Page 43 of My Grumpy Alpha

I try to pull away from her, but my brain and body can’t physically connect on that level of insanity.

It’s all up to her.

Or maybe it’s up to me. So I do the shittiest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. To protect her. To keep her safe.

“It was just fucking,” I grate out.

“And it wasn’t even that great… but I appreciate the effort, now leave!”

I yell the last part.

She stumbles out of her stupor and looks around the room in a daze, tears in her eyes, they finally land on mine. They’re shining a weird purple and blue. Something I’ve never seen before.

God, they shimmer, and as soon as I see it.

The shimmer leaves nothing but darkness and pain, embarrassment I put there because I had no self-control.

I open my mouth to say something, but what can I actually say? You’re lucky this werewolf bastard didn’t bite you? You’re lucky that you won’t be tied to me forever when I know I’ll look back on this moment and regret everything, selfishly, I’ll regret it all.

I’ve been tempted my whole life to want more.

I’ve never been tempted, however, to want more for another person other than Gabe, but I want that for Ava.

I don’t deserve whatever kindness she has in her soul, and I sure as hell don’t deserve to claim her as mine when I know how badly that can end for people who aren’t willing.

I lift my chin.

“Get dressed. Leave.”

I’m still hopelessly naked.

She takes one look at me.

“Am I fired?”

“No.” I snap.

“I just didn’t realize your duties would take you this far.”

Tears stream down her cheeks.

“I didn’t mean…” She squeezes her eyes shut.

“I swear, I didn’t know. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, I’ve never had this happen with a boss before. I wasn’t trying to seduce you.”

“You can’t help it,” I whisper.

“Even if you wanted to. It’s in your blood.”

And it truly feels like it is.

She swallows and awkwardly grabs her clothing, pulling them on, her shirt backward, her shorts barely covering her ass before she points to the bar top.

“Left the portfolio. I’ll just be getting back.”

The door slams hard behind her.

And the first of the pain, within minutes, as if breaking my bones, crunching my body, begging my soul to live it—appears.