Page 46 of The Alpha's Forced Bullied Mate

I shrugged hard and turned away. “Yeah, I guess that's true.”

There it was again, the feeling that he just didn't get it.

I didn't ask for these powers. I didn't even ask to be born. I was thrust into a family that chose to misunderstand me, that chose to resent me instead. It wasn't like his family resented him. It was just that his family hadn't wanted him. We were two different people coming from two different backgrounds.

When I lifted my head, I noticed the rainbow in the sky, the one that went the same way we were going. And now, as Hector drove toward it, another feeling came over me. A piece of hope, something that I had hung on to when I was a child. A feeling so distinct that I started to tear up.

I hoped as a teenager that maybe I could go home someday. That maybe I'd bewelcomedhome someday. And Irealized that the rainbow was pointing to home. Back to the Silverfang Creek pack. If the storm came for me, then so did the rainbow.

That had to be true, didn't it?

Chapter 15 - Hector

The moment we got home, I double-checked everything. The security monitors, the cameras, the alarms, the silent alarms, and even one of the magical lines that Cliff had installed from an old friend. Most of the things that I had were up to date as far as security went, and everything was controlled in the kitchen. I had a loose panel in the wall behind the table that slid aside to reveal a small series of monitors and a keyboard where I could control everything with a mouse.

Faye sidled up behind me. “So, that's where you keep an eye on everything.”

“Yeah, it's kind of like my Big Brother center.”

She made a choking gasp sound. “I don't like being watched.”

I laughed as I turned around. “Don't worry. There aren’t cameras in the bathroom or anything.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “That wasn’t very reassuring.”

“It's fine. I don't have to spy on you in the bathroom. You’ll give yourself to me again when you’re ready.”

She bowed her head, a lock of hair falling in front of her face that begged for me to push it behind her ear. And I did. Because I would do just about anything for her. I felt it in my soul, the yearning that I had to keep her tight to my side, to keep her in my arms, to never let her out of my sight. The way the demon and the storm put our lives in danger made me realize that I didn't want to lose her at all, in any way, shape, or form. If she missed her family, then that meant we had to get in touch with them.

I cupped her face. “I'll do anything to keep you here. And if that means I must put you in touch with your old pack, then I will.”

Her eyes lit up. “Do you mean that?”

I nodded. “I’m your alpha. I always mean what I say.”

She stepped back a few inches to put space between us and crossed her arms over her chest. “Then, prove it.”

***

After a hearty dinner of leftover steak, we went upstairs and started to part ways on the landing. I thought better of it and turned around to catch her elbow. “You should sleep with me from now on.”

She turned with a surprised look on her face. “Are we not already sleeping with each other?”

“Don't play coy with me. You know what I mean.”

“Well, I had considered it, but I thought maybe space would be okay for now.”

I tugged on her elbow. “Your safety has been compromised. I need to protect you.”

She brightened up. “What made you worry about my safety?”

I didn't want to say it was the lightning striking the hood of the car, and I didn't want to say that my losing control of the car was contributing to that feeling. ”The demon commercial. The demon. Take your pick.”

“Are you commanding me or asking me?”

I nodded toward my doorway. “Yes.”

Fear and affection laced through my chest. I was holding my breath like it was the last thing I would ever say.

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