Page 97 of My Grumpy Alpha

I back away.

“But I’m Eli’s.”

Gabe sighs.

“What belongs to the Alpha? Everything, you included.”

“Well, that’s dumb!” I yell.

“That’s so archaic! I get a choice!”

"You do.” Gabe nods.

"So choose. Will you fight?”

I turn to Eli and my entire world switches into slow motion. I look around. He doesn’t want me to fight. Xavier thinks he’ll win. There are tons of half-human werewolves surrounding us in the forest and I’m brought back to the time when I was one of them, they’ve fathered to witness and I need them to see. I’m brought back to my birth, watching people get forgotten, abandoned, left, and I refuse to let that happen again.

Back to when I ran in the opposite direction from Eli.

But now, I want to run toward him, even if it means I’m captured.

Even if it means I die.

I'll keep him safe.

I’ll do this.

He fed me.

He fucking fed me.

He hired me.

He took care of me.

He took himself away from me to keep me safe because he had no control.

And here he is on his knees for me.

I turn around again and again, and finally lock eyes with Eli.

“I love you.”

He shakes his head.

“Let me.”

“No.” I smile.

“I think some battles should be won where the hero sits it out and the underdog tries their best to save the person who always sacrifices. I want to be that person. I don’t want to run anymore. I may not remember much of my past, but I know this—I’m yours. And I protect what is mine!” I start shrieking.

“I protect my pack! I am you, you are me, and I am here to defend, to rule, but most of all.” I turn to Xavier.

“I’m here to prove to you that just because you have a fucking dick does not, for one second mean, you will own me.”

Xavier smiles.

“Guess we’ll see.”