Page 63 of The Alpha's Bullied Mate

Oh, are we going to discipline her?Zealuv laughed.

Determination swept through Hayden’s mind. He might not be able to warn anyone or stop Zealuv’s plans, but there was one thing he could do. And that was to get Mica out of here and far away. He was not going to let the archdemon make her his prey!

And you think you can stop me?Zealuv taunted.I, however, can stop you.

Hayden ground his teeth, control of his body restored, at least for now.You have better things to do than to worry about Mica. She’s inconsequential to your plans. Besides that, if anyone notices something off about me, it’s her. So no, you’re not going to stop me.

Mica would get out of here.

He went to the window and stared out. Zealuv was oddly quiet but he didn’t ponder too much on that. The question was, how could he get Mica to leave? She would refuse if he told her to go to the city. She called herself a coward, but she’d come racing to the challenge ground with nothing but a bucket of salt!

No. She was no coward. She wasn’t going to leave, not unless he gave her a good reason to. Without being able to tell her that he was possessed, how could he convince her to go? Maybe Zealuv was quiet because the archdemon was waiting for him to figure that out on his own.

The door opened again. The familiar sound of Mica’s feet padded across the wooden floor. And that was when he realized what he had to do. There was one way to make her leave him. And that was to break her heart.

She loved him. She’d stay for him. Unless… unless he gave her every reason to leave.

His heart ached at the thought. But as Mica drew nearer, he hardened his resolve. If this was the only way to protect her, then he would do it. Nothing was more important than her safety. If Zealuv was going to take Bluebell Valley, then at least Mica wouldn’t be here to watch it. She wouldn’t be here when the others figured out what was happening and tore him to pieces.

“Hayden?” Mica’s hand rested on his arm. “You look exhausted. Come home and get some rest.”

Hayden pulled away from her. He hardened his expression as he turned to her. She gave him a small smile and leaned forward to kiss him. His skin crawled at the idea of Zealuv being able to experience the feel of her lips. He quickly sidestepped, making her stumble slightly. Instinctually, he grabbed her elbow to steady her. But when she reached for him again, he dropped her arm and moved from her path.

“I don’t need you to try to mother me,” he said coldly. “I told you that I had things to do. I don’t need you running around acting as though I can’t take care of myself.”

Mica’s eyes widened. She dropped her hand. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you’re injured and—”

“And what? You think I’m too weak to handle it?” he snapped.

Mica shook her head. “No. Not at all. It’s just me being overly concerned. Were you able to get some sleep, though?”

Her concern pricked something inside of him. Fuck! What was this? They had just found each other. He hadn’t even told her he loved her. Why hadn’t he told her that? He loved her strength and resilience. He loved the way she could stand so tall and proud, despite everything that happened to her. He loved the way her eyes flamed when she was angry. He loved the softness in her mouth when she was reaching out to him.

Mica had gone through hell. Even when she was telling him that she was a coward and begging him to run away with her, how could he blame her? This pack had put her through hell and yet she stayed. She asked him to save Elin. she worked with him to take care of the wolves who came to him for protection.

She owed them nothing. Yet, even though the pack’s treatment of her should have killed off any compassion she had, she was still the strongest woman he’d ever met. And now he would never be able to tell her that.

“I just told you not to fucking mother me,” he snarled, a growl deep in his chest. The pain at his own words ripped through him, but he pushed on. “Are you fucking stupid?”

Her eyes widened further. “Hayden!”

“Apparently, you are,” he said. The words were bitter on his tongue, but he hardened his resolve.

This was, for her sake, her protection.

It’s also a lot of fun,Zealuv said.I love a good bit of drama. Maybe you should hit her…. or I should. It’ll look the same to her either way.

Hayden snarled again, momentarily distracted from his plan. Fear spiked through him. Zealuv had already proven that he could take full control of Hayden’s body already, albeit only in brief spurts. What if he did worse than his threat?

Something in his expression must have changed. Because the shock faded from Mica’s face. Instead, concern took its place.

“Something’s wrong. What happened? Is this still because of our fight?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you, Hayden. I love you so much, and I couldn’t get over my own fear. Everything has been so confusing and hard. But I love you.”

“That’s very nice,” Hayden answered, making his voice colder than ever. “But I don’t love you, Mica. I never did. I never will.”

She fell back a step, her mouth dropping open. “Hayden…”

“You were a means to an end. A pleasant means, sure.” Hayden shook his head, making himself smile even as he watched her heartbreak, and his broke with hers. “But that’s all you are. Something to fuck and parade in front of the pack.”

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