Page 25 of Brutal Alpha's Forced Mate

The sincerity in his voice catches me off-guard, and for a moment, I don’t know how to respond. “I don’t feel strong,” I admit finally.

“You are,” he insists. “Whether you see it or not.”

I look away, unable to hold his gaze. The silence stretches between us, heavy and loaded, but this time, it feels different. Not suffocating, but not comfortable, either.

Gray’s presence looms in the small space of his room, filling it with a warmth I didn’t realize I needed until now. He sits across from me with his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes never leaving mine. There’s a steadiness there. A quiet intensity that’s disarming in its sincerity.

“You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for,” he says again, his voice softer this time. “But you shouldn’t have had to be.”

The words linger, wrapping around me like a blanket that’s both comforting and suffocating. I fidget with the edge of the blanket on my lap, avoiding his eyes. “You’ve been different lately,” I mutter, unsure why I’m saying it out loud. “From what I remember.”

“Different how?”

“Kind,” I admit reluctantly. “More than I expected. More than I deserve.”

His brows knit together, and I can practically see the frustration brewing behind his calm exterior. “What makes you think you don’t deserve kindness?”

I shrug, but the motion feels hollow. “I killed your beta, Gray. I ruined everything for you and your pack.”

“Don’t,” he says sharply. “Don’t you dare put that on yourself. You’re not responsible for him, Jaslyn. And if I’m being honest? No one liked Carter. He was a bully, plain and simple. His position as beta didn’t come from merit; it came from legacy. His father had the role before him, and when Carter inherited it, most of the pack just…tolerated him.”

I blink, taken aback. “You’re saying no one cared that he died?”

Gray exhales and drags a hand through his hair. “I’m not saying it didn’t matter. Of course it mattered. He was still part of the pack, and I’m not happy about how it happened. But was the pack devastated? Were they grieving his loss like they might’ve for someone else? No. They weren’t. Carter’s death shook them, it wasn’t out of love or admiration for him. It was because what his death represented; the fact that a witch could take one of us down so easily. That’s it. That’s why they accepted you back so easily.”

I don’t know whether to feel relieved or horrified. “So, what? Everyone was just waiting for him to screw up? To get out of the way?”

Gray’s mouth tightens, and he shakes his head. “Not exactly. But no one’s been in a hurry to bring him up in conversation, if that tells you anything. People move on quickly when there’s not much worth holding onto. You’re still carrying this like it’s all on you, but Carter wasn’t your burden to begin with. He was mine. I’m the one who let him stay in that role. I’m the one who failed to see the damage he was causing.”

“Carter’s dead because ofme. If I hadn’t—”

“He’s dead because I failed you. Because I didn’t see what was happening, didn’t protect you when I should have. You think you’re the one who has something to apologize for? You think you’re the one who has to carry that weight? Jaslyn, I’m the reason you ended up in Malcolm’s hands. I’m the reason you suffered for all those years. So if anyone owes anyone an apology, it’s me.”

He looks at me like he’s baring his soul, like he’s been carrying this burden for as long as I have. And for the first time, I see it—his guilt, his regret, laid bare for me to witness.

“I don’t blame you,” I whisper.

“You should.”

“I don’t. Not really. You were a kid, Gray. A teenager thrown into a role you weren’t ready for. And yes, you made mistakes, but so did I. If I’d been better at controlling my magic—”

“Stop.” His voice is softer now, but no less resolute. “This isn’t on you, Jaslyn. None of it. You didn’t choose any of this. You didn’t choose to be born with magic, or to be abandoned by the people who should have stood by you. You didn’t choose Malcolm, or the hell he put you through. And you sure as hell didn’t choose to lose control that day. You were provoked. Bullied. Hurt. That’s on them. And it’s on me for not seeing it.”

“But why do you care so much now? After so long?”

“Because I see you now, Jaslyn. I see everything I missed before. And I want to fix it. I don’t know if I can, but I want to try.”

The room feels too small, too warm. I can’t look away from him, even though every instinct tells me to run. He’s too close—not physically, but emotionally. He’s stripping away every wall I’ve built, leaving me exposed in a way I haven’t been in years.

“Gray…” My voice wavers, and I hate how fragile I sound. “I don’t know how to let you do that.”

“You don’t have to know right now. But you can let me start.”

His eyes search mine, and for a moment, the rest of the world fades away. I’m hyper-aware of the space between us, the way his breath brushes against my skin, the way his hand inches closer to mine.

I should move. I should say something, do something to break the spell. But I can’t. I’m frozen, caught in the pull of his gaze, and for the first time in years, I feel like I’m not alone in my pain.

His hand brushes mine. Barely a touch, but it sends a jolt through me that makes my breath hitch. He leans in, and his eyes flit to my lips. For a heartbeat, I think he’s going to kiss me.

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