Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 111

"Yeah." He glares at me. "Sometimes that's the only way to learn how something feels."

I rub my forehead. "Well what do you want me to do, just forgive you? Tell you everything's alright? That I'm not really, really upset?"

"No. Of course not." He stalks over to me, all but towering over me even though I don't back down. "I'd never ask you to give me a free pass for anything I've done to upset you," he says. "So we'll handle that later when we actually have time to talk and work it out. But for now, right now," He looks into my eyes. "When we don't know what might happen next or what could've just happened to you, I just want us to... put that stuff aside, you know? I just need to..." He reaches out for me but then stops himself. He clenches his fists and drops them to his side. "I understand that you don't want to be around me right now, so just be safe." He looks towards his brother. "Aiden will make sure you're okay. Stay with him."

Then he literally walks away. You heard me right, he walks away towards his advisors and elders with Brittany and Krys close behind, muttering "bye" to me.

I almost can't believe it. That's it? No trying to grab my hand? No forcing a hug? "Carson?" I ask. Is that you?

I don't get any response. Childish.

Aiden walks towards the door. "Come on already, Mia."

I roll my eyes and start to follow him. I'm almost at the door when I look back. Axel and Carson are already talking to people, along with their betas and Ethel. Sending orders. Writing things down. The entire focus of the room has shifted and the seriousness level's been upped by about a hundred levels.

I lost my chance to say anything to him. And he's right, I don't want to leave on a bad note. What if the next attack isn't against me? What if it's Carson who winds up getting hurt, or worse, killed? Could I live with myself if that was the last conversation I had with him? The last things I said?

"Are you coming?" Aiden asks.

I snap my head towards him. I nod and keep walking, even though my conscience won't let me leave with a clear head.

Aiden looks back at me and sighs. "What is it now?"

I don't say anything.

He repeats himself, as if it's the greatest task ever. "What is it-"

I try to think of what to say, or when to say it, but an opportunity never reveals itself. I just stand there awkwardly.

"Is something wrong?" Carson asks out of nowhere.

I wait to be sure he's talking to me, then I shake my head. "No, I just..." I shrug. This is harder than I thought.

"You're not saying anything," he says.

No shit, sherlock. I look up at him and sigh. "I just didn't want to leave on bad terms... Even though I think you're a dirty cheater."

He meets my gaze, and I don't look away this time. "I would never cheat on anyone, Mia, let alone you. You're my imprint and my mate. You should know how I feel by now." He reaches over to pull me to him, but then stops. He steps closer so he can wrap his arms around me where I stand. He doesn't say anything, he doesn't force anything, he doesn't say I told you so even though he looks like he wants to. I don't yell at him like I really want to. He just holds me against his chest while he listens to the people drone on and on about conditions to the southeast.

I reluctantly wrap my arms around him too and rest there. I don't know why exactly. I'm still really hurt about the Suzie thing-and now I'm even more embarrassed because supposedly I was wrong (that's still up for debate)-but it just feels good that even though we're not exactly on the best of terms, we can do this.