Semua Bab The Alpha I shouldn't crave: Bab 31 - Bab 40

MARCUS POVThe bodies had been disposed of, evidence scattered and covered, official reports filed that painted the incident as a territorial dispute gone wrong.Three days since the massacre in the forest, three days of cleanup and damage control and answering questions from pack leadership about why I'd single-handedly slaughtered twenty-three wolves."Self-defense," I'd said, which was technically true even if it didn't capture the savage enjoyment I'd taken in each kill.The council had accepted my explanation with varying degrees of skepticism, but none of them pushed too hard, afraid of what they might uncover if they looked too closely at the monster living among them.Now I sat alone in my hotel room, the treaty negotiations finally concluded, free to return home but finding reasons to delay.My phone rested on the desk, Sandra's contact information pulled up on the screen, and I'd been staring at it for the past hour.My thumb hovered over the call button, indecision paralyzi

SANDRA POVThe silence that followed our simultaneous confession stretched, heavy with implications neither of us knew how to address.My heart hammered against my ribs, the words hanging between us like a bridge I couldn't decide whether to cross or burn."Sandra—" Marcus started, his voice thick with emotion I couldn't interpret.I ended the call.My thumb hit the red button before my conscious thought could stop it, his voice cut off mid-word.The phone immediately started ringing, Marcus's name flashing across the screen, and I stared at it in horror.Ring. Ring. Ring.I couldn't answer, I couldn't face whatever conversation would follow that mutual admission.I couldn't handle the weight of wanting two people in completely incompatible ways.The ringing stopped, then started again seconds later.I turned the phone face-down, pressing my palms against my ears to block out the sound, but it vibrated against the mattress in accusatory pulses.Guilt crashed over me in suffocating wa

MARCUS POVThe line went dead, I stared at my phone in shocked disbelief.She'd just told me she missed me, we'd said it simultaneously like some fucking cosmic joke, and then she'd hung up without explanation.I hit redial immediately, my heart hammering with panic.The phone rang once, twice, five times, then went to voicemail.Her voice, bright and professional, told me to leave a message, and I ended the call to try again.Ring. Ring. Voicemail."Fuck," I muttered, pacing the hotel room, my wolf suddenly restless beneath my skin. "Sandra, pick up the fucking phone."I tried again, and again, each attempt going straight to voicemail, and alarm bells started screaming in my head.Something was wrong, my instincts howling with warning I couldn't ignore.I fired off a text: 'Sandra, answer your phone. Now.'Nothing.Another: 'If this is about what we said, we can talk about it, just let me know you're okay.'Still nothing, the messages showing as delivered but unread.My wolf was claw

SANDRA POVI woke up in Marcus's bed surrounded by his scent, and for several long moments I couldn't remember how I'd gotten here.The last clear memory was talking to Marcus on the phone, our simultaneous confession hanging between us, then cutting the call in panic.After that, everything was painful fragments in my head."You're awake," Marcus's voice came from the doorway, I turned to find him watching me with an expression I couldn't read."What happened?" I asked, my throat raw like I'd been screaming. "Why am I in your room?"He crossed to sit on the edge of the bed, his hand hovering near mine but not quite touching. "You don't remember anything?"I searched my fractured memories, finding only gaps and shadows. "I remember calling you, then hanging up, then... nothing, just waking up here."Something flickered in Marcus's eyes, he finally let his hand close over mine. "You collapsed in the basement, some kind of episode, by the time I got home you were unconscious."The expl

SANDRA POVThe word escaped before doubt could creep in and ruin this moment. "Yes."Damon's face transformed, hope blooming into pure joy. "Yes? You mean it?""I mean it," I confirmed, my heart racing with equal parts excitement and terror. "I want to try this with you."He pulled me into his arms immediately, crushing me against his chest. "You have no idea how happy that makes me."I buried my face in his neck, breathing in his familiar scent. Cedar and rain. This was right. This was what I should want.The tiny voice whispering about Marcus, I shoved down deep and ignored.Damon pulled back just enough to look at me. His eyes were soft with emotion I hadn't seen since before the rejection. "Can I kiss you?."I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.He cupped my face gently. His thumbs stroked my cheekbones with reverence. Then he leaned in slowly, giving me time to change my mind.Our lips met softly. The kiss was gentle, and sweet, I wish it never stop.His mouth m