Page 58 of Cruel Alpha Bully

“Bae,” she says, gently, rubbing my shoulder. “A boy without a mother, raised solely by his father, can’t possibly cope with his adolescent emotions effectively. I just wanted to be there for you. I always knew Gina’s feelings, and I knew yours, too.”

“You did?” I’m shocked. She nods.

“I did. I knew the two of you would work it out. It wouldn’t have done me any good to scold you or punish you, it just would have driven you away and isolated you more. Be honest with me right now—if I had said anything about the way you treated her, would you have listened to me?”

“No,” I admit, shaking my head. “I would have defended myself, brutally, and never spoken to you again.”

She rubs my shoulder again. “There you go, Alpha pup. I knew you had it in you to be a great alpha, and a wonderful mate, and the best thing I could do was show you love, and kindness, and help you figure it out for yourself.”

“But I hurt her so badly!”

“She’s a smart girl, Bae, with a huge heart. Was what you did fair? No, but it’s understandable, especially to Gina. She bore the brunt of bullies for years. If you were afraid of the same fate, this is something she can relate to.”

“How can I make it up to her?” I whisper.

“I think you’re doing a great job of that already, Alpha pup,” she says softly. “Has she accepted your apology?”

“Yes. She just seems so distant at the moment, though.”

“Has she said anything specific?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head.

“Anything strange happening? A change in behavior?”

“Well, a little,” I admit, thinking about how Gina doesn’t drink wine with dinner anymore or have coffee with breakfast. But I don’t bother to share these details with Carla. I don’t think they are relevant.

“I would say, just hold out. I know my girl, and if she’s got something on her mind, she won’t be able to hold it in forever.”

“Okay,” I say, grinning. Carla can always make me feel better.

“Help me take these trays out, will you?” she asks, and I grab a couple of platters and follow Carla outside. The long table is set up under a line of trees, and there are glow lights on sticks set around the yard as well as the fairy lights hung from the branches.

“The place looks magical,” I say as I set the trays down on the table.

“Thanks! Derek was in charge of décor as usual.”

“He’s done a great job!” I wave at Derek, who is slaving over the grill. He waves back at me with his spatula.

“You sit down now,” Carla says, pointing at the table. “Food is almost ready.”

I look over and see Gina seated at one end of the table. I go and sit with her. Slowly, the family begins to trickle in from the front yard to take their seats.

Everyone settles down as Derek and Carla come to the end of the table. They pass around bottles of wine, and we hand them down the line so everyone can fill their glass.

“I just want to make a toast to this amazing woman,” Derek says, wrapping an arm around his wife. “Every day, I think about how lucky I am. It’s truly a blessing, my love.”

“Aw, Derek!” Carla blushes, reaching up to kiss him. “Enough, enough!” she cries as people begin adding to Derek’s toast. “This isn’t what the party is about! Eat some food, you guys, and then we’ll get the music pumping!”

She and Derek sit down at the head of the table right next to Gina and me, and we all tuck into the food. Light conversation drifts around us, and the place is full of laughter.

I feel like I’ve come home.

Gina looks vibrant. Her eyes are bright, and her hair falls over her shoulders in glossy black waves. She smiles and laughs as she catches up with her parents and cousins, as if she’s truly in her element.

Over the last couple of days, Gina has looked different. Not something I can really place, but noticeable. Her scent seems to have changed as well, and it makes me want her even more than I did before.

After dinner wraps up, we cut the cake. Soon, the music starts again, and people start moving into the center of the backyard to dance.

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