Page 15 of Bullied By the Alpha Wolf

“You want what, Kaiden? What were you going to say?”

He shook his head. “It’s not important. What’s important is that you listen to me and tell me what I need to know about Eli’s pack so I can get you out of here.”

I knew I should back down. I was hardly in a position of power, but I couldn’t stop myself. I was dying to know what that last word was going to be and, if it was what I thought it was, why Kaiden would say it.

“No, not good enough. You owe me, remember. What were you going to say?”

Stepping forward once, I crossed my arms over my chest and met his stare. Kaiden ducked his head back, tension radiating off him as he clenched his jaw. A low rumble echoed out of his chest, not quite a growl. His fists squeezed.

“Kit, just drop it.”

“Try again, Alpha.” I raised my brows when he glared at me.

“Kit, I’m not kidding.”

“Neither am I, Kaiden. What. Were. You. Going. To. Say?” I punctuated each word with a step forward, getting right up in the tall, unfortunately handsome wolf’s face.

Kaiden looked away from me, holding himself taught like he was terrified of coming into contact with me—like I had some disease.

“Come on, coward. Spit it out.”

In a flash, he snapped his gaze onto me, and I fought the desire to back up. I needed to stand my ground. But Kaiden still just glared.

“What? It’s just a little teasing. So you can dish it out but not take it?”

He shook his head at me. “You’re such a brat. Why can’t you just do as you’re told?”

“I’m not one of your pack bitches, Kaiden. You can order me around all you want, but I’m just going to keep asking you. You’ll save us both a lot of time if you just own up to it.”

“You’re so annoying.” He shook his head.

“Then why do you want to keep me sa—”

Kaiden’s hand shot out, snatching my wrist, and I was suddenly up against his chest. His very firm, very muscular chest. Our eyes locked, and all the air in my lungs just vanished. The black of his eyes was so damn deep. I could fall into those wells, and the familiar thought made my heart pound all the harder.

“You really won’t drop it, huh? Fine,” he tossed my arm away, turning away from me, “Safe. I want to keep you safe. It’s what I wanted before. It’s what I want now. But I didn’t know how to deal with that feeling before. Can’t say I have much of an idea now, either.”

My jaw dropped, not for the first time. Kaiden…wanted to protect me. That couldn’t be right. He had been nearly abusive with his teasing, and I was finding it hard to believe it had come from a place of concern.

“You’re fucking lying to me.”

He turned around, those black eyes meeting me dead on. “I’m not. Why bother? I needed to keep you in here because I’m not sure how the other wolves will react. Their previous alpha was a cruel, terrible man. I killed him for my position, and many of those who remained loyal to his teachings left. But I know some had his ‘teachings’ ingrained in them for years. It’s hard to just shake that.”

For what felt like eons, I just stared at him. I roamed my eyes over his expression, his body language, looking for some tell or evidence that he was bullshitting me. I just saw Kaiden.

Broad shoulders and a towering height, years more of chiseled physique to add to what he’d gained from his first shift, new scars, and the look of weight on his shoulders and in his eyes that spoke volumes.

Kaiden had seen a lot in the twelve years that we’d been apart. It affected him. He really didn’t seem like the same guy I knew. He seemed strong and critical and so protective of his pack, caring for them so much.

It was strange. It was intriguing. Hell, it was damn attractive, and that was a problem.

“Okay. I know a thing or two about crappy alphas and their orders, so I get it. I’ll stay here. But there’s still not much I can tell you about him or these drugs you’re talking about.”

Kaiden smirked, cocking his head as he stepped forward with his hands on his hips. “I’m sure you’ll think of something, Kit. Resourceful girl like yourself. I’m sure you can think of several things about Eli he wouldn’t want you to divulge.”

My heart kicked, and heat billowed in my blood, swirling through my core. I clenched my jaw, unable to stop myself from doing the same with my legs. God, I hope he doesn’t notice. Smelling someone’s pheromones is reserved for wolves, right?

Right?

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