Page 14 of Forced Alpha Bride
I check my phone again, but to my increasing frustration, there’s still no reply. I text Krista, but get no answer from her.
It seems like there’s only one thing left to do.
I look towards the fountain, my stomach screwing into a cold, hard knot. I try to settle my nerves with a few deep breaths, but it just makes me dizzy, so I lean on the table for a bit.
Slowly, the realization dawns on me that I can’t walk back over there. I simply cannot face him, go home with him… and marry him.
And then what? Playhouse? Have his babies? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!
Somewhere far beneath my terror, another feeling flickers to life. All my fear falls away as the new sensation grows, spreading warmth through my body. His reputation and bad deeds are forgotten as I relish his image, closing my eyes to immerse myself in it.
His big, dark eyes looking into mine… black eyes, with floating specks of gold catching the light. Night-dark hair falling on a pale-skinned cheek… that grin. Oh my fucking God, that grin on his curved red mouth! Kiss me, pretty boy, kiss me…
I let out a little yelp and rip myself free of my fantasy. I angrily check my phone, then stand there trembling for a second before I do the only thing I can do.
Bolt for my car.
I seem to cross the distance in a flash, running so hard, I slam into the car in my attempt to stop. Fumbling with the keys, I end up dropping them and scratching around on the ground to find them again.
My chest heaves with relief as well as exertion as I finally throw myself into the front seat. My hands are shaking so much, I can barely handle the key, but I don’t let myself drop it this time. I crank the ignition.
Go! Go now!
I thump my foot down on the accelerator, screeching out of the parking lot. I have no idea where I’m going. I’m so panicked, I can barely see the road.
Krista! I’ll go to her place. If she won’t answer my texts, I’ll just go straight to her place. I’ll call Galen from there, and he can help me.
The familiar streets look strange to me, being so empty. It’s as if a thick cloak of melancholy is hanging over the town, a whisper of doom that leaves no hope for the future.
With Damon as their alpha, that is surely the truth. Fate has let us all down today.
When I reach the manor, there are a few cars parked out front, where tough-looking guys hang out around the door. I don’t want to run into any of them, so I leave my car behind some bushes and sneak through the grounds until I find Krista’s window.
The manor is gigantic, bigger than Kit’s estate. I’ve heard rumors that there is an ancient dungeon underneath, but I don’t know if it’s true. I do know that the entire extended family lives here, and I’m very lucky that Krista has a ground-floor suite.
I really don’t fancy climbing a stone balcony today.
When I pull the bushes away from the window, I’m relieved to see Krista sitting on the couch inside. I tap lightly with one finger, not wanting to alert anyone else to my presence. She jumps, looks up at me with wide eyes, then rushes towards me.
I’ve always been close with Krista. Being the exact same age, we often found each other at any official events for inter-pack business. My first memories of those stuffy, boring affairswere hanging out with a little girl my own age who was equally full of mischief. The two of us would sneak away to play in the gardens and ruin our good clothes.
Or that time we broke into the kitchen and ate the celebration cake. Both our fathers yelled at us for hours! Good times.
“Winnie?” Krista asks tearfully, opening the window.
I reach up to her, and she grabs my hands, giving me enough leverage to get my feet on the wall and shove myself over the stone ledge.
We fall down into a heap on the softly carpeted floor and immediately wrap our arms around each other, squeezing tight and sobbing tearfully. When we pull apart, I feel a familiar shock when I look into her eyes.
Because they are so much like mine, just a slightly darker shade of blue. Her hair is even the exact same red, but straight instead of curly. We could be sisters.
The other difference between us is one I don’t care to note. Krista is tall, willowy, and slender. I’ve always felt just slightly inadequate in her shadow.
I know I’m not ugly, but I still feel fat and short standing next to her.
“Oh, Winnie,” Krista whispers. “Daddy died!”
“I know,” I whisper back.
