In the Alpha’s Arms

Make it Better, not Worse

“I didn’t mean that the

way

It sounded.” Cole was frozen where he stood, a look of horror spreading across his face as he let his words sink in.

“Shit, Lita I really didn’t mean it like that! I know how fucked up it all sounds, I know! Especially with you.” Lita still didn’t answer. She really didn’t have the words. Did she actually think Cole viewed her as a possession? No. Absolutely not. Nothing he’ll ever shown her, outside of those early incidents at the gym and that time he insulted her in his bathroom. But those were before. Before they’d shared their bodies and hearts. No, she didn’t think he meant those words.

“Fuck Lita, that was a bad choice of words, 1-1 don’t even know why I said it. Or where it came from. I don’t own you but you are mine. And I’m yours. We’re each other’s. That’s all I meant…”

Again, she knew he hadn’t meant those words. What bothered her was how little control he’d had over himself when he said them. It’s like some deep. primal part of himself snapped out before he could reign it in. She could remember Cole saying sometimes Alphas let their primal sides get the better of them when it came to ownership. Only that time he’d been talking about Brian. She didn’t like the idea of those two sharing any traits. That was fucked up to think. Cole wasn’t Brian. He wasn’t. In her heart of hearts she knew that. But… they both had the same primal instincts. And that was a problem.

“L…” Lita couldn’t quite figure out what to do now. A few moments earlier she’d been over the moon. Now, she was careening for earth at a break neck pace. She started again, “I’m not mad, Cole… Yes, that was a good start. And it was true. She wasn’t mad at him. “I don’t think you see me as a possession…” Better. That was also true. Lita could feel Cole’s tension visibly lift. “But…” At the single word he went rigid once more, already moving closer to reach for her arm. She took a step backwards, speaking more firmly, “But… I won’t pretend it didn’t upset me.”

“Lita,” his voice cracked, “I’m not him… I’ll never be him.”

“I know, I do, I really do. But you sounded like him… She couldn’t look at his face, not when she knew those small, true words would find their mark. He would feel it like a wound. Hell, it was a wound. For both of them. She didn’t like the comparison any more than he did but at that moment, it rang true. Cole dropped his outstretched hand.

‘Til give you some space… he mumbled, sounding every bit as upset as Lita felt, For what it’s worth… I am fighting it. I’ll always fight those instincts with you.” Then the sounds of bones crunching and rustling trees came on the wind. Lita looked again and saw only a pile of tattered clothes,

“Fucking YIKES,” Jaz and Stace said in unison, flitting through yet another rack of items as they all stood in the middle of a popular clothing store. Lita cringed, nodding her head as if to say, fucking yikes and then some.

“Um, are we defending him? Giving you advice? Talking shit? Or just listening?” Jaz asked, pulling a satin dress out and holding it up to her chest, “Because you know I’m down for any of them…”

Stace scoffed, “As if you’re not going to talk shit regardless.” Lita laughed.

“Can we do all of them?”

“Abso–fucking–lutely,” Jaz chirped, “In fact, that’s my favorite combor

just want you to know that I officially really hate your parents and if I get the chance, I’m kicking

laughing loud enough to draw the ire of the employees, “Bitch, now that I know how much that shit hurts, you’re not kicking her before

As a m

but I can definitely key her car,” faz pointed a finger at Lita, “I’ll

anger guys, she sighed, “I don’t even know what to feel

yet…”

anyway, don’t you worry, Jaz assured her with a

the dumbest fucking rule I ever heard. I hated it when Alex told me. I

can fuck anything and completely skate. You fuck someone and you’re destitute or dead?! And yet, if we were to say it’s sexist they’d call us bitter… Stace seethed, “I don’t know howw

Make Dee, not Worse

an asshole over his views on this very subject. Men think dicks somehow translate to power. I mean, I could do without their shit, but

their shit… Jaz

“Traitort

just saying… Ace does this thing with

and Lita

she trades teams like it’s nothing, Stace rolled her

more… I swear men think they own every goddamned thing on this earth, including us,” Jaz

Stace pushed her

hell would he say that, you know… if it didn’t come from somewhere real? Lita couldn’t help the way she felt, “And if it came from somewhere real… what’s to say it wouldn’t get worse?” What Cole said hurt her, even though she had already forgiven him for saying it. She just couldn’t

them hear it or they get all caveman. I told Ace if his dick wasn’t always hard maybe he’d let some blood

gross, I do NOT want to hear about your sex life,” Lita shivered,

Alpha male shit,” Stace moved on from bashing Cole to defending him. They really were capable of

“Yea

that… why don’t I have any Alpha female shit to control? I mean, in that logic, I should be just as possessive

me,

you are,” Stace shrugged, “But nothing’s hit that nerve

She cringed

yipped and Lita ignored her