Page 57 of Brutal Alpha Beast
“So,” I say, “You, Danielle, have independently decided to implant yourself in my mind, or make me forget about you, or have me bewitched for a reason that was totally yours. This is personal, then, not political, right?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
Danielle is trembling a little now. A glossy layer covers her eyes, and it tugs at my heartstrings. I want to feel nothing for this witch—to have as little compassion as she accuses me of.
But the way she weakens me is undeniable.
I was vulnerable to her in that library in a way that I’ve never been with anyone before. Learning that this whole betrayal is personal hurts.
Technically, it would be worse if it were political, but on an emotional level, this reality cuts deep.
I harden, frowning, before my face turns to stone.
“And there’s nothing else you want to tell me?” I ask her, offering one last chance to come clean. I question her like I’m questioning misbehaving pack mates, cold and detached, filled only with the rationality that comes with leading.
“No,” she whispers, looking away, crossing her arms, and tensing her face as though tears are about to fall. “Not yet.”
I nod, slowly and calmly, although I’m raging wildly on the inside.
It’s like I’ve been slashed across the chest. I’m hurt. But I won’t give her the satisfaction of knowing what she’s done.
I scowl, jaw clenched, every muscle in my body begging to move—to shout, to break something, to shift and run.
“People who lie and abuse the trust of others make me feel sick. I should have known.”
I turn my back and walk away, angry, confused, hurt, and pissed off. My wolf is begging me to shift; I feel him rising to the surface beneath my skin.
I pause.
“You know I’m not gonna play along with your games, Danielle, right? I’ll find out soon enough.”
She doesn’t respond. I don’t need her to; she’s already said enough.
As I walk away, down my cabin stairs, and out the door, my disgust at her actions once again transforms into a dull, throbbing pain that settles deep in my chest.
No matter what it takes, Iwillfigure out what she’s done.
Chapter 15 - Danielle
I twist my hand, focusing on producing a magical glow. In front of me is one of the decaying bushes, its leaves looking back at me, all dry, sad, and decrepit.
But I’m finding it hard to heal today. My magic seems blocked. Every time I try to do something that I’m supposed to be doing, like healing the wildlife, researching, cleansing the surrounding air, something stops me.
In my mind, I see Ellis’ disapproving face. I hear him saying that he should have never trusted a witch. I see his point. He’d given me time, so why couldn’t I justtell him?
When we were arguing, I was on the verge of saying it, but something stopped me.
I grit my teeth, close my eyes, and press harder.
Come on.
Little spurts of magic are coming out in drops, like a malfunctioning water hose. I open my eyes to look at the bush, which, yep, is still as decaying as it was, and sigh, leaning back on the grass.
I feel so much guilt for the way I handled things, for that wounded and then cold look in Ellis’s eyes.
But then again, he was being impatient.
And just because he’s forgotten, doesn’t mean that he’s not the same Ellis who rejected me and broke my heart.
