A Mate's Revenge(16)

Besh went limp with relief. She was so tired. It was difficult to remain standing.

“Thank you,” she breathed through sobs she hadn’t even realized were there. “Thank you, Cael.”

Gingerly, he slid out of her. “You need to rest now.”

Besh didn’t resist as he lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the bathroom.





Chapter Six


It was warm. Entirely too warm in the bed.

Besh awoke to find enough blankets to smother a horse piled on top of her. She kicked off the first few layers welcoming the cooler air that filtered in.

She took stock of her surroundings, noting she slept in a king size bed. The room was darkened, but she could make out the simple setting. Abstract art hung on one wall, a dresser in the corner, and dual bedside tables. Off to the side was a door that must lead to another bathroom. A glance at the bedside clock told her she’d slept the entire day away.

She relaxed, remembering she was safe. Well, sort of. She was at the mercy of Cael, but that didn’t scare her like it had with Jax.

Jax.

Tears pricked her eyes when she realized this was the first time since giving in to him, that she’d awoken without his scent taunting her. Every new morning had made her stomach roll, but she’d gotten used to it. Adapted. Otherwise how could she have lived?

Now, it was gone. What a relief.

She sat up, listening. She could hear Cael breathing and guessed he was in the living room. Stretching, she took in the aches with gratitude. Her shoulder was sore, but not bad. Her feet were blistered, but healing. Between her legs…

He’d been so gentle. Unexpectedly so. To be taken by an alpha and not be sore the next day was something she’d never thought possible.

Besh reached up to finger the mark on her neck. It was huge, bigger than the first one as he’d needed to rip through Jax’s. It would likely leave a bigger scar which was Cael’s intention, to be sure. It hurt. But she’d never been more thankful for pain in her life.

Rising, she pulled one of the blankets with her, wrapping it around to cover her body, and went into the living area. Cael sat on the couch, staring into the fire, running his thumb over his bottom lip. He was so deep in thought, he didn’t look up when she entered the room. Or maybe he was simply ignoring her.

She couldn’t blame him. Where did they go from here?

The glow of the fire danced off his profile, enhancing the harsh set of his jaw. His hair, short on the sides and long on top—the way most alphas wore it—looked less golden and more bronze from the flame. He was beautiful. He always had been, but now, with the weight of life sitting on his shoulders, and the way he still handled it with honor… he took her breath away.

She sat in the oversized chair close to the fire. He still didn’t acknowledge her.

Minutes ticked by until Besh lost count, but no words were spoken between them.

The rumble of her stomach finally brought his head around. He stared at her, his eyes roaming the length of her bundled up body. Then he stood and went to the kitchen. He returned with a jar of peanut butter. A spoon was sticking out of the top.

“I’d like you to eat,” he said gruffly.

Besh nodded, taking the jar while he went back to the couch. She spooned a bite, and her eyes drooped closed when she tasted it. Peanut butter. God, when was the last time she’d had peanut butter? It was delicious. A steak from a five-star restaurant couldn’t have tasted better.

She’d devoured half of the jar before she realized Cael was staring at her.

“If I’d known you were so hungry, I would’ve woken you so you could eat.”

“It’s okay.”

He was quiet while she ate more.

“Did he keep food from you?”

Her stomach soured. That fast, she felt nauseous. She put the spoon back in the jar, cradling the whole thing close to her chest. “Sometimes.”

Anger flashed in his eyes before he looked away. “I’m going to kill your brother.”

“What?” Besh almost dropped the peanut butter at his furious words. “No, you can’t do that.”

His glare was harsh. “He deserves to die for letting you suffer like that. He should have escaped and taken you with him. Or gone to the elders with evidence. Or hell, killed Jax earlier. Any of that would have been acceptable. But letting this go on for so many years? No.”

She shook her head sadly. “He did what he could. And he didn’t know all that was going on. I don’t think… I don’t think he knew just how cruel Jax was until Trager brought his mate to the camp. I never let him see the depth of it.”

“Why?” he growled. “Why did you protect Jax? After everything he did to you, to us?”