When an Alpha hates his mate

Secrets and Desire

Secrets and Desire

Davina’s POV

The room felt too small, too hot. It wasn’t the temperature, it was him.Vincent stood just a few feet away, towering over me with those maddening brown eyes that never failed to pierce straight through me. His jaw was tight, his broad shoulders tense as though he were trying to hold himself back from doing something reckless.

"You enjoy defying me, don’t you?" His voice was low, dangerous, but there was a heat beneath it that made my pulse spike.

I crossed my arms, refusing to look intimidated. "Maybe I just enjoy watching you lose control."

His growl was low and primal, and before I could step back, he was in front of me, one hand braced on the wall near my head, the other gripping my chin. "You think this is a game, Davina?"

I swallowed hard, fighting the way my wolf stirred under his touch. "You’re the one who made it a game when you rejected me the moment we met."

His nostrils flared, and for a moment, the mask of arrogance slipped. Something raw flickered in his eyes,want, confusion, anger, maybe all at once. Then he kissed me.

It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t slow.

It was fire, rage, hunger—everything I hated about him and everything I wanted at the same time. I hated myself for kissing him back, for clutching the front of his shirt like I needed him to breathe.

When we finally broke apart, breathless, I shoved him back. "Don’t do that again."

His smirk returned, dangerous and wicked. "Oh, you want me to do that again."

I glared at him, though my lips still tingled. "You really are insufferable."

Before he could reply, Tim appeared in the doorway, tension all over his face. "We have a problem," he said, and his tone was deadly serious.

My heart dropped. "What now?"

"Micah has men watching the house. I think he’s planning to grab the boy."

Every muscle in my body went rigid. My son.

"I’ll get him to a safe house," Tim continued quickly. "No one knows the location except me."

I hesitated, torn between trusting Tim and keeping Dan close. But the thought of Micah’s men anywhere near my son made my blood run cold.

"Take him," I said finally, my voice sharp. "Protect him with your life."

Tim nodded once, his loyalty written in the hard set of his jaw, and left to make arrangements.

Vincent, however, didn’t move. He was watching me with an intensity that made me want to hide every secret I’d ever kept.

"You’ve been hiding him from me," he said quietly.

I froze.

"Who is his father, Davina?" His tone was soft, but it carried the weight of an Alpha’s demand.

I forced a shrug I didn’t feel. "That’s none of your business."

His eyes darkened, the air between us thickening with anger. "Everything about you is my business. You’re my mate. And that boy—"

"That boy is mine!" I snapped, my voice cracking under the weight of my fear.

Silence stretched between us. For a second, I thought he would drop it, but Vincent was never one to back down.

Later that night, everything came crashing down.

We were ambushed on the way back from a meeting with Vincent’s pack council. The car swerved violently as bullets shattered the windows. I didn’t think—I just moved, tackling Vincent out of the line of fire as the vehicle slammed into a ditch.

Glass cut into my arms, but I didn’t care. I dragged him out, shielding him with my body until the gunfire ceased.

When the dust settled, he stared up at me, blood on his lip, shock in his eyes.

"You…" His voice was hoarse. "You saved my life."

I forced a shaky laugh. "Don’t sound so surprised. You’re not completely useless to me."

He reached up, gripping my wrist tightly, his gaze unreadable. "Why would you risk yourself for me?"

I looked away. "Because I’m not the monster you think I am."

Something shifted in that moment. Not forgiveness, not yet—but something softer than hatred.

Hours later, as we regrouped at the mansion, Tim returned, grim-faced.

"They tried to take Dan," he said. "But we got him out just in time."

Vincent stiffened. "Dan?"

Tim’s eyes darted to me, hesitation flickering in his gaze.

"Dan is my son," I said finally, meeting Vincent’s stare head-on.

For a second, Vincent didn’t move. Then, slowly, dangerously, he stepped closer.

"Your son?" His voice was a growl. "Or should I say,our son? Tell me right now!”

The world tilted under my feet.

"You knew?" I whispered.

"I had my suspicions," he bit out. "But hearing it confirmed—"

His fist slammed against the wall, splintering the wood. "You kept my heir from me. For years. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You made a very big mistake and this will never be forgiven.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "I did what I had to do to protect him. From you. From this world!"

"From me?" He was seething now. "You think I would ever hurt my own blood? That's the height of it, you're delusional!"

"You rejected me," I snapped. "You made it clear you wanted nothing to do with me. I wasn’t going to beg you to be part of his life."

He was silent for a long time, his chest heaving. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but full of fury.

"You’ve made me hate you more than I thought possible."

“Like there was any good left in you!” I snapped and he laughed before shaking his head.

“That's why you're never going to get marked by me, you'll remain a lone mate and that's it!”

And just like that, he turned and walked out, leaving me standing there with my heart in shreds.

But I saw it,the flicker of pain in his eyes before he left. And deep down, I knew this wasn’t the end.