Page 12 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

As he nears, I immediately shift into human form and bow my head. It's a natural reflex, one I'd learned to act on when I first received my wolf on my eighteenth birthday. Cyrus scolded me that night, on the mountains, about how disrespectful it was not to take on my human form in his presence.

It made no sense back then since no such ruling exists in pack law.

Frowning, I have no idea why I just did that. It's not like he'll kick me out—I'm leaving soon, anyway.

I lift my head and tilt my chin defiantly, facing the magnificent creature in front of me. He growls lowly, but it does nothing to faze me.

“What is it? You're gonna ask me to leave?”

Cyrus's radiant emerald eyes narrowed at me, the menacing eyes of his wolf fiery. I raise a brow expectantly, prompting him to shift into his human form.

Good Goddess!

How is he able to be so mystically attractive right now?

Shaking off those heinous thoughts, I stare up into his face, having to crane my neck.

“What are you doing out here?” he asks with a gravelly tone.

“Does it matter?” I quip with a snide smirk.

“What matters is that you're planning on attending the gathering next week, Cassie,” he bites back bitterly.

“So?” I shrug diffidently. “Am I not allowed to attend?”

Cyrus's brows furrow, his jaw clenching so sharply, it's like he's planning on cutting the palpable tension in the air. “Since when do you care about pack gatherings?”

I cross my arms, and my pulse ignited when I notice his ears turning a bright shade of red.

There's something about my willingness to attend that seems to be rubbing him the wrong way, and it gives me a taste of revenge I didn't think was possible before.

“I care now,” I retort with a self-satisfied smirk. “I mean… I am in Mysthaven. I might as well do as the pack does, don't you think?”

Cyrus grunts. “You made it abundantly clear that you couldn't care about this pack when you left,” he grates. “When will you be leaving again?”

Something in the way he glares at me, jaw pulsing with how tight he clenches it, has my desire for revenge fueled to the brim.

I want to see more of his suffering.

“I'm not leaving,” I declare boldly, squaring my shoulders and standing up to him. “I've decided to stay in Mysthaven and live in my parents’ cottage.”

“What?!” he exclaims, echoing my own sentiments as I realize the extent of what I've just said.

I hadn't given it any thought until right now, but somehow, it feels like I'm making the right choice.

If I stay, I'll be a nuisance to the Alpha, and he'll realize how wrong he was in the past.

How wrong he is now to think that he can be rid of me.

I won't make it easy for him.

“What do you mean you're staying? You can't—”

I take a bold step forward, glowering at the Alpha. “Of course I can.”

He mumbles a string of obscure profanities under his breath, but it only lifts my lips into a mischievous smirk.

“What are you gonna do, Alpha?” I sneer. “Kick me out? That won't be a good look for you.”

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