
Chapter Seven
Scorch’s tongue plundered her mouth, and Victoria moaned as he swept inside meeting her own. She gripped the fabric of his shirt within her fists needing him to take away the ache building inside her. When he left her inside her room she’d not known what to think or to feel. He was the first man to confuse her with his actions without even trying.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, breaking the kiss. His hand held the back of her neck holding her in place.
“You think I’m beautiful?”
“Yes. No one has made me burn like you do.”
Her heart soared at his words. No one had ever told her she was beautiful before. Apart from her parents but they didn’t count. Most parents were biased about their children. She had stood looking out of the window knowing in her heart what she wanted. Victoria wanted his arms wrapped around her, forcing all the bad memories away. There was no chance of her getting any peace tonight, not with everything that had happened so far.