Page 156 of My Forbidden Alpha

“I’m glad to hear it, I would like to meet this perfect man. I’m assuming he is part of this pack?” he asks.

Oh Dad, don’t get your mind working in overdrive. I’m not going to give any hints. So I simply grin.

“Someday…” I reply, my heart skipping a beat. I am sure Dad will not be so understanding once he knows who he is.

“Well, I better go see if your mother’s okay,” he says. About to walk off, he pauses, his back to me. “Scarlett… do you have a problem with the fact we marked each other? I swear if I knew he had marked you I wouldn’t have done it.” Guilt is clear in his voice.

I feel a pang of hurt. He has done so much for me and Indigo. How can I ever have a problem with it? I shake my head although he cannot see my gesture, his back tense, as if getting ready for my rejection and disapproval.

“No, I don’t. We love who we love and you and Mama deserve this. To be happy and bonded to each other. You’ve been the father we never had, and the husband and mate Mama deserves,” I whisper truthfully.

It hurts me to say it a little, only because I fear where this leaves me and Elijah, but it is still the truth. They found one another first. They are the reason Elijah and I are even alive. If Mama hadn’t come here, we would never have met, and that thought alone hurt worse.

Dad turns, his blue eyes sparkling as his lips curl up in a smirk so similar to Elijah’s that I can’t help but smirk back.

I guess that is one thing I have in common with my mama. We both fell for the Westwood charm.

“Thank you, Scarlett, that truly means a lot,” he says, before giving me a nod. “Thank you.” I simply give a small smile, watching him leave the room. Sighing, I look at the table, my heart feeling a little heavy. I adjust the placemats that do not need fixing, rearrange the spoons in the sauce dishes, and adjust the candles.

“Heaven is truly missing an angel.” Elijah’s soft voice comes from the door. I look up, my eyes widening in surprise, and a light blush graces my cheeks as I stand there under his intense gaze, my heart racing. His eyes look slightly dreamy as they roam over me.

“That’s so cliché…” I tease. “And I’m no angel.” I let my eyes trail over him. He looks effortlessly handsome in a black and white graphic T-shirt, a jacket and torn black jeans, finished with a pair of boots.

Explicit thoughts involving him swim in my head and I sigh.I am definitely not an angel.He walks over to me, his one hand behind his back. He leans down and kisses my matte red lips softly.

“That’s true as well. You’re my little sexy devil,” he whispers.Stepping back, he runs his hand through his lush hair and clears his throat. “So, uh… I saw this outside, and it reminded me of you.”

I cock a brow before he sighs, his jaw clenching.

“Saw what? You look… like you really don’t want to be here,” I add slyly, trying not to smirk.

“Yeah, it’s just pretty lame, but here it is.” From behind his back, he now holds out a red rose, looking really flustered and uncomfortable. For the first time in my life, I see the Playboy Alpha blush. My own stomach is fluttering like crazy, my heart beating at a fast rhythm as I burn the image of Elijah Westwood giving me a rose into my memories.

“Thank you,” I say, a small giggle escaping me. “You look kind of cute blushing.”

“I’m not blushing.” He frowns at me as I take the rose, but his heart’s racing and that look in his eyes tells me he isn’t regretting it, no matter how awkward he probably feels.

I kiss the petals softly, brushing my fingers along the stem. He has removed the thorns, too. I gaze up at him, unable to express how much this gesture means to me. Turning towards the mirror, I slip the rose into my bun.

Elijah steps closer, glancing at the open dining room door. He grips my hips and places a soft kiss on my shoulder, looking at our reflection in the mirror. He tilts his head, admiring our reflection.

“It looks even better now. You truly look gorgeous,” he whispers, his gaze dipping to my breasts.

“Thanks.” I lean into him, for once, not caring about the open door. It is the first gift Elijah has given me and it is clear from his behaviour that he hasn’t given another woman something like this before. I step away after a moment, turning and looking up at him. Tiptoeing, I place a soft butterfly kiss on his jaw.

“Thanks…” I say again before I leave the room. Pausing at thedoor, I cast him one last look and blow him a kiss. I am about to enter the kitchen when the front doorbell rings.

Hurrying over to it, I pull it open, expecting to see Grandma Amelia, but it is Liam who stands there. He looks handsome in black sweats, a fitted black T-shirt and a pair of trainers. His eyes widen as they run over me.

“Wow… you look… breathtaking,” he breathes softly, making me tense. It is not the first time Liam has complimented me, but I am not sure it is the right thing to do with Elijah in the other room. He is an alpha and their possessiveness knows no boundaries.

But Liam is one of my favourite people in this pack, so I smile at him. “Thanks. Are you here for Elijah or Alpha Jackson?” I ask, trying to pretend not to notice his gaze is still on me, as if he is seeing me for the first time. Has he always looked at me like that?

“Erm, Elijah. I heard he’s back in town and I couldn’t get through to his phone and thought I’d invite him in person rather than via the mind-link if he isn’t here. A few of us were thinking about hanging Saturday night. You should come too. Fiona, Monica, and a few others will be there.”

Fiona...

“Oh yeah, he broke his phone. I’ll call him over,” I answer.

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