Page 92 of The Alpha

He gazed up at her. “That I am yours, and you are mine.”

Her eyes widened. “But… we’re not a thing. I don’t even know you!” To her surprise—and everyone else’s judging by the gasps and shocked looks on their faces—his eyes became so tender, his countenance so gentle, it almost did her in. “You are free to reject me, Kahtala Miah. But know that if you do, I will be no more.”

Markhel sucked in a breath. “Brother, no…”

Melvale ignored him, his eyes trained on her. “What will you do?”

Pari’s jaw went slack as she stared at him. What was he saying? How could she reject him when they weren’t dating?There was the whole waking up next to him on a giant couch, but that wasn’t by choice. Someone put them side by side.

Her eyes narrowed as she realized something. “Wait a minute, what do you mean, you’ll be no more?”

“Muirarans must mate or die,” Maida stated. She went to Markhel and wrapped her arms around him. “You should take the time to have some questions answered, or you’re going to drive yourself plumb loco.”

Pari rubbed one temple with the heal of her hand. “This is so freaking me out. It’s too much…”

“Now, now, dear,” Polly soothed. “Maybe you ought to have a cup of tea and a nice lie down.”

“She needs a good talking to,” Irene snapped. “Can’t you see the man is offering himself to you? He’s putting himself at your mercy. Even I can see that.”

Pari stared at her. “I… I don’t know what to do.” In fact, this was turning into something more than confusion. Her chest was tightening up, and it was becoming hard to breathe. “Air, I need air.” A hand to her chest, she skirted around Melvale and hurried through the dining room to the hotel doors. She had to get out of there!

Pari ran outside, not sure if anyone followed or not. She ran to a street lined with old west buildings and ran down the center of it. She slowed when she reached an honest to goodness mercantile and stopped. She had no idea where she was other than what Melvale told her. “How can this be a library?”

Before she could take off again, an old man came out of the mercantile and smiled at her. “Howdy.”

She looked at him. He had light brown hair mixed with grey and some white. He was whittling a piece of wood and plopped down on the top porch step. “You new in town?”

She laughed. “You could say that. Can you tell me how to get out of here?”

“Out? Most folks would love to get in. Name’s Wilfred. What’s yours?”

Pari glanced down the street, and when she saw that no one followed, decided she’d talk to the old man. Maybe he could show her the way out. “Pari Lindir.”

“Pari, now that’s an unusual name.” He looked her over. “How come your hair’s pink? Darndest thing I ever saw. Does it grow naturally like that?”

She ran a hand through her hair. “No. It’s… complicated.”

He smiled. “Never heard of such a thing.” He patted the space next to him. “Come sit a spell and tell me what’s wrong.”

“What?”

“I saw ya hightailing it down the street like the devil was chasing ya. Then ya stopped here. I thought maybe I should make sure you were all right. Are ya?”

She laughed. “I don’t know anymore.” Pari eyed the spot next to him. What could it hurt? “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Are you human?”

He gave her a hint of a smile. “Last time I checked.”

She sighed in relief. “Okay.” Pari went up the porch steps and sat beside him.

Wilfred put his knife in the other hand and offered his free hand to her. Without thinking, Pari shook it. “Nice to meet ya,” he said.

“Likewise.” She let go his hand and blew out a breath. “Hey, I think I’m over my panic attack.” She smiled. “Cool.”

“Panic attack?” he scoffed. “I never heard of panic attacking nobody.”

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