Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father (Brooklyn and Aden) novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91
Aden

The whole way back to the mansion, I’m as cold as ice.

On the way to the stables, I’d been burning with fury, my mind racing, my wolf overtaking me.

I was desperate to lock Brooklyn down, to burn everything to the ground if necessary in order to secure her allegiance any way I could.

In order to guarantee her bond to me.

And in the process I had…well, I had just lost it.

Twice, at the stables, I had lost my temper, lost my mind.

Possibly lost her.

Truthfully, I’m unsettled by all my reaction to today’s events.

My entire life—since I left my pack, since my father died—everything has been about control.

Control of myself, foremost, because from that spun control over my family, my people, and the world I built.

I didn’t want anyone else to tell me what to do, didn’t want to have to follow someone else’s pack rules, follow any rules set forth by the Council.

But I did want to make my own.

Control is the center of my success, my power.

But around Brooklyn?

For some reason, I just lose it around her.

I grip the steering wheel tighter as I remember the rage I let slip loose when I watched the boy put his hand on Brooklyn’s thigh.

It isn’t his thigh. It’s mine.

Mine to control. Mine to decide who touches it and when.

For some reason, with Hudson, I feel no such jealousy.

Probably because deep down I do know that Hudson is no real threat. But once again, I push that thought aside.

But Lucas… Lucas is a handsome, smooth talking, slightly wild young shifter. I was an idiot to assign Brooklyn to his care.

Her a beautiful young virgin, yet to go through her heat. Him, a lonely ex-cowboy.

What the hell did I think was going to happen?

And the second time I lost my cool today—when I grabbed Brooklyn—grabbed her shirt and pulled her against me…

I scowl, disgusted at my weakness.

Brooklyn is learning my ticks, learning how to manipulate me, learning how to bring me to the edge and tip me over.

And I keep falling for it every time.

Because God dammit, a large part of me wants to lose control with her.

To do more than just grab her shirt, pull her against me.

I wanted to throw her down when she laughed at me, to wipe that laugh off of her mouth by pressing my own to it, to show her who was in charge.

But I knew I couldn’t—couldn’t go that far.

When I teetered on that edge, my whole world teetered with me.

I have to bring her back under my control, have to have her on my terms.

I have no other option.

And so, when I pull into the garage, I am all control.

It’s just not worth the fuss.

Plus, it would prove something to Brooklyn that I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of.

I make my way towards the back door, pausing next to the window that overlooks the patio.

Through the glass I can see the shine of Brooklyn’s red hair and hear Hudson’s voice.

“I don’t know, Hudson,” I hear Brooklyn say. To my surprise, I hear her sniff. “I just—I don’t know if I can do this.”

I blink at the thickness of Brooklyn’s voice, clearly choked with tears.

She was a hellcat twenty minutes ago, laughing in my face, challenging me to watch her let other men touch her.

And now she’s in tears?

I hang my head, shaking it. I do not understand this girl.

“It’s okay, Brooklyn,” Hudson says, and I hear some movement—perhaps Hudson taking Brooklyn in his arms, comforting her. I grit my teeth.

“He just…he pisses me off,” she says softly. “And then I say things I don’t mean, and I do things I’d never do, just because I know it pisses him off.”

“Yeah, he has that effect on people,” Hudson says softly. “Though, I have to admit, you’re the only one I’ve ever seen respond like that. He has most people shaking in their boots.”

“Oh, I’ve got plenty of that going on, too,” Brooklyn says, and she chuckles, sniffing again. “I just…I don’t know. Something comes over me.”

There’s a pause in conversation, and then Hudson presses her. “So, what are you going to do? What’s next?”

“What do you mean?” she asks.

“Do you still want to…go? To run? Leave this life behind?”

I blink, surprised.

Brooklyn is considering running.