| Enemy's Territory

Dominic regarded the female before him curiously. He had been told that she was Kage but they didn't tell him that she was a tiny little thing. Add that to the fact that she had been kidnapped and forced to be in his company, he was expecting a young fragile thing. But there was no fear in her expression, nor was it drifting from her like steam as he would have expected. Instead, she looked royally pissed. He had become so used to the scent of fear that he now found himself a little thrown.

He also found that he was becoming painfully hard as a raw basic hunger surged through him, beating at his self-control. She was freakishly beautiful. Beautiful in that in-your-face-sophisticated-kind-of way but not just that. With her long silver hair and blue eyes, she had that natural, all-woman, all-real beauty that was dabbling with his mind. Although she was slender, she was blessed with mouth-watering curves that had all sorts of fantasies playing around in his head. It was her mouth that had most of his attention though; it was plush, and carnal and made a guy think impure thoughts. A mouth that was currently set into a hard line, communicating how livid and stubborn she was. Still, the stench of fear hadn't permeated the air. Maybe she just didn't recognize him. Maybe if she knew who he was, the emotions he was expecting from her will finally emerge.

Drawing his lips into a thin line, Dominic growled. "Do you know who I am?"

*****

Natalie rolled her eyes. "Why don't we just skip to the part where you tell me how the hell I got here and why exactly I'm here at all, Crane?"

Everyone around her stiffened and an uncomfortable hush fell upon the room. They were not used to people speaking out of turn to their Alpha and were probably all waiting for the guy to explode. Yeah? Well, Natalie had had enough of intimidating, dominating males. Had had enough of boyfriends who seemed to think that her being Kage meant she had to be submissive and meek. Had had enough of her father trying to force her to mate with that bastard for his sly reasons. Had had enough of said Bastard who was so determined to mate with her that he had cornered and almost forced himself on her without her permission, believing he could mark her as his. And now this Mad, hot as-sin man here had kidnapped her. Forgive her if she had reached her limit!

*****

Dominic smiled inwardly at Natalie's contentiousness. He had been told enough times that he had an intimidating presence. All his life, even before earning his reputation, people had been weary of him and it had kind of irritated him. His mother blamed the seemingly permanent scowl on his face as well as the dominant vibes that surrounded him.

This female, however, wasn't shrinking away from him or the intensity of his gaze. And he knew it was intense. He knew that his eyes were so completely focused on her and every single line and curve of her hot little body that it should have been enough to make her look away, squirm, or scowl. She didn't even flinch under his scrutiny. Instead, she met his hard stare boldly, and it occurred to him that he might have found someone who could outstare him. This was a female who wasn't used to taking shit from people – even though she was a Kage. Her fiery nature pleased his wolf who didn't respect tremblers. He would bet she had a wicked temper.

Instinctively, Dominic inhaled deeply to investigate the scent of the female. Fuck! He was hypnotized. The exotic fusion of coconut and vanilla seemed to slam into his system and shot straight to his hardening cock, making it jerk. His wolf growled his arousal, wanting to further examine this female with the mouth-watering scent.

Without tearing his gaze from hers, he finally spoke. "We are not at war, Natalie. Why don't you sit down and make yourself comfortable," he invited, gesturing to the seat opposite him, a small smile curving around his full lips. If things go as planned, his strong attraction to her would be a good thing in the end. A very good thing indeed.

*****

Shit! The way he drawled her name made her feel like he was dragging his tongue over her nipples. Natalie wanted to refuse Dominic's invitation. She almost did. But to do that was to give the impression that she was feeling too intimidated by his presence and truth be told, she couldn't afford to look like that in an unknown enemy's territory.

Natalie settled on the seat Dominic had gestured for her and sent a blazing glare his way. "So you were going to explain what this is all about?"

"My Head Enforcer and Beta brought you here a few hours ago," Dominic immediately replied, with that rough, gravelly voice of his pricking into Natalie's senses.

"Why? And how did they even get me to go with them?"

"They drugged you," he said, too simply and too casually that Natalie gaped. He was too flippant and unremorseful for her liking.

"They did what?" she drawled, almost dangerously and Natalie watched as Dominic's sharp gaze metamorphosed into that of pure heat. Electricity flashed through her and for a moment there she almost forgot she was angry. Which made her even madder at him for being able to affect her like this.

"After you left the café, the drowsiness kicked in as you were walking home, Talon and Davina took you and brought you to me." The way he spoke with so much calmness baffled Natalie to no end, especially after she just saw the raw heat in his eyes.

"If it makes you feel any better," began my temporary bodyguard, "you fought me and Davina like a wildcat before you passed out." He lifted his t-shirt to show her a set of claw marks that spanned his chest. Her marks, she realized. Although she was Kage, she could partially shift. She also realized that her bodyguard, who she presumed was Talon was amused rather than angry.

"Wildcat is an understatement. No one ever marks our Head Enforcer" a tall, beautiful olive-skinned female wolf rasped and Natalie focused her gaze on her. This beautiful wolf had to be Davina – her other kidnapper. With her athletic build and long chocolate brown hair, Davina was definitely more Natalie's type, female or not. Unfortunately, Raven was growling at her disagreement; which only meant she rather liked the Mad one.

Great! Just freaking great!

Throwing her gaze back to the Mad one, Natalie decided she was done with beating around the bush. "And the purpose of 'Operation Drug and Kidnap the Female Wolf' is what exactly?" As Natalie asked this, she made it rather plain with her tone that she wasn't going to settle for a simple explanation. The Mad one had to have a serious reason or so help her God.