Page 45 of Cruel Alpha

“But—but Leonard’s right,” she insisted. It was absolutely not what I was expecting her to say, and I was horrified to hear it. Before I could argue, she lifted a finger to my lips. Her skin was so soft. I wanted to kiss her fingertips, but she was still talking. “Not about most of the shit he spouts, but he’s right that this ismyproblem. I brought this upon the Pack. If anyone dies today, they’re dying because ofme,and I won’t run away to safety while they do it.”

Unable to stop myself, I did kiss her fingertips, and she shivered. Gently taking her by the wrist, I lowered her hand so I could speak again.

“You’ll be a better Alpha female than this Pack deserves,” I told her, because it was true. “But you have tolive.”

“I will,” she said, as if it was that simple. “I’ll fight, and I’ll live, and I’ll finally prove myself to Lapine.”

Realization hit me like a slap to the face.

“Is that what this is about?” I demanded. “You think you need to prove yourself?”

“I don’t—I don’t care what they think of me,” Alyssa said. The phrase sounded practiced, as though she’d repeated it in the mirror every day for years. “But you’re the Alpha. You can’t have a mate that everyone in the Pack hates.”

“They don’thateyou. Well—most of them don’t.” I couldn’t disregard people like Leonard. I’d need to keep an eye on him in the hours to come.

“Fine,” Alyssa acknowledged. “But they think I’m weak. They don’t trust me. I don’t want you to lose their respect because of me. You’re a good leader. You care so much about Lapine. Let me do this. Let me show them we’re strong.”

I adored this woman. Not a single shifter in this godforsaken Pack deserved her, least of all me, but she was willing to risk her life for every one of us. She was willing to go out there forme.As much as it sent my blood singing, it also sent a cold spike of fear through my heart. Alyssa had all the determination of a woman who had raised two children alone in unfamiliar territory, barely more than a child herself, and made a life from the ruins. She was stronger than I would ever be, and one day, Lapine Pack would see that. One day, they would see the same headstrong, caring, beautiful woman that I did. One day, but not today. Today, she had to stay safe and stay away.

“You are so strong,” I told her, “but you know their fighters are strong, too. What if they find you? Are you going to make me tell the twins that they’re never going to see their mommy again?” It was a low move, and I knew it, but I couldn’t let her put herself in danger. “I lost my mom when I was their age, and I—I wish I could say I have memories of her, but there’s nothing. Not a flash of a smile, the scent of her hair, or the sound of her voice. Please, Alyssa. Don’t do that to them.”

Her eyes softened at that, and she turned to look at where the twins were perched on the edge of the couch, absolutely enthralled by whatever Ethan was saying. Then she snatched her wrist from my grip, balling her hands into fists at her sides, and I knew I’d won. She would be angry with me, but I could handle that as long as she was safe, healthy, and alive.

“Fine,” she whispered. “You win.”

“Thank you.”

Alyssa nodded, moving gently past me to retrieve her own bag from upstairs. I watched her go, relief and gratitude flooding through me. Only once she had disappeared from view did I turn my attention back to the twins and their new friend.

In the few minutes since I’d left them in his care, Ethan had arranged several toys on the coffee table in what I recognized as a pincer movement.

“And if you’ve got the high ground,” he was saying, “that’s even better because—”

I cleared my throat.

“Are you explaining battle tactics to my toddlers?”

“Yes?” said Ethan, though he sounded unsure. “They seem to like it.”

He wasn’t wrong. Emmy, in particular, was entranced by the little battle scene he had set up with pieces of stray Lego and a toy car.

“Look, man, I don’t know anything about kids,” he said with a shrug. It seemed like it didn’t really matter: the twins were still engrossed in the pincer pattern laid out on the table, moving the pieces around and smashing them together in a mock battle.

“You’re gonna be a great uncle,” I told him, and he smiled.

“You’re gonna be a great dad,” he replied. I hoped he was right.

The quiet of the moment was broken by two pairs of feet pounding down the stairs: Alyssa and Julia were back. It struck me for the first time what an odd pair they made—Julia tall and willowy and sharp-featured, Alyssa tiny and curved. I loved them both fiercely, and the thought of sending them off alone made me feel physically ill.

As if he read my mind, Ethan said,

“I should go with them.”

“We don’t need to be—” Julia started, but Ethan wasn’t hearing it.

“We’re banking on none of the Arbor wolves finding you, and your ability to outrun them if they do. Considering what Alyssa’s told us about the Arbor trackers… I don’t like those odds. Alyssa won’t be able to fight with the twins in the harness, and any hunter worth his salt will be able to exploit your weakness.”

Julia looked like she’d been stabbed. All through our childhood, our father had disparaged her “weakness”, and she was prickly about it to this day, but Ethan wasn’t wrong.

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