Whenever I feel bad for myself, I remember that there are people out there that have it worse than me— starving, oppressed. Then, I feel worse for being ungrateful for my privileged life.

Today is not one of those days.

I hear gasps around me when onlookers inhale and a wheeze when I exhale. I hit the ground so hard that my lungs emptied.

When I walked away from Kaden, I made sure my head was high enough to make my momma proud, and my hips rocked left and right to wave goodbye. I looked like I was walking down a red carpet. Then I slipped over my two damn feet. The red carpet was pulled out from under me and I fell, sending my imaginary gold cape, heels, and jewelry flying.

"Fuck," I hiss. I sit up and cup my bruised hip. I hit the ground so hard that I'm convinced some dirt went up my ass. My next few trips to the toilet will be interesting. Is my ass even still attached to me?

This is so embarrassing. I'd rather have a porn video play from my phone speakers at church than crawl on my hands and knees in front of Kaden and my mother, combing through the grass in search of my dignity and the ass that seems to have dislodged from my body.

A shadow covers me. "Give me your hand," Kaden says.

There's no mocking in his tone, no joy, but I still want to dig a hole and disappear instead of giving him anything.

He doesn't wait for me to decide. He takes my forearms and easily lifts me to my feet.

"You shouldn't have run." He flicks a loose curl over my shoulder and stares at me passively. He doesn't care to step away from me, not caring that there're only inches away from us and the entire pack is carefully studying them.

I take the first step away, and then another. I'm careful this time, because I'm not interested in tasting dirt a second time.

When I look behind him, I find my mother gawking with dollar signs in her eyes. She's probably already planning my wedding and names of our children.

"My house. Now." Kaden takes my hand and directs me away from the field. I follow only because my mother frightens me more than my alpha.

I've never entered Kaden's house. It's near the packhouse. A two-story home that has been in his family for centuries, much too big for a single bachelor. He could have long filled it with his chosen mate and pups, but he prefers entertaining single, bored, lonely, mommy-issues-suffering, dirt-eating messes like me.

We go up the steps and enter the house. I don't take another step away from the foyer, because I'm not here for a tour. Being out of the public eye is enough.

"What the hell was that out there, Kaden? You had no right to hint at our relationship in front of my mother. This is supposed to be a confidential arrangement, and you dangled it in front of the fucking pack."

He raises a hand to stop me. "First things first. You will not undermine me in front of my pack, or in private. It doesn't matter if we're fucking or not." His voice becomes deeper with every word. "You will not disrespect your Alpha."

I scoff. I'm out of line. Being insolent, but this is my life he's toying with. I will fight for my life with tooth and claw.

"You're upset that I'm cursing? At least I'm not playing bullshit games. I tried to walk away from you before you escalated, and I've never disclosed our arrangement, especially to my mother. Why can't you do the same? You're mature enough to lead a pack, but not a relationship?"

His hand snaps up, and I flinch away, expecting pain. A warm, firm hand takes told of my jaw, tipping my head back and locking my gaze onto his own. His eyes are fierce, crowned by thick, furrowed brows. I'm imprisoned by brown bars.

His handsomeness tries to subdue me, and it's close to winning. I can't deny our attraction, even while we're ready to rip each other's throats out. Our breaths mix, but I want to combine more of us. I want our flesh to become one.

I don't know why, but wanting is a biological drive I can't control. My body was designed to want a strong mate. Kaden is the pinnacle of masculinity— a walking weapon. His body is sculptured by hard slabs of muscle; a shield. His mind is sharp; a knife. And that fat cock of his is a loaded gun ready to shoot bullets of healthy babies into his chosen mate.

"You're good at hiding, but I see right through you, Kenna. I'm not buying the image you try to paint. You're not a dull doctor that disappears into her cabin after work. That mind of yours is snappy and mischievous. You know how to play people, but I'm Alpha for a reason."

My lip curls, my skin goosebumps. I don't like how he can read me. How those brown eyes scrutinize me. I'm used to being the reader; the one flipping through pages and consuming a story. Today, Kaden has made me a character.

"What the hell are you saying?"

"You started a war at the festival. Flipping your skirts, teasing me, trying to take power from me."

He tips my head to the side, revealing my neck. My breath hitches, but he lowers his teeth before I can pull away. They're sharp. Deadly as they scratch the surface of my skin. I don't dare to move, afraid he'd pierce me and complicate the situation by marking me.

His mouth moves to my ear, leaving my neck unmarked. "Get on your knees."

A harsh laugh booms from my chest. "Why in the Moon-loving fuck would I do that?"

He's my Alpha, yes, but I can't be ordered to having sex with him.

"You will if you want our arrangement to continue. Get on your knees, or walk through the door and we never meet again. The choice is yours."

I'm beginning to despise this man. He knows how to push my buttons all too well. Of course, I want more of his generous cock. I can't just walk away from it.

I pull my face away and take him in. He looks stern. Nothing will change his mind.

"I'll come in your mouth, and you'll walk to your cabin with your mouth full of me. Maybe that will teach you a thing or two about cursing and teasing me."

"I can't do that," I glare. "The entire pack would smell me and find out what's happening between us."

"You have your options," he decides.

So that's it, then. Walk away from him, or reveal our status to the pack.

I lower myself to my knees, deciding easily. Kaden watches me unbuckle his belt and pull down his zipper.

He's hard. Digging his cock out is a challenge, but I manage and pull the wet-tipped, veiny monstrosity into my warm mouth. I don't look at him as I lick him, afraid of what he would see in my gaze.

He fails to hide his joy from me. Groans of pleasure mix with my sucking. My saliva slips down his balls, but my tongue is there to catch it. I lick him from balls to tip, unable to pull all of his inches into my mouth. I give enthusiastic attention to the first half that I can fit in my mouth, trying different sucking methods to discover his favorite.

I'm so focused on my task that lose track of time. Kaden's hand comes to cup my cheek gently. When he tenses, I know he's reaching his limits.

"Damn it!" he growls, pulsing in my mouth.

Warmth fills my cheeks. I'm surprised by the amount, but don't pull back until I'm fully loaded.

When I rise, lips tightly sealed and cheeks stuffed, I find Kaden looking at me with wonderment.

I turn and head for the door, my cheeks slushing with the semen inside. This is what he wanted— for me to parade myself, marked as his woman, for all the pack to see.

On my way out, I pick up a laundry detergent that I saw set by the table. I walk down the steps and onto the grass. Then, when there's enough distance, I turn. Kaden is still inside his home, watching me like a predator.

I swalow hard, and then I grin with teeth glistening with this seed. Then, I uncap the detergent and rain it over my head. The liquid wets my hair first, then my clothes. The scent of Kaden is masked instantly.

I'll be damned before I parade myself as being owned by any man.

"You may be my Alpha, Kaden, but you're not my mate."

I've never seen him this furious.

I run away, dripping with detergent, my laugh dancing in the wind.