Brutal Couple

Chapter 8

They strolled hand in hand. He cast a downward glance at her hand. Nobody was present. He had kept their identity a secret. He grabbed her hand and clasped their fingers together.

“Phoenix?”

I'd want to hold your hand, please. I've accepted that you brought an entire army into my house to obstruct my attempts to be alone with you. Please give it to me.

“Why?”

"Because I want to show you how incorrect you are. Your appearance has nothing to do with this.

I am the same age I always was.

"You're 23 years old now," I said.

She remarked, "The age disparity is still the damn same."

You are older, though.

"You are aware that I was lawful back then. because I am currently a legal adult. Around their eighteenth birthday, all wolves transform. She groaned. Ignore that, you know what I mean.

Although I was aware of your legal status, it didn't make me feel any better.

The age gap is meaningless to anyone. We have mated couples with age differences of five, ten, fifteen, even twenty, and some even thirty years. Age is just a number; it doesn't take feelings into account. And everybody is legitimate.

Arizona grinned. And I suppose that comes naturally to them when you grow up in a pack and watch matings, witnessing two humans come together.

Rebekah halted. You weren't raised in a pack, did you?

"I didn't, no. When I was five years old, I was discovered wandering the streets. abandoned and placed in a foster family. A five-year-old who was grumpy and, as I got older, a young child who had a temper, were not in high demand.

She admitted, "I had no idea."

He made a shrug.

You don't know who your family is, do you?"

Oh, I am aware of my family members. After turning 18, I tracked them down, and the pleasant surprise I received at the first full moon was an experience.

He could hear her gasp. God, oh God.

"Avoid worrying. I didn't kill anyone, and I was able to survive, but I still needed to find out what had happened. Then I did. I struggled to make money before beginning to look for my relatives.

"Was your mum a pack member?"

He gave a nod. It was her. As it happens, she had a relationship. The outcome of that affair was me. Naturally, she had me before she had found her true mate, so she devised some sort of scheme. She gave birth to me, gave me to some human parents, and gave them money so that they would maintain me. When the money stopped coming in, my a*s was dumped on the streets along with her and her partner.

Phoenix noticed the dread on her face as she turned to face him.

"Don't be gloomy or pitiful."

However, you were a child.

I served as the woman's source of income. He made a shrug. "I lost my value, and she let me go."

"That's just so... terrible. Such an event would never occur here. I don't think it would, at least.

"No, I don't think so either," she replied.

He was quickly passed by Rebecca, who was holding up her hand. "I want you to know that this is just me trying to make you feel better," she said.

"There is nothing you need to do." She encircled him with her arms, causing him to pause. He wasn't entirely sure what to do at first. Over the years, a few members of the pack had given him hugs alternately. He had always given them a pat on the back despite being unsure of the appropriate protocol. It was different this time. Not just any pack member, either. The woman he actually desired, this was his mate. Now more than anything, he desired the lady he had previously turned down for her own benefit. He laid his palm flat on her back, taking care not to shock her.

"I'm so sorry for what you had to endure. Without the pack's support, I was unable to envision transitioning. It must have been horrible.

I overcame it, he said.

Phoenix, here's the thing: she said as she started to back away. He was still encircled by her arms. He cherished her touch. You shouldn't have been required to,

Then explain to me why you wish to depart, he demanded. As soon as she distanced herself from him, he couldn't help but say it, even though he knew it was inappropriate. He required her to be sensible.

“Don’t. You are aware of the reason.

He grabbed her hand and clasped it, joining their fingers. "I am aware of all the causes, but I am also aware that I am in this place at this time. You have no justification to flee or hide.

And you believe I will find this decision to be simple? As she yanked her hand away, she questioned.

Phoenix resisted letting her leave.

Damn, relax your grip.

"Speak with me."

You injured me. You don't even remember how you looked, do you?" she questioned. "You were completely repulsed. You detested the thought of being my mate. Do you really think I'll just forget about that? Five years have passed.

And I grew up and have been living in the real world, where it is f*****g criminal for a forty-year-old man to l**t for a minor, a teenager! With the pack, I receive it. I have it all, yet it doesn't alter who I have always been.

She was crying, and he could see it.

Rebecca was told, "Damn it, don't cry."

"I don't weep. This is not crying. I won't cry, but I will I cannot simply forget.

