Page 27 of Brutal Alpha Beast
“This morning went well,” I say. “No forbidden spells or broken bones.”
Ellis nods. “Thankfully.”
The nature-filled hum of the night turns awkward as an uneasy silence drifts between us.
Beneath the illuminating light of the moon, I can see that Ellis is frowning. His dark, coppery eyebrows are arched, his burgundy eyes deep in irritated thought.
Why would he ask me to stay if he’s still so pissed off?
We stand in silence, and I rack my brain for things to say. All I can think about is the past, and all the things I shouldn’t say.
I’m on one side of our old secret spot and he’s on the other, staring up at the night sky.
I remember sneaking out here with him one night, before all the complicated stuff happened—we stole alcohol from his dad’s cabinet, and got drunk together for the first time.
At least, it was my first time.
I remember the world spinning; Ellis was looking up at the stars a little like the way he’s doing now. I was looking at him.
I knew that I wanted to kiss him, but I told myself I was just drunk, and then I asked him a question instead.
“How does it feel knowing you’re going to be the leader of this pack someday?”
He looked back at me and smiled. “It’s pretty terrifying.”
“Do you want to back out?”
“God no,” he said. “I don’t think life would be good without at least a little fear.”
I’m curious, why is he out here, and why is he so protective of this spot? They’re questions I’ve told myself I shouldn’t ask, but I let my curiosity get the better of me.
If he doesn’t remember anything, why does he come?
“So you often come out to this spot in the middle of the night?” I ask him.
His gaze flickers from the stars to me, and he repositions himself a little. I notice the way his muscular body moves beneath his tight shirt.
It makes something flutter deep inside my stomach.
“Not always at night,” he says, his voice coarse. “But I do come here a lot.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s quiet. I have a lot to deal with on a daily basis, so sometimes when shit gets a little noisy, it’s nice to come here to think. Or not to think. I don’t know.”
I nod, understanding that he makes being a leader seem effortless when it’s definitely not.
“That’s cool,” I say. “And you just stumbled upon it, right?”
He catches my eye, and we share a brief smile. I can already sense his mood lightning.
“I’m sorry I was a little harsh,” he says. “This place is just special to me, is all.”
And me. But the way he talks about it still doesn’t make any sense.
I don’t want to push.
“It’s fine,” I respond. “I wouldn’t want a wolf invading my private spaces either.”
