Page 116 of Alpha Ruined
Cole doesn’t argue. He simply nods, scoops her into hisarms, and carries her to the couch. She cuddles up against him, sighing in his hold.
She closes her eyes as he runs his fingers through her hair, inhaling his citrus essence and allowing the mating bond to soothe her.
“Ask away,” he purrs, his chest rumbling. “I’ll tell you anything you want.”
“The cabin,” she says. “Did you pay for me to stay the extra week?”
He chuckles. “No, sweetheart. I paid for the entire property.”
She pauses. “Wait. What?”
His fingers continue to card through her hair. “Do you not remember our discussion at the graveyard? I told you the title was in your name. Well,ourname, technically.”
“Wait, I’m sorry, youboughtthe cabin?” She turns to look at him, but he just shrugs.
“You liked it. It was an easy decision.”
She blinks. “And the food?”
“You didn’t have anything in there but stale granola bars and water. I wasn’t going to let you starve.”
She huffs. “Okay, but that was a very unconventional way of going about it. And you know,illegal. You snuck artisan cheeses into the kitchen while I was asleep?”
“Guilty.”
It shouldn’t be funny, but it’s so absurd that Bree finds herself laughing.
He liked me so much he broke into my cabin just to leave me fancy cheese.
“Now I don’t have to sneak around anymore. It’s much easier this way for the both of us,” he smirks.
“And the pens? I assume you were watching me at the antique shop.”
He nods. “I was never far, unless I had to be.”
She shouldn’t find his words reassuring, but she does. She blames it on the mating bond.
“What about…the other things you’ve done?” she asks quietly, staring at her hands. “What if you get caught? What happens then?”
“Then we leave. But I have no plans of that happening.”
“That doesn’t mean itwon’thappen. If anyone finds out about Eugene…” her breath comes out in a gasp, and Cole pulls her tighter to him. “…I could be complicit.”
“Eugene was going to drink himself to death if I didn’t pull the trigger,” Cole deadpans. “And you would never be responsible for my actions in the law’s eyes,ever.”
“What happens, though? What happens to us if you get caught?” She wraps her arms around herself, curling her body inwards.
She doesn’t want to have this conversation, but the questions have been brewing in her mind since she left Green Woods.
He owes her answers.
“Nothing. I have plenty of contacts and favors that are owed to me. The worst-case scenario is we lie low for a bit until everything sorts itself out.”
She nods slowly. “Tell me they deserved it,” she murmurs, looking up at him. “Promise methey deserved it.”
His eyes narrow. “More than anyone. I swear to you, Breana.”
He’s telling the truth; she can sense it.