“Explain yourself now.”

Vane faced her as if he hadn’t just been jerking off. His eyes drifted down her body to land on her bare breasts. His nostrils flared. She was even more beautiful up close. Her vanilla scent was unlike anything he’d ever smelled.

"Oh!” Her hand flew to cover her naked breasts. Blushing, she looked up to meet his gaze again. His eyes were intense, but it was his body that kept distracting her. A sweat soaked shirt clung to hard round shoulders that tapered down to a hard, flat abdomen and a pair of thick powerful thighs.

“Who are you?” His voice was a deep rolling tenor. Sarina’s cheeks burning hotter. Something in the way he looked at her was possessive, feral.

“I’m,” she hesitated, wondering how much she should tell him. Lykaens rarely hurt women; to do so was a great shame on the man and his family. Even still, her father had made a point to keep males away from her. All for a good purpose though—to ensure good breeding. A normal life wasn’t in the cards for someone like her. All she had were her darkest dreams where Jacob and Jackson pleasured her endlessly. Shaking her head, she finished, “Sarina. My name is Sarina.”

Bright green eyes widened with knowledge. So he knew of her? Well of course he did. Who didn’t? She was the reclusive Princess of the Lykaens. Only allowed out with her father’s permission. Her frown deepened. It was all necessary she knew that. Not that she hadn’t wondered what it would be like to be with a man, especially a man like this one.

“And you are?” For good measure, she ducked behind the curtain to hide her naked body.

“Vane. Vane Kategan,” he answered and crossed two very muscular arms over a wide chest. He watched her wiggle behind the window and for a moment considered telling her that he’d just seen a helluva lot more than that. But he wanted to keep his teeth, so he kept his mouth shut.

She gulped at his dark look and clasped her legs together. The breeding cycle was almost in full force. She felt the minutes ticking away like a bomb. She had to get rid of him or else she might make a huge mistake.

Hungry eyes roamed over his body to take in the hard angles of his face, arms, and chest. Her gaze fell back to his mouth. He had nice lips. Just full enough she could suck on it, bite them. Her pussy ached at the sight. Her previous orgasm not even scratching the surface of her need. Already her need was growing with violent force. It won’t be long. He has to go now!

“Well, Mr. Kategan. It has been a pleasure meeting you. I must be going now, as I’m sure you must as well. Please be sure to not come around here anymore. I do not like visitors.” She made her words curt and rude. Oh what a lie that was. She wanted nothing more than to tear off his clothes and ride his cock until they both were wild in throes of climatic passion. The other half of her hated the thought of being cooped up here alone. She rose to close the window before she made some other stupid decision, but her eyes went to his again and the breath she was taking froze in her lungs.

His eyes closed as if savoring something delicious, and she watched as his nostrils flared. His hands fell into fists at his sides. Oh, shit! He can smell me! Why hadn’t she thought of that before? Christ, because I’ve been checking him out. Don’t let him catch my breeding cycle scent, she prayed.

“How about you let me in Sarina and I take care of that problem for you.” He gave her a look that said he knew exactly what was going on and was more than happy to help. So much for him not finding out.

Vane could barely restrain himself from jumping through that window. All that creamy skin couldn’t possibly be as soft as it looked-but he wanted to find out. Her breasts were another matter, she had no idea, but as she tried to hide her large breasts, they only plunged over her slender arm instead. The sight had his cock standing hard and straight in his pants. The hard orgasm he’d just had wasn’t helping him a bit.

With the window open, he could smell her unique scent better. That unique scent that was female and lykaen was all Sarina and the breeding. It was like hot vanilla, sweet and sexy. The breeding cycle was a powerful force for lykaen females. It could lure any unmated male to take her. But he planned to be the only man thrusting between those perfect thighs. Ever.

His body answered her call with a readiness that pulled his balls up tight and made his cock drip with anticipation.

Vane recognized her name too. Sarina Brunes was famous in the lykaen community. No males were allowed near her unless strictly permitted by her father. Many males had tried to meet and wed the princess, but none passed the king’s test. Hell, even Vane had considered trying to meet the princess. But with a father that controlling it seemed like bad news. Well, at least he was right about one thing. She was definitely bad news.

“You must leave now.” Frantic, she looked around, but she had no father or guard to force this perfect specimen of a lykaen male away. Oh god, if he stays I will shame my father, the Pride, and myself. He must leave. What if I got pregnant? Uh, hello, breeding cycle equals prime opportunity for pregnancy. My father would kill me. He would kill Vane.

Her expression grew pained, but still she looked more beautiful than a tropical sunset. Oh fuck, did he really just think that? A fucking sunset. Get a hold of yourself man. You’re a leader, an Alpha, not a damned poet.

Ignoring her command, he said, “I’m the Alpha of the Kategan Pack, and I’m not going anywhere.” A slow smile formed over his lips.

He knew why his words mattered. Princesses customarily only bred with an Alpha who was deemed worthy by her guardian. As alpha of a large and respected pack, he would stand a chance to win her. Although this wasn’t exactly ‘normal’ courting practice. One normally didn’t start these things by jerking off outside the intended’s window.

“Let me in.” His voice was taunting, his smile that of a predator. When she didn’t move, he leaned closer to the window. She moved just as far back from him. “I could help you.”

Vane had no idea why he was so certain, but certain he was. Sarina was his. Every cell in his body, even the beast in his soul shouted that she was his. Mate his beast howled. He and the beast were in complete agreement. He’d only been this certain a few times in his life. When he sensed his parents sudden death, the moment he became a true Alpha, and now with her. She was his. She just didn’t know it yet.

Her father’s warning rang in her head. He’d already made her decision for her. Against her own body’s needs, she grabbed the window and started to shut it. He stopped it with a strong hand.

“Do you really believe this is a coincidence, Princess? I’ve been searching for my Queen. And here we are together during your breeding cycle. I found you.” The one time of year she would be fertile.

“I—” A hopeless look came over her face, and he wanted to wipe it away. “I cannot have sex.” She looked down, her face flushing.

A surge of fierce protectiveness ran through Vane. “You can’t possibly be alone during your breeding cycle. It will be excruciating. You need a male to ease you. At the very least you need someone to protect you.” He put both hands on the windowsill and leaned closer as if his mere presence could persuade her. She could smell him so much better now, and it was intoxicating.

“I’ve always dealt with my cycle alone.” A spark of anger ignited in his eyes, Sarina licked her lips thinking she should have kept her mouth shut.

“How old are you, Sarina?” he asked between tight lips.

“Twenty-two.”

His face twisted into a feral mask of anger. He wanted to plow his fist into the bastard’s face that would do this to a female. “You’ve dealt with your cycle for years without a male to ease you? That’s torture. Who did this to you?”