Page 22 of The Alpha's Bounty
Rhodes exhales as if he expected that answer.“I figured you’d say that.But you should know, Camden and Foster may not like it.They’ll say it sets a precedent, that the packs don’t cover debts that aren’t ours.”
“They can choke on their opinions,” I snap.“She’s my mate.She’s worth every damn cent.”
A pause, followed by a low sigh.“Your call, Alpha.But be ready in case you have to defend it.”
I hang up before I can say something I’ll regret, my pulse pounding in my ears.
When I turn to Mina, she’s watching me with wide eyes, her face pale, worry clouding her expression.
“What was that about?”she asks softly.
I drag a hand down my face.“The Alphas.They have news about your case.”
Her breath hitches.“And?”
“They’ll drop the charges.But only if you pay them back.With interest.”
Her shoulders slump, and the light in her eyes dims.“That’s impossible.I don’t have?—”
“I’ll pay it.”The words are out before she can finish.
Her eyes fly wide with panic.“No.Cyrus, you can’t.That’s too much.You don’t even know how much it is?—”
“I don’t care.”I grab her face in my hands, holding her gaze.“You’re worth it.Every cent.Every sacrifice.I’d burn through every resource I have if it meant keeping you safe.”
Her lips tremble.“I don’t want to be a burden.”
The word cracks something deep inside me.“You’re not a burden.You’re my mate.My everything.This isn’t charity, Mina.This is love.This is what it means.We fight for each other.We carry each other’s weight.Don’t you see?There is nothing,nothing, I wouldn’t do for you.”
Tears pool in her eyes, spilling over before she can stop them.I kiss them away, pulling her against me, holding her so tightly I hope she feels it in her bones.
But even as I murmur reassurances, I sense her lingering hesitation, the doubt etched into her from years of being told she wasn’t wanted, wasn’t worth the trouble.She doesn’t believe me yet, not fully.She hears the words, but she doesn’t know how to let them take root.
I’ll prove it to her.Again and again, as many times as it takes.
We stay like that for a long time, her pressed against me, my hand stroking slow circles on her back.Eventually, her breathing evens, and I know she’s dozing, but I can’t sleep.My mind is already turning over numbers, planning.
How much is tucked away in my bank account?
Will I need to petition to pull from the Alpha fund?
How much of my reserves can I funnel without weakening the pack?
It’s a lot, but I’ll manage.I always do.Mina won’t carry this alone.
When the sun is higher, duty pulls me again.Camden called a meeting in town, something about another sighting near the cult’s compound.I should resent it, but responsibility doesn’t wait, not even when I’ve finally found the one person who makes everything else seem small in comparison.
I dress quickly, tugging on my boots.
Mina sits on the edge of the bed, watching me with wide, uncertain eyes.“When will you be back?”
“A couple of hours,” I promise, even though I know meetings like this have a way of stretching longer than I’d like.
I cross the room, cup her face in my hands, and press my forehead to hers.“Stay here.Rest.You’re safe.”
She nods, but the uncertainty remains beneath the surface.I see it in the way her fingers twitch and her mouth presses into a thin line.She’s scared I’ll leave and not come back.Scared I’ll decide she’s too much trouble.Scared I’ll prove every cruel thing ever said about her true.
I kiss her before she can voice any of it, deep and sure, pouring every promise I can’t say into the press of my mouth against hers.She clings to me, her hands fisting in my shirt, and I don’t want to let go.
