Her Forbidden Alpha novel Chapter 27

　　“You suffered just as much as them, didn’t you?” He asked softly.

　　Scarlett looked at him, her eyes stinging. How could she tell him she suffered a lot more…? Where her mother would end up bedridden for days after a brutal beating, Scarlett was often subjected to weeks of punishment, remembering how she would lose consciousness but then forced awake and tortured again.

　　She pushed the thought away. She had blocked it out, most of it lay locked up at the back of her mind only to return to haunt her at night. Her mother would think she has gone to some training camp and Scarlett would never deny it, sticking to what Zidane threatened her to say. Knowing he would hurt Indigo if she told her mother. Jessica would always check her for bruises but she would be perfectly blemish-free and it eased Jessica’s mind. Over time she began believing that Zidane did not hate Scarlett as much as he did her and Indigo. It was often the reason her mother would shout at her, thinking Indigo had gone through a lot more. But Scarlett didn’t mind, she would never say it to Indigo but she would protect her little brat of a sister no matter what.

　　She looked away from his cerulean blue eyes.

　　“I was stronger…” She whispered, not daring to tell him the truth. Elijah frowned, he had heard the change in her heartbeat, she was keeping something from him.

　　“When you were 13… remember when you fell from that tree and hurt your arm… you were in a cast for two weeks…” He asked. “Your mother doesn't know about your quick healing does she?”

　　“I kept it a secret… I didn’t want it to be used against me, so I never said I was healed. When I was little and used to fall, she used to say I have a guardian angel because I never had much of a bruise and I never told her it hurt much… But the Alpha…” She trailed off.

　　Elijah’s stomach twisted; He had gotten his answer. Zidane had known about her ability and he had used it against her. But Elijah still wanted to hear it from her, hoping that somehow he was wrong.

　　“He knew about your healing?” He asked quietly, taking hold of her chin in his rough fingers but his hold was kept gentle yet firm, tilting her head up and forcing her to meet his eyes.

　　Her chest rose and fell erratically, she knew he knew already. So, she simply nodded. Elijah let go of her as if she had burned his skin.

　　Rage blazed within him like molten lava. His Alpha aura rolling off him in waves. His eyes darkening, his wolf was screaming for him to go back to the Desert Storm Pack and shred the fucking bastard to pieces. He didn’t fucking care what happened to him in the process as long as the fucking monster was sent to the burning pits of hell where he belonged.

　　He walked to the door, about to pull it open when Scarlett stumbled from the bed, running over to him and grabbing his arm.

　　“Elijah no!” She said pulling him to face her. She was strong, her own aura rising. She stared into his eyes, her own a steely silver, “Please… don’t go… I need you.”

　　Her words ended in a whisper. He looked into her eyes, his anger lessening slightly. The feel of her soft hands on his arm calming him. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath before he pulled her flush against him, one hand on her slender waist, the other cupping the back of her head as he pressed her 5-foot-2-inch frame completely into him. She was so small… How could her father have treated her like that?

　　“I’m never fucking leaving you, I promise sweetheart. No matter what I’m always going to have your back, I promise.” He murmured. ‘Until the day I die…’ He added in his head.

　　Scarlett slowly wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tight and inhaling his intoxicating scent. Would he really be there for her? She tightened her arms, a stray tear slipping out of her eyes. If he were so worked up over a few small scratches, how would he even cope with knowing what she had been through? Because of that, she knew she could never tell him the true extent of her father’s abuse.

　　He kissed the top of her head. “Come on, you should still rest.” He said not wanting to let go of her. She nodded, rubbing her neck and wondering why it hadn't healed. The entire place throbbed and felt like it was burning. It was then she froze remembering he had bitten her. She pulled away from Elijah, her eyes scanning the room until she saw the small mirror on top of the washbasin. Rushing over to it quickly.

　　“Scarlett, listen to me-”

　　“Fuck…” She swore, her face paling. She felt sick to the stomach, her own father had marked her. A mark was something so sacred that was meant to completely tie together two mates, and here he was going against the very law of the Goddess and marked his own daughter. She felt numbness wash over her, once again he had her trapped. She could no longer hear Elijah. She did not feel anything when his arms locked around her, whispering comforting words in her ear. Only the disgusting mark on her neck filled her mind. Zidane’s malicious look of victory… She had been wrong… No matter how hard she tried, no matter how old she got or how far away she went, he would always win.

　　Her legs gave way but she did not even realise, Elijah, caught her, lifting her bridal style and carrying her to the bed. His heart was racing, he felt useless, why couldn't he do anything for her?

　　“Scarlett, listen to me baby girl. It’s going to be ok.” He said cupping her face once he had her in his lap on the bed, but she did not respond. Her eyes looked glassy and she was simply staring ahead in shock. “Scarlett! Fuck look at me please!”

　　He closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her. Why was he so fucking useless? He placed soft kisses on her face, her shoulder, on her neck. It was when his lips met her burning mark that she jerked trying to jump away from him but he held her tightly.

　　“What are you doing?” She asked coldly.

　　“I was worried Red.” He said. He could see the signs, she was trying to shut him out, to push him away.