Page 8 of Ruthless Alpha Beast

Maybe Tara will understand?

I remove my arm from her back.

This is the girl I haven’t spoken to, haven’t even seen in God knows how long, but who I’ve somehow managed to touch and kiss in the space of just a few seconds.

I know she’s not my biggest fan. But maybe she’ll get that sometimes situations can be tricky, and sometimes things call for unconventional actions like these.

She turns and glares, her eyes hurtling not daggers but axes at my chest. (She’s not exactly tall enough to reach my face.)

“How dare you.”

Okay, yup, she definitely doesn’t understand. But I can explain.

“Listen, Tara, I can explain all of this if you just give me a chance to.”

I almost laugh at myself. Why am I talking to this tiny little female human as though I’m afraid? It’s her beauty. She’s like this rare flower, like a beautiful water lily that I just can’t stop staring at.

“You can shove your explanation back into that disgusting mouth of yours. I can’t even stand one more second of looking at your face.”

I blink, my mouth opens a little, but I’m in shock.

Before I know it, she’s walking off, and I’m watching the sway of those hips I still know so well.

Chapter 3 - Tara

I take the direct path home. No enjoying the scenery, or loitering around, or thinking about how beautiful the valley is.

I need to get home.

I’m trying to control my breathing, which is causing my chest to rise and fall at an alarming rate. I’m breathing so fast, it’s like I’ve forgotten how to breathe, and so I look up at the sky and will myself to calm down.

Just get to your cabin,I tell myself,then you’ll be safe. But it’s not my physical safety I’m worried about—it’s all the chaotic thoughts swirling around my head.

His lips, the way he felt, the way I had absolutely zero control! Who let him kiss me like that? Who gave him the right?

You did, Tara, youdid. Then you completely went along with everything he said.

But what was I supposed to do?

I look behind me to make sure he’s not following. There are a couple of shifters not too far behind, luckily, no signs of Jasper anywhere.

I keep moving, like the soldier I am, and try to pretend like nothing has happened.

Once I’m finally back in my cabin, I slam the door shut and lock it—as if that’ll do anything to stop a shifter—but still, psychologically, it helps. Then, I head straight to the shower.

I ignore the mirror beside me, ashamed that I let him take my body like that.

I undress and get in the shower, letting the hot water spill down my back. It’s here, beneath the comfort of the hot water and in the safety of my home, that everything comes out.

A singular tear streams down my face, and I bring my shaking hand to my mouth.

How could I let the man who rejected me so harshly kiss me just now?

How could I?

I weep, my tears pouring out uncontrollably, intermingling with the hot water before swirling down the drain. My breath gets short again, and I start to remember everything I’ve been trying so hard to forget.

The sound of the water is slowly replaced by the rhythmic pulse of electronic music, and I recall the finest details, down to the purple lighting in the bar.