Jennifer’s Pov

My heart was beating so fast it felt like it might burst out of my chest. Christian’s fingers were still under my chin, his gray eyes dark and burning as he looked at me. The air in the room felt thick and heavy, like everything else had disappeared except for the two of us.

He slid his hand around my neck, not squeezing but holding me firmly in place. He pulled my face closer to his.

“I want to kiss you,” he said, his voice low and rough. “Can I?”

I blinked, surprised. This was the Alpha… the man everyone feared, asking for permission? It felt so strange, almost unreal coming from him. But there was something in his eyes that made my stomach flutter.

“Yes,” I whispered. “You can.”

The second I said it, Christian kissed me hard. His mouth took mine completely, deep and fierce, like he had been holding back for too long. His hand stayed on my neck, keeping me right where he wanted me. I didn’t even realize what my own hand was doing until I felt my fingers slide into his long dark hair, pulling him closer.

He made a deep sound in his throat and suddenly lifted me like I weighed nothing. He sat on the edge of the bed and settled me on his lap so I was straddling him, my legs on either side of his thighs. His hands moved over my back and down my sides, touching me everywhere like he couldn’t get enough. The thin nightgown felt like it was barely there between us.

He broke the kiss just long enough to slide the first strap of my nightgown down my shoulder, then the second. The fabric slipped down, pooling around my waist and leaving my upper body bare. I shivered as the cool air touched my skin. When he looked at me again, his eyes were filled with raw hunger. This wasn’t the calm, controlled Alpha I had seen before. This version of him looked like he was barely holding himself back.

In one smooth motion, he lifted me again and laid me down on the bed. He moved over me, his body covering mine. His hand traced slowly down my body, over my breasts. My nipples were already hard against his touch. When his fingers brushed over one, a small gasp escaped me. I could feel how hard he was, pressing against my thigh through his clothes. It made everything feel more real, more intense, more terrifying and exciting at the same time.

He kissed me again, even deeper this time, like we had both been starving for this. The kiss was hot and desperate, full of need. His voice came out hoarse when he finally pulled back just a little.

“I’m going to mark you now,” he said, breathing hard against my lips. “And then we’ll consummate the marriage.”

Before I could respond, I saw his fangs starting to lengthen. His claws began to come out. My eyes widened in fear.

“Christian?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer. His eyes suddenly turned red as the moonlight poured through the window. Something was very wrong.

“Christian,” I said again, my voice shaking. “Christian!”

He pinned me down harder against the bed. I screamed as his fangs sank deep into my neck. The pain was sharp and burning, like fire spreading through my skin. Blood trickled down my neck and onto the sheets. For one terrifying second, he seemed to come back to himself.

“Leave,” he growled, his voice barely human anymore. “You have to leave. Now!”

I scrambled off the bed, my legs shaking so badly I almost fell. Blood was still running from the bite on my neck. My hands trembled as I tried to pull my nightgown back up. I ran to the door and yanked on the handle, but it was locked.

“No… please!” I banged on the door with both fists, over and over again. “Help! Someone help me! Please open the door!”

No one came. I kept banging, tears pouring down my face now. My neck burned where he had bitten me. I was crying so hard I could barely see straight. “Please! Let me out!”

Behind me, I heard the horrible sound of bones cracking and shifting. I turned slowly, my back pressed against the door.

Christian was transforming.

His body was growing bigger, dark fur spreading across his skin, claws lengthening into massive paws. I had never seen a shift this close before. Yes, humans and wolves lived together, but watching it happen right in front of me was something completely different. It was terrifying.

When the shift finished, he was enormous, a huge black wolf with glowing red eyes. This wasn’t Christian anymore. Not really. This was something wild and dangerous.

I backed up against the wall, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Please… please don’t do this,” I sobbed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I did wrong, but please… don’t hurt me.”

I grabbed a flower vase from the table and threw it at him. It shattered against his side, but he didn’t even flinch. I threw anything I could reach, a small statue, a candle holder, a book, but nothing stopped him. He kept coming toward me, growling low and deep, his red eyes locked on me.

There was nowhere left to run. He had me completely cornered at the edge of the room. His massive paw came up, ready to strike.