Page 76 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

The truth in his voice, the raw honesty in his eyes when he told me everything… it rattled something deep inside me. He went through hell. Fighting for his throne. Betrayed by his own blood. Exiled. And on top of all that, he carried the weight of trying to protect me, too.

And yet, as much as the truth shakes me… that’s not what keeps my pulse hammering. That’s not what makes my stomach twist and my breath hitch.

It’s the way I felt when he got close. The heat of him. The scent of him. The pull of him.

I hate it. Hate that no matter how hard I try, no matter how many walls I put up, my body betrays me the second he’s near. It’s like my soul recognizes something I refuse to admit.

I still have such strong feelings for him.

I grit my teeth, my fingers tightening around the pen in frustration. That’s why I left last night. It was too much—too intense.

I barely managed to sit through the car ride home with Jimmy, my mind so tangled up in Alex that I could barely form a sentence. Jimmy didn’t push. He didn’t pry. He just gave me this quiet, understanding look—one I was deeply, deeply grateful for.

Before I got out of the car, he mentioned he’d come by my office today. Said we needed to talk. And now, for the past hour, I’ve been wondering what he wants to say.

A knock on the door snaps me back to the present.

I sit up straighter, adjusting the cuff of my blouse, smoothing a hand down my lap as if that’ll somehow fix the mess in my head.

“Come in,” I say, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

The door swings open, and Jimmy steps in, dressed sharp, as always. That same easy confidence in the way he carries himself. But there’s something different in his expression today—less playful, more thoughtful.

I swallow, forcing a small smile. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He shuts the door behind him, then leans against it for a second, watching me. “How are you feeling?”

A wry laugh slips from me before I can stop it. “Like my brain is running a marathon I didn’t sign up for.”

He smirks, pushing off the door and making his way toward my desk. “Yeah. I figured.”

There’s a beat of silence. Then, he exhales and slides his hands into his pockets. “Listen… about last night.”

My throat tightens. “Yeah?”

His gaze flickers over me, as if he’s assessing something, before he nods to the chair across from me. “Mind if I sit?”

I shake my head.

He lowers himself into the seat, elbows resting on his thighs, hands clasped loosely together.

“I just wanna say—I get it.”

My stomach clenches. “Get what?”

He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. His usual smirk is gone, replaced by something softer, something real.

“Look,” he starts, his voice steady but gentler than I’ve ever heard it. “I think we both know what’s going on here.”

I move in my seat, swallowing hard. “What do you mean?”

His lips twitch like he’s holding back a chuckle. “Katherine.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You don’t have to pretend with me. I see it. I saw it last night.” His eyes meet mine, unwavering. “You still have feelings for him.”

The words land like a direct hit to my chest.

I open my mouth to argue, to deny it, to say something—but nothing comes out. Because what the hell am I supposed to say?

He’s right.

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