Alpha - Forever #1 (Complete)

Chapter 24 - Part 2

I couldn't deny it because it was the truth. He expected me to feel guilty for being prepared to go to extreme lengths to keep the people I loved safe, but I didn't feel that way.

"Do you have any idea what he might do to you?" he exploded when he didn't get a reaction out of me. "Do you have any idea what that would have done to me...your brother...or Gary?"

That made my heart crack.

"And you really thought that I'd just stand back and do nothing while you gave yourself over to a fucking lunatic!" he shouted. I tried my hardest not to flinch under his verbal attack.

"I would have started a war to get you back," he told me. Anger still visibly coursed through him as he ran a hand through his hair. He dropped his gaze to the floor—it was as if he couldn't stand the sight of me anymore. He struggled to contain his temper.

I'd remained quiet while he'd had his say, but it was my time to talk.

"Blake made a comment about the rogues not being a coincidence," I stated, watching his reaction. His features were veiled, and he remained quiet.

"How long was it going to take for you to tell me that you'd figured out that Victor was behind the rogue attacks?" I asked, feeling my anger rise at the fact that he'd kept that from me.

"It was only when Kyle told you about your parents and Victor that things started to make more sense. Jake confirmed it last night. A couple of the rogues were in our territory and Jake tracked them to the border of Victor's territory. He saw them talking to some of the pack members from Victor's pack. It explains how he was able to get the rogues to work together. He is an alpha," he said, shoving his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.

"So when were you going to tell me?" I asked in a calm voice, knowing the answer already. His silence answered my question.

"You weren't going to tell me, were you?" I asked with my hands on my hips. He'd planned on keeping that information from me.

"I didn't want to worry you," he replied.

"How could you keep that from me? I had a right to know," I shouted, losing my temper.

"And when you found out? What did you decide to do?" he threw back at me with just as much anger.

"Do you really expect me to stand back and do nothing while the people I love are slaughtered trying to protect me?" I said, raising my voice even more. "I heard what you and Blake said. You'd be going into a fight that you would lose."

His gaze lifted to mine.

"You didn't even give me a chance to come up with a solution," he replied, sounding hurt. "Instead you decided you were going to go and hand yourself over to a monster."

I kept silent.

"You can't keep me locked up," I said.

His eyes met mine with a challenge.

"Yes, I can," he stated.

Damn it!

He was right, he could keep me locked up in this room for as long as he wanted to and there was nothing I could do about it.

"I'll hate you for it," I warned him.

"If hating me is the only way to keep you alive, I can live with it," he replied. "You can't hate me if you're dead."

Forgetting his earlier warning, I reached to grab a bar and I felt my skin sizzle against it. I screamed as the pain sliced through me and I let go. Cade tensed as he watched me, looking down at the red burn on my hand. He was clearly wrestling with the urge to rush to me and check my hand.

"I'll send Curtis to check on you," he said tightly.

"You told me you love me," I said, trying to figure out how someone that loved me could do this to me.

"I'm doing this because I love you."

He gave me one more piercing look before he turned and left me alone in my prison.

True to Cade's word, Curtis came in a little while later with some ointment to put on the burn on my hand. The guards wore gloves to be able to open the cell door.

I kept silent the entire time.

I'd discovered the little room inside my cell contained a toilet and a small shower. Later when someone brought me food I refused to touch it. I climbed onto the bed and lay with my face to the wall.

I ignored the next meal as well even though my stomach grumbled. My stubbornness made me refuse to give in. Later, I was still lying on the bed when I heard the door open. I didn't turn to see who it was.

"You have to eat," Cade said to me. I refused to acknowledge him.

"If you refuse to eat I'll have to get Curtis to sedate you and put you on a drip," he warned.

Silence hung in the air between us.

"You have till tomorrow morning, otherwise you leave me with no choice."

It was his final warning. I knew him well enough to know he meant what he said.

Once I heard the door close again, I rolled onto my back.

I felt like my life was spinning out of control and there was nothing I could do except hold on tight, hoping I wouldn't be swept away.