Page 51 of The Alpha's Bullied Mate

He was glad Mica wasn’t here.

He didn’t want her to see the violence that was coming. Didn’t want her to show the proof of her doubts to the pack… or him.

This was it. He and Monroe squared up, and his heart pounded harder in his chest. This would end here and now—one way or another.

Chapter 27 - Mica

Mica sat on the edge of the bed, frozen. Her gaze was unfocused, and both of her hands were pressed to her stomach. Her heart was beating so wildly that she wondered if it was going to blow up. If Hayden didn’t come back from this fight, she might hope it did.

She should have said so much to him as he walked away. She should have tried harder to explain her thoughts. How could she not be afraid he’d be frightened? It had nothing to do with his skills! Nothing to do with his strength. It was all about the possibilities. Fuck, even a coyote could take down a wolf if it got in a lucky shot.

Monroe was an Alpha who had held Bluebell Valley for well over forty years. He kept this territory for a reason. And now he was possessed by a demon, which made him even stronger.

I should have told him that I love him.

She’d tried, but it somehow got muddled up on the way out.

A knock came on the door, and Elin, who was bringing a tray of food, slipped into the room. Her eyes were sympathetic as she approached warily. Her head bowed, and she chewed her lip as they walked.

“I thought you might need strength,” Elin said.

Mica took a deep breath. Elin had been there when the demon possessing Echo had brought up Mica’s pregnancy. But she didn’t know about the pregnancy test.

“I’m not pregnant, Elin,” she said.

Elin lifted her head. “You aren’t?”

“No. I took a test, and it was negative.”

“Oh.” Elin’s shoulders fell. “I could have sworn I smelled… but I suppose I was wrong. You still need to eat. You’ll need strength for your mate.”

Mica waved a hand at the nightstand. “Leave it over there.”

Elin set the tray down, then smoothed down the front of her shirt. “Luna… I want to say… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Mica turned to her, frowning.

She hadn’t been willing to hear Elin’s apology before. But now? Had enough time gone by that she could listen?

“For everything.” Elin stepped forward, wincing. “For those cruel things I used to say about you. I’m sorry for what I did that day, when I convinced you to tell Hayden how you felt for him. I’m sorry for spreading rumors. I’m sorry for not standing up for you. Even when I was pretending to be your friend, I was terrible to you. And so, I’m sorry.”

“And yet, you only apologize after I have a position of power in the pack,” Mica said.

Elin winced. “I know. And I know you might not believe me, but I didn’t want it to be like this. I’ve wanted to apologize for a long time. I was just too much of a coward to.”

Mica ran a hand through her red hair, sighing.

Elin dropped her gaze again. “I understand that you have no reason to forgive me. Words are hollow, especially since I never said them until now when you’re powerful.”

Was Mica powerful? She certainly didn’t feel like she was. Maybe that was her problem. Perhaps she’d gotten so used tobeing powerless and undesirable in the pack that she couldn’t understand the position she found herself in now.

“I know that the pack politics like to pit women against each other,” Mica said. “So I can forgive you for what you did when we were teens, Elin. But it’s going to take far more than an apology to earn my trust back.”

Elin wrung her hands. “Is it possible at all?”

Mica considered the question. Was it? There was once when she’d have said no way. If Elin had ever come to her expressing sorrow over the past, she would have assumed it was just a trick. Things had changed, though, and rapidly. She believed that Elin was genuinely regretful for her past behavior.

“I think so,” Mica said slowly. “I hope that one day I can trust you again.”

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