Page 3 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate
The trees thinned out, and they emerged into a clearing with a waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear pool. The early sun caught the mist rising from the churning water, creating rainbows that swirled in the air.
“Wow,” Luna inhaled sharply. “It’s beautiful.”
It made her temporarily forget her pain, but she was also painfully aware of his hand around hers and the way he guided her over fallen logs and into deep underbrush.
Dominic let go of her hand. “I come here when I need to think.” He walked over to the pool’s edge. “Or when I have to get away.”
His admission caught Luna off guard. “I didn’t think the future alpha would have something to get away from.”
His lips formed a wry smile. “Everyone needs a place to just be.”
He patted the area next to him after taking a seat on a big, flat stone close to the water’s edge. Luna leaned down beside him until their shoulders almost touched.
She apologized for her breakdown earlier, feeling ashamed. “I wouldn’t usually break down like that. It’s just—I’ve been trying to be strong all day, and it just came crashing down on me.”
“You don’t have to be strong all the time. Not with me, at least.”
Luna gave him a serious look as she attempted to make sense of this kind, compassionate man, as opposed to the usual brooding man she knew. “You’re a walking contradiction.”
“How so?” He sounded almost amused.
“Why are you being nice to me? Why did you bring me here? Why are you acting as though you care?
Dominic faced her. “Luna, because I do care.”
Luna’s heart raced, her mind unable to grasp his words.
“This is harder than I anticipated,” he added. “Luna, I like you. That’s the reason I constantly watch you and make an effort to catch you alone.”
Oh, moon.
“When the pack harms you, it hurts me, because I really like you.”
“That’s not possible,” she whispered, ignoring the flutter in her stomach. “I’m the mistake everyone wants in the shadows. You’re the future alpha.”
Dominic’s hand cupped her cheek, sending shivers down her spine. “You’re not a mistake. Not to me.”
Then he started leaning forward, his intentions evident in the heated look in his eyes. Luna’s breath caught in her throat as his lips touched hers, gently at first, as if requesting permission.
He kissed her more deeply when she didn’t pull away. Luna’s hands hovered awkwardly before falling on his shoulders, as if she were scared he would disappear if she touched him, then closed her eyes and gave in to the pleasure.
Dominic groaned into her mouth, the sound sending a flood of desire through her body. He pulled her into his lap, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in.
Luna placed her hands on his chest, feeling his muscles flex.
When at last they parted, Dominic pressed his forehead to hers. “I wanted to touch you for years, but I wasn’t going to,” he growled.
Luna blinked at him, her heart thumping loudly. “What changed?”
His eyes darkened. “It felt like cowardice to wait. Especially now, after your mother’s death.”
Luna pulled back slightly, doubt clouding her thoughts. “Is this pity because of my mom? If it is—"
“No.” The word was clear-cut and concise.
He gave her another kiss, this time out of necessity, as though he had to convince her that his desire was not motivated by sympathy. When she didn’t stop him, his hands trembled a little as they probed her spine. His fingers crept under the hem of her shirt as if he were testing the waters.
Luna was shocked that she was allowing this to happen. However, there was something about his touch that made her lean in rather than pull away—it wasn’t demanding or greedy, simply desperate.
