Page 17 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

“It’s fine,” I say, holding up my hand. “Don’t worry about it.”

I cross the room quickly and sit down, keeping my eyes away from Galen. It’s ridiculous, but the sight of him slaving over a hot stove wearing a frilly pink apron has done unholy things to me.

Just imagine if he was naked under it. His shoulders would be bulging over the little lace ties, and the front would barely cover his thighs. All I’d have to do is lift it an inch—

“Coffee?” Galen asks, suddenly right beside me. I almost jumped right out of my seat.

And into his lap.

“You still like it sweet and milky, don’t you?” he asks as he puts the cup down in front of me.

“Yes,” I reply, picking up the cup and taking a quick sip so he doesn’t notice me drooling.

“Good morning,” Nico greets us hesitantly from the doorway. “What’s going on?”

“I’m making breakfast, kiddo!” Galen answers. “You want a big plate of bacon and eggs?”

“I sure do, Dad!”

A slight shock runs through me as I realize I’ll have to get used to those words.

“Here you go,” Galen says, putting the plate of food down in front of Nico. “After this, I’ll get you to pack some stuff, and we’ll get going.”

“To where?” Nico asks, shoveling bacon and scrambled eggs into his mouth.

“My place, of course! We’re going back to Quartz Key.”

“We are?” Nico asks, shocked.

“Didn’t your mom tell you?” Galen cocks his head at me.

I close my eyes. “I didn’t want to… not until I was sure we were actually going.”

“But we are,” Galen says, his voice rising slightly in question.

“We are,” I agree, taking another sip of coffee.

Galen brings over a plate for me, and the boys talk excitedly while they eat. I just sit quietly, listening to the conversation going on around me.

It’s starting to hit me, really hit me, that I’m going back to Quartz Key. I thought I’d never see that place again. I never even entertained the idea of going back.

There wasn’t anything left there for me. Not without Galen.

I can still hear the ugly words being thrown at me, the frenzied whispers whenever I walked by, and the deafening silence whenever it was time to be chosen for a team. I felt alone every day of my life, even when I was surrounded by people.

After my father died, I was raised in a foster home by a woman the town knew as Aunt Helen. She took on any orphans or abandoned children in the area. Life with her wasn’t pleasant. There was no abuse, but we lived right on the poverty line, and it was hard.

Even harder for me, with no shifter gene.

The other kids adopted by Aunt Helen ran away as soon as they got their shifting powers. I was stuck there until I was eighteen.

When Galen dumped me.

Too young to be an adult, but old enough to fake it and make my own way. I had no other choice.

Nico’s laughter drags me out of my dark memories. I can’t help smiling as I watch my son interact with Galen.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so happy.

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