Page 31 of Perfect Alpha

Good thing I have my own mountain man.

I plop down on my stomach and face the sound of the waterfall, wondering if I can convince Cade to strip down and jump in to give me another breathtaking view. With the frown marring his handsome face, I somehow doubt it.

“I have something to tell you,” I announce, wanting to get New York out of the way.

He looks startled, fearful, and then resigned so quickly that I barely pick up on the differences before his expression goes blank.

Cade rubs his hands vigorously over his face and says, “Yeah, me, too. We need to talk.”

Cade’s harsh, no-nonsense tone cuts through the nature soundtrack, and he leans against a rock fifteen feet away. Anxiety runs through me, and I immediately scramble to sit cross-legged so I can face him. Finally, he’s going to tell me what’s been eating at him.

My news can wait.

Making a silly face, I ask, “What’s going on?”

He doesn’t so much as crack a smile, and my heart sinks. Whatever he has to tell me isbad.

“Look, Victory, I was going to wait to talk to you, but I… I can’t. There isn’t an easy way to tell you, so I’m just going to say it.”

He won’t look at me, his eyes focused on some unknown spot in the distance. He takes a deep breath before saying the words that kill everything joyful inside me, forever ruining this sacred spot.

“I don’t want to be with you anymore.”

If he punched me in the face, it couldn’t stun me more. “What the hell are you talking about?” My voice is panicked and shrill, my heart threatening to hammer out of my chest. He can’t mean what he’s saying.

Oh, God.

“I’ve always told you that I’m not the girlfriend type.” He shrugs casually, his tone so flippant and uncaring that I can’t believe this is the same man who tenderly made love to me last night and promised me the world.

The man who took all my firsts, but gave me so much more in return.

He’s everything.

Cade is my entire world.

“Look at me!” I shout, scrambling to my feet.

He slowly turns his head, and the clarity and certainty in his eyes scare the shit out of me. “Victory, don’t make this harder than it has to be. I don’t love you anymore. End of story.”

Sobs rack my frame, and there’s nothing I can do to stop them. Any time I cry, Cade is my rock, my comfort. To think he’s the one causing this anguish and making no move to come toward me is more than I can stand.

His muscles are coiled like a snake about to spring, but he keeps his distance.

“Is there someone else?” I manage, my voice tear-stained.

His eyes light up as though this is the best idea he’s ever heard. “Yes. That’s exactly it.” He’s very excited about her, whoever she is. I can’t ask her name. In a town our size, I undoubtedly know her.

“How could you?” I whisper.

“You’ve been obsessed with me since you were a kid.” This is a completely unnecessary thing to say, and I want to pummel him with my fists.

“That isnottrue!” I can’t believe he’s throwing my schoolgirl crush in my face when our love has developed into so much more.

Cade has always been a playboy, but I represented firsts for him, too. I was his first girlfriend, the first girl he said I love you to, and the first girl he’s ever talked about forever with. I already know what he wants to name our future kids.

“What did I do?” I ask softly.

My sobs have stopped, but a steady trickle of hot tears leak out of my eyes even though I’m numb. Maybe I’m in shock. The man I love has turned into a monster, and I don’t even recognize him.

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