Page 9 of The Alpha's Bargain
Luca didn’t budge, yet strong waves came off him, permeating the air and suffocating the oxygen from the room. “All due respect, she’s my mate. She’s coming to me of her own free will, and I do not appreciate you thinkinganythingbut.”
My father didn’t succumb to the pulses in the air. “I get that; understand it. What I’m saying is: why not wait until you’re sure? I don’t want mydaughterhurt.”
A low growl came from Luca. “I’d never hurt Caleigh.” I felt it and squeezed tighter, hoping to calm the beast inside that was threatening to escape. How I felt this, I didn’t know, but it was there, powerful andfierce.
Luca’s nose came to my hair, and he inhaled. I felt his body lose a bit of the starch, but not much. When his breathing returned to calm, I knew he was better. This wouldn’t work out if he lost his cool with myfamily.
“Dad, we’re leaving,” I announced, breaking up the tête-à-tête between the two most powerful alphas I knew. No way I’d want there to be a fight between them. “I appreciate your concern, but this is going to begreat.”
“Do you have more bags?” Lucaasked.
“Yes, inmyroom.”
“I’ll get them,” Ren said, sulking up the stairs and coming back down momentslater.
I gave hugs to my family as Luca led me out of the house and tohiscar.
“What about my car?” I asked, looking upathim.
“Give me the keys, and one of the pack members will get ittomorrow.”
I nodded as Ren went to the back of the truck and tossed my bags inside. Luca had a huge, black four-by-four that lifted off the ground pretty high. I’d have to hoist my ass up there togetin.
Ren stepped up to me, and I heard a growl from Luca. He was taking this mate thing very seriously, giving all the actions a real mate would give hisfemale.
Ren wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. “Cal, you come home at any time. Our door is always open. Do not think for one second you have to stay with Luca and his pack. Your home is here—don’t everforgetthat.”
My heartconstricted.
“She will be with me,” Luca ordered as Ren snapped his neck up at the tone. “Caleigh is mine.” The fierceness in the words made me tremble, and Renfeltit.
“You sure this is of your own free will?” he questioned, and then Luca was right there, pulling me out ofRen’sarms.
“Brother or not, this will not end well if you keep it up,” Lucawarned.
Luca and Ren went into a stare down, and I had tojumpin.
“Ren. I promise you, this is of my own free will. I wouldn’t do something I didn’t want to. Youknowthat.”
Ren leaned down and placed a kiss on my cheek, which made Luca growlagain.
“Come, let’s get you home.” Luca led me to the truck and helped me inside, then slammed the door. He rounded the front, jumped in, and thenbackedout.
I gave Ren a soft wave as we left the only home I’d ever known and I entered into my new life. No matter how temporaryitwas.
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ChapterFive
Luca drovestraight to his home, holding my hand the entire time. It felt comforting to know he was thinking about me and wanted me to feel safe. I’d always felt safe around him, even when I was younger. Now this was a whole different level that I was trying to piecetogether.
“I feel your nerves coming off you. There’s no need for it. My pack willacceptyou.”
“Do they know about our deal?” I didn’t know how I’d feel about the answer either way, but I felt the needtoask.
“No, beautiful. Not even Sage. But she’s smart. I have no doubt she’ll put the pieces together. I’ll speakwithher.”
I rested my head on the back of the seat. “I don’t understand why you want to do this. Why tie yourself to me for sixmonths?”
