Page 17 of The Alpha's Bullied Mate

“My final vow is to stand by you and for you,” Hayden said.

The final vow was the only one that a mated couple made themselves. The rest were all traditions in the ceremony. Mica searched his gaze, trying to understand what that vow meant.

He held her hand tightly in his own, as though he was afraid she would try to tear away from him. Part of her wondered if she should. Hayden was never going to feel for her the way she had once felt for him. Hell, he didn’t see her as anything but a means to an end.

At the same time… he had the chance to look for another mate. There were plenty of women here that would go for him. So he picked her for a reason, right? He said it was just because she was the easiest choice to make. What did that mean? He wanted her on some level, right? He wouldn’t bother with her as his mate if he really thought so little of her.

Right?

Or was she just kidding herself?

“My final vow. To…” her words faltered. What could she promise Hayden from her heart? “To… try.”

Hayden’s hands tightened on hers. “And now we are mated, in soul and heart.”

Mica let out a slow breath. She felt a subtle shift in herself. As Hayden unwrapped the ribbon from their wrists, she felt the heat of his skin on hers. She grew painfully away of the soft rise and fall of his chest. Even his hair and eyes seemed to take on a more vivid hue.

Around her, their witnesses congratulated them. Their words were hollow in Mica’s ears. She must have said the appropriate responses because nobody looked distressed. When Hayden put an arm around her waist and tugged her out of the room, sparks ignited beneath her skin.

He led her to the stairs, and her heart started to hammer. The daze disappeared as she walked with him. Her breathing grew quicker as she turned slightly, admiring how his muscles pulled against the material of his suit.

Was this really happening?

Her throat was dry as they entered the large suite that was not their bedroom. The king-sized bed stood in the center of the room. When Mica stepped toward it, though, Hayden didn’t release her.

“The ceremony is over. We are mated, and I can challenge Monroe,” Hayden said, his voice gravelly. “We can take our time with everything else.”

Mica carefully pulled away from Hayden. “What do you mean?”

His dark eyes bored into hers. “I mean, you are still injured and you have had a lot thrust on you all at once. I won’t add yet another thing that you have to do today. We will haveto consummate at some point, but it doesn’t have to be today. Itwon’tbe today.”

Mica opened her mouth and then closed it again. A whirl of emotions rushed through her. Was that… disappointment? If she examined her own feelings, then she knew yet, that she was disappointed. But also grateful.

“You’re right,” she said, stepping back. “Thank you for not… pushing the issue.”

She did want him to hold her. Maybe it was the mate bond, she didn’t know. But right now, she felt so small and fragile and he was so strong… she wished that she could just curl into his arms and trust him. That would be such a mistake, though.

So much was happening. She needed time to process demons and her mother’s condition. She didn’t need any other complications on top of it.

Hayden ran a hand through his sleek black hair. “You should rest. Do you need help getting out of that dress?”

Mica glanced down at herself. It wasn’t exactly a glamorous thing. Tess had brought over one of her fancier dresses. Though both of them were curvy, Mica had had to squeeze into it. She could barely breathe without popping the zipper.

“Um, I just need five minutes,” she said, feeling oddly shy.

“Clothes are in the dresser,” Hayden said, nodding toward it. Then he went to the window and stood facing out, his back to her.

Mica went to the dresser and opened the second drawer. Unsurprisingly, her clothes were all there. She just hoped it was Tess who grabbed her underwear. Quickly, she pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of pants, then carefully unzipped the dress. As she did so, Hayden let out a strangled sort of noise.

“Are you okay?” Mica asked warily.

“Just fine.” Hayden kept his back to her. “What happened to Monroe’s mate?”

“Oh.” Mica huffed as she quickly changed. “Last year, Monroe ended up in a fight with his brother. She tried to put herself between them to stop the fighting and…” She shuddered. “She was fatally injured.”

She zipped her pants and pulled her red hair from the neck of the t-shirt. “I’m dressed.”

Hayden turned back to her. He nodded approvingly at her choice, then gave her a strange look. “There will be fighting in the coming days. I know women are taught that they have to try to stop their mates from fighting, but you have to stay out of it. You’ll get yourself killed just like she did.”

---