Page 31 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate
Arrogant wolf.
“True,” she replied, lifting her chin.
“But, I did save our lives earlier with my magic.” She let the word hang between them like an offering.
“No,” he countered without pause. “You saved your son’s life.”
She closed her eyes briefly, collecting herself.
“But I saved yours, too,” she pressed. “You were inside the barrier.”
“And I saved yours,” he shot back. “Dragging you back here was the difference between survival and getting both of you killed. Running would’ve ended badly—there could be more demons out there.”
This was going nowhere. He was chipping away at her patience, but she refused to fold.
Not yet.
She inhaled, the trace of an idea flickering to life in her mind.
“You should have a rest.”
He turned to her with a slight smirk. “So you can try escaping again?”
“I could do that anyway. But I won’t.”
“We could take turns watching out for the demons, to make sure none gets through the magical barrier.”
Marcus seemed to consider this, his gaze flicking between her and the patio, but his response said otherwise.
“I will manage.”
“You’ve been managing yourself into the ground, from the looks of it.” Athena shifted slightly, testing the restraints. As expected, they held firm.
“I won’t try anything,” she said to assure him.
It was true. She wouldn’t try anything. Yet.
Eventually, Marcus stood. He walked to the balcony like he was observing something. He didn’t look at her, but his voice cut across the stillness.
“l will switch back in thirty minutes,” he said before striding toward her.
Athena lit up inside.
Finally, he’s going to uncuff me.
But just as her heart lifted, he bent toward the bedside drawer and pulled out a set of long chains.
Her eyes widened.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Athena swallowed hard. “Why are you giving me shifts if I’m still going to be cuffed?”
“Because whether I trust you or not,” he replied, fastening the chains to her cuffs, “you’re the only one who can reinforce that barrier if I drop.”
Her brows lifted in hope, “So… you do trust me?”
“No,” he said without pause, finally meeting her eyes. “I trust that you care about your boy.”
