Page 43 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
My parents didn’t want me to hear the stories, but I know they were interested in them, always asking the elders about where the stories came from, how they were handed down over the ages, and why.
When I reach the back door, the garden looks still and peaceful. A slender crescent moon lends a little light to the beautiful bushes and trees that line the outer edge of the yard. Not even the slightest hint of a breeze troubles the leaves.
I crack the door a little, taking a deep breath and only smelling the fragrant plants and rich soil. If there were another living being within a mile, I’d smell them for sure, but the only scents I can catch are from the small creatures that live in the garden and surrounding area.
I desperately want to shift and run, but I can’t go far. I have to stay near Jarrod.
Still, the night calls to me, and I slip out through the glass doors onto the stone terrace. Even though I’m sure I’m alone, it feels like hidden eyes are glaring at me from every single shadow.
Taking a deep breath and gathering my nerve, I walk out into the yard and stride out across the lawn, enjoying the springy grass under my bare feet. The connection to the earth makes me feel calmer right away, and I figure a few turns around the garden should be enough to tease out my anxiety so I can go back to sleep.
Back to sleep beside Rex. The man who betrayed me and my entire pack. The man with enough secrets to fill a dragon’s treasure trove.
The man I can’t stop fucking wanting.
A soft moan eases through my lips as I let myself admit it for the first time.
All I want to do is throw myself into his arms.
That night so long ago was fueled by months of anticipation and frustration, day after day of flirting, talking, touching, never knowing if it was going to happen or not. He was my greatest obsession, my constant thought.
When he took me into his arms and kissed me, I knew I was home. I knew it was forever.
But then, I woke up alone.
Wiping my cheek, I’m surprised to find myself crying again.
I can keep telling myself that it’s the lies and the secrecy holding me back, but it’s a lie… probably the worst lie I’ve ever told myself! All my pain comes from that old wound.
At this point, I don’t think he’s even said sorry.
Covering my face, I let the tears flow, but I won’t let myself fall apart again. I want my tears to be soft and quiet, not full of fury and grief.
How can I continue to hold this against him when I’m not revealing the biggest secret of all?
Even though my tears keep coming, my thoughts begin to clear.
I have to tell him, and Jarrod. They’ve both waited long enough.
A wave of anxiety rises inside me as traumatic scenes flash through my head, and I try to imagine what both of them will say to me. I can almost smell Rex and feel the heat of his body as he prepares to confront me and ask all the questions I don’t want to answer.
With a shock, I realize the sensations are not imaginary. I spin around, my eyes searching the shadows.
“Scarlett,” Rex says as he walks slowly towards me.
I don’t know if it’s the lack of light or the blank look in his eyes—but everything about him seems menacing. That’s when I realize, with complete shock, I don’t know this man at all, and I never did.
Chapter 14 - Rex
The tension refuses to drain out of my body, and my mind is alight with burning suspicion. Anxiety gnaws at my stomach, a growing feeling of doom as I think about Eccles and the threat they pose to Rose Hollow.
If I knew Scarlett was true to me, then I could handle anything. With all these secrets between us, I feel lost in a storm, all my senses confused, and I don’t know where to turn.
I manage to settle my breathing and relax a little, but I know sleep won’t come easy tonight, and it’s not just because of stress and worry.
She’s so beautiful when she’s angry. My God, her green eyes glow with the intensity of a hailstorm in early summer when she lets her temper fly.
Even though I only spent one night with her, the impression she left on me hasn’t faded over the years. I can still feel her skin sliding under my fingers like satin, taste her on my tongue, and feel her warm body wrapped around mine.
