Twice Tempted: Between Two Alphas (Mia and Cameron) novel Chapter 4

Chapter Four

I place my hands on the table and slowly rise from my seat. I can’t risk them harming Alex. “He’s innocent. Whatever this is… don’t involve him.”

The Alpha crosses his arms. “This is me asking you a question, and you answering. Am I clear?”

“Is that your question? If so, yes, you’re crystal clear.”

His eyes widen like he can’t believe I’d mouth off at him.

I don’t know where the impulse came from. Probably living these last few years alone. Only relying on me to provide for my babies.

“You’re unclaimed,” MacPhearson says, eyeing me up and down. “Unmarked. And a rogue within my territory. Do you have any idea what that means?”

Rogues are hunted. To be outcast is a death sentence. It’s why most wolves pledge their allegiance or make moves into other territories while they’re still in good standing. Before the proverbial shit hits the fan.

This alpha continues to stare at me. Was that the question? Do I know what it means? Death. Yeah, I know.

“What’s to stop me from executing you in this very office?” MacPhearson asks.

His muscles ripple and his hands flex, like he’s holding himself back from doing exactly that.

I can’t speak for a second. A thousand thoughts flood my brain. I’m innocent. I was framed. I’m a mother. My children depend on me…

What I say instead is, “Nothing.”

“Excuse me?”

I nod my head in deference. “There is nothing, Alpha. Everything you said is true, and the only thing that might stop you from attacking me is you.”

He grunts. His eyes flutter and so do his men’s and I wait silently as they converse mind-to-mind. I remember what that was like, the beautiful connection of being so joined to a pack that you could share your thoughts with another. The skill was largely reserved for alphas, or for mates–it’s what had given me hope with Cameron. He would often speak to me, sharing thoughts and images of all the dirty things he wanted to do with me. I’d blush and he’d laugh and then it’d be all we could do to keep our hands off each other. He was promoted to Alpha not long after we first got together, so it probably wasn’t anything more than his alpha powers manifesting. But I had allowed myself to think it was more. To hope and foolishly believe.

I rub my chest, the pain lingers like an old injury.

My wolf will think of him sometimes. She still believes he’s our mate. But that’s just foolishness, or nostalgia, maybe. Cameron mated and married another. He’s never once tried to contact me.