Page 12 of Bullied Alpha Bride (Wolfshade Brides-for-Hire #2)

I can feel Lexa’s discomfort growing as we finish breakfast, but there’s nothing I can do to shield her from this situation.

It’s a fact of life that she will have to face the elders sooner or later, and even though I know it will be unpleasant for us both, I think getting the first contact out of the way will help Lexa feel more confident about our future.

I hope.

Hope is all I have, and I’m surprised to find out that I actually have a lot of it.

Secrets from the past, the conflicts within the pack, and my past with Lexa form sharp jaws around me that I can’t escape, but deep inside me, there is a glowing flame of faith that gets stronger every second I spend with her.

And it’s because I felt it in her kiss…

I get up from the table to do the dishes so I don’t run the risk of saying something too forward or revealing my emotions. The truth is, I’m still hung up on last night, and the urge to grab her and press my lips to hers is so strong I can barely think straight.

The run through the woods awakened that spark in me, and I felt her wolf answering mine. There was no denying the connection between us, a deep, enduring knowledge that our primal souls are bound as one, always have been, and always will be.

When she initiated the kiss, it surprised me, but didn’t shock me. I knew after our wolves had run together, it was only a matter of time until our human sides were brought together as well.

Magnetism. Pulled together. The closer we get, the stronger the draw.

My body starts to wake, and sensory memories from the night before begin to throb through my body. I focus intently on washing the bowl, scrubbing hard at the edges to banish last night’s encounter from my mind.

I manage to hold it at bay and not give in to it, but the memory of that kiss still lives on my skin, and I don’t want to forget it.

It’s the source of all my hope…

I finish the dishes and turn around, hoping that my smile is easy and relaxed. I already had enough to hide—adding furious, burning arousal to the weight I’m already carrying seems impossible—but I have to stay cool if I want to make Lexa feel safe.

She looks up at me and smiles. Her pale gray eyes light up, shining like crystal. This looks like a true expression, not something forced, and the hope inside me blooms.

“Ready to go?” I ask.

“Sure,” she says, shrugging. “It’s not like I have a purse or anything to get. I’ve got absolutely nothing of my own here.”

How did she end up in Gryphon Eyrie with no belongings? Where the hell has she been?

“I can take you shopping,” I answer. “After the meeting, we can go to town and get anything you need.”

“Sounds good,” she agrees.

Even though she smiles, she doesn’t get up, and I can feel her reluctance growing.

“It’s okay,” I say gently. “You’re the alpha’s mate, and you aren’t walking into this meeting as the town misfit. You’re walking in as their queen.”

Lexa looks away, a little shiver running through her. “That doesn’t exactly make me feel better.”

“Well, maybe think of yourself as a princess?” I chuckle. “Or, I don’t know, ‘insert confidence-building noun.’ Call yourself whatever you like.”

For a moment, there is so much pain in her eyes, I wish I could take the words back, even though I don’t know what was wrong with them. Her mouth twists into a hard line as her face pales.

“Someone used to call me princess,” she says quietly. “Someone I don’t like.”

“Okay,” I say, floundering. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she answers, sighing. “You didn’t know.”

I stand there for another couple of seconds, feeling like I’m in the deep end of a pool with no edge in sight. To my relief, Lexa gets up and sticks her phone in her pocket, walking determinedly towards the front door.

The meeting is being held in the rec hall today, which is slightly less formal than the other locations, but a lot less than the study behind the church.

I would have liked for Lexa to meet the council in a more casual setting, but I had to bargain hard enough with Loretta to get this concession. There was no hope of doing any better.

Loretta would have had a town ceremony, with Lexa standing up on a podium for the entire pack to stare at and judge. I can’t imagine anything worse.

When we pull up in the parking lot, Lexa jumps out confidently, but I can see the color draining from her cheeks.

I wish I could hold her hand or put an arm around her. I’d do anything to give her comfort and strength.

Even though it’s hard, I resist the urge to touch her. I know that the urge is more about comforting myself than her, and it’s important to put her needs first.

Lexa pauses at the big swing doors, and I step in front of her to shove them open. The council is gathered around a huge table in the center of the room, and the way everyone looks up at once is almost comical.

Even from across the room, I see Loretta’s eyes narrow. Her lips curve in a cruel smile, and I have to wonder what evil torture she’s planning.

I’m still thinking about calling her out to the alpha’s challenge. Grandfather killed a lot of wolves that way—enemy or not, he didn’t really care, just so long as it spread his reign of terror.

“Hey!” Cass yells, bouncing up and down. Her high, excited voice shatters the silence and breaks the tension. She runs towards us, and I see Lexa flinch a little.

Cass either pays no attention or doesn’t even notice. She barrels straight up to us and wraps her arms around Lexa, giving her a squeeze.

“So great to see you!” she cries. “It’s about time Kit took a mate, and I was so happy to hear that it was you, Lexa.”

“Really?” Lexa asks, looking stiff in Cass’s arms.

“Misha works with me at the charity center, and Kate is good friends with my sister. When you first left, they were really worried about you.”

Lexa’s eyes fill with tears, and her lip trembles. “Are they alright?” she asks. “I never got to say goodbye.”

“They’re doing great,” Cass says, hugging Lexa again. “And they can’t wait to see you.”

Cass holds on to Lexa for a little longer, giving her time to get herself back under control. I feel like a complete idiot that I didn’t look into Lexa’s friends from school and try to get her in contact with them.

“When you’re done assaulting her, can we get on with this, please?” Mabel asks, rapping the table with her knuckles.

