Mated to the Alpha Who Ruined Me Chapter 08

Mated to the Alpha Who Ruined Me Chapter 08

The drive home was silent.

Kane didn’t ask any questions.

He started the car.

The black SUV glided smoothly into the Rocky Mountain night.

The cabin was quiet.

I leaned against the window, watching the neon lights fly by outside.

The city at night was bright, glittering, and cold.

But my heart was frozen solid, locked in a layer of ice that had been there for a thousand years.

“You knew Rainer before?”

He spoke suddenly, breaking the silence.

His voice was flat, no emotion to read.

But my heart jumped into my throat.

He was testing me.

I turned to look at him.

In the dim light, he was focused on the road.

His perfect profile was like a sculpture carved by God himself.

“No.”

I shook my head, keeping my voice as natural as possible.

“First time meeting him tonight.”

“Is that so?”

He let out a soft laugh.

“Because the way you looked at him… it seemed different.”

Cold sweat broke out across my back, instantly.

“Did it?”

I feigned surprise.

“Probably just because… he looks a little like a friend I used to have.”

I gave him a half-truth.

“Oh?”

He sounded interested.

“Which friend?”

“A friend… from the academy.”

I spoke vaguely.

“I don’t even remember his name anymore.

It was so long ago.”

After I said it, I turned back to the window, not looking at him anymore.

I was gambling.

Gambling that he didn’t know about the tiny, insignificant interaction I’d had with Liam back at the academy.

The day before Kane had cornered me in the academy, I’d found Liam beaten up by Kane’s men, hiding in a tree hollow in the Black Pine Forest.

He’d been covered in cuts and bruises, curled up in the dark. I’d snuck him bandages and food.

He’d thanked me, told me his name was Liam, and warned me to be careful of Kane.

I’d thought it was just a casual warning back then, and thought nothing of it.

Until the next day, when Kane and his men had driven me into the Black Pine Forest, and humiliated me in front of everyone.

Now, looking back.

Maybe, from that moment on.

I’d already been pulled into the war between the two of them.

And I was nothing but a disposable pawn in their game.

The rest of the drive was silent.

We got back to the castle quickly.

He still hadn’t let go of my hand.

He waved the staff away.

Then he knelt down.

Gently, he slipped my heels off my feet.

His fingers brushed my ankle.

The cold touch made me flinch back, despite myself.

His movements froze.

He lifted his head, looking up at me.

In those deep, ice-blue wolf eyes, a storm of emotions raged.

I couldn’t read any of it.

“Ella.”

He said my name, his voice rough.

“You’ve been so scared of me tonight.”

It wasn’t a question.

It was a statement.

My heart hammered in my chest.

I forced a stiff smile.

“I’m not.

I think I’m just tired from the gala.”

He didn’t say anything.

He just stared at me.

Like he was trying to see straight into my soul.

After a long moment, he looked back down, finishing slipping my shoes off.

“Go to bed early if you’re tired.”

His voice was back to its usual softness.

I watched his back as he walked into the bathroom.

There was only one thought in my head.

I had to get in contact with Liam. Fast.

I had to find out what the hell was going on.

This man was too dangerous.

I felt like I was walking a tightrope over a cliff.

Every step was on thin ice.

One wrong move, and I’d shatter into a million pieces.