Page 87 of His Forsaken Alpha

Wynter lifted one brow, knowing full well that hadn’t been enough time for Cavanaugh to heal. “Maybe Trout can loan you some until you can heal or purchase some. I have credits in my bag. I can contribute.”

“No.”

“Then let me cut it!” Wynter said.

“Have youeverused an axe a day in your life?” he asked Wynter.

“No, but how hard can it be? You jab at the trees until they fall down. Then you cut them into pieces. You can come with me. Tell me what to do.”

Cav barked with laughter, the sound setting Wynter’s teeth on edge. “I’ll be fine to cut us a little wood. It might not look pretty, but as long as we have something to burn, we’ll make do. That is if it’s even dry enough to even light.”

“I still think Trout might loan you some, given our situation. He knows what we did these past few days.”

“I’m not going begging him for wood. He’d lose all respect for me.”

Wynter sighed. Clearly, he wasn’t going to win the argument. Cav was as muleheaded as he was.

Cav sat on the side of the bed. “I’m an alpha floundering in the afterheat hormones. My protective instincts are all firing, but I can’t do a damned thing until I can warm it up in here. Iknowyou’re exhausted and sore—and I should be taking care of you right now. I’m falling down on the job. Please let me go and cut this firewood before I lose my mind. Then I can do what I’m supposed to do and relax.”

“You’ve shown me kindness I’m not accustomed to already. You’re not falling down on the job.” Wynter grinned. “Warden never tends toanythingafter the chaos. The fact you want to means the world to me.” His servants helped after his heats more often than not. They’d help him bathe, dress, and get back into a made bed, ensuring he’d been fed before he drifted off to sleep.

Cavanaugh’s smile faded. “The more I hear, the less and less I like him.”

“I’m not his omega.” Wynter smiled. “Perhaps the instinct simply isn’t there for him.”

“Maybe,” Cavanaugh murmured. “But that doesn’t change the fact you’d been through days of hell under him, grunting like a pig.”

“I’m yours. And the fact you’re willing to go out to cut wood so I can take a hot bath—after what I put you through the last few daysandyour wound—proves you’re more than capable of taking care of my afterheat needs in the future. Or that you’re a total idiot, I’m not sure.”

Cavanaugh pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “Just so we’re square here, I’m not going out to get wood solely so you can have that bath. It’s also so we both don’t freeze to death. Nothing idiotic about that.”

Wynter grinned. “Sure, sure.”

“I’ll be better prepared next time.”

Wynter smiled at the thought of next time. Of all the times. If they could get Warden to agree. Why wouldn’t he? They were both miserable. Warden would get his freedom, too, so they’d both win. As long as they worked together to raise Jamie, then that’s all that would matter. Maybe he wouldn’t have to use blackmail to win.

He had no problem using it, though. If he had to.

Cavanaugh tucked some of Wynter’s hair behind one ear. “I can see the gears and axles working behind your eyes. What are you thinking about?”

“How to appeal to my alpha just the right way to convince him this is the right decision.”

“Your alpha?”

“Mylegalalpha,” Wynter corrected. “Not my real one.”

“Husband,”Cavanaugh whispered.

“I’m not a beta. Iwon’tcall him that!” It felt disrespectful to them both to call Warden the term. Why, he wasn’t sure. Maybe it was that sense of propriety his papa had forced into his head his entire life.

Cavanaugh chuckled. “Fine.” After stealing another kiss, he rose. “As long as you acknowledge who I really am to you, I don’t care.”

He crossed the room, all long legs and muscle, and Wynter inwardly sighed at the sight. Cavanaugh was the exact type of alpha he’d imagined he’d mate with when he’d been young and silly. Before he’d been forced into a life without.

No longer.

I’ll have the man I always wanted. The man fate set apart for me and me alone.

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