Page 139 of My Forbidden Alpha

“Yeah, I get it. Hopefully, before he hits eighteen, he fixes up.”

“Yeah, I hope so. We have three years and he’s a work in progress,” he chuckles before hanging his head. “You know,Elijah… do you miss her? Your mom.”

“Ah.” I nod, for a second wondering who he meant. “Yeah, I do.”

He nods. “I miss mine too. Sometimes I wish she was here. She was the calm of this pack. The one who kept Dad in check; she was the one there for me and Alejandro.”

Remembering Mom I take a deep breath. “Yeah, I don’t think anyone can ever replace a mother. And we only realise that when it’s too late. Well, me anyway. That’s why, in the future, when I have my own pups, I will expect them to always respect their mother.”

But to get her pregnant, we would need to mark one another… I push the thought away as I gaze down at Scarlett.

“I’m with you on that. Well, I’ll let you get some rest.”

“Yeah. Thanks, Raf.”

“Anytime,” he says before he leaves the room and I settle down, placing a few kisses on Scarlett’s neck. Sighing, I close my eyes, thinking tomorrow is going to be a long day.

The Calm before the Storm

Scarlett

Ihad woken early. The throbbing in my neck was painful and was resulting in a headache. I close my eyes for a moment, enjoying the arms of the man behind me wrapped around me tightly.

His words, his touch, and everything about him are making me want to break down in his arms and trust him with everything. But I am so afraid of letting my walls down.

How does someone as arrogant as Elijah become this caring, loving person? One that I am falling deeply in love with. The very thought of love makes my heart pound in my ears. I know I do, but to accept it is something else.

I feel tears trickle onto my pillow, his touch so tender, so loving. I am terrified of losing him, but I don’t deserve him.

The Moon Goddess probably hates me, anyway. There is no way I will be blessed with such an amazing mate. I will not keep my hopes up. I feel my wolf whimper at the very thought, but this is life. I don’t get what I want.

I slip out of bed and, taking some clothes from the suitcase that someone has brought in at some point, I head to the bathroom. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I realisehow ghastly I look. My skin looks grey, and the mark looks disgusting. That bastard.

Oh, how I want to kill him. I remember the pain I felt when he bit me, it had been so intense I didn’t even realise the spot he had marked me on because it felt like the entire surrounding area was on fire.

I wash my face and hands. As I scrub my neck, I know that I’m being delusional. There’s no way I can wash it off, but I still try, unable to stop. I scratch at my neck, my heart thundering as my vision blurs with tears of anger and frustration as I claw at my neck. I keep at it until the soap slips from my hand and I close my eyes, hanging my head.

Why, why me?

Why are you testing me so fucking much? I stare at the ceiling, wishing the Goddess had an answer.

I hear Elijah stirring as he calls me and quickly wash away the blood from my neck and swiftly get dressed in an off-shoulder grey jersey dress that falls to mid-thigh, with knee-high heeled black boots and a red shawl around my neck. I need to keep this monstrosity of a mark covered until we break the news to Mama and Dad.

Taking one final look in the mirror, I step out of the bathroom, promising myself that I will stay strong.

Breakfast passes quickly, one that we have in the packhouse. Elijah had joked that we weren’t royal enough to be invited to the Rossi Mansion, which, seeing from afar, did look like a palace built for an emperor or something. But Rafael had laughed it off, saying it was more comfortable here.

I wonder how he lives in that palace-like place with just his brother. He must be lonely.

They were occupied with the treaty paperwork overbreakfast, which worked for me since I just wanted to be left alone. I am dreading what’s coming, but at the same time I’m preparing for what I plan to do.

The men shake hands and hug before Elijah says we should head out. We leave the packhouse together, the wind blowing sharply around us.

“Well, it was nice having you. I just hope that next time it’s a more pleasant visit. Maybe when I bring my Luna home,” Rafael says with a smile.

“I will definitely be there,” Elijah says, glancing at me. I force a smile before genuinely thanking Rafael.

“Thank you. You put your own men at risk for us. I appreciate it.”

---