Page 45 of Forced By the Alpha

“Thank you,” she said, accepting the bag from me.

“Franco,” her father mumbled. “I’ll be…”

“Don’t worry, Tom,” Killian said. “Franco isn’t here to cause any trouble. Do you mind if we come in?”

Sienna and Tom stood aside and allowed us to enter the house. The initial shock of seeing my mate was beginning to wear off, and I was once again nervous about my surroundings. Sienna offered me a tentative smile, which settled my nerves somewhat. The only thing I truly had to fear was losing her, I reminded myself. It was in my best interest to remain calm and not be on the defensive. I could never risk hurting her again.

“What are you doing here?” Sienna asked me, not unkindly.

“Apologizing,” I said. “I was wrong to stop you from using your magic. You were right—I had no business telling you what to do. You are free to make your own choices, and I’m sorry for taking that choice from you. Can you forgive me?”

“I forgive you. But you have to promise that you won’t try to control me again,” she said.

“I swear.”

“Great! Now that’s settled,” Killian said.

“I’m surprised to see you two together,” Sienna said, looking between me and my brother. “I thought you hated each other.”

“All in the past,” Killian said with a wave of his hand. “Franco and I have talked everything out, and we understand each other now. We decided we aren’t willing to let the past come between us anymore. We’re on the same side of this—making the world safer for the people we love.”

I shot a look at my brother, reminding him not to throw the “L” word around too lightly. He looked back at me sheepishly, but before anyone could comment on it, a knock on the door startled the four of us.

“Anyone expectingmorecompany?” Tom asked grumpily.

“No,” we replied in unison.

He opened the door once again, and in strode Lex. The Sparkle Hollow alpha looked stern and disapproving as he ventured into the sitting room where we were standing.

“Alpha Killian,” Lex began, “my guards alerted me that two men matching your description were seen coming into Sparkle Hollow and stopped here to visit Tom Mowry. Of course, I knew at once that your brother was with you. Last we spoke, you two weren’t on good terms. Is all well?”

“Apologies, Alpha Lex,” Killian replied deferentially. “We were coming to see you next, but I see now that we should have reversed our itinerary.”

“As I’m sure you know, Franco isn’t welcome here,” Lex stated.

“If you’ll allow us to explain, I think we can change your mind on that front,” my brother replied.

“Do you? Well then, what explanation do you have for your presence here?” Lex asked me.

“I mean you and your pack no harm,” I said. “I am merely here to make sure Sienna returned home safely, and to extend my apologies for my behavior to her. I have behaved in a way that makes me feel ashamed, and I’d like the chance to make up for everything I’ve done.”

“And why should I believe that?”

“Because of her,” Killian said, nodding toward Sienna.

Lex turned toward her, and I saw his expression turn from confusion to shock before settling on understanding.

“You are mates,” he stated.

“What?!” Tom exclaimed.

He grabbed Sienna’s arm and pulled her to face him so that he could look at the mark on her neck. The movement was sudden, and I had to take a deep breath and remind myself that she wasn’t in danger from him.

“Chill, Dad,” Sienna said. “The time for fatherly concern is long past.”

Tom dropped his hand from her arm, looking bewildered. However he had expected today to go, it wasn’t going according to plan.

“Your link to Sienna is acknowledged, but until you have proven your worth, I can’t allow you to stay within Sparkle Hollow,” Lex explained to me. “We have a small house on theoutskirts of town. Actually… ‘house’ is generous. But if you wish to stay here, that is where you’ll need to go.”

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