Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 117: Baby

Chapter 117: Baby

"I... I didn’t mean for it to happen," she whispered.

"Oh, I’m sure you didn’t. Just tripped and fell on Dorian’s dick, right?"

Sarah swallowed hard, tears forming in her eyes. "I was lonely. You... you threw me away. You stopped coming to me. You made me feel invisible."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "So your solution was to sleep with my beta?"

"I made a mistake," she whispered. "But it was one time."

Lucas stepped closer, kneeling so his eyes were level with hers. "No, Sarah. You’re not paying because of a mistake. You’re paying because you played a part in trying to destroy my Luna. My wife. The woman I chose."

She became frantic. She crawled across the cold stone floor and grabbed at his legs.

"Please, Alpha! I’m sorry... I didn’t mean..." she choked on her own sobs, clinging to his boots. "Please... I’m begging you... Don’t hurt the baby."

Lucas looked down at her. Not even a flicker of emotion crossed his face.

"Sarah," he said slowly. "I don’t care who is responsible. I don’t care who you fucked or how many times your got fucked. I gave you your freedom, you refused to take it. You stayed behind. You would have had the best life as long as it was faraway from me. Look at Nelly and Lily. They took the chance and they are absolutely happy."

He leaned down and whispered, just loud enough for her to hear every cruel word: "Now you will tell me how you and Dorian planned to get rid of Ava... or your child will be served as breakfast."

That wasn’t a threat, it was a promise. And knowing Lucas... he wasn’t bluffing. The man was a legend for a reason. People called him "the Silver Pack Butcher" for a reason. He’d earned that name. Ruthless didn’t even begin to describe him. Mercy was not his default setting.

He pulled a chair close, not in a rush, not impatient just disturbingly calm. He sat and crossed one leg over the other, hands clasped in his lap.

"Speak," he said.

So Sarah talked.

She told him everything, from the moment Ava arrived to the time she was accused of treason. She told him about the poisoning, about the shooting, about the documents Dorian had her plant along with the silver stake.

Lucas didn’t interrupt once. He just sat there, staring at her.

And as she spoke, Sarah saw the disappointment in his face.

And it wasn’t at her.

He was disappointed in himself.

How could he not be? He’d allowed this all of this. He’d left Ava vulnerable. He had believed the lies. He was the Alpha. He was supposed to be smarter than this.

*****

Dennis stood in front of Zoe’s bedroom door with a ridiculous amount of butterflies in his stomach. Big, scary werewolf butterflies.

He adjusted his shirt for the fifth time, then smoothed back his already perfect hair. He was nervous. Which was ridiculous.

He knocked softly.

Zoe opened the door and smiled, that soft little curve of her lips that made his heart do a stupid flip.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi?" she replied.

Zoe was watching him carefully. She could tell he was trying. She could see the shy, awkward man hiding under all that strong alpha bravado.

And gods, he was hot. Stupidly hot.

He was kind.

Since the moment he’d realized she was his mate, Dennis had been nothing but gentle. He never tried to force a bond. He didn’t demand affection or submission. He simply... showed up. Checked in. Asked her questions. Respected her space.

That kind of respect? That was sexy.

"I was thinking..." Dennis cleared his throat. "I was hoping you’d like to go out with me. To the town market. You know... just look around."

"Okay. I was already getting ready for bed, but sure. That sounds nice." Her eyes lit up. "Just give me a minute to change. Missy brought me some clothes earlier. Nothing fancy, but it’ll do."

"O-okay." He nodded, trying not to stare, trying not to fidget. "I’ll, um... wait outside."

"Dennis?" she called.

"Yeah?"

"Get your ass in here."

With a sheepish grin, he stepped back into the room, hands stuffed awkwardly in his pockets like they might misbehave if left unattended.

He didn’t know where to look.

She was his mate, right? The Moon Goddess herself had matched them. That had to mean something. That had to mean he had a little permission to look. Right?

As soon as Zoe tugged her shirt halfway up, revealing the curve of her waist and the tight bra that struggled to contain her breasts, Dennis forgot how to breathe.

He looked away.

No, he looked everywhere else. Suddenly, the wall became the most interesting thing he’d ever seen. But then... he peeked.

Her skin glowed. Her bra did little to hide the teasing jiggle that sent his wolf into a tailspin. She wasn’t even trying to be seductive.

She got the shirt off and caught him staring, his mouth slightly open, eyes wide and absolutely not on her face.

Zoe raised an eyebrow, one hand still on her hip. "Do you really want to go out?" she asked. "Or would you rather stay in?"

Dennis snapped his gaze up to her face. He felt like he’d just been yanked out of a dream. A very good, wet dream. "What?"

Zoe smiled, stepping closer. She reached down, sliding a finger through his belt buckle.

Dennis forgot how his legs worked.

"I think it’ll be more fun," she whispered, tugging him toward her, "if we stay in..."

Dennis choked on air. His mate was playing with his belt with fingers dangerously close to his trapped erection.

His belt popped open with a soft clink, and Zoe tilted her head with mock innocence. "Still want to go? I am sure the apples are to die for."

"Apples?" he repeated dumbly. "Fuck apples!"

He couldn’t take it anymore.

With her standing there, barely clothed, teasing the very edges of his restraint with those wicked eyes and even more wicked hands, he growled demanding more than this sweet dance they were playing.

He stepped forward, ready to take control, to grab her and finally claim what was his.

But Zoe stopped him.

She smirked like she’d been expecting it. Men! Always wanting to take charge. She thought.

And then, goddess help him, her hand slipped into his pants. Her fingers wrapped around him. Dennis nearly dropped to his knees then and there.

"I want him," she said.

His brain short-circuited. "Uh... him?"

@Elsa_chacaltana, @megan23c: I miss you.