Page 20 of Brutal Alpha Beast
He eyes me with irritation. “Can you stop?”
“Stop what?” I cross my arms.
He sighs. “You clearly have a problem with me.”
His burgundy eyes glower, seeping deep into my soul. He’s seeing something I don’t want him to see, and yet, my irritation pushes me to a point beyond my control.
“If I had a problem with you, why would I go along with the wedding?”
“Because you have to. Because it’s your duty. I get it; I don’t like your kind too much either—“
I scoff. “Oh really? I’d never have guessed.”
He looks at me carefully, and I feel my cheeks grow hot. “But I’m trying,” he says. “To be civil. It seems like the more I try, the more you push away, so tell me, Danielle. What is it that you want?”
I expel a breath. What a loaded, difficult question. For so long, my life hasn’t been about what I want—it’s been about survival.
I’ve been happy enough, sure, but with a past like mine, I don’t think I’ve gotten what ‘I want.’
That would require too much.
“Nothing,” I say wistfully.
He runs his hands through his hair in frustration, and then he steps closer. I feel my insides tighten. I can’t handle it when he’s close.
“Why do you have to be so difficult?”
I turn my head up at him. “Well, why do you?”
My voice comes out as a shout, and as the sound fades away, a silence filled with tension takes over. My anger transforms into something else.
I feel hot, nervous, I find my eyes lingering on his chest for a beat too long.
Something important has shifted in the air, and as I dare to dart my eyes up to him, sheepishly, I notice that he’s no longer mad. His face has softened.
“I’ll try to work with you, if you try to work with me, okay?” He says in a deflated tone, that makes me want to hold him. It reminds me of how I felt lying against his chest, tracing circles over his body with all my defenses down.
“Okay,” I whisper.
We’re inches away now, staring at each other, and his lips are as close as they can be for someone so tall.
None of us move, but if one of us did, it feels as though we’d be kissing. I can hardly make sense of what’s going on.
My eyes betray me when they linger on his lips.
“This is just business,” he says, clearing his throat. “While I want to work with you, remember not to turn this into something that it’s not.”
Then comes a sharp fury. I remember all those painful emotions moments after we made love.
Ellis is an arrogant dick. That kind, sensitive guy I once knew disappeared as soon as he found out what I was.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I scoff, stepping back. “I know this is business. That’s the only reason I can bear to be in the same room as you,wolf.”
Chapter 6 - Ellis
Our wildlife has been showing signs of decay, and it’s only been accelerating.
I’m reminded of why I’m doing something as crazy as marrying a difficult witch in the first place. We need the coven’s help.