“You think everything is an assault,” Cass replies flippantly as she takes Lexa’s hand to lead her towards the table. “No matter how soft and gentle I am, you continue to spread the complete lie that I am a violent brute.”

“Excuse me?” Mabel replies, indignant. “Should I show everyone the bite marks?”

Cass wiggles her eyebrows. “Bold choice, but I won’t stop you.”

Xavier bursts out laughing, and Mabel narrows her eyes, shooting mental daggers at Cass. I move over to the side of the table and pull out a chair, gesturing for Lexa to sit. She moves gratefully out of the line of fire and takes a seat out of the action.

“If you’re done,” Loretta says in a scathing tone, “can we return to business?”

“I don’t know,” Cass mutters, sounding completely mystified. “Can we?”

Loretta’s face goes red, and she looks like she’s about to explode.

After my grandparents died, I was required to appoint three new council members, and I chose Cass, Xavier, and Mabel because they were very active in the community.

All three volunteer regularly for charity and help to even the class divide in Cyan Lock.

And they are all my age with innovative ideas for the future. All of them can help me take the pack in a new direction.

Loretta looked like she was going to rip my face off when I made the announcement, but speaking against me at that time would definitely have resulted in the alpha’s challenge. As much as she disagrees with me, it’s obvious she wants to avoid that.

Even if she considers me to be a misbehaving pup, she knows what I’ve done. What grandfather forced me to do. He made me into a killing machine, and no one knows it better than his right-hand lady.

“The ball,” Loretta says, clearing her throat. “We are here to discuss this year’s event. We should keep with tradition and have it here at the hall. The usual caterers. I’ll take care of the invitations. The dress code will be—”

“Wait, wait,” Mabel cuts in, waving her hand. “Word about town is that most people are sick of the formal ball. To truly include the whole pack, I’d like to propose a carnival. We can have rides and junk food. Games for the kids, face painting, balloons—”

“Excuse me?” Loretta cuts her off. “Are you really suggesting we turn our formal dinner into a literal circus?”

“Yes,” Cass answers, grinning. She puts her elbows on the table and props her chin in her hands, raising her eyebrows at Loretta.

“The first families won’t stand for this,” Derrik says firmly. “They won’t be comfortable going to such an informal event, and they won’t like the break in tradition. Thank you for your suggestion, Mabel, but Kit—”

“Thinks it’s a great idea,” I finish for him. “I need to do a bit of thinking about the location, because we’ll need a lot of room. But otherwise, I think a carnival would be wonderful.”

“Yay!” Cass bounces in her chair. “Great! I already booked a cotton candy machine.”

Loretta glares as if the force of her gaze could push Cass right off her chair. Cass looks over at Loretta and smiles sweetly. I have to bite my tongue to stop myself from laughing.

“Get together a list,” I say to the others. “Just something basic at this stage, what sort of rides and games we want, and food. Then we’ll hash out exactly what we need.”

“This is going to be so fun,” Xavier says. “I was not looking forward to six hours in a tight suit.”

“It’s tradition!” Loretta hisses at him.

“To dress as befits our station, gather with those of the highest class, and discuss between us what shall be done with the pack for the next year and what could be improved from previous years. We are the ruling class, and it is our right to govern and divide the profits of this town as we see fit.”

There is a shocked silence around the table as everyone stares at Loretta.

We were all thinking it, but did she really just say it out loud?

“You mean, take more than your share?” Lexa asks Loretta very softly. “Exert your power over those weaker than you and consume more resources than you need so you can let others starve? Is that what you mean by rule?”

Loretta turns her gaze on Lexa, and the two women glare at each other. Even though Lexa stays casually seated in her chair, there is a quiet resistance in her that slowly overpowers Loretta’s high-born indignance.

“I’d expect no less from you,” Loretta spits.

“Watch it,” I growl, letting my wolf shimmer in my eyes and echo in my voice. I want to make it clear to Loretta that if she threatens my mate, I won’t wait for a challenge—I’ll just tear her apart right here and now.

Loretta takes a deep breath, blinking as she turns to me. I watch her visibly compose herself, letting the rage slide away as she covers it with a perfect mask of civility.

“I—or anyone else on this council, for that matter—don’t have to listen to a single word from this…

female.” She spits the last word out, as if she wishes it could have been a worse one.

“Lexa has been appointed by name and contract only. She has not earned her position and, as such, has no authority here.”

“But I do,” I say, glaring at her. “And I command you to listen to Lexa and take her every word under consideration.”

“Of course I will, Alpha,” Loretta practically purrs. “I remain ever loyal. But you and I are both aware of the duty that must be fulfilled before Lexa can truly claim her position.”

Don’t say it, you fucking bitch.

Loretta smiles, licking her lips a little as if the words she’s about to speak feel delicious in her mouth.

“In order to be truly accepted as luna, Lexa must bear heirs to the alpha. Without that service, she is just… a consort. A momentary distraction.”

The words cut the air with the force of a blade. A strangled gasp gets caught in Lexa’s throat. I reach out to her, but she’s already running, shoving away from the table so hard, the chair crashes to the floor. She bolts from the room.

“Not a shred of class,” Loretta mutters.

“We are not done here!” I roar, pointing at her. “You’ve challenged my authority too many times now to be unpunished. I will be back to settle this matter with you—make no mistake!”

Loretta nods and tries to keep her face calm, but I see a flash of fear deep in her eyes.

Good. You should fear me more than anyone ever feared the old man.

Not wasting another second, I turn and go after Lexa.