Page 9 of My Ruthless Alpha

It felt like a miracle that she found me in the first place, and the thought of her continuing after getting some sleep made my chest ache. But at the same time, I knew I couldn’t force her to do anything.

Still, I had every intention of making sure she was safe beyond having somewhere to recuperate.

But for her, I had to make a compromise.

“Okay. Just long enough for you to get back on your feet,” I agreed, glancing between her and the child. I gestured for her to follow. “C’mon…this way.”

Reluctantly, with a tired air about her, Faye followed behind me.

I glanced back at her occasionally, making sure nothing happened and that she was still following.

Despite looking completely exhausted, she did well enough. She followed me back toward the house, wordlessly taking in her new surroundings.

I had the feeling that it would be a lot for her to digest, knowing how different my life was from the last time she saw me.

We were younger, and at that point, I didn’t have my status, my pack, or my business. I had been just another beta. Just another pack member. But after I left Faye, everything changed for me so quickly, even if I wished I could’ve had her by my side to experience it all with me.

Regardless of how hard I tried, Faye was the one person I couldn’t shake from my past. She was everything I wanted, and for that reason, it broke my heart to know I couldn’t continue to risk ruining her life, and I couldn’t drag her through that confusing time with me.

It wouldn’t have been fair.

But even if I comforted myself with the idea that I had done her a favor by breaking things off between us, I knew it could never justify how greatly it hurt her.

While the night carried on around us, we kept walking. While we didn’t speak, it still felt like I was giving her a tour anyway. I took it all in with her, and even if I had seen the place a thousand times myself, I still felt just as proud of it.

The tiny mining town, once mostly abandoned after the deposits were used up, was given a second chance when I swooped in and picked up the properties for next to nothing. My financial advisor tried to tell me it was an awful investment and that I would never make any kind of return on it, but that didn’t matter to me.

I just needed a small, remote place for my pack to exist as they pleased, and in doing so, we made it look like a whole new place.

We did everything ourselves, from reworking the existing structures to building new houses and apartments and even starting new businesses. Even then, we were still expanding.

Regardless of whether it was technically a financial loss for me, I didn’t care.

I did what needed to be done and would never regret housing and looking after my pack.

As we moved through the quiet neighborhood and approached my place, I watched as a flicker of awe moved through her eyes. Whether it was from her being genuinely impressed by the place or because she would finally be safe and have a place to rest, it didn’t matter. Seeing that look in her eyes instilled a sense of accomplishment anyway.

After a moment of walking in silence, I glanced over at Faye and the girl in her arms, asking gently, “What’s her name?”

At the question, a faint yet tired smile appeared on her face. “Margo.”

Margo. I let the name move around in my mind for a moment before I nodded and continued to lead her closer to the house.

“You and Margo won’t have a thing to worry about.”

Chapter 5 - Faye

As much as I wanted to continue resisting Beau and his help, I knew it was pointless and would only hurt Margo and me more.

Plus, I really was too tired to fight. Even if I didn’t want to give in to him or place too much trust in the wrong place, I didn’t really have much choice.

We needed help, and even my pride couldn’t change that.

I wasn’t about to spit in the face of someone willing to help us, regardless of my feelings.

So, I let Beau take us further into his territory while I gently rubbed soothing circles against Margo’s back.

Regardless of how long I had been face to face with Beau, my mind still couldn’t wrap around the fact that I’d run into him, of all people.

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