Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 260

His chin rests atop my head as he rocks me gently, his fingers stroking slow,

comforting lines down my spine.

"You're okay," he says, his voice a low rumble against my ear.

I rest my head against his shoulder with my eyes closed. We don't stay outside for long because within minutes I'm drained and all I want to do is sleep.

"Can we go back inside?" I whisper. "I'm exhausted."

"Absolutely," he answers, picking me up bridal style.

I'm surprised, but at the same time, I'm too tired to dive into the whole thing.

Inside, Alec wraps a soft blanket around me and pulls me onto his lap on the couch. His hand rests on my back, his thumb rubbing soothing circles as he rocks us both.

“I feel like this is my fault. Like you are going through this because of me," he mutters, his eyes closing briefly. "If I had just..."

"If you had just what?" I ask, my brow furrowing.

He doesn't answer, but the haunted look in his eyes is enough.

The ache inside me flares up again, this time for an entirely different reason. "Alec..."

"Don't," he says, his voice suddenly harsh. He pulls back, creating distance between us. "If you say my name like that, I'm going to forget myself."

throat

you still don't trust me. Forget that if I give in, you might hate

sharp and unyielding, and my chest tightens. The pain of his rejection from last night stings, but hearing how much it cost him to hold back makes my heart ache even

something, anything, but

my jaw. "You don't know how hard it was to stop last night,” he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly. "You were in my arms, writhing against me, begging me to take you. And all I wanted — all I wanted was to

Sadie. I want you so bad it's killing me. Even now,

in his voice cracks something open inside me. I lift my hand, cradling his cheek. I don't understand my action. Maybe it's the moon's heat influence, but all I know is I can't let him continue thinking that

I finally say. "You shouldn't be blaming

but I can tell that he still blames himself for something that is

his forehead

starts low, a throbbing ache that spreads

outward, building until it

I gasp,

hey," he murmurs, voice

breathe as he carries me to the bedroom, setting me down gently on the bed. He pulls off the hoodie I had on before taking off his shirt. He then slips on behin@me, putting

whispers, his lips

close my eyes, letting his voice

on Aspen. I had to sing for her. She was holding a competition

to be one

Alec says, his

warm, calming murmur.

trying to distract me and it works. I laugh at that despite

insides were on fire.