Page 27 of Cruel Alpha: Season Two

“I wonder which will become his favorite.”

And at their words, I’ve reached my breaking point.

“Excuse me for a moment. I need to powder my nose,” I whisper to my maidens, but the looks of concern on their faces tells me they’re not quite believing this lie. Still, I fake a smile, and back away slowly, turning when I need to pick up the pace.

I’m certain at least half my guards are trailing me, and when my fast walk becomes a slow, and then steady, run, I’m causing quite the scene.

But it can’t be helped.

My options are either to flee and make the guests suspect I’m a madwoman. Or lose my shit right here in front of everyone and prove their suspicion right.

It feels like it takes me forever to reach the exit to the ballroom, and I burst through the doors and into the mostly empty foyer. The few guests still lingering there cast their gazes toward me, and I can only imagine what they see.

My red, watery eyes. My frantic breathing as I grip both sides of my dress to keep from tripping over the hem as I race to some unknown destination. All I know is I can’t be here. I can’t stand here and watch the man that I… the man that I…

Hell, I don’t knowwhatI feel at this point. I just need to be alone.

I find solace behind the closed door of the pink drawing room, where I effectively lock my guards out, so I can think and catch my breath. My forehead falls against the door. A swell of emotions has the tears that pooled in my eyes spilling over now. I care very little for how I’m likely ruining my makeup, because a face covered in mascara-streaked tears is the least of my worries.

The alpha…myalpha… is in that room, standing before the gods and everyone else… quite literally breaking my heart.

Get yourself together, Annalise. You knew this day was coming. You knew you wouldn’t be the only one. What he claims to feel for you isn’t real and it never has been. Damn you for believing it was.

My thoughts are sobering, and my breath settles a little as I realize this is allmyfault. I knew better than to fall for him.

The sound of footsteps on the other side of the door has me reaching inside my dress for my handkerchief, only to promptly remember having given it to Tabitha. The steps draw closer, and I know there’s no hiding that I’m upset, but it wouldn’t be the first time my maidens have seen me cry.

A soft knock hits the door, and I dab my eyes with the backs of my hands before I grab the knob, preparing to let Guinevere and Tabitha in to join me in misery. But then I hear it. A voice on the other side of the threshold. A voice too deep to belong to one of the girls.

“Is she in here?” Cas asks, and my heart drops as the guards confirm. When I stormed off, he’d just been in the middle of selecting his other mates, but now… he’s here.

I try to imagine what everyone must be thinking. The entire clan is watching, either in person or over the broadcast, so Lady Radcliffe and the media are likely scrambling for a quick cover. I hate that my next thought is of how angry he must be with me for causing such a scene. I’ve been reminded more times than I can count that tonight isn’t about me, but about the alpha and his new mates. However, I’m sure my exit shifted everyone’s focus.

Shit.

There’s another knock, and my heart hammers twice as hard at the sound of it.

“Annalise, open the door,” he says with an added, “Please,” that leaves me confused.

He doesn’tsoundangry, but that doesn’t make sense. If he hasn’t chased me down to scold me for embarrassing him and interrupting the evening… what other reason could there be?

15

To Be Free

Annalise

My heart poundsagainst my ribs, matching the sound as Cas’s fist pounds the door for a second time. Keeping him locked out is futile. There isn’t a door inside this place he can’t access. Which is why I twist the lock the next second, then step back.

Air rushes into my lungs as he pushes into the room, a wild, confused look set in his eyes as he gives me a onceover. I’m not sure what to do. My anger toward him is still very much present, but it isn’t quite as sharp as it’d been before, as it’s suddenly dulled by sadness.

Sadness brought on by the reality of what my life has become. Knowing there are somanylimitations and sofewoptions.

He steps closer, and I’m still trying to get a read on him, unsure how angry he is that I stormed out and likely caused a scene. I can only imagine what our guests must think. Especially having seen Cas chase after me.

“Are you all right?” he asks. “Are you ill? Did someone upset you?”

The list of questions being rapidly fired in my direction only adds to my confusion. Mostly because it’s now clear that anger isn’t the reason Cas has chased after me. It’s because he’s concerned. However, instead of seeing the gesture as an act of kindness, I’m actually infuriated that he’s so aloof, so out of touch with the turmoil taking place inside my head, inside myheart.

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