Fated and knocked up by the Alpha King (Elara) novel Chapter 4

The city glittered below us, but I couldn’t look at it. Not when he was standing there — tall, immovable, golden eyes locked on me like I was already his.

I crossed my arms over my chest, more for armor than comfort. “You know, usually when a girl follows a guy back to his… lair, there’s a drink involved. A toast. Some icebreaker so it’s not just two strangers glaring at each other until someone panics.”

His mouth twitched. “Are you panicking?”

“No,” I lied immediately.

“Yes,” he said, and his voice dipped just enough to make the word dangerous.

Before I could fire back, my phone buzzed. Cassia. Again.

Cassia: Do you need me to come up there? Blink twice. No wait, I can’t see you. Okay, stomp twice on the floor if you’re alive but he’s creepy.

Cassia: What’s the address? I’ll bring garlic. Do wolves hate garlic? Or is that vampires?

Cassia: Elara, ANSWER. If you die, I’m dead too. Dad will roast me alive for “losing his niece in Europe.” Don’t make me face that funeral lecture.

I groaned out loud. “Oh my god.”

He raised a brow. “Persistent cousin?”

“She thinks you’re about to chop me into pieces and sell me on the black market.”

He didn’t even flinch. “I don’t share.”

That shouldn’t have sent a shiver down my spine. But it did.

I texted back quickly: Still alive. No garlic necessary. Stop texting or I’m blocking you.

The phone buzzed immediately.

Cassia: Don’t block me. If you die, how will I know who to avenge you on?

I let out a strangled laugh, dropping the phone face-down on the table. “Sorry. She doesn’t have an off switch.”

“I noticed,” he said dryly. But the corner of his mouth betrayed him with the faintest smile.

He moved a step closer. Not much. Just enough that my breath caught, because suddenly I could see the flecks of amber in his eyes.

“Do you always run toward trouble?” he asked.

“Do you always look like trouble?” I shot back.

He chuckled low in his chest, and the sound curled through me like smoke. “Depends on who’s asking.”

“Let me guess,” I said, tilting my chin up. “Women in bars?”

“No,” he said softly, eyes on my mouth. “Just you.”

We were so close now that the air practically vibrated. My wolf was clawing at the surface, demanding I close the last inch.

His hand lifted, brushing a strand of hair back from my face. His fingers lingered against my jaw, warm, sure, claiming without words. My body went still, waiting.

The moment stretched. I could feel the kiss before it happened — the anticipation itself was intoxicating.

And then—

Cassia: PINEAPPLE. SAFE WORD. Do you hear me, Elara Quinn? If you don’t text back, I’m calling in backup. Don’t test me.

The phone lit up again, blaring Cassia’s ridiculous safe word across the screen.

I let out a bark of laughter, nearly bumping my forehead against his chest. “Oh, for the love of—”

His lips curved, patient and amused. “Pineapple?”

“Don’t ask,” I said, covering my face with both hands.

When I peeked out again, he was still watching me, calm as stone. But his thumb was still against my jaw, and his eyes were molten gold.

“Do you always get interrupted like this?” he asked.

“Only when I’m about to make bad decisions,” I said breathlessly.

He leaned down just enough that his words brushed my skin. “Then maybe we should get rid of the interruptions.”

I forgot how to breathe. The city, the hotel, even Cassia — gone. Just me and him, and the slow inevitability of this moment crashing down.

And then, finally, his mouth claimed mine.

The kiss was nothing like I’d prepared for. It wasn’t sweet, or cautious. It was possession, fire and thunder rolled into one, the bond snapping tight and singing through my veins like lightning.

There was no space left between us. No hesitation.

And this time, no interruptions.

The kiss deepened until I forgot how to breathe. His mouth was firm and hot, demanding but gentle, like he couldn’t decide whether to devour me or protect me.

“Elara,” he murmured, my name reverent on his lips.

“Thorne,” I whispered back, tasting it like a secret I wasn’t supposed to know.

Something flickered in his golden eyes, but instead of asking, he kissed me again, harder, until my head spun.

We stumbled toward the bed, bumping into furniture along the way. I laughed nervously, clutching his shirt. “We’re going to break something.”

His smile was quick and crooked, softening the sharp lines of his face. “Let the hotel send me the bill.”

The joke made me laugh again, but it didn’t hide the flutter of nerves in my stomach. This was new. Too new.

When his shirt came off and the light caught on scarred muscle, I froze. He was breathtaking. Strong, controlled, powerful in a way that made my pulse race.

I swallowed hard. “You look… unfair.”

His golden gaze swept over me, hot and lingering, until I thought my skin might ignite. “So do you.”

But when his hands slid to the hem of my top, I hesitated. He stilled immediately, his brow furrowing.

“Tell me to stop,” he said softly, “and I will.”

I shook my head quickly, heat rushing to my cheeks. “I don’t… I mean, I’ve never—”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify