Page 16 of Forced By the Alpha

I’m sorry,I replied sarcastically.If you don’t like my responses, feel free to give your inputbeforeI say them out loud next time.

Sienna propped herself up on her elbow next to me and cleared her throat uncomfortably as she cast her eyes down toward the bed between us. I mirrored her position, scrutinizing her expression. There was something she wanted to say, but she looked like she was afraid to say it.

“Is something the matter?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she said quietly. “I just wanted to say… thank you. For listening to me. It’s been a while since I felt like I had someone to talk to, and it really helped me feel safe.”

Unbidden, my hand reached up to cup her cheek. Her emerald eyes darted up at mine, and I felt my breathing hitch at the vulnerability in her expression.

“I always want you to feel safe,” I murmured.

I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. I wasn’t even sure if I meant it. There was something about this woman, but she was still my enemy and a tool for removing the curse. I was entering into dangerous waters here, and I hoped I had the power to remain afloat. My pack was depending on me.

Her eyes darted to my mouth as she bit her bottom lip. I swallowed when I saw the movement, realizing she wouldn’t beopposed to me kissing her right now. Something had changed between us, and I was ready to find out what that was.

My lips parted as I took a steadying breath, and I saw her do the same. I moved my hand from her cheek to the nape of her neck and leaned forward in anticipation of the moment. Her eyes closed, and I felt her breath on my lips.

A sudden, loud rapping on the front door interrupted us when our lips were only millimeters apart. The noise started Sienna, who pulled back, looking sheepish.

“I’m just going to go to the kitchen and grab something to drink,” Sienna said, rolling away from me and off the bed.

“Franco!” Dylan’s shout came from outside as the knocking started again.

“Dammit,” I swore under my breath.

I sighed, unsure whether I was upset by the interruption or thankful that I hadn’t let my guard down any further with my mate. The blood was slowly returning to my brain, but there was no hiding the fact that I had been excited by what had just occurred. Waking up with her in my arms had been bad enough, but the thought of kissing her had sent me over the edge.

“What do you want?” I asked, opening the front door and stepping outside to greet my second-in-command.

“Sven said there was another disturbance to the west,” Dylan said. “You told me to come find you if the Crescent Shield wolves made any more trouble. I don’t think they’re heading this way, but I wanted to give you a heads-up.”

“Alright, I’ll go check it out,” I grumbled.

“Is everything okay, boss? Oh…”

Dylan’s voice trailed off awkwardly as he noticed my aroused state. I saw his cheeks redden as he raised one eyebrow at me. A strange mix of judgment and embarrassment crossed his face as he cleared his throat.

“Something you want to say?” I challenged.

“Not really,” he began. “But as your beta, I feel it’s my duty to warn you.”

“Warn me about what?”

“We all know that the witch is powerful, so be vigilant not to fall for her spell. She’s the key to ending the curse,” Dylan said.

“And you think she’s trying to distract me from that,” I stated.

“Isn’t she?” Dylan eyed my deflating hard-on suggestively as proof of his statement.

It was hard for me to argue with him, given my current state, but I wasn’t sure I agreed. From what I could tell of Sienna, she had been nothing but sincere. She seemed to have no knowledge of her father’s actions, and didn’t seem to be aware of what he was truly capable of. There was no doubt in my mind that she would like nothing more than to go back home, but she hadn’t done anything to harm the pack—or me—so far.

The way we talked this afternoon hadn’t been an act. She had been too worn down by her spell work to have any energy left over for lies and tricks. Sienna may be many things—a witch and the daughter of a deceiver, for starters—but she was also honest.

“I’ll keep your warning in mind,” I told Dylan.

He nodded, turning back toward his post as I considered what I should do next.

“What did Dylan say?” Sienna had come outside without me noticing, startling me with her sudden appearance.

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