Page 39 of Her Bully Alpha

Her face dropped slightly. "I see."

I thought of all the times I felt that pull. When I visited Henrik growing up, I felt that tug to look for Sam. All the times she walked by, my eyes watched her for a second longer than they should have.

I thought of school, and when she sat in the front, I sat in the back. I could watch her. A part of me always questioned why I bothered when she was a human, but I couldn't help it. My wolf seemed quieter when I was in her presence, less grumpy.

And I knew I shouldn't have bullied her, shouldn't have said half the things that I did to her. But I got to speak with her.

"Do you still feel this way?" she asked, tilting her head as she stared at me. I could see she was waiting for me to answer, to be honest with her about what I thought.

"No." I shook my head. "I haven't had that viewpoint in years. When I took my role as Alpha, I couldn't look at humans like that. I was to work with them, be around them all day long. Humans are naturally weaker, but they are still people."

"But you didn't want to marry me," she added, looking hurt. "Because that was how you saw me."

I frowned, knowing she had a point. I couldn't deny that. "I knew how my father would react. It's one thing to work with a human and another…to be mated and have a family with. But I know humans are not simple and a waste of space. I've come across plenty that have earned my respect because of what they can do."

I reach across the blanket, taking her hand. "Sam, I'm not the person I was all those years ago and regret how I treated you. If I could turn back time and change it, I would."

She gave me a soft smile. "I'm starting to see that."

I moved closer to her, sitting down next to her. I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against me. I kissed her forehead, just accepting her presence with me. I knew it was going to take a while before she fully trusted me and fully believed what I was saying, and I understood that. I knew if I wanted this to work, it would take time.

She sighed as she tossed the book aside. "This isn't helping me. I feel like I'm going in circles now."

I smiled. "Okay, let's forget the books. I actually have an idea. I asked around, and a couple of people told me some ways to get it out, maybe. If you're willing to try them."

Sam looked at me, a little surprised. "Really? You asked around? I thought you didn't want people to know yet."

I nodded and slowly turned her towards me. "I just asked questions, but didn't say who it was about. Sit cross-legged." I quickly looked for a stick and handed it to her. "Hold onto this."

She stared at the stick and scowled at me.

"Now, what you'll do is focus on the stick. Put your full attention on it. I spoke to a couple magic users and they said you must bring your magic forward, push it out, and try to force it into the stick."

"They said to use a stick?"

I shrugged. "They said you could use anything."

I watched her take a deep breath and close her eyes. Her fingers tightened on the stick. I could smell the difference in her, watching her really focus. But the magic was still locked up.

Sweat beaded her forehead, and she sighed heavily and opened her eyes. She looked at me, looking defeated. "This isn't working."

"That's okay," I said as I took the stick. I held her hands. "Try again. Just look at my hands and focus."

She stared at my hands, and I could see her eyes focused. But there was nothing.

I went over what I had been told. The people I asked said it takes time and that the older you are, the harder it is to get control over it. Normally, people use their magic at a young age, and by this age, they have pretty good control over it. So, Sam was behind.

If Sam had known she possessed magic when she was younger, she could have been training all these years and had reasonable control over it by now. She wouldn't be struggling lie she was now. I did wonder where she got her magic from. Did she have a distant relative or grandparents that possessed it?

Sam pulled her hands back, looking irritated. "It's not working. I'm just getting frustrated."

"It's part of the process," I said softly. "It takes time. You'll get there."

She looked away, her eyes looking heavy now.

I frowned at her. "What's wrong? Why do you look so disappointed?"

She swallowed, and her eyes looked hurt. "I just want to figure this out. This not knowing…. it's difficult."

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