Page 73 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part One

She wanted to protest but it was for the best. The less contact, the better.

“But this is your room,” she said, lifting herself onto her elbows and unintentionally putting her face only inches from his. Or had it been intentional? She swallowed because her mouth had suddenly gone dry. If she moved just a little, her lips would be on his.

“I can go back to the room—”

“No. You belong here in my bed,” Jackson cut in quickly.

Belonged? That was an odd thing to say about somebody he was paying to put a baby inside of. Unless he suspected that she was going to try to escape again. She had to work harder to gain his trust.

“Okay.”

“You’re being very agreeable all of a sudden,” Jackson murmured, turning back to face her and cocking his head to the side.

“You told me that’s what will keep me safe,” she pointed out.

Her eyes were drawn to his lips again.

“You can be yourself in this room,” Jackson said huskily. “I don’t want you to hide yourself from me.”

Jackson looked away again, and she sensed that he probably hadn’t wanted to say that out loud.

But did he really think she would ever be herself here? She had seen how angry he could get. She’d seen him with blood on his body. Maybe. She was fifty per cent sure. Okay, maybe twenty-five per cent. But he was capable of killing people. She would never say anything to provoke his anger again.

“I’ll be away on business tomorrow. I’ll check on your sister while I’m in town.”

Hearing that was like a knife through her heart. Her lust disappeared when she remembered what was at stake. Brit came above everything else, even the shit she had to deal with in her head.

“Can you take me with you?”

“No. Not until I know you won’t try to run from me again,” Jackson said.

He rolled over and got off the bed. He was fully dressed, but he’d changed his clothes again at some point. He seemed to change a lot.

“I just want to see if she’s really okay.”

“I’ll take you to her when I don’t have too much on my plate. You’ll have to stay in this room until I get back.”

Jackson walked towards the door without looking back at her. Her feelings really didn’t matter here. But then again, her feelings had never really mattered to anyone.

She fell back onto the bed and looked away from the door.

“Diedre will check on you until I get back. You’ll be safe.”

She didn’t bother to reply, and seconds later, she heard the door lock. It was that sound that made everything worse. Knowing she was trapped and couldn’t do anything about it sank her further into the hole she had been trying to dig herself out of since that afternoon. But now, it was made worse by the thought of being in this place without Jackson, even though he was the worst among them. She knew she wasn’t wanted or welcome here. And Diedre was in on whatever mess Jackson had put her into. She couldn’t trust that woman any more than she could trust Jackson.

She stayed in the same position until sleep finally claimed her again and gave her a rest from her thoughts.

Chapter 39

Jackson walked through the doors that the door attendants held open for them. Micah had stayed behind to protect the pack with his Gamma, Jon, but Dylan insisted they needed a few warriors when they met the Circle.

Almost like he had no faith in him anymore.

He balled his fists, something he was doing too often lately, as they walked through the lobby. The sun was just rising, so there was thankfully no one—

“Mr King, welcome back.”

Fuck’s sake.

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