Page 19 of Brutal Alpha’s Sold Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #4)

I’m done watching my brothers tear this pack apart—and me along with it.

That’s the thought blasting through my mind as Jacob finally storms out, leaving a trail of tension in his wake.

My ribs feel like lead pipes are jammed into them, courtesy of Reed’s fists, but I won’t give Jacob the satisfaction of seeing how much it hurts.

After the latest border attack, I marched straight into Reed’s territory, ready to throw accusations—and fists—if necessary.

And of course, it got ugly. Reed didn’t even try to deny the accusation at first, mostly because he was too busy swinging back after I shoved him.

Once the dust settled, he claimed the attacks weren’t his doing and threw my lack of evidence in my face.

Turns out, I was indeed wrong. It was Jacob all along.

Once Jacob is well out of sight, I let out a shaky breath and lean against the wall. My side throbs with every heartbeat. Kai moves closer, her eyes moving to my bruised torso. She’s still recovering, but she has enough strength to hover like a worried hawk.

“What happened?”

I sigh, waving a hand as if to brush it off. “Reed and I had a discussion.”

Her brows shoot up. “A discussion that left you looking like that? What did you do?”

“I confronted him about the border attacks,” I admit. “It didn’t go well.”

Her frown deepens. “And by ‘didn’t go well,’ you mean what? You accused him, and he decked you?”

“Something like that.” I grimace as I shift my weight. “He claims he’s innocent, but I wasn’t about to let him off easy.”

Kai crosses her arms. “And you thought fighting him was the best approach? Theo, you’re supposed to be smarter than this.”

“Can we skip the lecture? I already feel like shit.”

She huffs. “Can we also skip the part where you pretend you’re fine? Because I can see you’re hurting.”

I let my shoulders slump. “Jacob’s threat was the last straw. I’m tired of all this—fighting Reed, cleaning up Jacob’s messes, defending the pack from every new problem. My body’s had about enough, too.”

She exhales, then steps in front of me, running her eyes over my face. “Fists and fangs won’t fix your issues with them.” She gestures toward my side. “You’re bleeding again.”

I glance down at the clumsy bandage slapped over my ribs. Dried blood stains the corner. “It’s nothing.”

She lifts the edge of my shirt, anyway, gently probing. I flinch, and she grimaces. “You’re done pushing through for today,” she declares. “We’re going inside.”

I could argue, but I don’t. After she says goodbye to her students, I follow her into the cabin, wincing as I stumble.

She shuts the door and guides me upstairs to the bed.

The same bed where I made love to her last night.

The sheets are still messy, but I lose focus when my side flares in protest when I sit. I grit my teeth and keep my mouth shut.

She grabs the worn first-aid kit off a nearby shelf, right where I left it the last time. “Shirt off,” she orders.

“Not even a first date?” I mutter, trying for humor.

She snorts. “We’re way past that.” Then she helps me tug the shirt free, baring a mess of bruises and half-healed cuts across my torso. She shakes her head. “Reed did a number on you.”

I glance aside. “I thought he was behind the raids, and what happened to you. I was wrong. He made sure I knew it.”

She disinfects a gash with gentle precision. I hiss at the sting. “Maybe next time, check the facts before throwing accusations around. Your watchers can’t keep peeling you off the ground.”

“He’s done worse to me and to this pack. He’s not innocent.”

“Maybe not,” she concedes. “But you were wrong this time.”

Silence settles between us. My chest tightens. I recall Reed’s furious face, the blows we traded, and the realization I’d once again stoked our never-ending conflict.

She unsheathes a fresh bandage, then reaches for a salve. “Don’t you think you should apologize to him?”

“Apologize?” I almost laugh, though it hurts. “You think he’d accept it?”

She lifts a shoulder. “That’s his problem. The question is, can you swallow your pride to admit your mistake?”

I try to regulate my breathing, ignoring the burn in my side. “I’m not sure I can. Reed’s been undermining me for ages.”

She sets the salve aside. “Still, if you attacked him under false pretenses, you owe him something.”

She’s right, but everything inside me revolts at the thought of kneeling to Reed in any capacity. “I’ll think about it,” I grumble.

She eyes me, then gently pushes me back against the pillows. “At least rest for now. You’re done for the day.”

I settle into the bedding, letting out a groan when a jolt of pain shoots through my ribs. “Nothing’s ever simple with us,” I complain. “One brother threatens my mate, the other one wants my head on a pike. The pack is caught in the crossfire. I’m stuck between pride and doing what’s right.”

Kai shuffles around, tidying stray objects. “I know. I’m in it, too, remember?”

I close my eyes, exhaustion weighing me down. “I hate that you’re dragged into it. You should be focusing on healing your wolf, not patching me up.”

A slight smile touches her lips. “We’re both wounded. We’ll mend faster if we’re not alone. That’s our nature.”

Her words soothe something raw in me, like a balm on a burn. “Thanks,” I tell her. “For everything.”

She finishes picking up, then turns back.

“Scoot over.” Before I can protest, she climbs onto the mattress beside me, mindful of my injuries.

