Page 39 of Forced By the Alpha

His chest tightened at the pain in her voice, and the knowledge that he couldn’t just reassure her by telling her everything would be all right, not when the same doubts kept him up at night, when he had the same fears of not being the leader they needed. He squeezed her hand.

“It’s terrifying, isn’t it? Leaving behind what you know and taking on something new, trying to find your way over unfamiliar ground. But you won’t be alone, darling. I’ll be here, every step of the way.”

She squeezed his hand back, resting her head on his shoulder. “Even when your pack wants me gone?”

“You’re my pack now.” He hesitated, afraid to ask what was on his mind. It had troubled him since their mating in the lake, a fear that had crept in during the afterglow when his heart had felt entirely bared to her. But he forced himself to ask it. “Do you want to go back to the Rosewoods?”

He wouldn’t have believed an immediate no, but the moments spent waiting for her response had him dying inside. Focusing on the fire, he watched a tentative orange flame grow to consume the log above it.

“I miss my friends,” she said, turning away from the fire to face him. She waited for him to meet her gaze. “I miss home. I worry about them, how afraid they must be for me.”

Devon couldn’t face her eyes any longer. The pain in them threatened to undo him, and it was reflected in her voice. But she went on.

“But, I’ve found something here.” She lifted her free hand and dropped it. “Purpose, maybe. Something I didn’t have when I was with the Rosewoods, something I didn’t even know I was looking for.”

Devon’s heart picked itself up off of the floor and began to beat again, somewhere in his chest. “And the White Winter pack, we’re your purpose?”

She bit her lip, thoughtful. “I believe people can change. I want to show your pack that there’s meaning in doing good, in being good. And I think we can do it. Even though I’m scared, we can do it.”

He knew she was thinking of the wolf that had threatened her, of Emma and her violence, and the stories of the White Winter pack’s deeds. He knew she had more than enough reason to worry.

“I’ll be here. I’ll protect you,” he said, bending to kiss her.

“And, Devon,” she went on, holding his chin, forcing him to look in her eyes, “We’re mated now. That means no matter what happens with your pack or mine, it’s you and me against it all.”

She was being brave. He could see the glint of unease in the crinkle of her eye that said this was more plea than threat. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, darling.”

Chapter 15 - Beth

The weekend spent at the cabin had loosened all the tension from Beth’s body, as good as any day spent at the spa. She looked up at the sky, the puffy white clouds passing by across the ceaseless blue, and wished she could bottle that feeling, keep it with her when she walked in the front door of the White Winter house. She’d need it.

Devon had kept his promise and let Emma and Jonah run the show while he and Beth were away, but he hadn’t even checked in on them once. That meant they had no idea what they were walking into as they reached the house’s shade.

“Well, it’s still standing,” Beth said, hands on hips.

He stopped beside her. A few days out, his skin had tanned golden, bringing out the flecks of shade in his eyes. He was, somehow, even more handsome in this tousled, woodsman state.

The smell of wood smoke clung to them both, and she treasured it, like bringing some of the serenity, the closeness, they’d found out there back with them.

“Are you ready?” He asked, taking her hand. “Remember, no matter what, you’ve got me.”

She lifted her chin. She wouldn’t let them get to her. Not even Emma. “Let’s do this,”

The house was quiet. A midday slump, some wolves still abed perhaps, or down in the gym.

“Want an escort to your room? Then I’ll head to my office, and check in on things,” he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“I’ll come with you to your office. Remember, we’re a team now. You can’t lock me in my room under guard and still have everyone think of me as your luna.”

Devon shouldered the backpack, scratching at his beard. It had grown thick enough to call it one over the weekend, the stubble darkening until it was long enough for her to tug. She rather liked the look on him but realized he could do pretty much anything with his appearance, and she’d still find him handsome. It must be the hormones.

“To be fair, it gave you time to get well acquainted with Jonah, and now you even have a friend.” He held the door for her, letting her lead the way to his office.

“You can’t take credit for that. You can’t set up a prisoner with their jailor and then pat yourself on your back if they don’t come to blows—“

She startled backward when the office door burst open, dodging the swinging wood.

“Thereyou are.” Emma stood in the doorway. For once, she looked less than perfect. Her hair was unbrushed, and her face was bare, lacking her signature eyeliner. “Get in here, we have things to discuss. Major things.”

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