Page 22 of The Alpha's Forced Bullied Mate

Everything was quiet for a moment. I checked my phone, mentally noting the text reply that I had been anticipating all morning:We’ll be there soon.

I shoved the phone back into my pocket and slid a mug toward Faye. She stared into it with her nose wrinkled up.

Cliff snickered anxiously. “She’s never been a fan of tea.”

“She’s going to need it,” I warned, “or else she’ll have to face the day without anything else.”

Her fierce glare landed on me. “Are you serious? You’re going to restrict my diet?”

“Your alpha told you to drink your tea.”

“And if I don’t like tea?”

I tapped the lip of the mug. “You’ll like this one. Trust me.”

Her eyes widened, revealing hazel-brown pools that seemed to relax. Without breaking eye contact, she reached for the mug, lifted it, and took a small sip. Her eyes closed then, and she hummed, nostrils flaring as she took a deep, calming breath. When her eyes opened, they glittered with flecks of evergreen. It was like the mint enhanced her eyes.

I lifted my mug, added sugar, and dunked a lemon wedge into it. “Told you.”

“You didn’ttellme anything. You made a command.”

“And you obeyed it.”

She scoffed while turning to her brother, who was red in the face from controlling another outburst of laughter. It should have been an irritating situation, especially since this woman was supposed to submit to my authority, but I found myselfentertained more than anything. It was too easy to tease Faye. Didn’t she know that?

Just as Faye started to speak, the doorbell rang. Cliff jumped from his chair and darted into the living room, ever obedient to please his alpha and answer the door. Though, I felt like it would be more appropriate for Cliff to answer, considering that our guests were an important part of Faye’s acceptance party.

The energy in the house shifted as soon as the door opened. Faye sat up straight, eyes wide and ears alert. Her pupils dilated as though she sensed danger, and her nostrils flared as she sniffed the air.

“My boy!” rang a voice from across the living room. “You look dashing as always.”

Faye swallowed so hard that her throat made a popping sound. “You didn’t.”

I reached across the table for her hand. “Faye, you can’t run forever.”

“Youdidn’t.”

Her entire body flushed with cherry red and tensed like she was stuck in the headlights of a honking truck. Goosebumps prickled her forearms, making the blonde hairs stand on end. Was she really that scared of her parents? She yanked her hands from the table and shoved them into her lap while bowing her head.

She huffed with disbelief. “I guess I should have known this would eventually happen…”

The front door creaked as Cliff allowed his parents into my home. I listened to their idle chatter, mostly small talk, as they casually approached the kitchen. When they were within afoot of me, I stood up and greeted them, blocking their view of Faye for the moment. I wanted to give her a chance to size her parents up, to really see them as the normal shifters that they were.

“Sara and Simon,” I announced with a friendly tone, “I’m so glad you made it.”

Sara was a spitting image of her daughter, but her body was sleek and slender, tall and poised like she was ready to meet the president of a company at any moment. Her stylish marigold-orange pantsuit matched the season, and her long blonde hair was pinned into a professional bun. Beside her, Simon appeared professionally aloof, with age lines near his eyes and mouth and brown hair that was graying at the sides. His stature was that of a linebacker, and his handshake spoke of his firm resolve. He wore a pale-yellow Polo shirt with khakis, a brown belt, and loafers.

They were the opposite of their daughter. Though I hadn’t checked on Faye over the years, my research told me she was a waitress at some dingy diner down in Beaufort Creek. Well, she wasn’t a waitress anymore. After today, she would be a proud member of this pack. And I would do everything in my power to ensure that.

I smiled at Faye’s parents, the Spears. “As I explained earlier, your daughter is here.”

Sara and Simon matched expressions, their sunny disposition reducing to civil friendliness. Cliff skipped up beside them and wrapped his arm around his mother. “Isn’t that nice? Our alpha convinced her to come back.”

Simon smiled tightly while peeking over my shoulder. “That is nice.”

“I see the lights are still on and nothing is destroyed,” Sara commented. “That must mean she doesn’t use those freakish powers as much.”

A hot flash came over me for a second, enough anger to throw my fist into someone’s face. But I brought it down easily and stepped aside. “She’s grown into a fine young woman, Sara. See for yourself.”

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