Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 47

Carson cocks his head back. "No. Why would you think that?"

"I don't know what to think." I look him dead in the eyes.

He frowns. "Well, at least logically you could assume that if we wanted to kill you-"

I raise an eyebrow.

He puts his hands up. "I'm not saying that we wanna kill you, it's just..." he stammers.

I raise both eyebrows.

He looks at his brothers. "Um, why are you guys here again if you're just going to let me be butchered?"

Aiden shakes his head, staring at him for a while. Then he looks at me. "What Carson's trying to say is that it would've been very easy to kill you and your family last night or any time since your arrival. You're all still very much alive, so a degree of belief that we're not trying to harm you is really your only viable option."

Aiden looks at his brothers, the empty backyard, and then back at me. Alone. Defenseless. "Given the circumstances."

I grip the doorknob harder.

Axel looks between both of them, incredulously. "I don't think the issue is the logic, it's the way you're saying it. You're freaking her out."

Aiden seems unmoved by his words. "Don't you think the opportunity to say it the right way has long since passed?"

"Finally, something we can agree on," Carson says.

Aiden gives him a look.

Carson pales. "What?"

"Look," I say to Carson. "If you're not trying to kill me, or silence me, or whatever, what do you want?"

He looks at his brothers, then back at me. He hesitates. He takes a step closer. I lean back against the door. One more step and his eyes are gone.

But his eyes don't look aggressive. They're staring at me the way they've always stared at me since the first day we met. Like he's trying to figure me out. Like he's got something to say, even though I can't imagine Carson not saying anything that's on his mind.

I give him a look that says it all. I've never been so serious in my life. On the one hand I'm like this is something straight out of a romance novel which doesn't sound half bad. Plus it would explain his crazy ass behavior. On the other hand I'm like... I will use this thing. I shake it a few times and flex my finger. "Back up."

"Why are you acting like this?" he raises his voice. "You should be happy. You should be grateful."

"Grateful?" I scoff.

"Yeah," he keeps going, his voice getting louder and louder. "Grateful that I'm telling you that I'd give my life for you. Instead you're threatening me with this." He jabs a finger towards the device.

"Because I'm waiting for you to tell me I'm imagining this. Not that I'm right," I say. "Tell me I'm delusional. Tell me that it's all in my head."

Axel says, "Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry, but why on Earth--"

I smack my forehead. "Stop. You know what I mean," I glare at him, even if I can't help the slight curve in my lips from his stupid Harry Potter reference.

His brothers look confused.

It hits me suddenly, the realization of what Carson imprinting on me-or being my mate or whatever's going on-means. I have a sneaking suspicion that they're all werewolves, and pack rules are probably like bro code. Dibs. That's why all of the guys in science class, and honestly in all of my classes, have been avoiding me like the plague. Especially whenever he's around.