Page 41 of Cruel Alpha: Season One

The room falls completely silent again, and I’m so angry my wolf’s growl vibrates in my chest.

Aunt Geneva’s gaze shifts toward Caspian, as if to silently ask if he plans to control me, hisbitch,but I’m not having it.

“Don’t you dare look to him,” I snap. “This ismyhome now, thanks to a very valiant effort on your part, and I’d like for you to leave it. Actually, on second thought, I demand it.”

I aim my finger toward the doorway, but my eyes never leave them. In my peripheral, I’m aware of the smirk forming on Caspian’s lips.

“Annalise, you can’t be serious! We’re guests here!” Aunt Geneva protests, but I couldn’t bemoreserious. Her eyes flit to Caspian again. “Are you going to allow her to speak to us this way?”

Caspian settles deeper into his seat, his gaze staying trained on me. The smirk is still there, but it’s so slight I’m not even certain anyone notices it but me.

“I believe the lady of the house has spoken,” he answers. “Leave. Immediately. Archibald will fetch whatever belongings you came with.”

My aunt gasps in true dramatic fashion, and lingers in her seat a moment longer, as if to give either Caspian or I a chance to correct our decision. But when that doesn’t happen, Uncle Mitch helps her out of her seat. They’re halfway to the double doors when Aunt Geneva retraces her steps to collect their gift for me from the table, and Tabatha snickers at the sheer pettiness of it all.

My only regret, the only thing I’m sorry for, is that my cousins had to witness this.

Aunt Geneva’s angry steps echo down the corridor, and I already feel lighter having her and my uncle gone. Our guests whisper among themselves when I step out of the room, needing a chance to cool off, but a second set of footsteps follow me out.

“Are you alright?”

I nod, hugging myself as my back falls against the wall. “Yes, I just… She’s…”

Words fail me, and Caspian steps closer, his hands resting against my hips.

“I should’ve known better than to invite them. I owe you an apology.”

I don’t speak. I’m still unsettled because mywolfis so unsettled, but I’m not angry with him. The target of my frustration is definitely my aunt and uncle, but half a second later, I’m hardly thinking of them.

Caspian invades my space even more, until there isn’t a gap between us at all, and I’m surprised to feel the stiffness of his cock against me.

“Perhaps I was wrong,” he says. “Maybe submissive isn’t the look that best suits you after all, Alpha Regent.”

I’m taken aback that he’s foundanythingabout this situation… exciting.

“You’re hot as fucking sin when you rage. You know that?” His lips graze the rim of my ear, prompting a trail of heat to blaze its way up my spine. While turning him on certainly hadn’t been my goal, it’s telling.

He professes to desire a mate who falls in line and never goes against the grain, but I’m beginning to believe he’s more complex than that. Perhaps his true match is a mate who bites back when wounded, even if the hand she sometimes sinks her teeth into will be his own.

He may never admit such a thing out loud, but based on the hot steel pressed against my body… I’m thoroughly convinced of it.

16

Detour

Annalise

Tonight’s seemslike as good a night as any to startThe Complete Fairytale Collection of Joseph Terrell.So, despite the late hour, I’m on my way to the library to retrieve my favorite gift from Caspian. Let’s just say that my interaction with him during my birthday dinner several hours agostillhasn’t been forgotten. And now, I’m feeling a bit… restless. Too restless to lie in bed and have any chance of falling asleep without help.

As my steps echo in the corridor, I note that a book is a poor substitute for the comfort of a man, but it will certainly takemy mind off how my body seems hell bent on betraying me. It’s becoming apparent that whenever my mind isn’t focused, its new default setting is to think ofhim.

I turn the corner and a small gasp leaves me when I see dim light spilling out from Caspian’s office. I should’ve thought twice about coming this way, but I honestly assumed he’d long been asleep. Maybe he, too, is restless.

I take a step back, thinking I’ve been quiet enough to escape unnoticed, but when a voice calls out through the darkness, it’s clear I’ve been made.

“Don’t be afraid, birthday girl. I don’t bite.”

It takes a moment to recognize who’s speaking, then it comes to me.

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