Page 28 of Brutal Alpha Beast
He raises an eyebrow, and I laugh when I realize how that sounds.
“Gosh, I mean, not like that.”
His expression is laced with a subtle hint of amusement, and I feel my face growing hot.
Can I not do anything smoothly when I’m around him?
It’s as if I've forgotten how to control my emotions and how to express myself.
“I understand, although I wouldn’t be surprised if you meant that too.”
“Hmm,” I nod, as my body burns.
It’s like the more I try not to think about what happened that day, the more it comes up.
I try looking up at the moon, as though it’s going to somehow cool me down with its white glow. I can feel his gaze on me.
“You know there’s another reason this place is unique to me.”
I freeze. Oh my God, does he know? Is this whole thing a trap?
My mind begins to panic, and I plummet into a frenzy, thinking about how I can use my magic to escape.
Did the spell wear off? I wonder if my presence here has had an impact. I’m so stupid, so-
I take a breath.
Play it cool.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” I ask, casually.
“It’s weird, I’ve fallen asleep out here a few times. Every time, I have this strange dream. I hardly remember it when I wake up, but I can feel that it’s the same one. Always about this girl. I don’t see her face or how she looks. I’ve never met her, but in my dreams, I feel her. The connection is so strong.”
I swallow.
He has no idea, right? Why do I still feel so panicked then?
“Right,” I say. “Maybe she’s one of the she-wolves in your pack. Your mate or something?”
I notice my voice stammers as I say the last word. This is bad. I need to leave before he notices that something’s wrong.
“I don’t have a mate,” he says. “And she’s not because I’ve never met this woman in real life. I’m almost certain she doesn’t exist, but she feels strangely real.”
How do you know you’ve never met her?
Part of me wants to ask, but I quickly hold my tongue. It’s time to go, and in general, it’s time to keep a much further distance from him.
I feel like I’m either going to cry or have a panic attack. The idea that he remembers any part of our relationship, even in the form of a faceless, hazy dream, is too much.
“Interesting,” I say.
“Yeah.”
“Hey,” I murmur after a beat that feels like an eternity. “I think I’m going to head back, it’s getting a bit too late.”
“Okay,” he replies. “Good night.”
I look him in the eye one last time, keeping a cool, icy expression.