We’ve shared a bed more than once now, and last night, we crossed a line that we can never uncross right in this very spot.

I try not to think about how much I need it.

The cabin’s shadows lengthen as we lie there. My ribs complain every time I move, so I try to stay still. She rests on her side, not exactly curled into me, but near enough for her warmth to seep across the space.

“You’ve got to stop taking hits for every pack problem,” she comments as her eyes drift shut. “Learn to delegate.”

“I’ll work on it,” I reply, my eyes half-lidded. “If I can survive my brothers, I can manage that.”

She snorts quietly, then a hush falls over us.

Pain hums in my ribs, but my brain drifts toward some semblance of rest, lulled by her presence.

My thoughts swirl around the possibility of apologizing to Reed, and the guilt presses harder than my injuries.

Eventually, I slip into a doze, and the world goes quiet for a while.

A dull ache in my side drags me to consciousness a few hours later.

The cabin is dark, with no sign of the setting sun.

My mind gropes through a haze, and my body is painfully aware of the heat next to me.

Kai sleeps on her back now, the blankets twisted around her bare legs.

My heartbeat spikes. A wave of need rushes through me, more intense than the pain.

I shift closer, ignoring the tug on my bandaged ribs. She murmurs something incoherent, and her eyelids flutter. In the low light, I see the soft line of her throat, the angle of her jaw, the parted curve of her lips. My breath catches, and an ache of another sort takes hold.

“Kai,” I whisper, leaning in and sliding my hand over her abdomen.

She stirs and peeks an eye open. “Theo? What’s wrong?”

My palm caresses her. Our bodies are only a hair’s breadth apart. I feel her inhale as I run a hand along her stomach, and the softest sigh slips free. My mouth hovers over hers. I want to taste her. To savor her. To show her what she means to me.

She leans closer, her lips touching mine.

It sends a shockwave through me. Her tongue flickers out, and a moan escapes me.

My fingers drift lower, and she arches into me, giving her answer.

I move, ignoring the pull on my wounds, and cover her with my body.

The contact sends a rush of desire straight to my groin.

She hooks a leg around mine, and her scent washes over me. It mingles with mine and fills my head. Her fingers dig into my back as I press kisses along her throat. She moans my name, and a surge of need rips through me.

My hand trails between her legs. She shudders as she reaches out to wrap her hand around my pulsing erection. Our hips move in a rhythm that makes me gasp. I want her. I need her. More than I’ve ever needed anything in my life.

I slide a finger inside her. She gasps, clenching around me. “Theo, yes.”

Her fingers trace my length, and a growl slips out. The scent of her arousal surrounds us, and my cock hardens even more. I can barely breathe. My tongue teases the sensitive spot between her breasts.

I slide my fingers deeper inside her, and she trembles. Her hand strokes my cock. The sensation is dizzying. The heat. The tension. Everything builds inside me.

I lean in and give her a hard, desperate kiss as I pull her closer. Her breasts press against my chest, and her heart pounds in time with mine.

My fingers pump faster. The heat coils tight, and our bodies move together, seeking release. Our lips find each other again, and the kiss is hot, urgent, almost frantic. I’m on fire, burning with need. She gasps against my mouth, her grip tightening around my length.

But I can’t take it anymore. I need to be inside her. I pull her closer and position myself at her entrance. With one thrust, I bury myself inside her. A cry bursts from her. My hips rock against hers, and her walls clench around me.

We lose ourselves in the moment. Our bodies move together, seeking the release we need so badly. Our hands roam, exploring, teasing. Her nails rake across my back, and the sensation drives me wild.

I lean in and suck her nipple into my mouth. She gasps, arching her back. The fire grows hotter, and our movements become frantic. We’re both desperate for more, for each other. I reach between us, seeking the sensitive spot above her core, and she cries out.

My fingers stroke her, and her inner walls tighten around me. The sensation is incredible. Our bodies are pressed together, moving in perfect harmony. Our breaths come in gasps. Our hearts beat frantically. The pleasure builds, growing more intense. We’re both teetering on the edge.

I thrust harder. She meets me, matching my rhythm. The world disappears, and there’s only her, and me, and the pleasure building inside us.

The tension is unbearable. I’m on the edge, and so is she.

Our bodies move in sync, driving each other closer to oblivion.

Her hips buck against mine, the friction overwhelming.

I’m barely holding on, but she’s close. Her walls flutter around me, and she writhes, chasing her release.

Her cries echo in the cabin. It’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.

The fire consumes me, and I can’t hold back anymore. My orgasm slams into me, and her walls clench around me as she finds her own release. We ride the waves of pleasure together, clinging to each other. I collapse onto the bed. She curls up next to me, panting.

I hold her close, trying to catch my breath. Her scent surrounds me, a combination of sweat and sex. It’s intoxicating.

“Wow,” she breathes, her chest heaving.

I let out a quiet laugh, still riding the high. “Wow, indeed.”

I kiss her, savoring the taste of her lips. Our bodies are still entangled, and I’m reluctant to let go. Here, with her, is the only place I want to be. The world outside can wait. For a little while.