Page 111 of Alpha Ruined
She needs a moment to breathe. She hurries down the hall and into her old bedroom, which her mother never bothered to change. She shuts the door, presses her back to the wall, and takes a deep, slow breath.
Her mate is here, and part of her couldn’t be happier.
The other part of her is still heartbroken and scared.
He’s a murderer.
She breathes out, willing her racing heart to slow.
His scent permeates the house, delicious and tempting, and she’s so conflicted she could cry.
In the middle of her spiral, the door opens.
“I had a feeling I’d find you in here,” Cole murmurs, glancing around her old bedroom. “I like the color of the walls. A very calming light blue.”
She turns to him, furious. “What the hell are you doing here?” she whispers. “Why are you at mymother’shouse? Don’t you have other people to kill?”
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t be dramatic. I told you that part of my life is over. I’m here for dinner. I was invited, after all.”
She glares at him. “Well, I’m uninviting you. Go back to wherever you’re staying. Actually, go somewhere else entirely, like a new planet.”
He cocks his head. “You don’t mean that,” he says. “You missed me just as much as I missed you.”
She scowls. “I haven’t missed you,” she snaps, petulant.
“Liar. You look like you haven’t slept or eaten in days,” he accuses, taking a step closer to her. “The mating bond will dothat, you know. When we’re too far away from each other, it makes us sick.”
“Well, you look fine,” she snaps.
“I’ve averaged maybe four hours of sleep a night. Well, part of that is from taking care of Ellie.”
She freezes. “Ellie?”
“Oscar’s offspring,” he clarifies. “Our cat, sweetheart.”
“We don’t have a cat together, Cole.”
He grins. “I just told you we did. Her name is Ellie.”
She huffs in frustration. “And why is her name Ellie?”
“Because without Ellie Winters, I wouldn’t have met you. She was the reason you came to Green Woods in the first place.” His eyes soften, and he reaches out to caress her cheek. It’s the first time he’s touched her in two weeks, and her eyes flutter closed at the contact.
“Fuck, I missed you,” he whispers. “I tried to stay away as long as I could. But I can’t anymore.”
Her body thrums with pleasure, and the connection between them intensifies as she melts at his touch.
“Cole,” she breathes as her head spins. His fingers trail up her cheek to move a strand of hair from her face and tuck it behind her ear.
“So beautiful,” he murmurs. “And all mine.”
Yes,her inner Omega agrees.We belong to him.
“You should leave,” she whispers, but makes no attempt to escape his touch. His other hand wraps around her waist slowly, and he brings his lips to her neck.
“Why?” His mouth gently brushes over her mating gland, causing her to jolt at his touch.
“Because…” she pants, her mind going blank. “Because…”