Page 9 of Cursed Alpha

Abandoning the project at hand, I head into the kitchen. I tucked a first aid box under the sink, and I’m hoping I can stop the bleeding and won’t have to go to the hospital for stitches.

I run the cut under warm water, trying to see how deep it is. The copper scent of blood fills my nose and I breathe in through my mouth.

Suddenly, the front door bangs open and I yelp as I spin around to see what’s happened.

Ryker stands in the doorway, his body filling the entire space, and I gape at him. He looks feral as he takes deep breaths and looks around the living room. His eyes land on me, standing in the kitchen, holding my fingers and he rushes over to my side.

“What happened?” he asks, grabbing my hand and looking at the cut.

“The saw slipped,” I explain. “Wait, what are you doing here? Did you just break my door?”

I try to look past him but he’s turning me the other way so that I’m facing the sink once again.

“No, the door was unlocked. Which reminds me, you should be locking your door,” he reprimands.

I glare at him, but he’s too busy tending to my finger to pay me much mind. He flips open the first aid box and starts to dig through the supplies.

“I have it under control,” I tell him, trying to pull my hand from his hold.

“Clearly,” he says sarcastically.

“It was an accident. I can put a bandaid on it by myself just fine,” I snap, tugging my fingers free.

I grab for the first aid kit, but he yanks it out of my reach.

“Let me help you,” he says, though he sounds like he’s gritting his teeth. If he’s so mad, he should just leave. I was taking care of it, and it’s not his problem. He can leave like everyone else eventually does.

“Why?”

"Because I'm trying to be nice. I wanted to say sorry for yesterday," he finishes as he pulls out a bandaid and some Neosporin.

“You don’t need to apologize. I ran into you.” I give him control of my hand, but only because I don’t feel like wrestling the first aid kit out of his grip.

“I shouldn’t have talked to you that way. It was unacceptable.”

His words surprise me. Of all the mean things people have said to me, all the times they snapped, no one ever came back to say they were sorry. I want to accept his apology, but I can’t let him back in. If I do, my crush will consume me completely.

“It’s fine,” I mutter, trying to sound cold and detached.

He unwraps the bandage and I try to ignore the tingles that race up my arm as he wraps it around my finger.

“I told you I would help out around here,” he scolds, making me tense up.

“And I told you that I didn’t need your help. I have things under control.”

“We both know that’s not true.”

“I’m not some defenseless dumb blonde, okay? I’m not completely stupid and helpless,” I snap at him, taking us both by surprise.

“I know you’re not,” he says after a moment, his words slow and measured.

I can see him trying to catch my eyes, but I refuse to look at him. My face is burning with shame and as soon as he has thebandage secured, I pull my hand away from him, taking a step back. I hate that I’m letting him get to me.

“I have to run to City Hall, but I’ll be back by four to help you out around here.”

“Like I said, I’ve got it under control. I’ll probably be done for the day by then.”

Ryker growls.

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