Page 66 of Cruel Alpha Bully

“Trust me, Bae, she wants you. She’s always wanted to be with you, and that’s why she’s struggling so much. It’s like the universe just handed her everything she wants on a silver platter. It’s too good to be true. Without you actually telling her you’re in love, all it did was fuel her insecurity.”

“She seems so strong, so sure of herself. It’s difficult to imagine she’s been hiding this kind of doubt.”

Jack laughs softly. “Only in relation to you, good buddy! You’re her one weakness.”

“She really, really wants me?”

“Bailey,” Jack says, his tone dead serious. “If she wanted to leave you, then why is she still here?”

Jack gives that a moment to sink in. He’s right. If my fears were in any way real, she would have left the second she had the chance.

“Do you really think we can work it out?” I ask.

Jack nods. “Just take it slow, okay? Right now, she thinks you don’t want her or the baby. She’s crushed. If you come charging in with words of eternal love, she’s not going to buy it. She will probably think that you’re just trying to fix the relationship for the sake of the mate bond.”

“Okay,” I agree, nodding. “So, I’ve got to just make contact and take things really slow, try to show her how much I appreciate her and want to be with her, and it has nothing to do with the mate bond.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“How the hell am I supposed to do that?”

“That, my friend, is entirely up to you,” Jack says, raising his bottle in a mock salute. “Good luck with that.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, shaking my head.

“Her favorite ice cream is chocolate with caramel ripple.”

“Well, that’s a start.” Already, my mind is racing, trying to figure out ways I can show Gina that I really, really want her to stay.

Chapter 23 - Gina

The day seems dark and gloomy, even though I can see the bright sunlight glinting through the front windows of the music shop. I know it’s just my mood, but I can’t help feeling like the sky should be stormy-gray and drizzling on a day like today.

I’ve been staying with Jack for about a week, and while it’s been fun to catch up with him, missing Bailey is tearing a hole in my heart that gets bigger with my every breath.

“Gina,” Martin says softly, “I think you might wear a hole in the bench if you keep polishing it that hard.”

“Oh.” I come back to reality with a jolt, looking down at the long wooden shelf in alarm. I’m so distracted that it takes a moment for me to realize Martin wasn’t being literal.

“Are you okay, dear?” he asks gently. “You’ve been so out of sorts.”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Martin, I’m just tired. I promise.”

I haven’t gone public with the pregnancy yet. I’m not ready to sing it from the rooftops. Of course, by now, the whole town knows that Bailey and I are no longer living together. The threats of being banished echo in my mind, and I feel a touch of fear.

Will the pack exile my baby as well?

The little bell above the door jingles, and I turn around, expecting to see a customer or maybe one of my friends. When I see Bae standing in the doorway, it’s like my heart stops beating and my blood freezes in my veins.

It’s as if my longing has conjured him. I’ve been missing him and thinking about him so much, this could easily be a dream.

I want this so much, it can’t possibly be real.

“I’ll give you two a moment,” Martin says, heading to the back of the store. His voice shakes me out of my freeze and proves to me that Bae is actually here, not a figment of my imagination.

“Bae,” I say. My voice is too soft, not even a whisper.

“Gina.” The way he says my name gives me chills. I can hear his longing and his regret. “I’m so sorry to bother you at work,” Bae says, walking up to me. “But I didn’t want to intrude on you at home, and I wanted to give you these.”

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