Page 33 of Cruel Alpha: Season One

“Dimitri and Creed seemedecstaticwith your decision to bestow me with such a lofty title.” My words are, again, dripping with sarcasm, but I think he’s come to expect it.

“Yes, well, they’ll recover. They always do when Ishoot from the hip,as they say. I suppose I’ve always been of the mind that it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.”

There’s another lull in conversation, but this time the silence is broken by my laughter.

“What’s funny?”

My laugh only grows when he sounds genuinely offended. “It’s just that you don’t strike me as the type to ask foreither—forgivenessorpermission.I imagine you’re more of a‘these are my rules, deal with it’kind of guy.”

He stares, only breaking a smile at the end. “You may be right.”

I nod,knowingI’m right, and I find myself leaning into him a bit more. For his size, he’s surprisingly light on his feet. If he were anyone else, I’d pay him the compliment out loud, but instead, I file this detail away in my thoughts, again using conversation to distract myself.

“You didn’t have to offer me the title, so… why did you?”

I peer up into his eyes and immediately know it’s a mistake. When they’re not angry and full of wrath, they’re actually somewhat warm.

He’s thoughtful and doesn’t seem in a rush to answer, which I take note of. And when he finally does part his lips to speak, I’m all ears.

“I suppose it could be considered an act of good faith,” he says. “Right now, from my perspective, it’d be easy to think we will always exist in this state we’re currently in. One where frustration and bitterness prevail. While I may be completely crazy for thinking this… I believe there will come a day when the walls between us will crumble. And when that happens, our interests will somehow align, and there won’t be a gulf between our ambitions. Because at the heart of the matter, we both want what’s best for this clan.”

I feel my heart racing, praying he doesn’t feel it too. And when I catch myself staring into his eyes again, I blink to break the spell.

“And how do you think your other mates will feel about this?” I ask next. “If I’m not mistaken, if an alpha declares his mate Alpha Regent, that’s a singular title. Meaning, there can only beonefemale alpha. Aren’t you worried the others—whoever they are—will think you have a favorite?”

That slow smile curves his lips again, and for a second, I imagine the feel of them against mine.

“Don’t you realize it, Annalise? That’s the point.”

This time, I’m certain he feels my heart. It’s beating hard and wild against my ribs, all at the thought of him favoring me above the others. It’s a sick thing to get excited over, but there’s no denying the effect these words have had on me.

“Sounds risky. You’ll spark a mutiny under your own roof,” I say, which draws a quiet laugh from him.

“I suppose that’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

His lips seem closer now, and I don’t back away.

“Haven’t you heard the saying about a house divided?” I ask. “I believe the conclusion is that it will surely fall. Imagine the chaos that will ensue once they realize I’m esteemed higher than them. They’ll be jealous.”

Caspian inches even closer, and my eyes lower to his mouth when he speaks again. “Then, let them be fucking jealous.”

There’s an unfamiliar urge within me. One beckoning me to grip his jaw in my hands, take the lead by initiating a kiss, but I refrain, asking another question instead.

“And what if I don’t want the title? What if that’s a crown I’ve deemed too heavy to wear?”

One of his hands leaves my waist, and he uses the tip of his index finger to lift my chin, forcing my eyes back to his.

“It doesn’t matter how heavy it is, Annalise. I’ll be with you. I’llcarrythis with you. And whatever else you face in this lifetime, we’ll shoulder it together.”

His words settle on my heart because they’re beautiful, romantic even, but there’s something fundamentally wrong with this declaration.

It isn’t true.

“You know? I actually believe thatyoubelieve those words, but the thing is, it’s easy for now. While there’s only me. While you don’t have an entireflockof women to keep happy. But what will happen when your plate’s full? When you’re being pulled in so many directions you forget which way is up?”

There’s a burn in my throat, and I recognize it quickly.

Bitterness.

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