Page 17 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
I don’t want to hurt her more than I already have.
The possibilities of his parentage haunt me, for so many reasons, and if Scarlett wasn’t in such obvious pain, I’d have to pursue it. I know it will have to be dealt with, but the implications weigh so heavily on my heart, I put it aside for now.
It could end up being a matter of pack security—imagine the political logistics of this if Jarrod’s some other alpha’s kid!
“Look, James—I mean, Rex—I mean—what do I call you?” Scarlett asks, her face and voice composed again.
“Rex is my name,” I answer.
“You’re right, okay? I don’t want to let the rest of the pack know who you are. It’s best if we leave for Rose Hollow first thing in the morning, and my uncle thinks everything has gone according to his plan.”
“Okay,” I reply. “If there’s anything going on here in regards to the treaty, I should really know about it—”
Scarlett raises a finger, a stern look in her eyes as she tilts her head towards the walls, then points to her ear.
She doesn’t want us to be overheard. Something bad is going on here!
“I would like to explain things to you,” I say. “I know you must have a lot of questions—”
“Maybe I do,” she sighs. “But I am in no way prepared to hear any of it, and we need to go back to your pack without any… complications.”
“I understand,” I answer, even though I don’t. “Let’s get some rest, and we can set off early in the morning. Do you want me to take the couch?”
Scarlett shakes her head a little. “We need to share the master bedroom,” she says. “The chances of one of the elder ladies coming in to check on us is low, but not zero. They might want confirmation that we consummated, so we have to be in the same bed.”
“Oh,” I mutter. “Wow. Okay. That might actually happen?”
“It might,” she says. “Why don’t you get comfortable. I’ll be out in a minute.”
When Scarlett goes to the bathroom, I find a comfy robe, change into it, then climb into bed. My thoughts are reeling as I lay back and try to relax.
Sleeping beside her after missing her for so many years might be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
When Scarlett returns, she’s wearing a thin shift that must have been under her wedding dress. She wraps a robe around herself and climbs into bed next to me, immediately rolling herself in blankets and turning her back.
I listen to her breathing, trying to determine if she’s asleep or not. Part of me wants to lean over and hug her, and the rest of me knows that would be the stupidest idea in the history of bad ideas.
Several times, I almost say her name, but my betrayal and my guilt close my throat, and I find I have absolutely nothing to say.
I don’t deserve her forgiveness, but now that I have another chance, I will prove to her how much I love her. And I will protect her and Jarrod with my life!
Chapter 5 - Scarlett
Wrapped in blankets with my back to Rex, I’m so wound up, I can barely breathe. My muscles are practically trembling with built-up anxiety, and my chest is starting to hurt.
I have to calm down. I don’t want him to know how upset I am.
That thought lingers, spinning around my tired mind and torturing my thoughts. Idowant him to know I’m upset—I want to scream at him until my lungs ache—but I can’t. Not here. Not in front of Jarrod, Eccles, or Rose Hollow.
If I am going to keep my son safe, then I need to keep my mouth shut. I can take this. I’ll bear anything for Jarrod.
I feel Rex move on the other side of the bed, and my muscles tense up again. The heat from his body seeps across the crisp sheets, and to my shame, my body begins to respond.
No.
Not this.
Even though I’m curled up with my back to him, as far away from him as I can possibly get, I’m still way too close. Heat builds between my thighs as fire races across my body, making my nipples hard.
