Ella

My mind went blank at first. Sinclair was too close to the truth, to figuring out that I’m not as immune to him as either of us would like to believe. My inner voice panicked, but I composed myself. Praying for calm, I took a deep breath and, as I exhaled, found my voice.

“Because we’re supposed to be in this together, and you played me,” I murmured, speaking the truth—but not the whole truth. I couldn’t admit to him that I felt utterly rejected by his ploy, that I felt unwanted on a visceral level, tearing me apart for reasons I didn’t yet understand. “You played me like I’m one of those reporters, or the Prince.”

Sinclair’s face twisted into a grimace. He reached for me. “Please, come here, Ella.”

“No,” I insisted stubbornly, ready to move away if he tried to approach.

“I’m sorry,” he said, looking truly remorseful. “I didn’t mean to do that. I care about you; I don’t want to hurt you that way.”

“Well, you did,” I replied petulantly. I didn’t know where this came from. With anyone else, I would have accepted the apology and moved on, whether I actually felt better or not. I’d always chosen peace over my own feelings—but I found it very hard to pretend with Sinclair. I think he would know I didn’t actually feel better, so why fake it?

“I know,” he nodded grimly. “I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”

“I don’t need some sort of reparation,” I insisted. “Just… do better, Dominic.”

“I will,” Sinclair vowed soberly. “You have my word.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, but Sinclair was watching me closely. I could tell he wanted to metaphorically kiss and make up, but, as I suspected, he sensed my upset wasn’t wholly resolved. “What else?” he prompted.

“Nothing important,” I shrugged, not feeling brave enough to ask the questions I was most curious about.

“Ella,” he said my name as an admonition, scolding me with just those two syllables. “Come on, tell me what’s on your mind.”

I gnawed on my lower lip, hating that he could read me so easily, but also relieved that I might get my answers. “Alright, what was all that about discipline? Those things the Prince said about my insolence? It didn’t just sound like Alpha stuff… I mean, it’s one thing to be insubordinate to a leader, but the way you two were talking… it made it seem like all men expect to be in charge of their mates.”

Sinclair’s lips quirked, and the energy in the limo shifted abruptly. The air became taut, tense, and electric, though nothing had physically changed. Neither of us moved a muscle. Still, I knew Sinclair felt it too—it was obvious in his reply. “Such a clever little human.”

“You mean it’s true?” I gasped. “Why, because of the dominance thing? But that’s so backwards! You just said that strength and all that doesn’t have true value.”

Sinclair emitted a low rumble. “I said it comes down to power dynamics, and that dominance isn’t a virtue—but it is a reality in relationships.”

“So what, because men are physically stronger, they get to boss around their mates?” I demanded hotly.

Sinclair chuckled, flashing his fangs and clearly enjoying my indignation. “You have to remember that shifters are very primal beings. Whatever instincts humans once possessed have been socialized out of you. You’ve been completely detached from your inner animal. But for us? Our inner animal controls everything; our instincts drive everything.”

“And everyone else has to submit?” I guessed, feeling a shiver run down my spine. “Even to their lovers?”

“Especially to their lovers,” Sinclair smirked. “For she-wolves, the best mate possible is the one who can best protect and provide for them. Their instincts drive them to test potential partners to figure out who is the strongest. They need to feel their mate’s dominance to know they’re safe, to satisfy their own inner animal. Only then will they submit.” “That’s part of why I think you’d make such a good wolf. I think you have some of those same instincts. You may not realize it, but you often test your limits with me, the same way she-wolves test their mates to ensure they have the strongest partner.”

“So all that talk about discipline… that was serious? Literal?” I squeaked nervously.

Sinclair stood, crossing the limo to sit beside me, invading my space with his large body. “Yes,” he rumbled deeply. “It was. Does that scare you?” I didn’t know why, but his ominous manner made me think he wanted me to say yes, he wanted me to be scared. Oh Goddess, what do I do now?

Sinclair

Ella’s eyes were adorably wide, and she was squirming in her seat. However, she didn’t look afraid; she looked intrigued—curious. I could see her thighs clenching reflexively, and I could smell the beginnings of her arousal. My wolf howled in triumph. The gendered nature of shifter power dynamics might outrage Ella’s human values, but she clearly craved a strong mate just like any she-wolf—whether she realized it or not. Her body had always responded to my dominance even when her saucy little mouth argued against it.

“So,” her pink lips formed a perfect “O” as she tried to grasp this idea, “if a she-wolf does something her mate doesn’t agree with, she just gets abused?”

“Of course not,” I explained, pulling Ella onto my lap. “Only weak men assert their authority through violence or mistreatment. That isn’t our way.”

“But you said—”

“Consequences, not abuse,” I corrected gently.

“What kind of consequences?” Ella asked, a tiny furrow appearing in her brow. I wished I could read her thoughts, but it was enough to see the blend of eagerness and apprehension on her beautiful face—she was excited by this conversation, and more than a little interested.

“Well, what does that word make you think of?” I inquired, thoroughly enjoying watching Ella come to terms with these ideas. It hadn’t been easy for me to restrain my wolf from treating her like one of our own, especially when she showed so many wolfish qualities. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping this conversation might open a new door in our relationship.

“With the children I nannied, consequences were things like time-outs and no screen time—groundings for the older kids,” Ella explained.

“It’s much the same with our pups,” I said, to Ella’s obvious relief. “But mates aren’t pups. You aren’t a pup.”

“I don’t understand,” she frowned, fidgeting nervously. Her silky thighs were still clenching, and it was all the more obvious now that she was settled in my lap. The sweet little human probably thought I had no clue what she was up to, but I knew perfectly well that she was trying to relieve the ache between her legs.

“Sure you do,” I encouraged. “Just say the first thing that comes to your mind.”

“I mean, dominance and submission…” She trailed off, her voice no louder than a whisper. “That makes it sound like… kinky sex stuff.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” I teased, stroking her hip.

“You mean it is?!” Ella exclaimed, looking scandalized.

“You never experimented with that sort of thing?” I asked.

She flushed. “I’ve only ever been with Mike—he wasn’t the adventurous type.”

“Well, in my book, these things aren’t adventurous. They’re standard—normal and natural,” I said, my voice low and husky. “And more fun than you can imagine.”

“But it’s discipline,” Ella argued. “Isn’t that only fun for you?”

“Not if you’re doing it right,” I remarked coolly. “And it’s fulfilling for us both. She-wolves need to submit as much as male wolves need to dominate—it’s in our DNA.”

“That sounds completely sexist. Would a she-wolf tell me the same thing?” Ella asked archly.

“Ask Aileen if you want,” I shrugged.

“Well, it’s not as if these things really matter for us,” she reasoned, straightening up a little. “After all, I’m not a she-wolf, and we’re not actually mates.” Was I imagining a twinge of disappointment in her voice? But over which part? The fact that she’s human? That we aren’t mates? Or is she sad she won’t experience these things herself? I already knew she’d never had anyone to take care of her—she’d never had discipline or consequences in her life; she only knew neglect as a child. Does she want someone who will give her the care she was denied now?

“True,” I agreed. “But now that you know the consequences, I wouldn’t be too surprised if you get them the next time you act out.”

“But we aren’t lovers!” Ella objected, her pupils dilating and her breath coming in short gasps. “No, but you’re the mother of my pup; that makes you my responsibility.”