Page 15 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

Of course, she was tending to his wounds. She could not be rough.

But it wasn’t just that. He stared at her, deeper this time. There was something about her that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. But it tugged at his soul like he should know what it was.

His wolf stirred within him with a low growl.

He stilled in disapproval.

Not her. This was a mission.

His eyes darkened. He was meant to draw her in, not the other way round. Yet why did he feel this confusing pull that wrapped itself around his ribs like a slow-burning thread, tightening every passing second?

It was a feeling he couldn’t put into words.

Ache?

Want?

He scoffed to himself, inwardly.

Want. He had not felt that for years now. He had felt it once, back when he was younger, when a certain green-eyed girl had been the center of his world. She had given him the best night of his life.

His chest tightened at the memory. It had been six years, yet nobody else had come close to making him feel those things.

Ache. That had come after. After the worst night of his life. After he pushed away the person he loved for her own safety,but it hadn’t stopped it from becoming his first and deepest regret.

He zeroed in his eyes on the woman in front of him again as the odd feeling rose in his chest, again.

Was this some witch’s spell?

His mind wandered back to the blonde boy.

Riley.

None of their intel had revealed a child.

‘Are you a superhero?’

The question lingered on his mind. The boy was sweet, and from their conversation earlier, he could tell the boy was oblivious to the supernatural world. That complicated things.

A child target had never been part of the equation.

But a mission was a mission. He’d finish what he came to do.

Still… the image of Riley’s grin floated to the front of his mind again.

Children shouldn’t inherit the sins of their parents.

Focus, Vale. Focus.

He could not focus.

“I’m all done,” she spoke, standing up abruptly, her voice pulling him back to awareness.

He rose too, moving hurriedly toward the door.

He needed to think.

“Thank you. I really appreciate this. I should, uhm… take my leave.”