Page 6 of Alpha Scorned

“You first,” instructed Shane, giving me a little push in my lower back.

I clutched my son close, and stepped through. There was no point in looking behind, Owen wouldn’t be there. I’d already said my farewells to Ember and Shannon, so there was nothing left for me here.

I strode through the Faerie power, gritting my teeth, and as my wolf was ripped from her self-imposed sanctuary and began to howl, I gripped onto her, keeping her tightly anchored to me. In my arms, my precious little boy giggled like he was on the best of rides at a fairground. It was a little disconcerting that he had no ill effects from the portal, but he was part demon, so who knew what magic would affect him and what wouldn’t.

I sensed Shane behind me, but didn’t worry about him, keeping the exit from the vortex in my direct vision as I moved towards it. I might be emotionally broken, but I wasn’t physically weak. I could fight, and I could care for what I loved, and right then, that was my son, and my wolf. My soulmate? Well, I had to let him go, and hope that maybe one day I’d get to explain and he would forgive me.

Our pack town came into view, huge trees looming over the brick and wood buildings. I stepped from the portal and stumbled, slapping my hand against the side of the pack house, shaking off the dizziness.

Devon giggled. “‘gain! ‘gain!”

Shutting my eyes and trying to regain my equilibrium, I took a deep breath and exhaled. The scent of the forest filled me. It did little to calm me. The only smell that ever had was Owen’s. Shaking myself, I stood tall. No. No more, I’d made my bed, now I must lay in it. I adjusted Devon’s weight to my other hip.

“Come on, baby, let’s go home. Tomorrow’s another day.”

The vortex pulsed as Shane stepped from it, taking a moment to settle his wolf. “Selina.” My name wasn’t a question, and with his Alpha compulsion, I couldn't walk away. Fixing a neutral expression on my face, I turned to face him.

“Yes?”

He tilted his head and pinned me with a steady gaze. Shane was good looking, powerful and charming. He could have whoever he wanted as a lover, except me. I’d used him to throw Owen off, and it had worked. Shane wasn’t stupid, he knew I’d needed to keep Owen at a distance. But he’d never pushed me to talk about why. He’d kept my confidence, and for that I was eternally grateful. Though the look on his face told me that benevolence was all used up.

“What was all that about? You are Owen’s soulmate, yet you have done everything you can to keep him at arm’s length. Now you have rejected him. I understand you needed time after the prison, but Owen is a powerful alpha, and a good man. He’d never let anything happen to you, nor would he judge you. What’s going on? What are you hiding, Selina?”

I couldn’t look at my Alpha. I’d lied to him for so long, and I couldn’t bring myself to own up to it. Not yet. “I’m just not ready for a mate. I don’t know if I ever will be.” I looked up into his gaze.

The burning intensity in his eyes softened.

“And you can’t talk about keeping your distance from people, Shane. You do it too.”

For a moment he was silent, then he smiled sadly. “Yeah, we’re a pair, aren’t we?”

My eyes stung. Shane had steadfastly supported me. Yet the gentle touch of soothing energy he sent my way did a little to ease my shame at how I’d lied to him, how I wasstilllying to him.

“Selina? What happened in that prison wasn’t your fault. None of it was.”

I closed my eyes. The sensible part of my brain knew that, but it didn’t change anything for me, just as I suspected those words changed nothing for him.

“What can I do to help you move on?”

“Nothing,” I managed to whisper, my voice thick. “I guess time is the only thing.”

There was a beat of silence. His footsteps crunched on the ground, fading when he halted just in front of me. His body heat seeped into my cold skin. But no matter his Alpha warmth, nothing seemed able to melt the iciness that had burrowed into my heart and my soul. There was only one male who could do that and he would never come that close ever again.

“Okay,” Shane said. His hand rubbed over Devon’s head. Devon’s large brown eyes fixed on him. “Listen, I don’t understand what’s going on with you, but you’re not just a member of this pack—you're my friend, my only one, really. I’m also still your Alpha. If you need to talk, or you ever need any help with Devon, or well, anything, you know you can trust me. And I won’t break your confidence, you have my word.”

His fingers brushed my cheek and I did my best not to cringe away from his gentle touch. Not because he disgusted me, but because I didn’t wantanymale’s touch—except Owen’s.

I wanted to trust him so much, but the thought of being thrown out made me hold my tongue. I couldn’t risk it. “Thank you. I...I just need time to figure out…” I swallowed. “Everything.” And that wasn’t a lie. I had rejected my mate and now I needed to figure out what the hell I was going to do with the rest of my life.

“Okay. Go and get some rest,” he said, his voice soft. “We’ll catch up soon.”

I swallowed my guilt and nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”

Chapter 3

Selina.

“Hey girl!I didn’t expect to see you for another week at least.” Becca’s long hair swung forward in a dark silky curtain as she peered at me. Her surprised smile turned into a frown. “Wow, you look like shit. What the hell happened?”

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