Page 64 of The Alpha's Broken Oath

Winter doesn’t give me a chance to explain.

She’s already moving faster than I can let words out.

She turns around and exits the living room with the boys following her.

I don’t get the luxury of following her because Crystal puts her sharp nails on my arm, clutching onto me like a pest, saying, “Let her go. Let her do what she likes best, which is running away whenever she feels like it.”

If I had the time and patience for Crystal Sanders, I’d knock some sense into her, but time is slipping from me, and so is everything I’ve built carefully for almost a week.

I can’t fucking lose them, not after I won them over. Not after I just earned their forgiveness and their affection.

Winter and the boys appear a few minutes later.

My mate has her hair tousled, her neck covered by a black turtleneck, and her phone in hand while wet tears clutch at the edges of her eyes.

My sons stick to Winter’s side like loyal soldiers, moving just as fast as their mother to escape me.

“Winter? Don’t do this, baby. Not after…after everything that happened last night. Let me explain.”

Me standing by the door makes Winter only angrier.

“There’s nothing to explain, Deacon,” a harsh laugh bubbles from her throat as green eyes veiled with more tears gaze at me and add, “We were here for your amusement until your mate showed up, weren’t we?”

“Winter—”

“Mommy, I want to go home.” This time it’s Adrian who breaks the spell.

I step forward. Trying to do what? Take her palm, put it on my chest and let her feel for herself that the beating organ inside of me belongs to her? That I mean what I said about loving her?

Adrian and Ash step backward as if they are irked by my presence.

Winter’s bottom lip quivers as she whispers harshly, “Get out of the way, Mr. Cross.”

I move away from the door, my molars grinding in my mouth, my displeasure about all this weaving around my neck like a talisman.

“This isn’t over, Winter. Not by a fucking longshot it isn’t. You took my mark. You are mine, now and forever, baby.”

I know she hears me, and I know she chooses to ignore my words.

The door slams in my face a minute later.

Then, they are gone.

“She was pregnant? That explains why she fled the pack. She claimed to be your mate, yet she was already pregnant with another man’s baby, wasn’t she!”

The sadness and emptiness of seeing Winter leave dissipate a little as I walk where Crystal is still running her mouth like she has an inkling of what’s fucking happening here.

Winter was her best friend, for Goddess' sake! She saw Winter after seven years, and she didn’t dignify her with a greeting.

“Get out.”

I have no time for her. If I leave now, I can catch up with Winter before she reaches her house.

Crystal doesn’t get the memo, though.

Her clingy hands are back on my arm, her nauseating perfume crowding my face at once.

“I should have told you I was coming, okay? And for that, I’m sorry, Deacon. I missed you. I couldn’t get a hold of you. Any woman in my position would—”

---