Page 17 of Plus-Size Bullied Mate

I hated them after the fact, and a part of me still does, but Tessa was never them. Still, it didn’t stop me from treating her badly anyway, and even now, that guilt still exists inside me.

Tessa watches me carefully now, like she’s waiting for another command she can fight against.

“You’re staying,” I say finally, quieter this time. “Argue with me tomorrow.”

“I’ll argue with you now.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Despite everything, a small part of me wants to let some amusement slip, given how stubborn she’s being. Instead, I gesture toward the hallway. “The guest room’s upstairs.”

She doesn’t move.

“Tessa.”

The silence falls into place again before I finally murmur, “You should rest.”

Tessa stares at me like she’s trying to decide if I’ve lost my mind entirely, and in all honesty, it feels entirely possible.

Still, exhaustion eventually wins over anger, and I see the exact moment it happens.

Her shoulders sag slightly while the fight drains from her expression, little by little, until only weariness remains, and as much as I don’t like seeing her worn down, it means there’s a chance we can move past the arguing.

My wolf settles marginally at the sight. She’s safe for now, and that’s what matters.

Without another word, Tessa finally turns and heads upstairs.

I wait until she disappears completely before moving, and the second she’s out of sight, I brace both hands against the nearest chair and drop my head with a long, slow exhale.

What the fuck is happening to me?

Chapter 5 - Tessa

The house smells like cedar, coffee, and a unique brand of humiliation meant just for me.

I don’t know how long I stare at the unfamiliar ceiling above the guest bed while morning light spills through the curtains, and for one horrifying second, I forget where I am.

Then memory crashes back all at once, forcing me to see images of Hayes, the fight, and Hunter carrying me through the woods like a caveman.

My stomach twists at the thought of how that must’ve looked.

I’m trapped in his house. The alpha’s house, no less.

Of all the cruel jokes the universe could’ve played on me, this one feels especially personal.

Rolling onto my side with a groan, lingering exhaustion makes my limbs feel heavier than usual. As tired as I was, I didn’t sleep well at all.

Every dream turned into some distorted tangle of past and present, of Hunter at sixteen smirking while his friends laughed behind him, of him pinning Hayes to the ground with murder in his eyes, all because of me. Of Hunter looking at me like I was suddenly beyond important.

I bury my face in the pillow briefly and try to push down every unexpected thing that does to me.

This cannot be my life now, and I never asked for it to be.

The room itself is too nice for comfort, with a large bed, thick blankets, and polished dark wood furniture. The lighting is deceptively soft for somewhere I’m being held captive.

I’m in deeper pack territory.

Alpha territory.