Page 59 of The Forbidden Alpha

I headed toward our bedroom ready for whatever waited for me. I hated that I froze when I saw her for the first time. Sabine lay in bed, her legs spread, completely naked—all honeyed skin and effortless elegance. She was a masterpiece of soft curves and confidence, making my outfit feel inadequate by comparison, and my position laughable. When her eyes locked on me in the doorway, they raked over my outfit, then landed on my unmarked throat. The feeling of another woman being in my space hurt me more than anything I’d dealt with before. This act of betrayal shook the foundation Ethan and I had been building on. The knowledge that this was what he got from her had my heart splintering.

“You heard him leave. Your act and your presence are unwelcome,” I said, my voice steady. I wouldn’t let her see any more than she already had.

“Ethan prefers I wait until he’s had his fill,” she said, her voice a smooth purr. I flinched, her words striking me harder than any slap. Her blue eyes flashed with satisfaction; she had drawn first blood.

“You’ll get up or I’ll drag you out of here by your hair,” I promised.

“I’d like to see a wolfless bitch try,” she scoffed. She sat up and crossed her arms, the movement highlighting her perfect tits.

“Moving me to the lower suites doesn’t make him all yours. It only means he’s made space for you. I’ve been in this bed since he took over, and I promise, I’m not going anywhere.”

I made my way into her space, refusing to let her occupy an inch of my peace even as my heart cracked. Something surged through my veins, a low snarl bubbling behind my ribs. Elevators chimed and the sound of his footsteps echoed down the hall.

“You’re a tool for his pleasure, Sabine. His words, not mine,” I said, my voice steady even as my blood boiled.

Ethan froze in the doorway. “Deal with your whore. Today. Or I’m gone. I won’t share you with her.”

I didn’t wait for him to respond. I walked out of the room. He moved out of my way, and I retreated to the kitchen. I needed distance before my anger consumed me. I hated that they were in that room together, but I couldn’t sleep in there, couldn’t be in there now that she’d laid in our sheets.

Everything blurred as I made my way down the hallway and into the kitchen. I was leaning against the cool marble of the counter, my chest heaving, when the sound of the bedroom door clicking shut echoed like a gunshot. Ethan hadn’t immediately dragged her out; he was still in there with her.

There was a mug and teabag waiting for me. My fingers trembled as I boiled water. I couldn’t sit still.

My skin crawled, my hearing sharpening. I heard the explosion before I heard the words.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Ethan’s voice was a low growl that spiked into a snarl.

Her voice was quiet, timid through the walls. Then came a sharp bang against the wall followed by her sobs. I’d wanted him to get rid of her, but the raw violence of the impact made a weight drop in my chest. I wanted her gone, not slaughtered. I couldn’t be responsible for her death. Would he hurt her?

A loud growl made the walls vibrate. His wolf was in full control and he was enraged by the intrusion in his den. I heard the door swing open and bang as feet scrambled down the hallway. She screamed and then skidded against the floor before grabbing her shawl, wrapping it around her body. Our gaze locked, her hair a mess, eyes glassy, overflowing with terror making her blue eyes look fractured. Twin tracks of mascara ran down her cheeks before she turned toward the elevator. The sound of her stabbing the elevator button desperately echoed through the open floor.

As soon as she was gone, the door closing, I exhaled a breath of relief. With shaking hands, I poured water into the mug. I clung to it like it could settle the war in my heart.

A moment later, Ethan appeared in the kitchen. His aura poked and prodded at me, checking to see if I’d been hurt. He took a step toward me.

“Adea,” he started, his voice thick as his hand wrapped around my wrist.

“Get out. I need to be alone,” I snapped, my voice cracking. I pulled my hand away and he released me. “Don’t come near me right now. I smell her on you, Ethan. She’s in the halls, in our sheets.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, and I heard something break in it.

“Please.” I finally met his gaze. I was already angry before we got home, but the betrayals were stacking up, and I didn’t hide my hate. “Leave.”

His mouth opened like he wanted to argue, green eyes flashing gold. Then, he walked into the hallway and when the elevator chimed, I knew he was gone.

I moved to the living room, the place that smelled less like her. I collapsed onto the deep cushions of the sectional, pulling my knees to my chest as I braced the heavy matte black mug between my palms. I drank the tea quickly, the hot liquid scalding my throat as I swallowed. I was desperate for the calming effect that came all too quickly. The room began to tilt as my gaze locked on the cloudless sky outside.

Exhaustion fell over me, and the canvas of the sky blurred into a smear of blue. My muscles refused to work. I couldn’t move, my head lolled uselessly against the velvet of the seat, and the room spun one last time before the world went dark.

Chapter 32

A chime woke me. It was dark, and every breath I took was labored. My vision blurred, the edges of the room swimming in dark shadows, and my nose stung, clogged by the thick, hurtful residue of the lilies. Sabine stained every inch of what was supposed to be my home. Ethan was here, but just out of reach. He watched me from the shadows, the silence stretching between us. I reached for him before my lashes fluttered closed again. They were so heavy, weighed down by an exhaustion I couldn’t fight. I felt sick, my blood moving slow through my veins—not grief, something heavier. My fingers wouldn’t close the way I told them to. This is what a broken heart feels like. It had to be.

My mate. I sensed him.

His firm arms enveloped me, pulling me into his heat. I rubbed my cheek against his chest as he growled—a low painful sound that made my soul ache. Large, calloused hands slid over my hip, claiming and trembling. My anger bled away. I needed the heat to settle the unease, the pain. I needed him, his weight crushing the insecurity, the jealousy I felt.

“You came back,” I rasped, my voice a broken whisper against his chest. I couldn’t open my eyes. I wanted to make sure there was no guilt in his gaze. I wanted him.