Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter Fifty Seven

Alexander was in a fresh pair of pants, though I didn't think he minded being naked.

"You should join me for a drink, Kaida." he offered.

I did need a drink. I walked to him, trying to hide the discomfort I felt between my legs. I had asked for it, and I was given just that. It was fun; it was exciting, but now, all could feel was pain. I had no regrets, though; I would do it all over again if time was taken back.

Alexander helped me to the stool beside him.

I accepted the glass filled with a light brown liquid. I didn't mind asking what it was; I drank it all. He stared

at me. "I'm a very bad influence on you." He said.

"You are." I agreed, adjusting on the seat.

"You are sore and in pain."

"I'm not."

"You don't have to lie; I can see that. Perhaps I went too hard."

"I asked for it."

"You weren't ready. I shouldn't have listened to you."

"I was. I was ready." I said and his eyes fixed on me. "I... I wanted to give you everything 'they' would give, so you won't have a reason to want them."

His gaze dropped to my lips; for a moment I thought he was going to claim me once again, but he looked away. You don't even have to try, Kaida. That's the difference. Fucking any other person but you doesn't even feel right; there's no... excitement."

"But I thought..."

"You thought wrong.'

"I heard about everything that happened back in the Gray Moon Pack." I said, changing the topic.

"What did you hear?"

"You burnt them; you burnt them all, and you saved the girl."

"They deserved to die. I should have burnt the whole pack to the ground for what they attempted to do- that would have been a warning to any other person stupid enough to try that."

"But you didn't."

"But I didn't," he said.

"Your hair... it's grown so much longer since I first saw you. I like it this way," I said. He smirked, his gaze dipping once again to my lips, then Tower.

"I'm glad you like it."

For a moment, we simply stared at each other in complete silence. He was the first to break it.

"You wanted to know what happened back in the Gray's pack? You were right; I did burn them to the ground."

Chapter Fifty Seven

"How could you do it?"

"Five years ago, I discovered my ability to wield flames. My mother was half demon, and I suspect that's connected to it."

"Half demons don't wield flames; only full and powerful demons could do that. The demon blood in you is barely existent and yet..." I trailed off.

"There is no other explanation for this; I've always hated this ability and never appreciated it until we were at Gray Moon's pack. Watching you poisoned, the fear that you might die and I'd never be able to keep my promise of bringing you back here alive-it filled me with so much rage. It took every will in me to stop at just the hall."

I was silent, lost in thoughts, also aware that his eyes studied me.

"Now that you know the truth, do you see me as a freak?" he asked.

"No, of course not. I owe you my life.'

"You owe me nothing; if I had been more watchful, I would have figured it was a setup."

"Well, I didn't figure it out either."

He rose to his feet, carrying me off the stool.

"I can walk."

"You are sore and tipsy; let me take you to the bed."

I should have struggled out of his hold, but I didn't. I wanted to be here. I closed my eyes, enjoying his

scent.

'I get it, Cas, I understand now.'