Page 93 of Alpha Ruined

No, he wants to snarl.

After he helped her through her Heat, it’s almost painful to be away from her.

“It’s not safe for you here by yourself,” he says pointedly. “Not with Eugene around, and not with everything else that has happened.”

He’s not above using his own murders to convince her that she needs him.

But she lifts her chin, his defiant, stubborn girl, and narrows her eyes at him.

“I wasn’t asking,Cole.”

The corner of his lip quirks.

“I don’t remember giving you a choice.”

She balks at that, and he grins, taking a step closer until he’s just inches from her.

“You want space, sweetheart?Fine. But you sure as hell aren’t spending the night alone. And you’re staying in this cabin until I come back for you. Idoneed to grab more things from my place, anyway.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but he leans in and kisses her instead. She reaches up her hands to his chest to shove at him, but he cups her face and holds her close.

“Telling me what to do won’t get you what you want,” she breathes, but her sweet scent and dilated pupils tell him it’s an empty threat.

“Shh. I’m giving you space, like you asked. Like a good, dutiful boyfriend.”

Her face flushes as he stepsaway.

Boyfriend.

It feels like a cheap word, compared to what he feels for her. Compared to what they actually are.

But if his girl wants space, he’ll afford her just a little of bit of it.

He’ll give her the illusion of a boundary.

“I’ll be back soon,” he tells her. “Enjoy your time alone, Breana. And don’t open that fucking door for anybody but me.”

He doesn’t want to leave her, but he knows it’s best to respect her space even if he doesn’t want to.

It’ll be a quick trip, anyway.

Then, he’ll drive her to her interview.

And after that, he’ll make sure she doesn’t doubt for a second they’re meant to be together.

CHAPTER 32

BREE

Cole doesn’t returnlike he said he would.

She texts him. She even calls him, but he doesn’t answer.

Maybe this is his way of saying he changed his mind about her after she demanded space.

His duffel bag is gone. He has no reason to come back if he decided she wasn’t worth it.

She tells herself it’s a good thing. This is what she wanted—a fling, then to go back to her normal life.

---