Chapter 27 CHAPTER 27
Chapter 27 CHAPTER 27
Bronte's POV
"Stay with you?" I repeat, my voice coming out steadier than I feel.
"Yes." He pulls me closer, his hands on my waist. "I want you with me tonight. In my room. In my bed."
"Alexander—"
"We're getting mated soon, Bronte. There's nothing wrong with us being together now."
"I know, but—"
"But what?" He tilts my head up so I'm looking at him. "Are you nervous?"
"A little."
"Don't be." He kisses my forehead. "I'll take care of you. I always take care of you."
My mind races for an excuse, any excuse that won't make him more suspicious than he already is.
"I want to," I say carefully. "But I also want to wait."
"Wait for what?"
"For the ceremony. For it to be official." I take a step back. "I know it's traditional to be together before, but I'd like to do this the right way. Wait until we're properly mated."
He studies my face. "Since when do you care about tradition?"
"Since I realized how important this is. We're binding ourselves together forever. I want it to be special, not rushed."
"It wouldn't be rushed."
"I know, but still. Can we wait? Please?"
He's quiet for a long moment and I can see him weighing my words, looking for holes in my reasoning.
"If that's what you want," he says finally.
"It is."
"Then we'll wait." He pulls me close again and kisses me, deeper this time, like he's trying to change my mind without words.
When he pulls back, his eyes are dark. "But after the ceremony, you're mine completely. No more waiting, no more excuses."
"I know."
"Good." He releases me and picks up his wine glass. "You should go rest then. You look exhausted."
"I am."
"I'll walk you to your room."
"That's not necessary—"
"I insist."
He takes my arm and guides me out of the dining room, up the stairs, down the corridor to my door.
"Sleep well," he says, kissing me one more time. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight."
I slip into my room and close the door, leaning against it.
That was too close.
If I'd said yes, if I'd gone to his room, I don't know what I would have done. Probably gone through the motions and hated myself after.
I change into sleep clothes and get into bed, but I'm too wired to sleep.
I lie there for hours, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Sebastian in the rain, about the almost-kiss, about how everything is falling apart.
Around midnight, I hear something outside my door.
Footsteps.
Heavy, deliberate footsteps walking past my room and down the corridor.
I get up and crack my door open slightly.
Alexander.
He's fully dressed, not in sleep clothes, walking toward the main stairs.
I wait until he's out of sight, then slip out of my room and follow at a distance.
He goes downstairs and out the front entrance.
I move to a window and watch as he crosses the grounds toward the tree line, then disappears into the darkness.
He's leaving the pack house.
At midnight.
Fully dressed.
I stand there for a long moment, my heart pounding, and I know exactly where he's going.
To Serena.
He told her he'd see her tonight.
And now he's going to her while I'm supposed to be sleeping, believing that he cut her off, believing that he's focusing on us.
I move away from the window and sink onto the floor, my back against the wall.
He lied.
He looked me in the eye and told me he was ending things with Serena, that he was choosing me, that he wanted to build a future together.
And then he waited until he thought I was asleep and snuck out to see her.
I don't know how long I sit there on the floor in the dark hallway.
Eventually I hear the front door open again.
I peek around the corner and see Alexander coming back in, his hair slightly mussed, his shirt untucked.
He goes straight upstairs without looking around.
I wait until his footsteps fade, then I go back to my room and close the door.
I climb into bed and stare at the ceiling again.
He's still seeing her.
All his talk about focusing on us, about cutting distractions, about building our future together.
It was all a lie.
He just moved her out of sight so I wouldn't know.
And the worst part is, I don't know if I'm angry or relieved.
Angry that he lied.
Or relieved that I'm not the only one keeping secrets.
Morning comes too slowly.
I'm awake when the sun rises, when pack members start moving in the corridors, when the house comes alive with another day.
I drag myself out of bed and get dressed, not bothering with makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes.
Downstairs, breakfast is already in progress.
Alexander sits at the head of the table looking perfect and well-rested like he didn't sneak out in the middle of the night.
"Good morning," he says when I walk in. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not really."
"Still having trouble sleeping?"
"Something like that."
He gestures to the seat beside him. "Come eat. You barely touched dinner last night."
I sit and one of the pack members brings me coffee.
Sebastian walks in a few minutes later.
He looks as tired as I feel, his eyes finding mine immediately before he looks away and takes a seat at the far end of the table.
"Sebastian," Alexander says. "I need you to run patrol on the western border today."
"I thought you wanted me here at the pack house."
"I did, but we've had some reports of unknown wolves in that area. I need someone I trust checking it out."
"How long?"
"All day. Maybe into the evening." Alexander takes a sip of his coffee. "Take a few warriors with you."
"Fine."
Sebastian finishes his breakfast quickly and leaves without another word.
Alexander watches him go, then turns to me.
"I have meetings all morning, but I was thinking we could have lunch together. Just us. Maybe go back to the lake."
"That sounds nice."
"Good." He reaches over and takes my hand. "I know things have been tense lately, but I want you to know that I'm committed to us. To making this work."
I look at him, at his perfect face and his perfect smile and his perfect lies.
"I know you are," I say, and somehow keep my voice steady.
He kisses my hand and goes back to his conversation with his beta.
And I sit there and pretend I believe him.