The Alpha And Her Tinkerer

11_I'm Killing Mine

Reeva POV

The fire illuminates the cave in a mystic glow as Hayden and I quietly enjoy a cup of coffee. The back-and-forth teasing continued throughout the entire afternoon and evening. We gathered wood and made dinner. He even offered to boil water for a bath, but I declined. I am not ready to be naked when he is so close.

Not that he has not seen me naked before, but then I had no say. I was either partially dead or unconscious. This is different.

Pudding is lying at our feet, chewing on a bone he dug up somewhere. Clearly, the dog is used to coming here. She disappeared when we arrived and returned just before dinner. This is not a new and strange environment for her.

I look at Hayden as he stares into the fire. The flames are throwing mysterious shadows across his face, but by now, I know every line of his jaw, lips, and nose. He is fun to look at, and there is nothing wrong with taking a moment to appreciate the scenery.

“This was a good day,” I break the comfortable silence. “Thank you.”

After we shared the moment of losing our wolves, we have not talked about anything serious or deep. And for a while, I could laugh and forget what I had lost. Reese and Simon did more than betray and kill me. They stole my joy. Today, just for a while, I came up for fresh air and felt alive. For that, I will always be grateful.

“It definitely ended better than it started,” he smirks, looking at me with his intense eyes. “When I heard Brian is waiting for us … f**k, my place is going to be a mess.”

I look at my feet, debating whether or not I should speak my mind. Hayden has been nothing but good to me. I do not want to insult him, but f**k it, keeping quiet is not helping him.

“Why do you tolerate it?” I ask. I have been wondering about it, but between me fainting and Greta threatening me, there was no time.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He snorts. “They’re big and strong, I’m not, and don’t forget I’m outnumbered hundreds to one.”

“They’re never going to stop if you don’t stand up for yourself,” I say firmly.

“Standing up will only enrage and encourage them,” he exhales deeply. “They come by once every couple of months. It’s not that bad.”

“Not that bad?” I gape at him, stunned. “They took your wolf, Hayden. It’s exactly that bad. Build a weapon. You’ll only have to shoot one for the rest to get the message that you’re serious.”

“I’m not killing my brothers,” he explodes, and his fierce reaction takes me aback. I did not think he could get angry.

“I don’t get you,” I sigh, shaking my head. “You’re willing to rescue everyone but yourself.”

“Let it go, okay?” He grunts, pressing his lips into a firm line. “It is what it is.”

I keep my mouth shut as he gets up and places his cup down. Hayden is a good person, but he is a weakling.

“Look,” he exhales deeply, turning to face me. “It’s my family. They’re my blood, and they’re not all bad. They just … lost their way, in a sense. You can’t choose your family.”

“f**k that,” I say firmly, standing up. “I’m killing mine.”

I put my mug down, walk to the bed and climb under the covers. Hayden is not wrong. You cannot choose your family. Until Reese killed me, she was my closest friend and confidant. I adored and loved her. I thought she was the best sister anyone could have. Hell, I would have even stepped down as Alpha if she had only asked. Then jealousy corrupted her, and she chose violence and murder.

Well, I am not as forgiving and patient as Hayden. Dear little Reese, you will get what you deserve.

Hayden POV

I sigh inwardly as Reeva marches to bed. Perfect, just wonderful. We had a fantastic day, and we ended it with harsh words and tension. Just perfect.

I know she does not understand, and I do not feel like explaining it. I tried explaining it to Greta once, and she could not understand. Reeva will be no different.

My brothers are exactly what Dad wanted them to be. I would have been just like them if Father loved me enough to care and pay attention to me.

I rub Pudding’s belly as I stare into the fire, waiting for Reeva to fall asleep. I think this will qualify as a lovers’ quarrel. Not that we are lovers, or even a couple, but since we share a bed, it qualifies a little.

I rinse out our cups, add two more logs to the fire, and walk to bed. Reeva is lying with her back towards me, and I silently kick off my shoes and take off my shirt. Slowly, not to disturb her, I climb into bed.

This is going to be hell, I realise as I make myself comfortable. I am so close to her, I can feel her body heat. How am I supposed to sleep with the world’s most desirable woman beside me?

Okay, remember she is cold and angry. She does not like you. She kicks grown wolves’ assess and intends to kill her family. At least, that is what she said.

Instead, images of her laughing carefree as we played in the lake plague my mind, and I grind my teeth when my erection starts growing. Please, Goddess, not now, I beg silently, but it is useless. Out of desperation, I place a pillow between our hips. I will not live down the embarrassment if she knows what is happening in my pants.

She stirs softly, and I wiggle further away. This is going to be a hard, long night.