Page 41 of The Alpha Wolf's Bullied Bride

“Are you hurt? What happened?” he asks urgently, grabbing my arms and pulling me away from the stove to swiftly turn the fire off. When he turns to face me with worry flashing in his eyes, I can’t help but internally melt.

How can I keep up this pretense from the only other person who truly cares about me?

It’s only because I care about him and cannot ruin his friendship with Flynn.

It has me wondering…how much does Flynn have to lose if he were to lose my brother’s friendship? I heard him just now, mentioning his brother. That’s why he’d grown close to Miles when Finch Lycoan was killed.

“I’m fine, Miles. I really am,” I assure him, squeezing his hand as compassion flows through me. It’s almost as if I cansense the energy of loss and grief, and how painful it must have been for both of them.

When we lost our parents, I had Miles to take care of me, to offer me the comfort I desperately needed to overcome my grief. But he didn’t have anyone to turn to, except the friendships in the pack he made along the way.

Then, Flynn lost his brother, and he and Miles became the closest. They found solace in each other and grew a friendship as strong as the bond between brothers.

Yet, it doesn’t sound like Flynn has been able to fully heal from losing his brother. Was I always just in the wrong place at the wrong time, suffering his brutality because I was the easiest target?

Despite how unfair it is, I can’t help but wonder if there is something I could do to ease the pressure off his shoulders. It never occurred to me that he was battling inner demons until I heard him briefly speak about them tonight.

Miles shakes his head sternly, pulling me from my thoughts about Flynn. “You’re not fine, Liles. I sensed the tension between you two. I’m no fool.” He drops his weight on the chair, running a hand over his head, where his blonde hair has grown out more than an inch. “It’s not like you’ve received your wolf yet. He hasn’t touched you, has he?”

A blush creeps on my cheeks as I stare wide-eyed at my brother. “Why does everyone seem to care about that?” I giggle nervously.

Miles blows out a breath. “It’s important ‘cause you’re my sister, okay? I hoped that being mated would allow you to receive your wolf, but that clearly hasn’t happened yet.”

I hang my head shamefully, unable to tell my brother the truth of what happened that night. I haven’t been claimed by Flynn, and I’ve lost all hope of ever receiving that connection to my inner wolf with the ability to shift.

“It’s… complicated,” I admit tentatively, to which Miles sighs.

“It shouldn’t be complicated, Lila. You are now the Luna of this pack. Apart from connecting to your wolf, you’re meant to bear offspring for the Alpha.” Miles frowns, cocking his head to one side. “You do know this, right?”

Another nervous titter escapes my lips while the heat of a blush scorches my cheeks. “Duh! Of course, I know this,” I lie, though I hadn’t thought as far as that. After what happened the other night, all I’ve lamented is Flynn’s sudden departure and the scent of indifference he’d left in his wake.

What happens then? Will I be forced to raise the pup on my own, under the same roof as the male wolf who can’t stand the sight of me?

“Fool…”I hear that familiar faint voice chide in my mind, as if to stop this pity party I’m dancing in, and realize that Flynn doesn’t need more resistance than what I’ve been putting up. It’s not as if I could have made up that hungry, ravenous look in his eyes when he passionately made love to me. Neither can I deny how I truly feel about him.

Something deep within has me gearing up for the greatest quest of my life, ignoring the red flags of his words and redirecting me to the actions I experienced between the sheets in his bedroom. Paying close attention to the strong pull I’ve always felt, I can’t ignore the parts of me that beg to be released, the parts of me that I’ve buried only because I’ve been too afraid of being authentic.

It’s done me no good so far. I can’t hide this side of me—the one who cares and loves so deeply, even when her love is often misunderstood.

What does it matter if it’s met with resistance? There’s absolutely nothing left to lose now that I am the Alpha’s mate. What’s the worst that he can do?

Kick me out of the pack?

If he wanted to do that, he would have done it a long time ago.

Taking a deep breath, oxygen fills my lungs and strengthens my resolve while I stare at my brother, a smile curling my lips.

“Don’t worry about me, Miles,” I say as if a lightbulb just lit up in my mind. “I promise that everything’s gonna be okay. It won’t always be this way.” Somehow, those words are full of conviction, a declaration to make things right between Flynn and me. I’m not convinced that he’s revolted by my presence.

Why would he pick me as his mate, after all?

I must have been “suitable” enough for a reason. I’m determined to uncover that reason and turn my life around.

I can’t be a victim forever.

My chest swells with pride, as if the inner voice I’ve been hearing calling me a fool suddenly winks at me in appreciation of my efforts. I feel lighter going about making dinner for Miles, intending to do the same for Flynn.

Chapter 14 - Flynn

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