Page 9 of Cruel Alpha Bully

Carson shakes my hand as I reach the platform. He conducts all the official ceremonies as head elder, including weddings and funerals.

As my groomsmen take their places, music starts to play. I realize this is it—it’s happening. Gina is about to enter the barn, and I’m going to marry her.

My breath quickens, and I feel sweat running down my sides. I’m nervous, sure, but I’m eager to see Gina above all else. All I’ve done over the past few days is think about her, ache for her, and dream about her.

Will I ever be able to make it up to her?

Before my thoughts can twist on this, there is a movement at the doorway, and all my attention narrows to one fixed point.

Gina.

The light is glowing behind her, tracing her silhouette. Her white gown sparkles as if stars have been threaded into the white lace. A low neckline reveals her big, round breasts, and the tight waist of the dress enhances her curves.

She takes slow steps forward, every movement of her legs swishing the light skirts around her. Her inky black hair is pulled up behind her head, with glossy curls falling across her shoulders. She hasn’t taken her eyes off me since she came through the door, but her expression remains completely impassive.

She carries herself with an assured confidence I’ve never seen before. She used to mutter, whisper, and stutter. Under her loose, baggy clothes, she looked thick and heavy. Every word was awkward, and she was painfully clumsy.

The woman walking towards me now is light years away from that girl I knew. My chest feels tight, and my head swims a little. I’ve completely lost my ability to think or speak.

Gina steps up onto the platform, handing her bouquet to her mother, who is the maid of honor. I turn towards her, holding out my hands. Gina takes them in her own, and I’m surprised to find her hands are cool and her grip is firm.

She’s not trembling, cold, or sweating. She’s not nervous at all.

Carson begins the ceremony, and I stare into Gina’s eyes, trying to get some hint of how she feels. Throughout the ceremony, her face stays impassive, her eyes calm. Maybe even calculating.

When it comes time for vows, I’m the one who stutters a little. Gina repeats the words without faltering. When I slip the ring on her finger, she flinches a little, but it’s the only sign I’ve seen all day that suggests she’s not happy.

When we turn towards the crowd, everyone claps and cheers. Music starts playing, and the reception begins immediately, with food, drink, tables, and chairs already set up on the other side of the barn.

As Gina and I step down from the platform, people rush forward to congratulate us. Gina lets go of my hand and takes a long step away from me, even though she smiles welcomingly and speaks warmly to the others. I step towards her again, holding out my hand, but she dodges me artfully so no one notices she is deliberately avoiding my touch.

I’m about to push the issue when Jack claps me hard on the shoulder. “Good going, buddy!” he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders to give me a squeeze. “You’ve tied the knot.”

“All sorted now,” Cody agrees, handing me a beer. “Onwards and upwards, right?”

“Right!” I say, grinning. I take a big sip of beer and join in the conversation, letting the guys lead me into the crowd. Plenty of people want to talk to me, and Carson makes a short speech about how bright the future of the pack is with such a strong alpha and his beautiful mate.

I seem to spend the entire night chasing Gina. No matter how hard I try to get near her, she is always on the opposite side of the room. Even once the dancing starts, she manages to avoid my grasp until her mother quite literally shoves her into my arms.

“You almost forgot to dance with your husband!” she says to her daughter, laughing. I’m sure it’s clear to her that Gina has been avoiding me, but she’s handling it well.

I simply hold out my hand and wait for Gina to take it, sweeping her onto the floor and putting an arm around her waist when she gets close to me.

“Are you trying to stay away from me?” I growl softly.

Gina’s face hardly changes, her slight smile and hard eyes practically glaring up at me. “Yes,” she says simply, and my hands loosen on her waist. I’m shocked. I didn’t expect her to admit it.

“Why?” I can’t help but ask, even though I know there are a lot of reasons.

She doesn’t answer, just tilts her head slightly and looks over my shoulder. For just a second, I see a sheen of tears in her eyes, and her mouth twists a little. I feel her hands tighten on me, and as our bodies get closer together, I hear her sigh.

She doesn’t want to let go of me.

Being this close to her, my hands holding her against my body, is affecting me far worse than I thought it would. Her scent fills my nostrils, making my head spin. I pull her even closer to me, dreaming of my tongue caressing her skin and licking up that wonderful taste.

I can almost feel the soft skin between her breasts as I imagine tracing it with my lips. My hands tighten a little as I think about filling them with those gorgeous, huge, soft breasts and squeezing them. A soft moan slips out of my mouth as my fantasy grows in strength.

I feel her small hands twitch. When I look up into her eyes, I see a moment of complete, unbridled lust.

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