Page 54 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate

“She said something weird, didn’t she?”

“No. Yes. I mean—” I closed my eyes. “I don’t know.”

He cupped my face with such a loving lightness that a layer of fear dropped away like I was shedding a robe. “Just breathe, Princess. Keep breathing.”

Oh, his hands were so warm. His fingertips spoke of his affection and care, the very things I wanted to feel as I jealously watched him comfort his niece in the kitchen.

“I was jealous,” I said breathlessly, almost shocked by the realization. “I just…got jealous.”

He tilted my chin so I was forced to look up into his eyes. “Of what, Princess?”

“I saw you holding Sierra and…”

He frowned. “And?”

Tears billowed in my eyes. “And I never saw you hold Sydney like that.”

His eyes rounded with sorrow. “Oh.”

I wanted to run again, but I didn’t want to hide. I just wanted to get the adrenaline out of my system.

I stood up just as the sky darkened with rain clouds. Thunder rumbled overhead, bringing with it a chilly wind full of petrichor. “Come on, loser.”

“What?”

I yanked my sweater off. “Let’s go for a run.”

“Right now?”

“You owe me a date, right?”

He grinned as I dropped my jeans. “I mean, I can’t argue with this.”

“That means I win,loser.”

“Last one to the mechanic shop will be the loser.”

I smirked. “We’ll see about that.”

After piling my clothes neatly on the first porch step, I stood on the cement walkway with my arms wide toward the sky. I tilted my head back, welcoming the initial few drops of rain as my face began to contort into a snout.

Yes, please, cleanse me.

The clouds broke open, rain hailing down in hard pelts as I bowed forward and caught myself on my fully shifted paws. Beside me, Cliff roared into his glorious wolf form, a pelt of dirty blond coating his back that had striped shades of varying colors from white to chocolate brown. Spiced tobacco scented the air. I poised my snout high, releasing a mighty howl as the rain came down in a torrential curtain.

Cleanse me and let me learn to let go.

My howl reduced to a low croak before I took off for the gate. Cliff ran in hot pursuit of me, catching up every so often to nudge my side with his nose.

I can help with that, he said in my mind,so long as you can help me be a better Alpha.

I smiled internally.We’ll talk about that after our date is over.

Deal, he said, and then sped ahead of me with a triumphant yelp.

I didn’t mind letting him get ahead, enjoying the way victory looked in his movements. So confident. So strong. So much like a good Alpha.

I wanted to be strong like that, too. I just needed to learn how.

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