“What are you doing?!” Vanessa choked out, her fingers digging into Rafe’s wrist as she tried to pry his hand off her throat.
Her nails clawed at his skin.
But Rafe didn’t even flinch.
Instead—
His grip tightened.
Her breath hitched painfully.
Air became scarce.
Her wolf panicked inside her mind.
“Mate! Mate—don’t hurt mate!”
But Rafe’s voice cut through everything.
Cold.
Deadly.
“Listen to me,” he said, his eyes locking onto hers. “And listen well.”
Vanessa struggled, her chest heaving as she tried to pull in air.
“There will be no rejection,” Rafe continued.
His tone left no room for argument.
“You will go to your parents and tell them that you have decided to accept me as your mate.”
His grip tightened slightly again as Vanessa tried to speak.
“I don’t care what story
