Page 21 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

He is your son.

The words itched for freedom inside her throat, but she swallowed.

He was closer now. His proximity triggered her emotions again. For a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes. But his next words confirmed that she was wrong.

“I won’t fall for that.”

She let her head fall back in tired frustration.

“Do you know what is done to witches like you? A binding ritual,” he stated.

She had heard of binding rituals before. It was a sugar coat for a forced marriage. A witch was bound in marriage with a Keeper, and her magic would also be permanently bound to the Keeper’s control, unable to manifest without her permission. It was as good as being empty. It was slavery.

“I take it you are familiar with it,” his voice boomed in her ears. “I could also easily eliminate you right here, right now.” He emphasized the last four words as he dipped his head lower to her face. A shiver ran down her spine.

“But I would give you an easy way out. You come with me and you get safety. You get to start a new life as a devoted witch to the Hunters’ organization if you prove to be harmless. You would retain your magic and, in turn, make yourself useful to the cause,” he offered.

She scoffed. “And I’m just supposed to believe you, after you have me cuffed to a chair here like a wild beast,” she huffed.

“You don’t seem to understand the situation you are in. You don’t have much of a choice here.”

“I refuse to go anywhere with you.” Her voice was firm.

“And here I thought you would want to keep your son safe,” he reminded her.

At the mention of Riley. Her heart stilled. He was using her child against her? Why was she surprised? He was vile vermin after all, and didn’t care about who he hurt in his mindless hate toward witches.

She closed her eyes tightly. Still, he was right. She wanted to keep her son safe. And she would do anything to make that happen.

Anything except trust the person in front of her to take them to shit knows where. She doubted he would even care if he knew that Riley was his. He would kill her and take her son, probably raising him and brainwashing him to hate witches, too.

He had deceived her twice. She would not allow it a third time.

But he didn’t need to know that. He wasn’t the only one who knew how to pretend.

She stared down at the silver cuffs. They were magical restraints infused with binding spells—They were the standard instruments to suppress witch magic. But they barely contained all her powers. And she had picked up a trick on how to break free from them. She didn’t live the past six years in hiding just to get bound with some suppression cuffs.

But she couldn’t undo them now. Not in front of him. She wouldn’t make it past the door. She would wait and free herself at the first chance she got.

Then she would escape this place.

With Riley.

Fine,” she said quietly, feigning defeat.

“I’ll come with you.” She looked up at him.

He narrowed his eyes at her, and she could see the suspicion in them.

“But how am I supposed to trust you?” she questioned. “At least let me see him.” “Please,” she added to sound defenseless. The faster he believed her compliance, the easier this went.

She knew he wouldn’t agree easily, but she needed to know where Riley was, at least for her plan to be in motion.

Like he said, she could do anything to keep her son safe.

Anything. She repeated to herself.