Page 24 of Alpha Scorned

“Hey?” Owen’s breath fanned my hair, sending fine strands floating around us. Only then did I realise my touch had halted. Warm fingers tilted my chin up and I expelled the breath I’d been holding. I dropped my gaze. I had so many issues. Owen didn’t deserve someone as messed up as me.

“Where did you go just then?”

I shook my head a little. “Nowhere.” But I had. Tears blurred my vision. My past still had such a hold on me that the thought of any intimate physical contact scared the shit out of me. I kept my attention on the beautiful tattoo, a soft sigh escaping my lips. This strong and powerful male would discover my issues very soon. And then he’d walk. He needed sex like he needed to breathe. A ball of emotion lodged behind my ribs. What if I couldn’t give him what he needed? I knew tears lined my eyes as I peeked at his face. “It doesn’t matter.”

His eyes softened, though a muscle in his jaw ticked. “It matters.Youmatter, Lina. More thananyoneelse. Do you understand me? But it’s okay, we can talk about it when you’re ready.”

I nodded, something inside of me unlocking at the tenderness and understanding in his voice. Owen had claimed me.Publiclyclaimed me, in front of the pack and his brothers. The knowledge that he still wanted me that much, gave me the confidence to at least try for the physical connection I craved with him. I pushed away the fact that his claim was based on lies, my lies. Instead, I chose to believe that he could be mine and I could be his, even if it was only for a short while.

His thumb brushed over my bottom lip, his eyes dark with need. “Are you sure this, us I mean, is what you want?”

I swallowed hard. I’d lost my innocence to the demons. I’d never had a proper lover and had no clue what I should do to give Owen pleasure. But I wasn’t completely ignorant and despite my misgivings, he really was all I wanted. So I nodded and moved my head enough that I could close my lips around his thumb. His harsh intake of breath sent a shudder of want through me, the scent of my desire mixing with his. It was intoxicating.

My body trembled as I released his thumb and continued to trace the blue ocean waves that twisted and curled down his bicep to his forearm where faerie runes were intertwined.

The hard ridge of flesh straining against my right hip told me how much my touch affected him, how much he wanted me. But he didn’t grab me, or force me to touch him. He merely gripped onto the chair arms, allowing me to explore his body at my leisure. That put me in control, and for that I was grateful. “What does this mean?” I asked, my voice more breathless than I’d ever heard it as I lightly brushed the fae runes with my fingers. My gaze flicked to his, but the lust burning in his eyes was too much so I dropped my attention back down to where my fingers touched his hot skin.

“Brotherhood. They are the names of my brothers. In Faerie they believe names hold power. We all have them on our body somewhere. B’nar and Walker think it makes us stronger as an alpha pack.”

I nodded, but my gut twisted. “Even if they are prepared to kill you?”

I heard his swallow and he pulled his arm away from my fingertips. I immediately regretted my bitter words.

“The shifter laws apply to us as well as the rest of the shifter world. A rogue wolf is a dangerous thing.”

My face burned, my insides twisting even more. “I-I didn’t know that would happen when I rejected you. I’m so sorry.” I couldn’t look at him so I stared at my hands, twisting them together in my lap. I hated knowing that I’d hurt him so badly that his wolf had become almost unmanageable. It was me who'd put him, and his brothers, in such a dangerous position. Jealousy burned through my blood at the thought of how many women he’d shared his stunning body with because I’d driven him into their arms.

There was a beat of silence and power leaked into the air. “Is that why you didn’t shut me down tonight when I claimed you? Because you feel guilty?”

“No, no of course not!”

But Owen pushed my legs off his lap and stood up. He made sure I was steady before he let go completely and walked across the room to put some distance between us. The scent of his desire faded, and I shivered, already lamenting the loss of his nearness. I wrapped my arms around my chest to try and keep warm. I’d lost him physically, but the cold look on his face as he studied me, ripped at my soul.

“Why did you reject me when you and Shane haven’t been lovers for months?” He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it. “You weren’t even his Beta, never mind his lover when you rejected me. Why did you lie?”

I swallowed hard, my heart slamming against my chest wall, nausea churning in my belly. Had I really thought he wouldn’t find out? I didn’t know what to say.The truth,said a little voice in my head. “I, just, I...”

“Tell me!” he roared, making me jump. “Godsdamnit!” He rubbed a hand over his face and exhaled heavily. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to scare you, but I just… I need to know.”

“Because I was confused,” I blurted out. “I’m not…” I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t tell him about my wolf and see the disappointment and shame in his face as he rejected me, just as I had him.

“Dammit, Lina, not what? Not in love with me? That’s something we both need to let happen while we get to know one another. Don’t tell me you’re not drawn to me, because that’s a damn lie. The way your body responds to mine when I touch you says otherwise. So what is it?”

My lip stung where I’d bitten it. I had to give him an explanation or I’d lose him. “I’m broken,” I whispered, unable to look at him, as I wrapped my arms around my middle, hugging my scars. Shame hit me and I knew he could scent it.

In seconds, he strode across the room and pulled me into his arms, holding me close. “Oh, Lina. My Kerores, what happened in that prison, your rejection, Shane, none of that changes the way I feel. You are still mine, and I want you so much it hurts. But if we are to get past this, I have to know that you want me just as much, and that I can trust you not to run from me.”

I let my arms unfold and tentatively wrapped them around his waist, laying my cheek on his warm skin. Some of my anxiety settled with the steady beating of his heart against my cheek. For a moment we just stood there, holding each other. The light dusting of hair across the center of his chest tickled my face as I inhaled his clean male scent, indecision eating at my conscience. I wanted to tell him the truth so badly, but feeling his arms around me, his skin under my fingers, I didn’t want to risk losing him—not yet.Just a little more time, then I’ll tell him,I assured myself.

He pulled back and tipped my chin up with a finger. His wolf shone in his eyes, but my own merely hid deeper inside me. Tears burned my eyes at her fear, but I wouldn’t let them fall. Somehow, I’d find a way to reconnect with her.

Owen’s body tensed and he searched my eyes, looking for answers that I couldn’t give him.

“Be very sure about your answer to my question, Lina, because I won’t ask again. Do you rescind your rejection?” His voice was no more than a low whisper.

My heart pounded, but my answer was the truth. I nodded, my fingers curling into the small of his back, holding him closer. “I do, so much.”

His whole body relaxed on a sigh. “Thank the gods.” His nostrils flared, though. “Tell me about Lucas.”

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