Page 6 of Forced By the Alpha

“Jesus, Em, I think someone in Alaska might’ve missed the memo.” Jo followed her into the room, pulling Beth along with him.

“Welcome to your new home.” Emma spun around, arms wide, with a mocking grin for Beth. “Don’t make yourself too comfortable.”

Beth scanned the room. Plush couches, a well-stocked bar, and a pool table took up most of the space. Whatever she had expected, it wasn’t that. This pack had money to spare.

The doors opened from the interior of the house, and Beth’s stomach clenched. The alpha. He was tall and broad with messy brown hair and eyes the color of wheat. Right now, they were glowering.

“Finally.” He crossed the room in two strides and caught Beth by the chin, forcing her head up to look at him. She flicked her gaze to the side, refusing to meet his eyes. “What took so long?”

He didn’t look away from her, not even as he asked the others the question. Beth wanted to squirm and wrench herself away from his tight grip, but his strength was apparent in just the touch of his fingers. He would hold her as long he wanted to.

Emma laughed. Beth couldn’t see her, not without turning her head, but she knew that cold, cruel laugh by now.

“You mean thank you, I’m sure, for retrieving this worthless little thing for you while you sat back here and… I don’t know, played with yourself? What was it you needed to do, Devon? Or were you afraid you couldn’t keep up?”

Finally, he released Beth. She slumped like her strings were cut. Her cheek was hot where he’d held her, and she wondered if his fingerprints were there on her skin.

“Oh, Em, I thought you’d enjoy a chase. Give you something to do other than these boys.” He waved a hand around the room, and a few of the men laughed. Until Em shot them a look.

Interesting. Was Emma looking to become alpha?

“I told you not to hurt her. What happened?” Devon shot the question to Jo.

Jo held up his hands. “She was like that when we got there. Nothing to do with us.”

“And sweet little Jo practically carried her home.” Emma sprawled on one of the couches, arms along the back. “Took real good care of her.”

Devon whirled on Jo. “You touched her?”

“Look, man, she wasn’t going to make it up those stairs without some help. Something’s broken. And I didn’t carry her, Em, so thanks for that.”

Emma smirked. One of the men, with curls and blue eyes, sat down beside her. She stretched her long legs out across his lap.

Devon let out a frustrated growl. He shoved his hands through his hair and turned back to Beth.

She dropped her eyes to the ground.

“Is it broken?” He gestured at her leg.

Beth bit her lip. She wouldn’t answer him. Wouldn’t look at him. Whatever he wanted from her, he wasn’t going to get it.

She heard him inhale sharply. Rage radiated off of him like heat. It was undirected, a miasma, ready to lash out at anyone who slighted him, even his own pack.

“I asked you a question.” She was ready for it this time, his hand on her jaw, but the force of it still surprised her. “Is it broken?”

Beth swallowed. Her legs were shaking, and it was only partly from the pain. This man was dangerous. But she kept silent. She’d always had more pride than sense, and that wasn't about to change.

Devon exhaled. It was more of a growl, and it sent a shiver up her spine.

“Take her to her room. Get her out of my sight.”

He dropped her chin like she was a piece of garbage, flicking it away from himself. Jo stepped up to take Beth under his shoulder again, and a few of the men followed. Thankfully, Emma stayed where she was.

“Couldn’t make it easier on yourself and, I don’t know, answer him?” Jo said under his breath as he dragged her down the hall.

Beth shook her head. She wouldn’t answer him, either. The pain in her leg was already starting to ease, thanks to her powers, but she was afraid her words would come out more of a whimper than a growl. He pushed a door open with his foot.

A big room, more than she’d expected. Four-poster bed, fireplace, thick shag rug, and a view of the mountains that, in any other circumstance, she would have loved.

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