Chapter 136: Chapter 136

“Did he… pass?”

At that, I let out a dry laugh.

“No, he’s very much alive.”

Raizel simply nods. He’s staring into nothing, the gears in his head turning when he looks at me.

“Are you choosing him?”

There was a bite in his tone. The last word almost hissed out when he spoke. He wasn’t angry at me.

None of those emotions directed toward me but the mate he thought I had. I immediately felt the need to comfort him, to let him know there was no way in hell I’d choose that as my mate. Not after what he’d done.

I shake my head, cupping his face in my hands. The warmth of his skin calming my growing nerves around this topic. His eyes fluttered shut, deep, steady breaths pulling into him as he tried to calm himself.

“I wouldn’t be here doing this if I did.”

I take a minute to add, “A lot has happened.”

I mumble as my gaze dropped to my lap. I feel the beginnings of the truth unravel from the vagueness of my response. Vagueness I know he wants me to clarify but patiently waits for me to do so willingly.

“So much that it would take a while for me to tell you, but if I had to put it in more simpler terms: he didn’t want me.”

I tell him bluntly. The way I said it so smoothly was almost a shock. I had expected even the slightest bit of sadness to lace into my voice, but somehow I sounded… relieved? There wasn’t a spec of disappointment. Just the fact of the matter. I felt a lot lighter now that it was in the open. No secrets that I’m hiding from him.

His eyes opened instantly–heavy, unmistakable anger, swimming in his grays. His brows knotting together and jaw clenching tight. The wolf he tried to calm, taking over him as a loud growl ripped from his lips. I could feel his chest rumbling with snarls.

His fingers dug into my hips, not so hard it would bruise but firm enough for me to be held in place. His eyes were blown out black, a tinge of ruby red slowly inking in from his pupils.

“Who is he?”

+swallow, barely managing a shake of my head as I pressed my forehead against his. The raw rage from his being radiating onto my skin urged me to calm him. His Alpha presence, much larger than mine, should’ve forced me into submitting.

Should’ve.

But it didn’t.

I was so in sync with him that I barely noticed until his wolf’s fur bristled and the growling grew louder and louder. Though I didn’t feel his domination directing toward me, I knew that his wolf had 13:28 the The Female Alpha’s Sanctuary 57.4%

gone feral. I had to choose my words carefully. It wasn’t my safety I was worried about, it was everyone else’s.

“It doesn’t matter.”

I try, only to find his jaw tick.

“He hurt you-”

“It doesn’t matter. I found him years ago. I only thought it was right to let you know… in case you….”

change your mind I trail off, suddenly unable to look at him. I start fumbling with my fingers, feeling anxious and extremely nervous as to what will happen next.

It’s only when he takes my hands in his that I feel the depth of my fear sink in. The insecurities I’ve tried to keep buried rears it’s ugly head. He’s going to reject me. He changed his mind. He doesn’t want me anymore.

“It doesn’t change anything, my love.”

I look at him, the astonishment in my expression as clear as day when he gives me a small frown.

“I told you. I only want you.”

He sits up with me settling in his lap. Leaning forward, he kisses my forehead. I feel him. I feel all of him.

“Everything you are, I want.”

He gazes down at me softly, “Past, present, future – everything.”

My throat tightened with emotion. His reassurance that nothing will change allowing me to get a breath of air I was in desperate need of.

“Do you… still want him?”

1 look up from his hold, the anger gone from his eyes but was replaced with sheer uncertainty. He’s worried I’d choose Landon over him. Shaking my head, I kiss his jaw, moving along to his neck as an apology for making him doubt me.

“No, no, no. I don’t want him. I can never picture myself being with him after everything especially since I have…”

My eyes drift to his face before quickly staring at my hands again. I feel a blush surface, my cheeks getting hot from what I implied with my eyes. Surely he got the message even without me outright saying it.

“Truth be told, he’s been trying to squeeze himself back into my life lately.”

I feel my voice get caught in my throat at his expression. The unadulterated look of rage written on his face made my wolf whimper. She didn’t like seeing him this way. She felt for him, wanting nothing more than to take away his anger. His anger somehow became her anger. Feeling his rage brought out her own at the way the thought our ex–mate made him this way.