Page 27 of Cruel Alpha Bully

The noise from the crowd bubbles back up again as everyone moves in to shake his hand or clap him on the shoulder. People start calling out to him.

I can tell Laura and Tara have no idea what to do. The fact that I’m not immediately rushing over to greet my husband is a clear sign that something isn’t right in our marriage. I’m sure my girls want to support me, but in this moment, they have no idea what I need.

Jenks blows through the room, greeting Bae but not stopping long. Bailey hasn’t been able to make it through the first room, he’s so swamped with people who have to get close to him, talk to him, touch him.

It’s worse than high school.

Suddenly, Jill appears, right by Bailey’s side. I sit up so fast, I drop my bottle of beer, and the remaining liquid foams out the top as it spins away from me. I don’t even notice—I can’t take my eyes off what’s happening in front of me.

Bae turns and smiles at Jill. It’s a big, easy smile, not the way he smiles at me at all. They look into each other’s eyes and lean in, almost whispering in each other’s ears.

What the actual fuck?

Jill’s hand comes up and touches Bae on the shoulder. Even from this distance, I can see her give him a little squeeze. I’m so furious, a little growl sounds in my throat.

“Hey, Gina,” Laura asks gently, “you okay?”

“Yeah, girl, I’m not liking this,” Tara agrees. “You want to move on or what?”

I have a horrible, intense feeling rising in my guts, filling my chest and making me want to scream. I want to run over there, shove them apart, yell in their faces, and then storm out. I know it’s what I should do.

I’m Bae’s wife, his fated mate! They can’t get away with this!

The wolf in me agrees, growling fiercely, demanding I assert my dominance and make my feelings known. The problem is, I still don’t feel like an alpha mate, and right now, I feel like a shy, dumpy girl sitting against the wall at a high school dance, staring at the one boy I can’t have.

“Yes, let’s… go,” I whisper, my eyes still locked on Jill as she sidles up close to my husband, laughing and joking, patting him on the chest and strokes his arm. Laura and Tara grab me on either side and march me into a nearby room that is dark and quiet.

Music is playing, but it’s very soft. A TV flickers in the corner, and a few people are half-heartedly watching a movie. On the other side of the room, a few others are playing cards.

I focus on the TV for a bit, letting my heartbeat settle and waiting for the tense feeling inside me to go away. My girls sit on either side of me, happily chatting and letting me know they won’t leave me alone, but they also won’t ask unless I’m ready to talk.

After the shock settles down, I decide to get some more food and head out to the back deck. Tara and Laura come to get drinks and then head for the other end of the house, where the music is loud and throbbing with irresistible dance beats.

I hang out by the tables, finishing off some more fried chicken and grabbing another beer. I’m about to find the girls when I see Jill by the tables, filling a plate with food.

This time, my wolf won’t be denied. Fury rises in me, and my blood runs hot as I stare at her, my rage rising like a bonfire.

“Jill,” I say, my voice even and strong.

“Oh, Gina,” Jill’s tone is light and condescending as she turns to me. “Don’t you look… lovely.”

She gives me a quick glance up and down, and my anger spikes again.

“What the hell was that?” I ask, my voice a low hiss. I don’t trust myself not to scream.

“What was what?”

“You know! When Bailey walked in, you were all over him! Did you think I wouldn’t see?”

Jill puts her plate down and turns to face me. Her eyes are cold, and she has a small, mocking smile.

“I always wanted Bae. That’s what you just don’t understand. We belong together. I’m the daughter of a pack elder, and who are you? Nobody! I would have gotten him if you never came back. He was almost ready to fall into my arms until you came along and screwed everything up.”

I stare at her, shaking my head slightly. “We’re fated mates!”

Jill scoffs. “That makes things difficult for me, sure, but not impossible. It’s pretty obvious that he likes me a lot more than he likes you.”

Slowly, I start backing away from her. Her words terrify me because they could be true.

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