Page 79 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

“Copy that,” she mutters, touching her ribs. “I’m wrecked. They kicked me around a bit before you got here.”

“And my only regret right now is that I personally did not tear their throats out,” I snarl.

“Looks like your pack did a pretty good job there,” Clara remarks, looking over my shoulder at the blood-splattered ground.

“Yeah. It was hard to stay in place and draw their attention. I wanted to rush right in and crush their skulls with my bare hands!”

The rage that floods me then is so powerful, I need to turn away. Red waves pulse behind my eyes, and my fists clench so hard my knuckles crack.

“Galen?” Clara reaches out, stroking my cheek. “What’s wrong?”

“Clara, I…” My voice sticks in my throat, and I have to force the words out. “When I realized you were gone, I lost it. Winnie and Mother were there to take Nico, thankfully, because I was completely out of my head.”

Clara smiles, stroking my cheek again.

“As soon as I saw you, I knew Nico had to be safe. You wouldn’t have left him to come and find me if anything had happened to him.”

“That’s true,” I mutter, trying to keep my voice even. “But if something had happened to Nico as well—I don’t know what I would have done, Clara. I went crazy, blindly attacking my own pack. Mother and Winnie took Nico away, and some of the others had to wrestle me down so I could get control over my wolf again. I would have killed anyone to get to you, Clara.”

When I meet her eyes, she’s staring steadily at me with a small smile on her face. She blinks, and her eyes shimmer with more tears.

I’ve frightened her. Now I’m the big, bad wolf for real.

“Galen—”

“I lost myself to the wolf,” I answer. “To rage and pain. I know I’m not good enough for you—”

“Galen!” she says sharply. “Will you listen to me?”

I stop talking abruptly, feeling like I’ve been digging a big hole, and now I’m in it all the way up to the neck.

I’ve fucked this up, for sure. She will never forgive me.

“Galen, I love you,” she says, wrapping her hands around my neck. “This isn’t the adrenaline talking, or relief at being rescued. I really mean it. I love you, and you can always be honest with me. I love you exactly as you are.”

“Clara,” I murmur, cupping her jaw and feeling painfully overwhelmed. “Exactly as I am? Steel-cold exterior and a goddamn fucking emotional wreck underneath?”

“You aren’t a wreck, my love,” she says. “That’s just the negative self-talk your father put in your head. Any sign of softness, and he berated you, made you hide it. But now you know, love is the strongest force of all.”

I lower my head, struggling with my emotions. I know she’s right, and the words ring through me with the power of truth.

“I love you, Galen. I really, really do, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

I look up at her and I see her beautiful, soft brown eyes, looking at me without fear, with complete faith and trust. The bittersweetness of the moment makes emotion well up in me again, until it feels like my chest is going to burst.

“I love you, too, Clara,” I whisper. “I am yours, now and forever.”

I kiss her gently, careful not to hurt her cut lip and bruised cheek. When I put my arms around her to help her up, she winces, grabbing her side.

“Fucking mongrels!” I swear. “I wish I could kill them twice!”

“I don’t disagree,” Clara says, struggling to breathe. “But for now, can you help me up? I want to get home and see Nico.”

I reach down and wrap my arms around her, lifting her easily and snuggling her against my chest. I make sure I’m holding her knees and shoulders firmly, then set off for home.

“I’m not holding you too tight?” I ask.

“No, my love,” she answers. “It doesn’t hurt.”

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