Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 162: I Like You

When Lewis heard my words, something bright flashed in his dark eyes.

It was sudden, like light breaking through heavy clouds.

"Are you... serious?" he asked, carefully. Almost afraid.

That hesitation pulled at my chest.

I’d been with Julain for years, yet he had never once paused like this. He had grown up adored, protected, placed at the center of everything. The Hale name had always wrapped around him like armor. He never doubted that he would be chosen.

Lewis was different.

The distance he carried wasn’t arrogance it was hunger that had learned to stay quiet. Even his feelings for me had been held back, buried deep, controlled by instinct and caution.

Power followed him everywhere, but affection never had.

So when I said those simple words, they landed harder than I expected.

I squeezed his hand and met his gaze.

"Yes. I like you."

His arm tightened around my waist instantly, protective and steady.

"Elena," he said softly, "I’ve never done this before. If I mess up, tell me. I won’t always get it right, but I swear I’ll learn. I’ll be good to you."

Something warm spread through my chest.

Smiling, I teased, "You’re already doing just fine."

After that, there was nothing left unsaid between us. The air felt lighter. Safer. We stayed wrapped in that quiet closeness for hours until my phone rang.

It was the maid.

"Miss RIley, please come quickly. Ms. Lincy is causing trouble at Mrs. Gardner’s place. We can’t calm her down."

The warmth vanished instantly.

Lincy again.

My mom hadn’t been feeling well, and of course, Lincy chose now to lose control.

I drove straight over.

The moment I stepped inside, the sound hit me glass breaking, furniture scraping, Lincy’s shrill voice cutting through the house.

"You witch! You stole my father! You ruined my life! If I can’t live well, neither will you!"

I almost laughed.

If Lincy had even a little sense, she would have come crying. Playing the victim. Pressing on Grant’s guilt.

Instead, she charged in like an animal cornered, all noise and no plan.

I took out my phone calmly and started recording.

Then I walked forward.

Lewis had already arranged protection. Two men stood between Lincy and the door, solid and unmoving. She could scream all she wanted she wasn’t getting inside.

My mom stood nearby, pale, one hand pressed to her temple.

"Keep going," I said coolly to Lincy. "Once you’re done, we’ll talk about paying for what you broke."

Inside, I knew this wouldn’t save her. It would end her.

The moment she saw me, her fury spiked.

"RIley, you snake! I’m Dad’s daughter! Who do you think you are, treating me like this?"

I folded my arms and let the guards block her path.

"Lincy," I said evenly, "without me, you’d still be locked up. Seems comfort has made you forget where you stand."

Her breathing turned sharp.

"Your mother was never more than a kept woman," I continued. "Some people played along and called her Mrs. Gardner. But there is only one woman who belongs in this house and that’s my mother."

I stepped closer.

"And you? You barged into her territory like you owned it."

The words hit exactly where they hurt.

I watched her face twist, denial cracking. She had always believed she was entitled. That belief was the only thing holding her together.

Lincy’s laugh was sharp, ugly.

"You’re the illegitimate one," she snapped, eyes burning. "If your useless mother had known when to let go, Dad would have bonded with my mom years ago. You wouldn’t even be standing in this house acting like you own it."

Something hot stirred low in my chest. Not anger exactly. Something deeper. Older.

Before I could speak, a heavy voice cut through the room.

"Who," Grant said slowly, "are you calling illegitimate?"

The air shifted the moment he stepped in.

Lincy didn’t notice. She never did. She’d been waiting for him, counting on his presence like a shield.

"Dad!" she cried, rushing toward him. "You’re finally here. Do you know what she’s been doing to me? My mom and I have suffered so much, we "

The sound came fast.

Her words died as Grant’s hand struck her face.

Lincy staggered back, clutching her cheek, eyes wide like she’d just woken from a dream.

"Dad... you hit me?"

Grant didn’t soften. His presence filled the room, heavy and unyielding.

"Look at this place," he said coldly. "Who gave you permission to turn my home into a battlefield?"

Lincy opened her mouth again, but no sound came out.

She still didn’t understand. She thought things were the same. Thought the past still protected her.

It didn’t.

Whatever advantage she and her mother once had it was gone. Quietly dismantled. Piece by piece. Not with shouting. With exposure.

Grant’s patience with her had never been loyalty. Just habit. And even that was wearing thin.

Lincy ruined what little remained.

"Don’t you care about me anymore?" she cried. "About my mom?"

I stepped forward before she could spin the story further.

"Enough," I said.

My voice didn’t shake. That surprised even me.

"Dad," I continued, meeting his eyes, "let’s end this now. Who do you stand with? Who is your true mate? And who doesn’t belong here?"

The room held its breath.

"If you choose them," I added quietly, "then my mother and I will leave. We won’t stay where we aren’t protected."

Grant turned to me instantly. "RIley, don’t talk like that. Your mother is my only wife."

I didn’t back down.

"Then why does she think she can walk in here and destroy our space?" I asked. "What are we supposed to do about this? Call the authorities?"

The moment the word left my mouth, his expression changed.

"That’s not necessary," he said quickly. "She’s already had enough trouble. Do whatever you think is right. Just don’t involve them."

That was all I needed.

"Good," I said. "Then don’t expect mercy."

Lincy froze.

Her confidence collapsed like glass under pressure.

"I I’ll leave," she stammered.

She tried to move, but the guards stepped in smoothly, blocking her path. No shouting. No force. Just presence.

I walked toward her slowly, letting each step land.

"Leave?" I said softly. "You think this is a place you can wreck and walk away from?"

I glanced at the shattered vases and broken tiles scattered across the floor.

"You like breaking things," I continued. "So you’ll clean them."

Her eyes darted down.

"Pick up every piece," I said. "Carefully. Take them outside."

She swallowed hard.

"And when you’re done," I added, voice dropping, "you’re going to kneel on what you broke."

Her head snapped up. "What?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

I didn’t raise my voice.

"I said kneel," I repeated. "And stay there until I decide you’ve learned."