Page 146 of The Alpha

She shook her head. “No one can help me but me.” She hung her head, ashamed he knew what her emotions were. “I just want to go upstairs.”

“I know, sweet one,” he said so gently she almost believed he cared for her. But why would he? It made no sense.

She blinked back tears and forced herself to look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry.”

His head tilted ever so slightly. “For what?”

She shrugged. “I’m not… I can’t be…”

He drew closer. “But you are.”

And then,he kissed her.

Time stopped.

It was nothing,really, a gentle brush of his lips against hers, but she swore the world stopped turning on its axis. And something not only wrapped itself around her entire being but entered her as well. Was it his heart?

Pari stared at him dumbfounded when he pulled away. She was speechless, and her mind registered nothing but him. He looked so innocent in that moment, yet so incredibly fierce. But not like a warrior. No, this was something different. This was an attack on her disbelief. A blow to her insecurities. And she didn’t know what to do.

He lowered his hand from her cheek, pulled her into his arms, and held her.

Her chest heaved, and a sob escaped. Oh, good grief, here comes the waterworks!

Melvale didn’t say a word. He just held her and ran a warm hand up and down her back as that one little kiss crushed the wall she’d erected around her heart.

How did he do that?!

Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him. What could it hurt? Being in his arms felt so good, and his broad chest was more than a comfort. It was safety and peace and…

Her breath caught, and Pari squeezed her eyes shut against the flow of tears. How could this man be home? How?! He wasn’t even human!

Pari sensed someone enter the kitchen. Melvale looked their way, then whomever it was, scurried off.

He continued to hold her, and she him, and Pari didn’t know what to do or think at this point. She didn’t want to go back into the other room. She was too spent.

“Come, precious one,” he whispered.

Pari pulled an arm in, wiped at her eyes with her hand, but didn’t look at him. She must look a mess.

“I’ll take you upstairs…”

That got her attention, and she gazed up at him. “Okay.”

He gave her a tender smile, scooped her into his arms, and headed for the other room.

“I can walk you know,” she pointed out.

“I know.” He kept going, entering the dining room and in a commanding voice said something in his native tongue to the others. The man with the short cropped brown hair hurried into the kitchen and emerged with the two bags and drinks. He followed them out of the apartment along with Kwaku, Zara, Dallan and Shona. The girl Kitty hesitated, then also followed.

“What are you doing?” Pari asked Melvale as he started up the stairs.

“Taking you home.”

“What?”

He smiled, and she noticed his foot falls made no sound. “To your apartment, kitten, where you can rest.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and peeked over his shoulder at the entourage behind them. “But we won’t be alone.”

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