Page 24 of Alpha's Secret Baby Girl
A shudder wracked down her spine as her body curled inward, trying to protect herself from the question. Her lungs still ached from that initial blow.
“Gwen, he’s going to be okay,” Kira said from behind her. “Nobody in the pack is as strong as our Alpha.”
Her words were no comfort. Being strong didn’t mean that the demon wasn’t stronger. And she’d had no word. Kira and Chelsey had come to the house as soon as they heard what was happening, and Chelsey had taken the role of comforting Lianne when it became clear that Gwen was too tense and worried. It had been all she could do not to fall into pieces in front of her daughter.
Gwen let out a shaky breath as she turned to her friend. “I think I hurt Lianne when I grabbed her.”
Kira brushed her hair behind her ear. “You remember that time when we decided to try surfing, even though none of us had ever done it?”
Wincing, Gwen nodded.
“You remember how I saw that shark, and Chelsey didn’t believe me? And she jumped off her board, and I grabbed her hair and yanked her back?”
“Of course. So?”
Kira sighed. “So, you were trying to get her away from a demon. It’s easy not to think of gentleness when there’s a predator in the water.”
Gwen’s arms tightened around her middle. She understood Kira’s point, but that didn’t help her feel better. The door opened and she whirled, heart in her throat. Rafael, wearing a pair of baggy shorts, stepped into the house. Bandageswere wrapped around his arms and torso, and there were bruises on his face and visible skin.
Gwen moved forward, about to throw herself into his arms. She only stopped herself because she didn’t want to hurt him more.
He stepped forward as though he was going to embrace her, but stopped himself. “Were you hurt? And Lianne?”
“We’re okay. Bruised up a little, but that’s it. What about the demon?”
He didn’t meet her eyes. “It got away.”
And that was it. He didn’t reassure her, didn’t try to comfort her. His shoulders slumped in exhaustion, and Gwen straightened herself. He was the injured one. He didn’t need to comfort her.
“I’m going to start supper,” she said. “You must be starving.”
She quickly headed to the kitchen, Kira silently following her. Her hands shook. Well. At least they had answers as to what her visions meant.
Chapter 10 - Rafael
Rafael rubbed his forehead as he glared at the reminder that had just popped up on his phone. Lianne was nearby, ‘reading’ picture books as Gwen napped on the couch. After the Council meeting yesterday and the demon attack before that, he wanted to stay with them for longer. But he had an important meeting, one that couldn’t be ignored.
With a silent sigh, he reached over to touch Gwen’s shoulder. She groaned and buried her face in the pillow, her wavy blonde hair a frizzy mess from sleep. A smile touched his lips at the sight. He remembered the first time they had slept next to each other—completely innocent, having fallen asleep during star-gazing—and she had done the same thing when he woke her the next morning. Only then, it had been him that she had buried her face into.
“Gwen,” he urged softly.
She wrapped one arm around her head. Her dark green skirt had ridden up slightly on her legs. If she rolled over, she would expose herself. “You’re an adult. Take care of it yourself.”
Lianne giggled. “Mommy’s being the sleepy monster.”
“Sleeeeepy,” Gwen repeated in a zombie voice. She peered through her arms up at Rafael and heaved out a sigh. She pushed herself up and stretched her arms over her head. Her back arched, her breasts pushing out.
Rafael’s wolf stirred. He could see the edge of her bra against her t-shirt and wondered what color it was. Quickly, he averted his gaze and pushed the dirty thoughts from his head. There was time for that later. A daring idea slipped in, one where he crept into Gwen’s room after Lianne was asleep—one wherehe confessed his lingering feelings for her and asked her if she could possibly have the same feelings for him.
A daring idea, to visit his wife in her room after dark. Rafael shook his head at his own high-school fantasy. But even as he did so, there was a sharp tug in the center of his chest, a sting of regret. If only…
“I have a meeting with Joshua and Michael,” he said, focusing on a non-stretching Gwen. He could still see the outline of her bra and firmly told himself that her being sexy as hell was no reason for him to start sexualizing everyday things about her. At least, not with their relationship in its current state.
Gwen rubbed her eyes and nodded once. “When will you be back home?”
“Not sure. I’ll let you know if I’ll be back in time for supper. There’s a lot of food in the fridge and freezer, and I can leave my credit card if you want to go shopping.”
At this, Gwen gave him a severe look. “I have my own bank account. I don’t need your credit card.”
