Page 30 of The Alpha Wolf's Bullied Bride

Flynn turns to his father, whatever he’s saying to the older man becoming a blur in my ears. Just like that, he went from branding-hot to ice-cold with just a few words.

What was I thinking, anyway? I scoff under my breath, turning to the steps that take me down the stage. It was all just a show—I should have known. It’s not like Flynn Lycoan could have cared about the kiss.

Or that we’re now mates.

Gulping on the sob lodged in my throat, I force a smile on my face for the sake of the handful of attendees. I hug the old Luna, Eloise, and proceed to greet my brother with a hug.

At least he seems happy. He’s the only one wearing the biggest smile on his face, rushing to the stage to congratulate his best friend. I grab my own best friend by the arm, pulling her outside the hall where no one can hear us.

“I made a mistake, Val,” I whisper, teeth chattering as dread pulses through my veins.

Valerie notices that I’m trembling and squeezes my hands.

“It’s too late, Lila. You’ve already completed the rituals to seal the deal.”

I shake my head slowly, unwilling to accept this constant hot and cold flip in Flynn. It’s frustrating and confusing, and I’d rather be cursed than live this life.

Absentmindedly, I stroke my bottom lip with a finger, the passion we shared lingering on my lips. I’ve dreamed about kissing Flynn for so long, but now that I’ve experienced it in the throes of resentment, it doesn’t have the same effect I thought it would.

“Not everything, Val,” I point out. “He hasn’t marked me yet. And he’s not going to.”

“But what about the curse?”

“I’d rather forsake any chance of connecting to my inner wolf than be stuck in this life with him,” I bravely admit. “I’m gonna find a way to escape this. I just need some time.”

Valerie conflictedly nods while her brows remain furrowed. “I promise to help you with whatever you need, Lila. Just be sure you’re making the right choice.”

I nod sternly, deciding on the spot that leaving Zafra and escaping Flynn is my only option. For now, I’ll return to the Lycoan house, where Eloise and Silas have moved out so that Flynn and I can take over as the heads of the household.

I’ll fulfill my duties as the Luna long enough to give me time to figure out a way to escape Flynn Lycoan. I’ll fight against that inner voice and do what’s right for me.

Chapter 10 - Flynn

It feels like the swirls of ivory paint that make up the patterns on the ceiling begin to move with a life of their own. It’s probably just my imagination since I’ve been staring at it ever since I returned home.

It might just be the liquor laced with wolfsbane I drank when I arrived, the only thing to keep a semblance of sanity intact as I wrestled with the reality that Lila Hargis is now under the same roof as I am.

The pad of my thumb traces my bottom lip as my mind drifts back to the ceremony. Watching Lila walk down the aisle toward me in a white dress made her look like an angel, then holding her hand as Father talked us through the ritual and finally leaning in to kiss her.

I’d never experienced such a strong connection with another wolf. Not even with those I share the mind link with or other she-wolves I’ve shared a bed with.

The kiss was different, igniting my soul and howling to my inner wolf as our tongues danced in perfect harmony.

It shouldn’t have felt so extraordinary. Not when she’s the Omega, and the only one in the pack who hates me.

The latter is what unsettles me the most, my eyes narrowing at the ceiling as if I’m throwing daggers like darts. I can’t accept that she hates me. Not when that damn-near uncontrollable need to be near her has me going insane.

It’s insanity I felt when I kissed her, immersed in the heavenly scent of sweetness that enveloped her being. My heart had been pounding in my chest, beating as if a magnetic pull was drawing me toward the magnet of her own heart.

I’d lost myself for a moment until I remembered that she hated me. It felt like a moment that was stolen, undeserving of its profound nature, when there’s so much we haven’t spoken about.

I pull my hand away from my lips and catch myself basking in a precious moment that should not have happened. Tearing myself off the couch, I turn to the stairs and take a deep breath for composure.

I am the Alpha of Blood Moon now, I remind myself. I can’t be such a coward. I have been through excruciating training and fought gallantly to ensure the safety of the pack by making it through special ops training.

How can a simple thing like speaking to Lila seem so daunting?

Perhaps it’s that pull I feel toward her, but it’s a feeling I can ignore. I have enough strength in me to block out any vulnerable feelings, the ones that might weaken me to the unknown.

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