Page 142 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two

“You help yourself,” I said. “I’ll just make the nest a bit safer…”

She looked unsure, but I was already scrambling beneath the bed. Rogue had helped me store emergency nesting materials—and this wasdefinitelyan emergency.

I felt better when half the bed was drowning in piles of sketchbooks—all different sizes—and pencil cases stuffed with every kind of drawing stuff anyone could need.

Much, much better.

I calmed just looking at them.

I munched on toast while she stared at the piles, still carrying something nervous in her sugar dust scent.

She hadn’t eaten, but she’d taken her meds. It took a while before she moved, but finally she picked up a sketchbook and pencil.

‘How long until I have to go back?’ she wrote, the words shaky across the paper.

“Back?” I squeaked. “No, no, you’re not going back.”

She stared, eyes uncomprehending.

Finally, she scribbled: ‘They told me I’d never leave.’

“My god Alpha—uh… Ace,” I corrected quickly, cheeks pink. “He fixed it. He got you out. And you can stay here as long as you want. No one is gonna bother you if you don’t want them to. And the Misfits—they’re so cool, they came from places like you did. They live down the hall, and they’re making you a nest right now—if you want it.” The words kept spilling out. “But you can stay here as long as you want. We have movies, and sketchbooks, and pencils…” I swallowed. That sounded stupid. She could see that. “And I can get anything else, if there’s stuff you like doing—but you’re never gonna see Bitch-face-Bella again.” My blood ran hot.

Her eyes widened, her face going pale at what I’d called Bella.

I cleared my throat. “Uh. I’m allowed to say that. It’s a long story but she’s like… my mortal enemy. Knox ismyAlpha, but he’s technically scent-matched to her. Then she threatened me to force him to bite in, so we went there to kill her so I could get my Alpha back. But then…” I trailed off, eyes drifting to the spot on her wrist where I’d drawn the heart. “I’m… sorry.” The word was a rasp.

Bambi followed my gaze, brows pinching as she looked down.

To my shock, she panicked. She rifled through the Sharpie case until she pulled out a red marker, shoved it into my hands, and held her wrist out.

“I…” My voice wobbled. “I thought…”

But tears beaded in her eyes as she gripped my arm, her breathing sharp.

“O-okay.”

Her tears were tumbling freely now, so I added another heart next to it for good measure. Finally, the spike of burnt sugar in the air faded. Had she been worried I might not do it again?

Like… she was worried I didn’t want her here?

She settled, clutching a pillow and Bunny close again, pencil and notepad before her. I retrieved mine from Bunny’s pouch, but shot her a sideways glance.

She…wantedthe mark?

Wantedit?

After everything, Bunny?

It was a while before she picked up the pad again, but when she did it was to ask: ‘Bella’s still alive?’

I chewed on my pencil. “For now. But they won’t let her get away.”

‘Did you get your Alpha back?’ she asked.

“Yes. Well. He can’t bite me yet, but we’ll figure it out…” I shoved away the thought of Knox being bonded to her.

‘You saved me,’ she wrote.