Page 50 of Unhinged Alphas

Warmth blooms in my chest, a feeling I can't quite name. It's been so long since anyone has seen me as anything other than a problem to be solved, a commodity to be traded.

But Wraith...

Wraith sees me.

Really sees me.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "For listening. For understanding. I've… never told anyone that."

Wraith nods, his eyes soft. Slowly, telegraphing his movements like he's afraid he'll scare me off, he reaches out and takes my hand in his. His palm dwarfs mine, rough and calloused, but his touch remains gentle. He brings our joined hands to his broad chest, right over his heart.

The gesture is clear, even without words.

I'm not alone.

Not anymore.

I let out a shaky breath, feeling an ember of something ignite deep within me. It's not the all-consuming blaze of heat, but a softer, steadierwarmth. A yearning to be closer to him, to feel his gentle touch on more than just my hand or face.

Slowly, carefully, I take his hand in mine and guide it lower, resting it on my waist. Wraith's eyes widen and I feel his fingers twitch against me, as if he's unsure whether to pull away or pull me closer.

"Have you ever been with an omega before?" I ask softly, my voice barely above a whisper in the quiet room.

Wraith looks away, a flush of what might be shame coloring the scarred skin above the edge of his mask. He shakes his head once, the movement short and jerky.

Emboldened by his response, I press further. "Have you ever been with anyone at all?"

Again, he shakes his head, still not meeting my eyes. His whole arm and hand are so tense beneath my touch. He's clearly not used to being touched at all. My heart aches for him, for the loneliness and isolation he must have endured his entire life. I know all too well how it feels to be touch-starved, to crave the comfort of another person's warmth.

I lean in until our faces are mere inches apart. "Do you… want to?" I ask quietly, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Wraith goes utterly still, his hand flexingagainst my waist. God, it's so huge, it could practically span my entire back. For a long, tense moment, he doesn't move, doesn't even seem to breathe. I start to pull back, worried I've overstepped, pushed too far.

But then his eyes meet mine, and the raw emotion I see there steals my breath. Longing, fear, hope, desperation... they're all swirling in those blue depths.

Slowly, hesitantly, he nods.

A smile tugs at my lips, and I reach up to cup the side of his mask. He stiffens, then leans into my touch, his eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. When he opens them again, there's a new intensity to his gaze, a heat that sends a shiver down my spine.

My heart races as I lean in, drawn to him like a moth to flame. But he suddenly pulls away. His massive hand grasps my waist, not roughly, but with an urgency that makes me freeze.

Confusion and a flicker of hurt lance through me. Did I misread the situation? But as I search Wraith's eyes, I see no rejection there. Only... fear?

His other hand moves, spelling out the wordC-A-N-T.

"Why?" I breathe, my voice barely audible even in the quiet room.

Wraith's fingers spell out two words that make my breath catch.

H-U-R-T… Y-O-U.

"You won't hurt me," I whisper. "We can take it slow. I trust you."

The words surprise me as they leave my mouth, but I realize they're true. Somewhere along the line, without my permission or awareness, I've come to trust Wraith.

And I trust him completely.

He still looks hesitant, his bright blue eyes searching mine. I can see the war raging behind them. Desire warring with fear, need battling against deeply ingrained caution.