Page 41 of Alpha's Bullied Mate
“Don’t push me,” I warned. At least this would keep my worry at bay. Something to exercise the tension.
“We all heard you last night,” Sam said. Around us, the pack shifted. Someone cleared his throat. My ears burned, but they seemed more uncomfortable that Sam brought it up rather than me being the problem. “Moanin’ for Aidan like a wh—”
My hand snatched out, twisting his t-shirt, yanking him forward. “Outside. Now.”
A chorus ofooh’s went up, and the game was left unwatched as they followed us outside to the garden. I didn’t know how Aidan would take to me threatening a member of his pack like this, of openlyfightinghim, but he wasn’t there to say otherwise so I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Above us, the sky was just going dark as it nudged towards seven o'clock. I loosened up outside, bouncing on the balls of my feet, lifting my clenched fists to my face as Sam took up position. I knew he was harmless and being typicallymale,and he was right: they likely all had heard me. But I wasn’t just going to stand for him being so vocally derogatory.
“First to draw blood gets off dinner duty tomorrow,” Jason said, laughing. That was always the stakes. “First to keep the other on their ass for ten seconds wins the fight and control of the TV for the next twenty-four hours.” As he spoke, he frowned. “These are some fuckin’ stupid stakes. I’m throwing in a ten on Dakota.”
He dug a ten-dollar bill out of his wallet and tossed it on the porch. Soon, the rest of the pack did the same, making two piles. The one betting for me to win was considerably larger. It made me grin at Sam.
“You think you’re part of us just because you fucked the alpha?” Sam asked.
“Maybe you’re jealous,” I purred. “You looked at my legs long enough yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Maybe Iamjealous. Let me show you a better time.”
But I wasn’t put off anymore by his comments. I could see him smiling, not leering, and I only laughed, too. “I’d rather fight you, sorry.”
“I heard that’s what you told Aidan too.”
I landed one punch to his face, catching the side of his cheek, and he stumbled back. Clearly, he didn’t expect me to hit so hard. But he sprung back, light on his feet, fists raised. Before he could land a blow of his own, I heard voices from the living room.
I barely turned to look before Aidan’s voice rang out coldly. “Twenty bucks to the first one to walk away.”
I spun to face him. He stood in the doorway to the porch, his hair slicked back and wet. His black t-shirt was damp,sticking to his shirt. Rainwater trickled down his neck and bare arms, and I had to swallow.
“Aidan,” I said quietly.
“You’re fightin’ my pack now, Wolfie?”
“I was just—”
“She was putting me in my place,” Sam spoke up. “I was being an asshole. Dakota here was teaching me a lesson.”
Aidan’s eyes never left me. “I’m sure she was. Next time, Sam, shut your mouthbeforea girl half your size punches you.”
There were sniggers from the pack, who slowly took up their spots in front of the TV again. The game’s volume was higher, chips were passed around, and Sam slunk back inside, leaving Aidan and me outside.
“Gala’s tomorrow,” he sputtered, clipped. “I’ll get you equipped with clothes. Tell me what you like. I’ll have it sorted.” With that, he turned to walk away.
“That’s it?” I snapped. “You’ve ignored me all day—beengoneall day—only to come back, and this is all you say to me?”
Aidan looked over his shoulder at me. “What more is there to talk about? We fucked. That’s all it was.”
And I pretended like those words didn’t pierce me right through as he stalked off, back into the house, as the rain began to pour again. I had no right to feel heartbroken. Not by Aidan Tyrone. Not by this man who’d taken me from my pack and new home, only to bring me back to the place I’d tried to run from lest I face my past and the embarrassment it came with.
Fuck him. Fuck him and his stupid, guarded, scared heart. This wasn’t like that day in the woods where he’d been so restrained that I couldn’t talk. His anger I could handle. Hisresistance, I could endure. But this closed-off, emotionless man who spoke to me like I was nothing after touching me yesterday like I was everything? That was what I couldn’t do.
I bolted after Aidan, catching him in the hallway.
“Aidan,” I said, rushing in front of him. He could have physically moved me, but he just
stared down at me with disinterest.
“What?”
