Page 71 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

The words shock through my haze of lust, and my body freezes as shock runs through me. It only lasts for a second, as my desire for Galen is so strong, the needs of my body far outweigh any emotional entanglements.

It’s the moment. It’s just the heat of the moment, and nothing more.

Galen gets a tighter grip on my shoulders and starts to thrust. First, he uses slow strokes, piercing me until I can feel it all the way from my slick outer lips to the throbbing of my cervix deep inside.

The slow strokes bring me up to another orgasm, and I thrash against him, digging my nails into his back as my body writhes against his, pinned against the mattress. Then Galen lets out a low groan that sounds like a guttural roar and starts pounding me as hard as he can.

The waves of pleasure are coming so fast I can’t process them. All I can do is ride it, my inner core exploding with orgasm after orgasm. I feel Galen’s cock get thicker and harder inside me as he moans into my ear, every breath becoming more ragged and desperate as he approaches his climax.

“I love you!” he gasps into my ear, and it sounds like a prayer more than a confession. I wrap my arms around him, cradling his head with my hand as I press my cheek to his. When his cock gets even thicker and harder, jerking and throbbing inside me, I feel my inner muscles clenching and spasming as his climax sparks another orgasm from me.

Chest heaving, gasping for breath, we stay locked together for what feels like an eternity, feeling the magic of our bodies meshed together. When Galen rolls off me and hugs me to his chest, I start to feel reality returning, and I wonder what I’ve done.

This was the most intense and emotional sex we’ve ever had—but how do I know it was real? He betrayed me once before, and he could do it again. I’ve heard him say ‘I love you’ before, and it didn’t save me then, so why should it reassure me now?

“Clara,” Galen says softly. He pulls back a little, cupping my cheek and looking into my face. His eyes are huge, glowing with the intensity of an evergreen forest.

“I love you,” he says. “I mean this with my entire heart and soul. I love you, and I want to hold you forever.”

Tears fill my eyes, but I snuggle against Galen’s chest before they can start to streak down my cheeks. I cling to him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist so I don’t have to look at his face while I process these emotions.

This is not like before… he means it, really, actually means it, this time.

But does that mean my heart will be safe?

Chapter 22 - Galen

Days go by, and even though Clara doesn’t return my declaration, she is obviously more comfortable with me, and it’s more than I could have ever hoped for.

I don’t want her to say it unless she truly feels it, and it’s an honest expression of how she feels now, not tangled up in the loss and longing from our past.

We settle into a comfortable routine of eating breakfast together in the morning, taking Nico to school, going our separate ways during the day, before picking up Nico and spending time with him exercising his powers before we go home to make dinner. It’s so comfortable and blissful, I could almost believe that it’s real.

But it’s not. Not until she can look at me with love, and no fear in her heart.

I try to get Clara involved in some pack business, mostly just so I can spend more time with her, but she isn’t comfortable with the older, more judgmental members, and I don’t blame her at all.

Especially since I want her around to distract me from their mundane bullshit. How did my father even deal with this on a daily basis?

I hate it, but the answer is obvious. Father created drama, sending out patrols, strengthening our border, and attempting to take territory outside our own. The pack was so caught up with the action, they didn’t have time to bicker, and even though it’s tempting to do the same, I’d rather focus on building community.

And Clara is the key. If she can bring the pack together in balance, all our rifts will be healed.

She attended a few meetings, and even though there is no outright hostility, which I wouldn’t tolerate—she still finds it difficult, and I love her too much to insist she do something she isn’t comfortable with. While I continue to navigate the ongoing issues, Clara hangs out with Winnie and takes up some of her old hobbies, like sewing and cooking.

Every day, she looks happier and more relaxed, and my hope soars, even as I tell myself not to assume anything.

Early one Saturday morning, I get up with Nico and head straight out for a run. We shift and race through the forest, bounding and playing together until he’s panting with exertion. I’ve found that tiring out his wolf is essential to him being able to focus on his magic and stay calm during school.

“Jeez, Dad,” Nico gasps as we shift back to our human shapes in the back garden. “That was a hell of a run for first thing in the morning!”

“I didn’t hear you complaining,” I answer, tapping him on the shoulder with a mock punch. “Not until it was time to turn around and come home, anyway.”

“My paws get sore,” he answers. “I love the running, but then my paws start to hurt, and I can’t draw a breath.”

“That will get better the more you shift,” I reply. “Your paws need to get harder and develop calluses, and your lungs will get stronger, too. We have to introduce some hunting soon, and when you’re on the chase for prey, your body will harden up more naturally. You won’t notice the pain when you’re hunting. All you’ll think about is the kill.”

“That scares me, Dad,” Nico admits. “After that day in the valley—”

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