Page 42 of The Alpha King's Mate

He caught it and stared down at it.

“What’s happening here?”

Ember caved and blurted out everything.

He nodded slowly, as if it all made perfect sense. Just as he turned to retreat, I caught him pressing the ice pack to his own face.

I collapsed back onto the pillows.

It was not happening tonight.

Chapter 20

Sorin

My favourite part of the day was bedtime. Aliana slept peacefully while I got to hold her. By all accounts, she should have been asleep by now. Ember had assured me her foray with the wax only lasted a couple of minutes. We healed fast, but she still seemed upset.

She tried to turn away from me. I hooked my leg around hers and tightened my hold on her waist. Her body sagged, and she sighed.

“How can you lie with every woman on the compound except me?”

My jaw fell open at her words.

“Is that what you think?” I reached over to switch on the lamp.“I haven’t been with a single woman since I laid eyes on you.”

I racked my brain—we hadn’t known she was our mate at first.

You didn’t. You idiot, Malakh said.

Her face was turned away from us.

“I—You died three days ago,” I said, trying to turn her face back to mine.

“I’m here now. Almost ready. If I can just sort out the mess down there,” she said, turning, her brow knit tight.“It’s all kind of lopsided right now.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” I murmured.

I closed my eyes, swallowing hard as I remembered her last gasp, the moment life drained out of her in my arms.

“I watched the life leave you. I held you while it happened,” I whispered.

She turned into me, pressing her body against mine.

“But your dick won’t kill me,” she murmured, tracing a finger along my neck.

I smiled despite myself.

“One more day of recovery. Check in with the doctor tomorrow. Then I will part my pantaloons for you.”

She chuckled, her breasts jiggling against me.

I grimaced at the thought of losing control with her during her first time. She deserved better, but I didn’t trust myself, and now I had twenty-four hours to prepare for it.

I didn’t fall asleep until close to dawn. There was no comfort waiting in my dreams.

???

Gerald was crouched in the corner of his cell. One might almost feel pity for him—until you stacked up every violation against his own family. His child. His progeny. As a wolf, I could not comprehend such abhorrent cruelty against my own pup. If my sons ever required discipline, it would be carried out on the training fields.