Page 54 of Betrayed Alpha Mate

“I think you need a break from all of this,” I suggest, and she frowns.

“A break? We can’t afford to take a break. We have to defeat—”

“Grimes will be defeated, one way or another,” I assure her, rising off my knees and taking a seat on the edge of the bed. “One day isn’t going to make a difference.”

Emily’s bottom lip trembles as she stifles the natural urge to be stubborn and refuse my suggestion, but there’s a definite change that is clear between who she is right now and who she was just a month ago.

“You know what? I think you’re right. I do need a break,” she relents, throwing her head back on the pillow and groaning. “I’m gonna sleep the whole day away.” Her eyes snap open suddenly, and she lifts her head. “In my room, of course.”

I chuckle lightly as I shake my head. “That’s not necessary, Em. You can stay here, if you’d like.” As I stand up, I point to the corner. “I’m gonna take the couch.”

As I’m about to draw my hand away, Emily grabs my wrist with her delicate fingers, her brows furrowed as if she has a million thoughts racing through her mind.

“Don’t, Sean,” she murmurs quietly, her eyes hidden behind the veil of her lashes as she looks down. “The bed’s big enough for both of us. And I need…” Emily’s voice tapers off, but I already know what she can’t bring herself to say out loud. That’s why I gently concede, slipping into the bed beside her and folding protective arms around her, drawing her into me. She sighs as she buries her face in the crook of my arm, and I feel the tension release from her.

A month ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of Emily being in my arms willingly, and right now, it feels like I’m living a dream. It’s a dream I don’t wish to wake up from, even if she’s in my bed because circumstances have forced us here.

I’m not ready to let go of her, or let go of my winning streak. If this is how I win Emily over, I plan on doing it properly this time.

“Hey, Em…?”

She stirs lightly in my arms. “Hm?”

“Maybe we should do something this evening. Something fun. Something to take our minds off everything else.”

A pause. Then, she murmurs, “Sounds good.”

I smile to myself, closing my eyes only so I can plot out the perfect evening that Emily will like. An evening in which I can properly sweep her off her feet, while letting her set the pace for whatever is going on between us.

Chapter 20 - Emily

Letting go of control and surrendering to the divine plan of the Moon Goddess has been like listening to a fork being scraped against a ceramic plate and grinding your teeth as your insides are churned, but there’s nothing you can do to stop the sound from ringing in your ears long after the utensil leaves the dish.

I’m grinding my teeth and questioning my every breath as I step into the shower stall, letting out the longest, deepest exhale as the warm water travels from the crown of my head, down my back, and whispers around my ankles.

I spent an entire day curled up in Sean’s arms, sleeping off the previous night like a hangover and doing it in the comfort of arms I once despised. I giggle to myself as I reach for the shampoo, feeling mischievous to be washing off the manly scent clinging to me when all we’d done was cuddle.

Waking up in his bed mid-afternoon came with another surprise when I found his side of the bed empty, but instead of panicking, I smelled morning coffee and was served a late breakfast in bed.

Sean has been doting on me ever since he moved me back to his house, and while I’m not complaining, his behavior now makes the past feel like a fever dream, as if the pain and heartache don’t even matter anymore.

Maybe it’s not supposed to matter, but the memory of the rejection is so deeply ingrained in my subconscious mind, linked to my fears and insecurities, that I don’t know how to remove it. The wound might be healing, but there’s still a scar remaining. And that’s the part of me the Harrower keeps scratching with a long nail, digging into an old wound to unravel my deepest, darkest fears.

That’s why I’m leaning more into this Goddess-ordained mate bond instead of dwelling on the past. It’s choosing light over dark, good over evil, and I’m just glad that the light is shining warmly on me today.

He suggested we get out of the house for the evening, and that’s why I’m dressing up with a giddy heart like some lovesick teenager whose crush just asked her out on a date.

“It’s not even a date!” I chastise myself as I inspect my reflection in the mirror. After what happened last night, Sean is posted outside my bedroom door like a royal guard, just to make sure that I don’t wander into the woods on my own. I cover my mouth with my hand as I giggle to myself, feeling silly for even considering this could be a date when he’s only doing something nice to get my mind off all the troubles I’ve been facing.

That’s all this is, even if I dressed up in my best summer dress with blue lilies printed on white cotton. I step out of the room, and Sean is waiting for me across the hall, leaning on the wall with his arms folded and one knee bent.

The moment I step out, his eyes glow like he’d been lit up from the inside. I feel an instant blush crawl up my cheeks at his silent reaction, wondering if I overdid it with the ruby-red lipstick when his gaze drifts up to my face.

Sean hesitates to say something, opening and shutting his mouth, then gulping as if to stop himself. He peels away from the wall, curtly bowing as he sticks out a hand. “Ready to go?”

“Where are we going?” I ask as I slip my hand into his, feeling the familiar stirrings of the mate bond awakening at the touch.

“I know how much you hate surprises, but would you mind just holding out for me until we get there?” Sean grins nervously as he opens the front door and allows me to step out first.