Page 22 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

“Yesterday afternoon, when you were hurt, did somebody from your pack do that to you?”

“It’s not important.”

“It is important,” I say angrily. “I’m going to give you my number. Next time someone hurts you, you’re calling me. I’ll make sure they never lay their hands on you again.”

Alice runs the tip of her tongue over her lips, which seems to be an anxious gesture for her and one I found very arousing. “Why do you care so much? You don’t even know me.”

I give her a half smile. “Maybe I like you.”

Instead of blushing as I thought she would, her eyes darken. “If you knew what I know, you wouldn’t like me.”

I let out an annoyed sound. “Just tell me. What is so bad about you that you think you won’t find a fated mate or that I couldn’t possibly like you?”

She opens her mouth and then immediately presses her lips together, silently shaking her head. “I think I’m a little selfish because I don’t want to tell you. I don’t want you to look at me the way everybody else does.”

The sadness in her eyes does not escape me. “Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”

She looks toward the water. “You work for the royal family, right? Look me up. You know my full name. All wolf shifters have records. Go find mine. I won’t blame you if you don’t want to see me again after that.”

I push a strand of her red hair away from her face. “You think too much. No matter what it is, I am not going to treat you like everybody else does. I promise not to find you any less annoying than I do now.”

She laughs lightly and just a little sadly. The childlike edge to her voice breaks my heart. “You say that now.” When her gaze meets mine, I feel my chest tighten. “You say nice things, and I like to hear them. But the truth is going to change everything. It’s best if you stop trying to be friends with me, Darian. I don’t plan to be here for much longer. I don’t like the way our kind looks at me.”

I wish I knew what to say to make her feel better, but my words are stuck in my throat.

How bad can her secret be?

Chapter 5

Alice

I’m not fond of tomato and cheese sandwiches.

But I’m eating this one because Darian left it on my doorstep last night. I could have thrown it away. I could have given it to Mary; she loves this combination. Instead, I’m munching on it. I’ve clearly gone and lost my mind.

It’s worrisome that he knows my exact address. That means he did look me up.

Yet, he keeps coming.

My heart has been feeling funny ever since he dropped off that big bag of expensive steaks the day after my birthday. Last night it was these sandwiches from one of the most high-end bakeries in LA. Why hasn’t he backed off? Why isn’t he disgusted by me, like everyone else?

We haven’t actually seen each other since he found me at the lake on my birthday. Still, my eyes burn with emotion because hope is something new to me; I’m frightened of it, but I can feel it. I don’t want to smile when I think about Darian, but he makes it impossible not to.

I wasn’t expecting any of this. The more I try to push him away, the more he insists on getting closer to me. I feel a little foolish about how I was judging Mary for being so idealistic and romantic when my own heart keeps fluttering when I think of that cocky, handsome wolf shifter.

I’ve had my moments of doubt when I wonder if he’s just leading me on. If he is, he’s doing a very convincing job of it.

The door to the break room opens, and Sam walks in.

I look up at him. “Can I ask you something? And give me an honest answer.”

He opens the door of the fridge to take out his lunch. “Sure. Shoot.”

“Do you think I’m attractive?”

He turns his head to look at me critically. “Ugly. Not my type. And if this is your way of hitting on me, I’d appreciate a heads-up so I can be well prepared to let you down gently. You have no one to blame but yourself. You chose to play with fire.”

I bite into my sandwich, saying dryly, “Thanks. You’re so good for my ego.”

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