IN BED WITH THE WRONG ALPHA

7

ROBYN

The lecturer's voice barely registered as I stared blankly at my open notebook.

My mother's voice echoed in my head. Why would she hate the Thornes so much? My father had happy photographs with the former Alpha Supreme. He had been one of the pack's most decorated warriors. None of it made sense.

"And that's all for today," the lecturer announced, the scrape of chairs and rustle of papers instantly breaking the silence of the hall.

I sucked in a deep breath, my lungs burning as if I had been underwater for the last hour.

June slid her notebook into her bag, grabbing my hand.

"Are you okay, Robs? You looked completely spaced out during the entire lecture."

Hurriedly, I pulled my hand back as though I'd been burned, standing abruptly.

"I need to leave," I said simply.

"Robyn, wait—"

Before she could finish, I was already out in the hallway with my phone in hand, texting Kane.

*I want to go to my mother's house. Now.*

I expected a delay, but my phone vibrated instantly.

*I'm already driving toward your faculty.*

I hurried down the stairs in time to see his car pulling up in front of the building.

My eyes caught a massive dent caved into the bumper by the passenger side, causing my heart to leap. Was he in an accident?

"What happened?" I asked as soon as I sat in the car.

I inspected his body, but there were no signs of injury. Relief settled in my chest before I could stop it. The realization irritated me.

"The car survived."

His hand remained on the wheel as he sped off.

"It barely did. You look like you hit a brick wall."

"You shouldn't worry about it."

His brows furrowed, and I sighed, leaning back into my seat.

I found myself studying his profile as he drove. Calm. Controlled. Completely unreadable. He was arrogant and calculating, but he looked nothing like the monster my mother had described.

Soon, we were at my family home—a modest house surrounded by a white picket fence that my father had built before he died.

I stepped out of the car with Kane behind me and knocked on the front door.

The locks turned, and it swung open to reveal my mother's pale face.

"Robyn... Goddess, Robyn, thank the Moon you're okay..."

She pulled me into a hug.

But then her body went rigid, and she slowly pulled away.

"Good day, Alpha Supreme," she greeted in a venomous tone, stepping aside.

Kane stepped into the house, his massive frame instantly making the hallway feel small. He kept his hands in his pockets, his green eyes locked on my mother.

"I know you don't like me, but I mean your daughter no harm."

My mother didn't answer him.

I stepped between them, pressing my palm against Kane's chest. The heat radiating through his shirt sent a spark down my spine, but I forced myself to ignore it.

"I'd like to speak to my mother alone. You can wait in the living room."

He looked down at my hand on his chest, then back at my face before shrugging and taking a seat.

My mother grabbed my wrist, dragging me down the hallway into an empty room.

"What are you doing, Robyn? I told you to stay away from him!"

Her voice rose the moment she shut the door.

"Mom, breathe," I pleaded, reaching for her hands, but she pushed me away, pacing across the room. "He protected me from Leon."

"No good has ever come from loving a Thorne!" she yelled, her voice cracking as she pressed a trembling hand against her mouth. "None! They are predators. They take, and they consume, and they destroy everything they touch!"

"What happened between our family and the Thornes, Mom?" I demanded, my patience finally snapping.

She stopped in her tracks.

"That is not the point!"

"Then what is?" I yelled back.

I understood her fear. But this wasn't her story—it was mine. I wasn't truly part of the prophecy. June had manipulated everything. Kane still had two other candidates to choose from. I wasn't going to get pregnant. I wasn't going to fall in love. We were only pretending.

I took a deep breath and looked my mother dead in the eyes.

"I understand your concern, Mom. I do. But I've made my decision. I'm staying with Kane. I'll explain everything to you later, when it's safe."

"No!"

Her face contorted.

She stepped forward, grabbing my shoulders, her fingers digging painfully into my skin.

"You are making the biggest mistake of your life! You think you are strong enough to survive that throne? You aren't!"

"I am making my own choice!"

I tore myself out of her grip.

Tears blurred my vision, the anger and humiliation of the last twenty-four hours boiling over.

"Everyone—including you—told me Leon was the perfect mate for me. You loved him. You told me a man who loved me would wait... and look what he did to me!"

I wiped a tear from my cheek with the back of my hand, my chin lifting defiantly.

"I'm tired of being told what to do. So this time, I want to make my own choice. If Kane Thorne hurts me, then I will bear those consequences myself. But I am not running."

Tears flooded her eyes as she collapsed back onto the bed. She buried her face in her hands, her body shaking violently as she began to sob uncontrollably.

"They'll destroy you... they'll destroy you just like they destroyed me... Leave... just leave!"

"Mom..."

I tried to reach her.

"Get out!"

The door burst open instantly.

Two maids rushed into the room, hurrying toward her.

With hot tears stinging my eyes, I glanced at my mother before walking away.

The moment I stepped into the living room, Kane jumped to his feet.

"Is—"

he began.

I cut him off.

"Take me back to school."

He followed behind me until we got into the car.

The entire ride was silent as I stared out the window, letting tears roll silently down my cheeks.

Kane didn't bother speaking to me. At least he understood boundaries.

---

By the time we got back to campus, it was nighttime.

The silence in the car had held me together. The moment it stopped, so did I.

The car had barely stopped when I got out, marching toward the dorm. I needed space to breathe and have a good cry because I'd been holding myself together the entire ride.

I took the steps two at a time, and by the time I reached my door, I could barely see through my tears.

I pushed my door open and made to slam it shut, but it stopped mid-swing.

My heart leaped into my throat when I looked up and found Kane standing there. I hadn't even noticed he'd followed me.

"There's no one watching now," I said quietly. "You can go."

"I am not pretending."

He pressed harder on the door, and I reluctantly gave him space. Then he walked in and quietly shut it behind him.

"I hate seeing women cry."

I scoffed, closing the gap between us.

"Would you have stayed with a random woman you met on the road if she were crying? Or am I just another pawn in your little game?"