Page 38 of Claimed By the King's Gamma

“What if I said I wanted to do the same with you?”I can’t help but chuckle at his question, my laughter tinged with nervous energy.

“You barely know me,” I respond, attempting to hide the uncertainty in my voice.

“And the king barely knows Ivy, Abbie.It is no different, not really, anyway,” Gannon counters, his tone soft and persuasive.

“But what if you find your mate?”

“I won’t and it wouldn’t matter even if I did.”

“Why would you want me, though?”I ask, my heart pounding in my chest at the unexpected revelation.He scratches the back of his neck nervously, his eyes locked on mine.

“Because I like you.Why else?”he says, a hint of vulnerability creeping into his voice.

“Liking someone and loving them are two different things.”

“We could learn to love each other, Abbie.We would have all the time in the world,” he says, reaching forward and tugging me between his legs.He wraps his arms around my waist and gazes at me intently.Even sitting face to face, his height is imposing.

“Will you think about it?”he asks, his voice a gentle whisper.I chew my lip, my mind racing.Ivy did tell me Gannon would change me, and I do like him, but the thought of taking such a leap is daunting.

“But what if I find my mate?”I ask him, my voice barely audible.He sighs, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

“Well, I am hoping you don’t, but if you did, and you wanted to be with them, I would let you go if that is what you wanted.”I nod, my heart aching at the thought of leaving Gannon behind.He lets me go, turning back to the bags filled with presents.

“Please take your gifts, Abbie.I got them for you, and I expect nothing in return.I just wanted to see you smile,” he says, his voice warm and sincere.I can’t help but smile at his words, my cheeks heating when he reaches up, brushing my cheek with his hand.

“There it is,” he says, a gentle smile playing on his lips before cupping my face in his hand.

“I have to go with the king tomorrow to your old pack,” he says, switching the subject.

“You’re going back?”I ask him, my voice thick with emotion.He nods, his eyes filled with determination.

“I have a bit of a strange request to ask, and you can say no if you like,” he says, his voice tentative.

I furrow my brows, curiosity piqued.“What is it?”

“Can I count how many lashes are on your back?The king wants to know.He counted Ivy’s while she slept, but he wants to punish Mrs.Daley, and he needs to know what charges to bring against her,” Gannon tells me, his voice laced with anger.

“He wants to punish Mrs.Daley?”I ask, shock registering in my voice.She has always been this figure who I believed could never be punished.

“You and Ivy never should have been treated like that.I have counted the ones on the back of your legs,” he says, looking away as if he did something wrong.

“But can I count the ones on your back?As I said, you can say no?”

I swallow hard.It’s not like he hasn’t seen my back before or my butt.I chew my lip, considering his request.

“You just want to count them, that’s it?”I ask, my voice wavering yet trusting Gannon.

“That is all, Abbie,” he says, sincerity shining in his eyes.The thought of Mrs.Daley being held accountable for her actions is thrilling, and despite my reservations, I nod.

Gannon taps my thighs, gets up, closes the door, and returns to sit on the bed.Turning around, I unbutton my dress before pulling my arms out and only leaving my waist covered.Gannon pulls me to sit between his legs, and I feel his fingers tracing my skin gently.His touch sends shivers down my spine, and my face flushes when I feel his lips press tenderly against my shoulder.

“Thank you, Abbie,” he whispers, and I turn my face to look at him.He helps me pull my arms back into my dress before turning me.I stand to help.When I button the last one, his hand bunches my dress on my hip as he tugs me closer.

“I promise she will be punished,” he whispers, and I nod.Any punishment was good enough for me.She needed to know the error of her ways, and I wished death upon her.What she let the butcher do would forever haunt me; bruises and lashes heal, yet what he did scarred my mind, and she allowed it.Tainted my dreams and haunted my soul.

“Can you check on the kids?”

“I can try if the king allows it.We will be in a time crunch.The king wants to get back so he can change Ivy and take her as his mate,” he tells me, and I sigh.I would love to know how my Tyson is, but if the king is genuinely going to punish her, maybe that would make her change her ways.

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