"Rebecca, let me just say that you were the one avoiding me. The reverse is not true.

She gave a headshake. You would have been angry to see me.

"There's where you're mistaken. The greatest experience of my life was meeting you. You believe I didn't experience consequences for rejecting you, do you? Do you believe there wasn't any hurt, resentment, or loneliness?" he questioned.

It hurt him to watch the tears running down her face. He didn't want to be responsible for her crying.

"Can we leave now?" Rebecca enquired.

"I hated everything I said and did every single day, but you and I, Rebecca, are not the same. Since I didn't grow up in this, I was raised there, struggling to get by.

And you want me to think that your viewpoint has changed? It was her.

He groaned. "No, I have no expectations at all. I want you to realize that I'm not leaving. Never, not right now. I can't go another day without thinking of you or being close to you, therefore I'm here to stay. f**k, I could easily get by with just holding your hand right now. Anything you want to give me, I'll take.

She questioned, "What do you want from me?"

I want everything, Rebecca. Above all things, I want you to forgive me. I want you to be my partner and to stand by my side.

Hey, darling, I thought you had already left.

When Rebecca looked up, her mother was walking into the kitchen. Even though her hair was put up and she was still in her pajamas, she could see that her mother had neglected to brush her hair. She adored her mother for this reason. There was no artificiality. She didn't care if others thought she wasn't ideal.

She said, "Hey, Mom."

"Coffee is what I need. Tell me you made a pot of tea.

"I have." She did brew it initially for Phoenix. As soon as he awoke, he had a mug. But they hadn't exchanged words. Since they arrived here yesterday night, they haven't spoken.

Beautiful lasagna that Leah had prepared. It was excellent. Phoenix had continued her parents' conversation so that she could think. She wasn't certain that she was thinking. She was, if anything, torn.

Leah remarked, "I thought you were helping Phoenix with his house."

“I am. I'm about to leave for it. I remained to prepare sandwiches.

Oh, it makes sense. With no cream or sugar added, Leah poured herself a cup of coffee. "What's wrong, honey?"

"What, nothing?"

"Well, you see, I've known you for 23 years, and I know something's got you down."

"No, it doesn't matter."

“I can’t help you repair anything unless you talk to me.” Leah drew up to the cash register. She sat down after pulling out the chair next to her. "All ears," I say.

“It’s…”

"Does quitting the pack have anything to do with it?" Leah queried.

Both yes and no. I'm not sure. She grimaced. The only person she wanted to discuss this with was her mother. Everyone else would be overly curious. “Actually, can I ask you questions about, well, about mates?”

Have you located yours yet? Leah smiled and enquired.

She laughed. "I was, well, wondering about you and Dad, and I guess mates in general," the speaker said.

OK, go ahead. It's not always simple, but I'll do my best to respond," Leah added.

Which way do you mean?

"Well, being mates is different for everyone, as I'm sure you already know. I grew up as buddies with your father. He and I were already in love before the shift. Being mated with him when we finally transitioned was a dream come true. I experienced an explosion of love for him across my entire existence.

Rebekah grinned. And you are more in love with one another than ever.

Of course, but keep in mind that we haven't always been compatible. Behind her ear, Leah tucked some hair.

"I don't get it,"

"Mates can disagree and argue. even to the point of briefly falling out. It doesn't prevent us from being friends or anything of the sort, but it does make us stronger.

You and your father argued?

"In that sense, I wouldn't say we had a real falling out, although we did disagree on the previous alpha. I wasn't a fan of him. He seemed to me to be feeble in some way. Despite the fact that he had repeatedly proved himself to be too frail to lead, your father believed that we should trust him and give him the benefit of the doubt. Leah groaned. "You are aware of the events. I wanted to get out of here. to get you away from that mess as quickly as we can.

Father didn't?

"Since he was defending you. Your father and I have never gone through a shift without your pack, so we cannot imagine what it's like. He was worried that separating you from the group too early, before your transition, might harm you.

Rebecca's mind went to Phoenix. “Oh.”

That was actually our first real argument. Your father was totally devastated by what had occurred. I just want to express my gratitude that Phoenix chose to come back and visit the community.

Yet you pardoned him?

"Of course I did," you say. I adore your father dearly. He could get away with a lot, in my opinion. Even if I believed he was erring. Leah tucked part of her hair away with a hand motion. "Rebecca, what's going on?"