Page 52 of Love Bites

Damn it. Why did he have to be there? She was handling this on her own. Now whatever she did, it would be tainted because he was there. She might be grateful that he would always be there, but some things she needed to do on her own. When would he understand that?

Gwen’s eyes filled with tears, and she sucked in a breath. “My Alpha, you can’t do that. I’ve been the head maternal since your father was alive.”

Brie reached back and gripped Gideon’s hand, knowing he’d need the support even if he didn’t.

“Yes, you have been. My mistake was letting you stay because I thought you were on the side of change. Go to the kitchens, Gwen. You’re demoted until I can find a better use for you. Olivia will take your place. She cares for the children’s welfare more than her standing in the Pack.”

Sobbing, Gwen shot Brie a deadly look then stomped off.

Brie refused to look back at her mate, angry beyond all reason.

“You didn’t call me,” Gideon snapped, angry as well.

“I didn’t need you to handle it for me,” she said right back, her tone biting. “You just undermined everything I was working for by coming in and taking over.”

Gideon stalked around her then gripped her chin. “I am Alpha. That’s what I do.”

She pulled away, cold at the loss. “Then what am I?” she asked, her voice hollow.

Aware they were starting to gain an audience, she turned around and headed toward the door. “I’ll come back tomorrow and begin again. This is not over, Gideon.”

“Little wolf.”

She ignored him, instead walking back toward her home, her chin held high. She felt the stares of others around her and even the brush of a wolf against her as the lieutenants circled her as protection. She would never be without guards, she knew that, yet right then, she’d never felt so alone.

Gideon didn’t understand, and Brie wasn’t sure she did either.

Her place in the Pack was in flux, and each time he came to rescue her it made her life just that much harder. She needed to find a way to be her own wolf, submissive and caring, and also be the Alpha’s mate, strong and protective.

Only, she wasn’t sure that balance existed.

And if she could never find it, there wasn’t hope for much else.

With that aching thought, she pushed out her pain, knowing she needed to be stronger than she was acting. Because if she wasn’t careful, she’d lose herself, and without that, what did she have left?

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