Rodrigo stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, water still dripping from his hair.
The moment he walked into his room, his legs came to an abrupt stop.
There was someone in his bed.
His jaw tightened as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. A figure lay curled under his sheets, dark curly hair spilling across his pillow. Walking to the walls, he turned on the lights.
The new bride.
What the hell was she doing here?
Did this woman have a death wish?
He stalked toward the bed, water dripping from his body onto the cold floor. He loomed over her, and tilted his head, studying her.
She was asleep. Actually asleep. Her breathing was slow, her body relaxed, like she had no care in the world.
How had she gotten past the guards?
And why wasn't she afraid?
His eyes dropped to her body. Her nightie had slipped, exposing her shoulder, the curve of her breasts rising and falling. Her lips were slightly parted, and a strand of hair had fallen across her cheek.
Something twisted in his chest. He clenched his teeth.
With one sharp motion, he pulled the pillow from under her head.
Nina's head hit the mattress and her eyes flew open.
She blinked, trying to catch her breath.
Something was wrong.
The ceiling above her was different. Higher. Darker. The sheets beneath her were black, not the cream colored ones she had fallen asleep in.
And there was someone standing over her.
Her eyes traveled up. Bare chest. Water droplets sliding down hard muscle. A towel wrapped low around his hips. Wet hair falling across his shoulders.
And grey eyes. Cold and murderous.
The Alpha.
All color drained from Nina's face.
No. No, no.
She had sleepwalked. Right into the Alpha's room!
God, she was going to die. Sweat broke out on her forehead, her hands trembling as she stared at Rodrigo.
"What are you doing?" his voice thundered, Nina jerked backward.
Her lips moved but no words could form.
Nina hadn't felt so much fear in her entire life. Her eyes trailed to the door, the only way she was going to survive was if she ran. Unless she was dead meat.
So without a second thought, she bolted.
She scrambled off the bed and made for the door, her bare feet slipping on the marble floor.
But she didn't make it two steps.
Rodrigo's hand caught her arm and yanked her back and she landed straight onto the bed, knocking the air out of her lungs.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Nina lay still, heart pounding. But instead of replying, she tried to run off again, and this time,
Rodrigo was on top of her.
His body pressed her into the bed, as his hands grabbed her wrists and slammed them above her head, holding them against the pillow with one hand. He squeezed.
Nina gasped, struggling beneath him. But he was too strong. She couldn't move.
″Please, let me go! Somebody help!″
Nina screamed on top of her lungs, her eyes tightly shut, her body trembling violently.
Rodrigo stared at the woman under him.
She had no survival instincts at all.
His face was inches from hers now. Water dripped from his hair onto her chest, sliding down between her breasts.
Rodrigo clenched his teeth, angry at himself for noticing that. He raised his eyes, keeping them on her face.
″Do you think there's anyone in this estate that can save you?″
Nina gulped, her lips pressed together. She opened her eyes slowly, and they locked in his deep grey ones.
Her heart stuttered.
He was very good looking, but in a murderous way. He looked like a dark angel who had no good left in him.
"What's the rush?" His voice cut her thoughts off, his lips stretching into a smirk; "Did you want to have the wedding night early?"
Nina's eyes widened. "No. That's not..."
"You break into my room. Climb into my bed." His grip on her wrists tightened. "If you wanted me that badly, you should have just said so."
Nina winced, her brows twisting with pain; "I don't know how I got here.″
Her lips trembled, "I sleepwalk. I have since I was a child."
There was a moment of silence before Rodrigo let out a deep baritone chuckle,
"You expect me to believe that?" he tilted his head; ″Of all places you could sleep walk to, here? You must have a death wish.″ His grip tightened around her wrists, his eyes growing dark;
Nina bit her lower lip tightly as she struggled beneath him.
She forced herself to meet his gaze. His grey eyes were dark with fury, his jaw clenched so tight she could see the muscle ticking beneath his skin.
He was terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.
″I'm not lying... If I meant anything else, I wouldn't be sleeping when you found me.″
There was silence. Her eyes glanced downward, and they landed on his bare chest, she pulled them back up;
″It won't happen again.″
″Who says there'll be a next time?″
His free hand shot to her throat.
Nina choked. Her eyes went wide as his fingers pressed against her windpipe.
"Please..." she gasped. "I...I'm..."
Tears spilled from Nina's eyes. They slid down her temples and into her hair.
She couldn't breathe. All she could feel was his hand on her throat, and the cold bleak gaze of his irises peering into her soul.
Rodrigo's thumb pressed against her pulse. She could feel her own heartbeat from how hard he held her.
Seconds passed.
And then...
He let go.
She gasped, sucking in air, her body convulsing, and she coughed, her hand flying to her throat.
Rodrigo pushed himself off her and stood beside the bed. His back to her.
"Get out."
He commanded, icily, not sparing her a glance.
Nina didn't wait to be told twice.
She scrambled off the bed, her legs shaking so badly she almost collapsed as she bolted towards the door, and ran for her dear life.