Page 51 of Cruel Alpha Bully

I turn back to Gina with the blackened frying pan in my hand and an overdone, melancholy expression. “I regret to inform you, there were no survivors.”

“That’s okay,” she says. “Let’s grab some donuts on the way to work.”

I happily agree, and we get ready to leave. Watching Gina prepare for work and hearing her talk on the way there, I don’t see or feel any sense of regret or loss.

But she had no choice but to stay… it was the fated mate bond that made her stay, nothing else.

Over the course of the day, I think about Gina’s birthday and what I can do to make it extra special for her. It’s the day after tomorrow, and she’s specifically told everyone not to make a fuss. She doesn’t want a big party, but I still feel like I need to do something to show her how much I love her and want her with me.

It occurs to me that there is a beautiful garden and nature walk attached to the cemetery where Gina’s grandmother is buried. The idea of a visit to the grave and a picnic lunch grows in my mind.

And one very special surprise for when we get home.

On the big day, I have to get up early to set up, then race back home before Gina wakes. I manage to get in before she notices I was even gone, and I’m in the kitchen, slaving over a hot stove again when she comes downstairs.

“Hmm, I don’t know if you should attempt to negotiate with the stove again,” she teases, coming over to hug me. “It was a tragedy last time.”

“Indeed it was,” I answer, focused on flipping the toast. “But this time, you will not distract me, you temptress.”

“Really?” she says coyly. She reaches around my waist and drags her fingers across the zipper of my pants.

“That’s it!” I yell, turning around and grabbing her. She laughs, throwing herself into my arms and reaching up for a kiss.

Even with her distracting me, I manage to cook the toast, then garnish it with sliced strawberries, caramel sauce, and whipped cream. I set it down in front of her without burning a single thing.

“Thank you,” she says. “I’m really touched you’d go to so much trouble for me on my birthday. I know I said I didn’t want a big fuss, so this is perfect.”

“Well, I actually have a couple of surprises. But don’t worry, it’s nothing involving formal wear.”

“Thank God,” she says, taking a bite of toast. “I just want to relax and not get forced into a tiring party or family dinner.”

“I can promise you that’s not going to happen.”

We finish breakfast together, and I wash up while Gina gets dressed. When she comes downstairs, she’s wearing her most comfortable jeans and an oversized sweater.

“I hope I’m not overdressed,” she grins.

“Well.” I squint, looking her up and down. “Maybe just a bit. I think you should lose the pants.”

She laughs, hurrying over to kiss me. I hold her tightly against my body, breathing in her scent and feeling the sweet weight of her in my arms. She is so soft and comforting, I never want to let her go.

“Okay, so, weren’t you taking me to tea or something?” she mumbles against my chest. I give her one last, really tight squeeze.

“You got it,” I say. “Out to the truck.”

We aren’t on the road long before Gina realizes where we’re going. The town isn’t that big, and there is only one cemetery.

“We’re going to visit Gran,” she says. For the first time, I worry if this idea might be too sad for her birthday.

“I hope that’s okay?” I say uncertainly.

“Yes, it’s fine. I wish I had been able to say goodbye, that I had some warning so I could come home sooner. I’d really like to say a few words in a place where she might hear me.”

We pull into the parking lot and head up the track towards the cemetery. I’m praying that my carefully laid out picnic is still intact as we go through the gates and up towards the burial plots in the very back.

Gina stops at the foot of the grave, looking at the stone. I can see tears in her eyes, and I don’t know what to do. Should I leave her alone with her pain?

“Do you want me to go—” I begin.

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