Page 36 of The Alpha's Bullied Mate

“I know you don’t think there’s a way to save her,” Mica interrupted. Her eyes shone bright with unshed tears. “I’ve talked to Ryder about it. But I can’t just give up. There might be a way to save her in those pages. We need more information, and quickly. We can verify any information found in the original pages if we need to.”

Hayden groaned as he sank onto the couch. “I know you want to have hope, Mica. I’m sorry that this has happened. But I think it’s time you start to accept the truth.”

Mica was quiet. When he looked at her, he saw disappointment etched into her face. The sort of disappointment someone has when you prove their worst assumptions about you. It cut through Hayden more than any words could have. He reached for her hands, but she pulled away from him.

“I thought you’d try for Ryder’s sake at least,” she said, her voice thick.

“I am trying,” Hayden insisted. “For you.”

The disappointment shifted to disbelief.

“You still don’t think I’m genuine, do you?” Hayden demanded.

Mica shrugged. “How can I? You were always right there with the others, laughing at me. Calling me names, treating me like shit. I know I’ve given you something you want, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind, Hayden. I know you haven’t changed your opinion of me that much.”

Hayden got to his feet. “Mica, I—”

“No.” She held up her hands. “I’m sorry. You are trying. I know that. Now… I have to go take care of the newcomers.”

She swept out of the room before he could stop her. As he was left with only his wolf for company, a blinding spotlight lit up the space in his heart where Mica was stored. He’d deliberately avoided thinking about how he used to treat her.

But now, it was undeniable. Her disbelief and distrust of him were born of his own actions. Because he had hurt her, badly, in the past. He just didn’t know how to fix it.

Chapter 19 - Mica

The beast-demon stalked along the boundary's edge, snorting as it tested the protections. With Hayden and the rest of the special ops in the forest, Mica had ordered that they let the demon wander and not engage. Hayden had taken all the best fighters with him, meaning her order was gladly obeyed. Nobody wanted to tangle with the beast.

Unfortunately, such a sight was getting more common. Even the children who used to scream and hide now ignored it, snuffling around the edges of the property. Its twisted horns glowed in the rapidly oncoming darkness. Clouds shrouded the sky, making it even darker.

“Hayden will be back soon,” Mica told Tess as she nervously looked at the beast.

“I know.” She shook her head. “Let’s go back into the house. I don’t trust the sources that say the beast-demons are dumb. I don’t want it to report back to Monroe about what we talk about.”

Mica nodded. That was the smarter idea. The two headed into the house and went up to Mica and Hayden’s room. With all of the new wolves showing up regularly, they were quickly running out of room. Every room in the house was occupied, except for this one.

And even now, Mica wondered if maybe she and Hayden should move to a smaller room and give up the big one for more of the people.

“We’re running out of food,” Tess told her once they were alone. “And the room. It’s been three months since Hayden issued his first challenge to Monroe. Something has to change. With the demons, the pack is willing to accept that he has otherthings he needs to deal with as well, but even then. You need to tell him something has to change.”

Mica groaned as she dropped onto the edge of the bed. The couch had been moved out and offered as a bed to one of the more elderly in the pack.

“I know. It’s getting more difficult. But what am I supposed to say? Hayden knows the stakes better than I do. It’s all getting stretched out.” Mica ran her hands through her red hair and tugged through some of the knots. “Our relationship is part of it.”

Tess winced. “What do you mean?”

Mica chewed her lower lip. “I mean that… well, it’s getting harder for me to pretend. I want him too badly to want me. I want him to care. But I know that he doesn’t. It’s not ever going to be there. Not the way I want, at least.”

She rubbed her hands over her eyes. She couldn’t stop these feelings she had.

“At least we have a good sex life. He’s very generous in that regard.”

Tess frowned at her. “But you don’t believe he’ll listen to your advice?”

“I don’t think he’ll listen to me in matters of pack politics. I’m human. I lived with the pack my whole life, but I’m not part of the pack. Even now.” Mica groaned. It wasn’t entirely true, but it still felt as though she was a fraud. “I just wish I knew why Monroe is dragging this out.”

“But isn’t that a reason for Hayden to push the challenge? Take it to the next step?” Tess pressed. “Because we don’t know what Monroe is up to, and waiting could be playing into his hands?”

“Hayden knows this. Whatever his reasons for waiting are, he knows better than us how to deal with demons,” Mica snapped.

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