Page 16 of The Wolf's Captive

His rage was barely held in check, his cheeks turning bright red. I had to clench my fingers open and closed, just to hold onto the emotion that wanted to burst from me.

“Yes, I did,” I blurted as heat fired inside me, “because you were supposed to be my mate, my alpha. And you rejected me.”

If he was going to be angry with me, I’d let my simmering resentment crawl up from the depths of my belly. I had blamed myself completely for what had happened… and yet…

“And you didn’t stop it from happening.” Shit, the truth of my feelings whipped from me before I could stop it.

“I tried,” Malone pushed through his teeth as he took one step closer. “I hammered at the door, but the spell, it locked it tight from the inside. I…”

Shaking his head, he looked to the left, avoiding eye contact. His body shook as he breathed, mirroring the fiery emotion that wanted to burst from me.

“It’s not fair to blame you,” I said, almost choking, “but there’s a part of me that does. I should’ve been able to defend myself.”

“You ran off without me. I told you to stick beside me and you failed to do that. Why?”

Huffing, I threw my arms in the air and spun away, frustration making me tense. “Because I wanted to get to Kieran before it was too late.”

“You’re so independent, you didn’t let me take care of you. I couldn’t leave the fighting to our pack, I had to help them first. If you were a real werewolf, you’d know that an alpha never leaves others to fight his battles. You’d also know that you should’ve stayed to help. We live and die as one.”

The sting made me clasp my hand across my chest. The tears came to my eyes as the truth echoed around us.

“And there I was,” I hiccupped, “feeling like I was starting to fit in.”

I turned and leant on the table as a sob wrenched from me. I didn’t want him to see me cry, but I couldn’t hold back the grief that rocked through me. So, my own mate believed that I didn’t belong.

His heavy breathing echoed around the room as I tried hard to stem the flow of tears. I had never, in my life, been through such emotional turmoil. Even Drake’s illness had been kinder to me.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered, his footsteps sounding before his breath hit the back of my neck. “That came out harshly. I know you’re learning and trying hard to be a good werewolf. I put you in this position in the first place. I… just wish I could’ve protected you that day. I failed. In every way possible, I failed you. And to hear you agree makes me feel so useless. I don’t deserve you.” Malone’s deep tone hit my eardrum, calming the pain.

His pine scent wafted around me as I turned and poked him in the chest.

“We both failed that night,” I barked, “in many ways.”

Running a hand over his short hair, he nodded and backed up, respecting my personal space. The anger that had wanted to explode from me melted into mushiness as his eyes filled, the film of water making them glassy.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed, “I should’ve been the man you needed.”

Before I could reply, he lifted his head and strode towards me. A gasp escaped me as his huge frame came flush with mine, his arms wrapping around me and hauling me off my feet. The pine scent of him wafted around me, settling on my skin like a weighted blanket.

Putting his mouth by my ear, he spoke gruffly. “Let me be that man now.”

Feeling the press of his muscle squashing my breasts and the heat of his body enveloping the whole of me, I nodded slowly. Crap, my resolve had lasted all of two seconds.

His tongue flicked out to trace my neck, right down to my collar bone. A shuddery breath left me as his arms squeezed me tight, threatening to never let go. My skin heated as he ran a hand up under my shirt and down around my side, clasping my hip.

“I missed you,” he whispered, pulling away to look into my eyes.

Desire shot through me, leaving my core moist and pulsating. I stared into his eyes and almost burst out crying again. No, the heavy thread of pure lust called me too strong. My heart had literally broken when Kieran had shoved a wedge between us. Now, I was no longer going to allow the bastard to keep me from my alpha.

“I missed you more than I missed English tea.”

My reply was met with the quirk of his lip. “Well then…” Lifting me up again, he planted his lips on mine as he spun around and walked us to the bed. “… I better remind you that I’m way better than fucking tea.”

“I would never fuck tea,” I whispered back, giggling before he covered my mouth with his lips, swallowing the sound.

The hilarity left me as fire ignited in the pit of my stomach, spreading to my core and down my thighs. Malone groaned as he fell onto the bed, his weight crushing me into the mattress.

Shit, it felt so good to be beneath my man again. The heat between us was so hot, I could barely breathe. He reared up from me, ripping my leggings and underwear down my legs.