Page 28 of Cruel Alpha Bully

I’m also shocked by the idea that we were such close friends—best friends—and she was plotting against me the whole time. I shake my head, fury and shock colliding inside me and stealing my voice.

Jill gives me a casual little wave, and I turn away from her, heading towards the dance floor. This new information cuts almost as deep as prom night.

Even though my eyes sting with tears and my hands shake, I push the bad feelings away. I’m not going to let this ruin my night. I’ll talk to Bae eventually—or maybe it’s better if I don’t.

Either way, it’s time to find the girls, have a few more drinks, and cut loose on the dance floor for a few hours.

I need to forget. I so desperately need to forget.

Chapter 10 - Bailey

Even though the party seemed like a good idea, by the time I get there, I’m feeling stressed and tired. When I walk in the front doors with Jack and immediately get swarmed by people, my headache gets even worse.

I wade through the crowd, trying to be polite to everyone and maintain my sanity at the same time. It’s difficult when a few girls have to get right up close and hug me.

I’ve been used to this type of thing since high school, but I’m married now, and I’m the pack alpha. I can’t just casually cuddle up to women who aren’t my mate.

With that in mind, I keep searching the house for Gina. I know I won’t be able to relax until I see her. The irony of this is not lost on me—that I actually wanted a bit of freedom to clear my head, and now that I have it, I don’t want it anymore.

Where is she?

I can smell her, just faintly. She has to be here somewhere. There are so many people here, it’s difficult to pick out any one scent, but hers wafts through the place like a river of sweet honey and chocolate, making my mouth water as I try to track her.

Jack stays with me, but the crowd around me eventually fades. The grabby girls wander off to find more suitable attention. I can’t really blame them for still hanging around as if I’m available—my marriage doesn’t look very serious, even to me.

After grabbing something to eat and a couple of beers from the back deck, we head up to the top end of the house. Up here, the rooms are dark except for pulsing strobes, and the beat throbs hard and fast, with enough bass to shake the windows.

When I get there, Gina’s scent gets stronger immediately. I look around the edges of the room, expecting to see her standing quietly in the shadows, just like she always did at school.

When the crowd parts, my eyes are dragged to the center of the floor by a swirl of silken, shiny red. The girl completes a full spin, the long skirts swirling around her legs as she writhes to the music.

It takes a few moments for the rest of the details to catch up to me. Long, curly black hair, beautifully curved legs, luscious hips, and big, mouth-watering breasts…

Gina!

She throws her head back and laughs, reaching out for her friends’ hands. She’s dancing with Tara and Laura, her friends from high school.

I can’t take my eyes off her as she twists and bends, reaching out and hugging her friends as they all shimmy back and forth. The way her breasts bounce when she wriggles her hips is almost painful for me to watch.

It’s not like I’m going to stop watching, though.

I move over into a dark corner, hoping no one has noticed me. I just want to hang out and watch Gina for a bit, and I don’t need the entire pack giving it away that I’m here. She looks like she’s really enjoying herself, and that is something I want to see.

I never thought I’d see her cut loose like this!

Her friends disappear periodically and come back with drinks. I’m amazed by how many of them Gina throws down. Every time she has another round, her dancing gets more and more liberated. At this point, I can’t even think about looking away or interrupting her.

Watching her body move in the flickering light, I feel a deep, primal howl within me. I want her. I want her desperately. I’d do anything to see her move like that underneath me, or above me—any which way, I don’t care. I just want to see her writhing in ecstasy, moaning in rapture, for me, with me—

But all of this longing is nothing to the pain of my wolf. This is deeper than lust, stronger than desire. My wolf has walked around its entire life with half a heart, half a soul. There she is, right there in front of me…

And I can’t touch her.

It’s like a knife twists in my heart. I have to do something about this, but now that I’ve apologized for my behavior at the prom, I honestly don’t know what else to do.

I’m still watching the girls dance, but my eyes have lost their focus. I want to do something to prove to Gina how much I want her. It’s all I can think about, even though I know I’m not likely to figure it out with six beers and two shots of whiskey in me.

Suddenly, I snap back to the present moment. Gina has stopped dancing, and she’s talking to someone. I can’t see much, but she’s leaning on his arm, smiling up at him and laughing.

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