Page 20 of My Brutal Alpha

I never wanted to hurt Zoe before, but I had to. And in that moment, I understood I didn't deserve her help in the slightest, but I needed it. And I needed her to not give up on us, even if I wasn't supposed to care about her that way.

"Look, I know this isn't ideal, and we're bound to butt heads, but—"

"But what?" Zoe demanded, giving me an unimpressed expression. "You can't possibly think we aren't both wasting our time with this."

My jaw tensed slightly at that. "No, I don't think we're wasting our time. At least, if we actually try to see eye to eye, then maybe this will all work out just fine."

She rolled her eyes, stoking my anger more. "And why can't you just say no to your parents? Why do you have to take some round-about course of action instead of facing this head-on?"

I try to control my anger, but it doesn't help much. "It's not that simple..."

"No? You're an alpha. You have more than enough strength and power to enforce what you want. If you don't want to be forced to accept this alpha's daughter, then you shouldn't have any problem declining it."

"If it were that easy, do you really think I'd be asking for your help?" I questioned incredulously, wishing she hadn't taken the conversation in that direction. I didn't like talking about my parents, and treading that line of discomfort was the last thing I wanted. "Obviously, I can't just do that."

Zoe huffed out a frustrated breath. "And why not?"

I could feel my patience slipping even more as our bickering continued, wanting more than anything to just drop it. But the words came out before I could process them better. "Because they aren't like your parents, all right? They're demanding and won't take no for an answer. That’s why they were at your opening day in the first place!"

Despite taking in my words and seeming to consider it at first, she narrowed her eyes at me. "I still don't see how that has anything to do with me. I never asked to be caught up in this situation, and I don't owe you a damn thing."

"No, you don't," I muttered, aware that she was perfectly right. "I was a jackass then, and I'm a jackass now; the only difference is that I need your help, and I'm pretty much begging for it at this point."

It annoyed me to admit it since even saying those words made me feel pathetic. But if swallowing my pride was what it would take, then so be it.

Even if this made Zoe pause for a moment, she still kept that stern gaze on me, unimpressed and doing her best to seem unwavering. "It doesn't matter how much you beg. As far as I'm concerned, you never deserved this help in the first place."

As she spoke, I registered her words, but the more we fought, the more I realized how beautiful she looked while angry with me.

Regardless of what happened between us, I always thought she was beautiful; in that moment, something about it seemed heightened.

I tried to focus on what she was saying as Zoe continued to ramble on, giving me a piece of her mind, but my mind was fixed on her easy perfection.

It reminded me of all those times we'd bicker, even in front of Sebastian and the others, and how I'd have to resist the urge to take her all over again.

Knowing that her anger and yelling turned me on was frustrating, but I couldn't avoid that fact.

Instead, I only felt more pulled to her.

Without realizing it, I took another step forward, feeling as if my system seemed to fill with a fog that only wanted more of her.

"You're right...I never deserved it," I murmured, hand absently sliding across the countertop as I drew closer to her, a short, almost imperceptible step at a time. "I still don't."

Zoe seemed almost confused at my words as she took me in, anger wavering for just a moment before it returned. "Yeah, you don't, which is why—"

Even if she was ready to rip me a new one for everything, her gaze flickered between my face and how I slowly drifted closer. As angry as she wanted to seem, I didn't miss how her body language seemed to falter.

There was tension in the air that tempted me more, making me question just how much Zoe really hated me or if a part of her still enjoyed the kiss on the opening day.

"What are you doing?" she questioned, breath catching in her throat slightly as she tried to steel herself against me and our proximity.

"Just...shut up for a minute..." I mumbled, closing the space until our bodies were much closer, my voice quieter than before.

Zoe's eyes widened slightly as I took her chin between my thumb and finger, making her look up at me fully as my opposite hand landed on her full, soft waist. While it looked like a protest was on the end of her tongue, she shut her mouth again and didn't say anything.

I knew I needed to be careful when it came to her and the volatile situation between us. I needed to be more considerate of her feelings and all the old ones I managed to screw up, but something in me just wanted it. I wanted her.

Ever since we had sex before, and I could feel the mate bond forming between us, I found myself running away from those feelings. I didn't want to admit them or pursue them out of fear, even if that bond seemed so tempting and familiar once.

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