Alphas burden

Her cheeks color and she narrows her gaze before going back to ignoring me.

The longer I stay because it feels right to be near her, the more irritated she becomes. I’m a looming presence intruding on her space. She growls at me when I’m blocking her path. There aren’t many places to move in the tiny cabin.

After she’s tucked her youngest sister into bed, she grabs my wrist and drags me outside. A creaking noise distracts me. I stop to inspect the door.

“Do you want me to send the healer to check on Lena?”

“Don’t bother. I’ve got it covered.”

“Are you sure? If I send him, he might be able to help.”

“He’s a hack.”

My frown deepens. The hinges are probably shot and the door’s not worth salvaging. I’ll need to replace it all to resolve the noise.

“Damn it, would you stop that?” she snaps.

She attempts to push me away from fussing with the door. Even with her improved strength now that she has a wolf, she’s barely able to make me budge when I don’t want to. She releases a terse sigh when I kneel to examine the ancient, rusted hinges closer.

“It’s just—like that, okay? I’ve tried to fix it,” she grits out. “There’s nothing to be done.”

“You’ve tried to fix this? On your own?” The question comes out through my teeth and she takes it the wrong way.

“Yes, Caden. When something breaks around here, who are we going to call? The maintenance crew?” She tosses her head with a scoff that rubs my fur the wrong way. “The only one I can rely on for help is myself.”

She shakes her head at my sharp look and storms off the porch.

My jaw works and I stretch my head side to side to ease the tension stiffening every muscle in my body. There’s no threat to fight. Not a physical one. The growl working its way up my throat is an overreaction caused by this damn bond for leaving my fated mate to fend for herself in such an extreme way.

I was an idiot to think she wouldn’t be a worthy Alpha female. A worthy mate. I’m the unworthy one, not her.

My chest constricts with dread. I rejected her. Fuck, is it too late to undo my mistakes? Would she want me if I accept the bond?

I push to my feet with another rumble and make it to her with long strides by the time she reaches the woods. She stumbles and I automatically catch her elbow to keep her steady.

“I’m fine.” She yanks free and rubs at her chest.

I feel the urge to do the same because the mad pulsing insisting I drag her body against mine and claim her mouth is driving me to the brink of madness.

“If you came to petition for help, it would be my duty as Alpha to hear you out,” I argue, unable to control my volume. “You’re still part of this pack.”

She halts, shoulders heaving with heavy breaths. Then she turns and meets my eye. The death glare she serves me would be viewed as a direct challenge by anyone, yet my heartbeat races for an entirely different reason.

Avery Morgan is beautiful and entirely too tempting when she’s furious.