Page 18 of Betrayed By the Alpha Wolf

He froze in his attempted step forward, his arms still at his sides, where he clenched his hands into fists.

My knees felt wobbly, and I wanted to get into the bed and just get comfortable. Standing was taking way too much effort, and curling up into a mound of blankets seemed like the best course of action.

“MacKenzie,” Grayson’s voice pulled me out of my head, and I both wanted to smack him for it and kiss his stupid face, “I’m trying…never mind. Have you eaten since the trials? You look like you’re seconds from passing out.”

Confirmation that I looked as awful as I felt did not make me feel better. Maybe I did need to eat, but Grayson could go suck an egg for all his “thoughtful” questioning. I knew he just needed to keep up appearances.

“Don’t pander to me with your fake concern. I’m fine. You know, except for the rejection burns I deal with on the regular, but who cares, right? You don’t have to deal with them.”

Grayson looked like I’d punched him in the gut, and my wolf whined, upset that I was being so cruel to our “mate.” She could also go suck an egg.

A dull ache threaded through my stomach, and I had a feeling that hunger was probably right on the money as far as guesses went. I hung my head, closing my eyes briefly as I tried to suck in fresh air.

“I’m just trying to help, MacKenzie.”

Flicking my stare up to his face, I glared, a low growl rumbling in my chest. “If you really want to help, why don’t you get that food, huh? I need some alone time.”

He returned my glare, his jaw working as he chewed on his tongue. But after a moment, Grayson walked over toward the bag he brought and reached inside for a clean shirt.That’s right. Go on, buddy.

As he rifled around, I walked over to the bed. I still wanted to just lay down in the covers and bury my head until tomorrow came. Another needle of pain jabbed through my lower belly, the sensation only slightly dulled by the lingering herbs in my system. The rejection pain was returning, and I needed Grayson out of this room so that I could take more medicine.

Right at the side of the bed, my foot hit something soft, and I looked down to see Grayson’s shirt still lying there where I’d dropped it. It was so dirty, covered in a large red stain from his blood. It also smelled so strongly of his scent that my head went all fuzzy at the edges.

Before my Gran passed away, she baked cookies for the winter. We’d go out and eat them on the little front porch of our trailer, watching the snowflakes gracefully fall to the ground.

That’s what Grayson smelled like—spiced cookies and frost.

Crawling into the bed, I pulled the covers over me, but it wasn’t right. They were all messed up from the last time I’d slept in them and from Grayson’s stupid butt sitting on them. I yanked them up and off the bed, flapping them up in the air so that I could lie them flat across the mattress.

But that wasn’t right either. I was still so overheated from the damn rejection nonsense, so I bundled the covers up with the sheets and made a ring around me that I could hang one leg out of while squeezing the rest to my chest. That was better.

That smell of cloves and snow was still so thick in the air around me, and I buried my face into the pillow. It didn’t do anything to dull the scent, but at least it was a pleasant smell.

Another kick of pain knocked me in the lower belly, and I gripped around the covers. My skin felt so damn itchy and hot, and I needed Grayson to leave so that I could take my fucking drugs.

You don’t. Don’t let him leave.

I rolled my eyes at my wolf’s thoughts.Quiet, you. It’ll be fine once I can take more stuff.

My hips ached as I lay on my side, and I needed to switch positions. But then my core brushed against the covers bundled between my legs, and I let out a low hiss. The sensation was so fucking intense, or more aptly, I was so damn sensitive.

That’s weird. That’s not usually—

“What are you doing with my old shirt?”

I looked up toward Grayson. He was fully dressed now, but the thin tee he wore did little to hide his chiseled chest and abs. You could wash your fucking clothes on them. My eyes traveled up toward his face, and I realized he was mouthing something.

“Earth to MacKenzie? Do you even hear me?”

The words came back in a flood and I was suddenly hearing things again. Apparently, I’d zone out enough to not even hear Grayson speak.

“I’m sorry. What?” I shook my head, frowning at him.

“MacKenzie, what’s going on? Your scent is going haywire, and you’re clinging to my bloody shirt.”

Scoffing, I sat back, putting space in between us. What a load of crock. “I’m trying to get some rest. Weren’t you supposed to get me food? And hell, water. I’m so thirsty.”

But then, as I faced away from him, I realized that I was holding onto his shirt. I’d yet to let go of it when I snagged it off the floor. My heart thudded in my chest, and I dropped my stare to the bed. The ring of sheets I’d created looked very fucking inviting, but I wanted my clothes off. It was too damn hot in here.

---