Page 50 of Cruel Alpha: Season One

Elizabeth peers up, dabbing crumbs from the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “You can always talk to us.”

Her kind words settle my nerves. “I know. It’s just that… I’m not proud of the turn things took on my birthday. Everyone went out of their way to make the evening special and… I worry I may have ruined it.”

I’ve barely gotten the words out of my mouth when Elizabeth’s hand comes down on mine. “Don’t even speak of it, Annalise. You had every right to defend yourself. We all know Mother tends to get out of line on occasion.”

“Yes, but… I should’ve exercised self-control. I don’t wish to take back what was said, but I can’t help but to wish I’d had better timing. For instance, I hate that I put you two in the middle of it. I can’t imagine there’s a pleasant conversation waiting for you when you see Aunt Geneva again.”

Winifred tears the corner of her sandwich with her teeth, chewing while she speaks. “We know how to handle Mother, Annalise. Seriously, don’t give it another thought.”

I smile, feeling that my heart’s lightened just a little.

“You’re too gracious,” I tell them both, sipping wine that’s, hands down, the smoothest I’ve ever tasted.

A moment of weakness draws my eyes right back to Cas, and to my surprise, he’s paying very little attention to whatever his guest is carrying on about. Because his focus is locked on me. Heat creeps up my neck to my cheeks as a breeze causes the weeping willows to sway where they bow to the stream that cuts through the back of the property.

Pull it together, Annalise. Best not to let him know he’s practically all you think about these days. Leave at leastsomemystery.

The sound of Elizabeth’s voice is the perfect excuse to break eye contact with Cas, so I tune out myownthoughts in favor of listening to hers.

“You know, I’m glad we were brought in to serve you,” she says, popping a grape into her mouth. “Being so close, it gives us the opportunity to be watchful, protect you.”

Her peculiar wording has my head tilting as I question what she means.

“I think it’s all rather sweet and romantic, if you ask me,” Winifred chimes in, fluffing her dress around herself with a soft huff as she kneels on the checkered blanket beneath us. “It’s like she’s been taken by a prince. No… aking,” she says, correcting the phrase with a gleeful smile.

Elizabeth’s expressionless, though, seemingly lost in thought as she leans back, resting on the heels of her palms.

“Perhaps,” she says. “I only mean that, in a house filled with so many potential enemies, it’s important to have allies.”

“What’s he like? I mean what’s hereallylike? Youmustsee a side of him no one else does,” Winifred says, her voice light and airy. I also don’t miss that Elizabeth’s incredibly interested in hearing what my response will be.

“Well, he’s… different than what I expected. Different than how he presented himself when I first arrived,” I add. “Despite my first impression, I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s not all bad.”

A memory of his mouth between my legs flashes in my head, and I clear my throat, straightening my necklace as a distraction.

“But, Annalise… is it not entirely possible the sudden display of niceties is just to butter you up?”

Elizabeth’s sharp tone and pointed question draws my eyes back to her. She seems to notice I’m taken aback, so when she speaks again, her toneandher expression soften.

“It’s just that, in the coming weeks, there will be a handful of women brought here, all vying for the alpha’s attention. I only wonder… do you imagine you’ll still be just as smitten then?”

Her words bite into my skin and there’s no pretending I’m not offended.

“I’m not smitten,” I hiss, lying through my teeth. “I’m making the best of my circumstances. I’m stuck here. This is my life now, and I’ve simply decided I’ll make lemonade out of lemons.”

It’s only moderately warm out today, but I’m suddenlyfilledwith heat, sweating across my brow as anger sets in. I hadn’t thought so before, but maybe sheispissed about my encounter with her mother. That would account for the unbridled bitchiness.

“Dear gods, you’ve upset her, Elizabeth,” Winifred says, scolding her sister with a look. Only now does Elizabeth seem to notice I’m angry.

“No, Annalise, I… I didn’t mean to anger you. I?—”

“It’s fine,” I cut in as Elizabeth lowers her head, embarrassment tinting her cheeks with redness.

“No, it isn’t,” Winifred snaps. “She overstepped, seeming to have forgotten what an honor it is that you and the alpha have invited us into your home. If she has any sense at all, she’ll apologize and remember her manners. Preferably before I return from the ladies’ room.”

With that, Winifred stands, fluffing her dress as she stomps across the yard, heading toward a set of French doors off from the patio.

Now, it’s just Elizabeth and me.

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