Page 119 of The Alpha's Protective Mate

“Wh—Where?” She doesn’t resist as I drag her along with me.

“You want the truth?” I demand. “We’re going to Gregory Baxter’s house, and I will ask him in front of you. Let’s see if that fucker will lie in front of his Alpha.”

“No!” Charlotte sounds distraught. “I don’t want to make a scene! I’ll believe you!”

“No, you won’t!” I turn around, and she slams into my chest. I look down at her. “I don’t want you to doubt me. If I can clear away—”

“I believe you.” Charlotte’s fingers curl into my shirt. “I do. You don’t have to prove yourself to me.”

“But—”

“I trust you.” She sounds more confident now.

My heart is throbbing as I look down at this woman. “I may be an Alpha, Charlotte. I may have money and power, but I always feel lacking when it comes to you. I feel I don’t deserve you. My family hated me. They destroyed my face. They tried to destroy my life. Even with the people I trust and call my friends, I’ve never truly been able to relax till I met you. You feel like a gift after a lifetime of hardships. I did everything I could to become the Alpha, but for you, Charlotte, I’ll throw it all away in a heartbeat. You don’t understand how precious you are to me. There’s never going to be another you, and I don’t want to lose you. So, if you need assurance that I’m faithful to you—”

Charlotte’s arms reach up, and she wraps them around my neck. Her head buried in my chest, a small sob escapes her.

My arms encircle her waist as I hold her to me.

“I love you, too.” Her words are a broken sob. “And it’s really scary.”

“You can say that again,” I chuckle, my heart overflowing at her raw honesty. “Very fucking scary.”

When Charlotte pulls back, her eyes are wet, but she’s not crying. “Does it matter to you that I’m getting my abilities back?”

I shrug. “If it means you’re able to protect yourself when I’m not around, then I’m all for it.”

“Do you think what we just discovered in the cave means that we were meant to be?”

“I’d like to think so.” I smile at her. “I really hope so. There’s something about knowing that you were made just for me.”

Her smile is the most beautiful thing in the world to me, and I wipe her eyes as I say, “Should we go home?”

Charlotte nods.

Stepping away from her, I shift into my animal form. I’d rather carry her than walk all the way back. Charlotte’s delighted gasp has my wolf preening. With my animal in control, I sniff her before rubbing my body against her, coating her in my scent. A surprised laugh escapes from her lips as I nuzzle her.

Then, I drop down in front of her, huffing. Getting the hint, Charlotte climbs on top of me, and I hear her whisper, “So soft.”

Her hands are running through my fur, and I feel pleased at my mate’s approval. Bond or no bond, Charlotte is the only woman who will ever wear my mating mark.

******

Just because Charlotte didn’t want to confront Doreen and her father, it doesn’t mean I won’t.

My father was the type of Alpha who was easily influenced by money, and the pack elders, who were usually the patriarchs and matriarchs of the prominent families within the pack, used that to their advantage. However, I’m nothing like my father, much to their irritation. I can’t be bought or bribed. My business is so unique that they can’t even interfere in it.

And while I have been a fair Alpha, at the end of the day, my word is law.

I decide to deal with everyone at once. Calling a pack meeting is a huge deal because when an Alpha summons the pack, everyone is supposed to drop what they’re doing and show up.

I stand in the hallway, watching people pile in.

It’s been two days since Charlotte and I discovered the cave in the woods, enough time for me to think about what I want to do now.

Once everybody has gathered, I speak.

“Have I been a fair Alpha to this pack?”

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