The Alpha's Curse, The Mafia's Queen

na's

s quieter th

g against my skin like a secret I wasn't meant to hear. The pack g

sil

d

his presence, but not touching. Not yet. His steps were c

sted and turned until I co

enly, my voice soft

d at me.

ped wa

, turning ful

to walk with me, when everyone in the pack sees me as," I hesita

ned, but I forc

irl born from a one-night encounte

nce spoken. For a moment

as the simplest truth

nd immediately the air went

immediately, shaking my h

till calm but his eyes sharp

augh escap

I'm not

eft me, something shif

say that?" he

ze, even tho

don't hav

. Then, unexpect

isbelieving laugh escaped me too. It wasn't humor. It

n't funny at all. Then he stepped closer, slow

ed. As he reac

gers touched mine,

ike lightning. My breath caught as warmth followed spreading through

d fast, loud an

sn't

n't co

that felt like recognition. Like

s grasp, but I didn't pul

n my mind, soft and terrifying at

k, fear, disbelief and something dangerously c

I could stop it. I gen

ly, avoiding his eyes. "My fr

. And too real. And I w

back," he sai

"No. It's fine. M

walking away, my heart still racing, my hand still tingl

didn't

His voice

fr

iet path. And there he was again looking at me like I

omorrow's mat

a moment, I couldn't s

de my way home, but my mind was far fr

t refused to leave like it

e my

gain. Softer this

o the house, my thoughts tangled a

th

len

lin

hand, her face filled with relief and worr

de to check on you and you were gone. I almost lost my mind! I thought the n

other. Concern. Fear. Care.

orried about me,

, narrowin

" she snapped but there was no re

ghed

, and I closed t

as I leaned back against the door. My

h

y he look

like it had found something i

sigh es

s voice cut thro

oked

of me now, arms cro

"And why have you been smiling

n't a

nd the smile

tepping closer, "you're

trying and fai

somet

"Okay! okay. Gue

guessing," she

mil

that knock

traig

the A

filled t

aid slowly. "

row. "The on

idened. "A

nswered im

re jo

m n

me, trying t

ve what happened

she aske

ted, rem

to go on a wa

ora

nt?" sh

to act casual but t

d nothing to

me. Then nar

" she said slowly, "you le

did

a hand on her chest. "Betra

out la

so dra

ou're laughing?" she shot bac

y. "You know you're

stay seriou

aid, lifting her chin, "b

d. For a moment, eve

m.

ard knock

choed throu

oth

followed. Fi

d I exchan

owly faded f

heck if you got home saf

ok my

can't b

again, but slo

ease settled

adora whispered, "at