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."

my throat

rasps, his gaze dropping to my lips. "Forget that you're not ready. Forget that you still don't trust me. Forget that if I give in, you might hate me when the

his rejection from last night stings, but hearing how much it cost him to

try to speak, to say something,

along 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 —

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

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

your fault, Alec," I finally say. "You shouldn't be blaming yourself. This is a

tell that he still blames himself for something that is completely out of

just stay like that — his forehead against mine, his breath mingling with mine,

pull apart just as the pain starts

abdomen and radiates outward, building until it

I gasp,

hand around me "Hey, hey," he murmurs, voice tight with

me to the bedroom, setting me down gently on the bed. He pulls off the

his lips against my ear. "I'm right

letting his voice

check on Aspen. I had to sing

to be

Alec says, his

warm, calming murmur.

me and it works. I laugh at that

insides were on fire.