Page 78 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

“Are you alright?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No. I mean, yes. I mean—”

“It’s okay,” Galen says, hugging me to his chest again. “We’ll get the doc to check you out as soon as I get you back into town.”

I nod helplessly, clinging to him. Galen wraps his arms around me even more tightly, and I know now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is the safest place on earth.

Chapter 24 - Galen

Holding Clara in my arms, rocking her against my chest, I’m almost shattered by the emotions surging through me. Relief, rage, resolution, and regret—I feel all of them in equal measure.

I’m trying my best to comfort her, but I know I’m holding her too tightly. I’m so wound up that snarls keep slipping out between my teeth. When one of my betas kneels beside me, I almost bite his face off.

“Easy, Alpha,” he says gently. “It’s just me.”

“Rick,” I say. “What is it?”

“The area is clear, sir. It was only these two. No evidence of other wolves.”

“Good,” I growl. “Get moving then, and make sure there is a doctor ready when we get back to town.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Rick moves away from me, calling out to the rest of the pack. Clara trembles in my arms, and I feel regret thudding through my chest.

After all she’s been through today, the last thing she needs is more violence. What the hell am I doing?

“Galen,” she murmurs, reaching up to stroke my face.

I pull back a little and hold her up so I can look into her eyes. “Yes, my love? I’m so sorry, I’m holding you too tight, aren’t I?”

“A bit,” she admits. “But it’s okay. I don’t mind all that much.”

Tears well behind my eyes as I gather her against my chest again and squeeze, rocking back and forth. I know for sure now, I’m comforting myself more than I am her.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “Not just for smothering you right now, but because this happened. I let this happen.”

“Galen, no—”

“Yes! I let those drifters stay. I’m too lenient. I should have been more like my father and chased them off right away.”

“Galen, my love, if you were more like your father, you wouldn’t love me.”

I pull back again, looking down at her. Through the bruises and smears of dirt, her face is more beautiful than ever, and her liquid gold eyes shine with some deep inner magic.

A heritage of the supernatural might have been denied to her, but Clara has a magic all her own. She’s different. Not a wolf, a witch, or a human, really.

Finally, her words sink in, and I blink hard, shaking my head.

Did she just say ‘my love’?

Don’t question it… Maybe I imagined it.

“I’m so sorry,” I say again, for like the fifth time. “I’ll back off a bit.”

With great difficulty, I loosen my grip and ease Clara onto the ground. I support her back with one hand as she sits up.

“There you go. Don’t try to stand up yet,” I warn.

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