Page 60 of His Forsaken Alpha

Cavanaugh drew Wynter’s face over so their gazes met. “Youwantedhis attentions?”

“No… of course not.”

Cavanaugh frowned.

“I’m bound to him and… after I returned from the facility, I wanted to find a way to coexist. I didn’t want to end up back in that same situation again. I thought if I asked for civility, maybe he would eventually warm and our arrangement could become…agreeable, at the very least. Perhaps even friendly in time. He fought me at every turn. He demanded I go to the spa this cycle, so here I am.”

“I’m sorry.” Cavanaugh trailed a finger over his chin. “But this is the exact reason you shouldn’t go back. You don’t belong to him. You belongto me.”

Wynter fought tears.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Cavanaugh murmured. “Don’t do that. I’ll take care of you. We’ll make this work.”

“You have no idea the prison I live in. There’s no escaping it or him.”

“You’re already out.”

Wynter scoffed. “Not really.”

“You just said you wouldn’t go back,” Cavanaugh whispered.

“Wanting to… and being able to… are twoverydifferent things,” Wynter said. “Of course, I want to see where this might lead us, but… I can’t lie to you, either.”

“We’ll find a way.” Cavanaugh kissed his cheek. “We’llmakea way. Together.” He chuckled. “We’ll leave the Palatinate behind and travel the world, far from Alexandria and the bullshit there.”

“You didn’t like me when I first walked in—and now you offer me the world?”

“You’re a godsdamned pain in my ass, Wynter Jaymes.” Cavanaugh smiled. “And before I met you, I didn’t think fated mates were real, but I’m a big enough man to say I stand corrected. Maybe itisjust biology making my brain make these decisions, but I already know I don’t want to live a life without you in it.” He grinned. “Plus, the bickering turned me on.”

Wynter laughed, but it turned into a sob, a tear escaping.

“It’s okay,” Cavanaugh whispered, hugging him close. “I’ve got you now. You’re safe with me.”

Wynter slid his hands over Cavanaugh’s, holding on for dear life.

“Come home with me. I have a cabin in the hills of Blacksburg.”

“The spa might inform my alpha th?—”

“He’snotyour alpha. I am,” Cavanaugh said firmly. “At best, he’s your husband.”

“Betas have husbands. Omegas do not.”

“Doesn’t matter. That man isnotyour alpha, and you damned well know it.”

“I do,” Wynter admitted, voice low.“You’remy alpha.”

Cavanaugh traced his lower lips before lowering to capture his mouth. “My omega. Come to my cabin and let me take care of your heat. Let me prove I’d make a better mate than the one you have now.”

“You already have,” Wynter said. It was no lie. He’d never seen kindness like it before and probably never would again. One heat… a few days to know what he was missing out on. It was so tempting, yet the consequences of saying yes were weighty. He might end up with child, and only make matters worse.

Cavanaugh grinned. “So you’ll come home with me? Where you belong?”

Wynter sighed. “What if the spa calls home? If I don’t show up, I don’t know what they’ll do.”

“Call the spa. Tell them you’ve changed your mind and you’re not coming.” Cavanaugh shrugged. “And if he finds out, he finds out. You’re not going back to him anyway. He needs to find out eventually.”

Wynter shook his head.I have a child at home. I can’t simply disappear.

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