Page 2 of Bully Alpha's Secret Baby

And then there he is, stepping into the field in front of me like some kind of untouchable force of nature. The moonlight catches in his eyes, and they flash silver as they fix on me, making it impossible to look away.

“Hey.” His voice is low and almost… soft?

Wait, what?

I blink, trying to make sense of this. Damien Lucas does not do soft. This is the guy who once told me I should “stay out of sight” because I was wearing “too much yellow” to handle. But right now, he looks almost hesitant, like he’s not entirely sure how to approach me.

“Uh, hey,” I manage, though my voice comes out all weird and shaky.

He steps closer, and for the first time in… well, ever, I see something different in his eyes. Regret? No. That can’t be right. Not Damien.

But then he says something that makes my stomach drop. “Jade, I owe you an apology.”

I must have heard that wrong. “What?”

He runs a hand through his hair, looking… uncomfortable? “Back in high school. I treated you like crap. Worse than crap, actually. I was a total asshole to you.”

I just stare at him, waiting for the punchline, because this has to be some kind of joke, right? Damien Lucas doesn’t apologize. He doesn’t even acknowledge that what he did was wrong.

“And I’m sorry,” he adds. “I never should’ve done that. I know I hurt you.”

My brain short-circuits. Is this really happening? Is Damien Lucas standing in front of me, apologizing for years of torment?

I swallow hard, trying to find my voice. “Why are you saying this now?”

“Because I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. You didn’t deserve any of it, Jade. I’m sorry.”

There’s a sincerity in his voice that throws me completely off-guard. I expected him to be the same arrogant jerk he’s always been, but this? I don’t know what to do with this.

I search his face for any sign of the Damien I know, the one who made my life a living hell. But all I see is regret. Genuine, honest-to-God regret.

My heart does this stupid little flip in my chest, and I hate it. I hate that he can still get to me like this, even after everything. But there’s something about the way he’s looking at me right now, something that makes me want to believe him.

“I don’t know what to say,” I admit.

“You don’t have to say anything. I just… I needed to tell you. I’ve changed, Jade. I’m not the same guy I was back then.”

He inches closer still, and suddenly, he’s right in front of me. He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, and all the breath whooshes from my lungs. His touch is so gentle, so unlike the Damien I remember.

“I’m not the guy who hurt you anymore,” he murmurs. “I swear.”

I should pull away. I should. But instead, I lean into his touch. His hand slides down to cup my cheek, and I close my eyes, letting the warmth of his skin seep into mine. It’s been so long since anyone’s touched me like this, so long since I’ve felt anything but pain when it comes to Damien.

“I never stopped thinking about you,” he whispers. “You’re different, Jade. Special.”

My eyes flutter open, and for a moment, I forget about everything else. I forget about the years of hurt, the insults, thejokes. All I can focus on is the way his thumb brushes against my cheek, the way his voice wraps around me like a soft blanket.

“I don’t want to hurt you again. I want to make it right.”

And just like that, I’m lost. Whatever walls I’ve spent years building up come crashing down, and before I can stop myself, I close the distance between us.

Our lips meet in a soft, tentative kiss, and I swear the world tilts on its axis. He pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me as the kiss deepens, and suddenly I’m not thinking anymore. I’m feeling. Every touch, every breath, every beat of my heart is for him.

I know I should stop. I know this is dangerous. But right now, I don’t care. I’ve spent years dreaming about this moment, and now that it’s here, nothing else matters.

All I want is Damien.

And that’s why when he slides his hands down to squeeze my ass, I moan into his mouth and kiss him back harder. I can’t stop. Not when he’s holding me like this, not when he’s making me feel so damn good.

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