Ruthless Alpha, and his Curvy Saint-Chapter 31

Alpha Terrell’s POV

Her dress came off, revealing smooth skin and a body that was objectively attractive in that conventional way. She stepped into the water wearing nothing but a coy smile, completely shameless.

I didn’t look. Didn’t care.

My entire focus was on Angel, who had gone completely still in the water, her expression stricken.

She thinks I brought Lyra here.

The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.

Lyra waded deeper into the pool, making exaggerated sounds of pleasure. "Oh, this feels amazing! Uriel, aren’t you going to join us?"

She started purring - actually purring - in what I assumed was meant to be seductive, calling me to come feel the coolness of the water.

It was one of the most unappealing things I’d ever witnessed.

I ignored her completely and walked to the edge of the pool, closer to where Angel floated.

"Come out," I said quietly. "Let’s get back to camp."

Behind me, Lyra’s purring intensified, her hands running over her own body in sultry invitation.

Angel looked at me, then at Lyra, then back at me. Her expression was carefully blank, but I could see the hurt beneath.

"Turn around," she said, her voice tight.

"Angel..."

"Turn around so I can get out."

The dismissal in her tone stung, but I complied, turning my back to give her privacy.

I heard the splash of water as she emerged, the rustle of fabric as she dressed.

Then Lyra’s voice, loud and mocking: "Oh my God, is that what you look like under all those clothes? You have to loose weight girl. I mean, look at those stretch marks, and that cellulite on your thighs..."

She laughed, cruel and sharp.

"And your stomach! It’s like you swallowed a hippo. How do you even live with a body like that? Isn’t it heavy and tiring? If I were you, I would’ve killed myself a long time..."

"Enough." My voice cracked like a whip.

But the damage was done.

I turned just in time to see Angel’s face crumple, tears already streaming down her cheeks. She was dressed - barely, the wet gown clinging awkwardly to her damp skin - but she didn’t seem to care.

She ran.

Past me, past Lyra still laughing in the water, back toward camp.

Crying so hard her whole body shook.

I stood there, torn between following Angel and dealing with Lyra.

The wolf in me demanded I go after my mate. Comfort her. Kill anyone who made her cry.

But the rational part of my brain knew I needed to handle this situation first.

I turned slowly to face Lyra, letting every ounce of my fury show on my face.

She was still in the water, still smiling, completely oblivious to how close she was to death.

"Get out," I said quietly. Too quietly.

"But I just got in..."

"Get. Out. Now."

Something in my voice must have finally penetrated her thick skull. Her smile faltered.

"And when you’re dressed," I continued, my voice dropping to a lethal whisper, "you’re going to go back to camp, pack your things, and you and your family are going to leave. Immediately."

"What? You can’t just order us out of here. You’re not even the Alpha. Just one of his errand..."

"You have five minutes before I forget I’m supposed to be a civilized man." I took a step toward the water. "Four minutes before I let my wolf out to play. And trust me, Lyra - he doesn’t find you nearly as amusing as you seem to think you are. Alpha or not."

My voice must’ve changed her mindset about me being an errand boy because she quickly scrambled out of the water - so fast she nearly tripped - grabbing her clothes with shaking hands.

"Tell your father you’re no longer welcome in this group," I said as she fumbled with her dress. "Tell him whatever you want. But if I see you anywhere near Angel again, if you so much as breathe in her direction..."

I let the threat hang, unfinished.

Lyra ran.

The moment she was gone, I took off after Angel, following her scent back toward camp.

I found her near the edge of the clearing, collapsed against a tree, sobbing into her hands.

My heart shattered.

"Angel..."

"Go away." Her voice was muffled, broken. "Just go away."

"Please, let me..."

"I said GO AWAY!" She looked up, and the devastation on her face nearly brought me to my knees. "Haven’t you humiliated me enough for one day? Wasn’t it enough to spend all day with those girls, laughing and flirting, making it clear what kind of woman you actually want?"

"Angel, that’s not happened. I wasn’t..."

"And then you bring her to where I’m bathing? You let her mock my body right in front of you?" She laughed bitterly through her tears. "I get it, okay? I understand. I’m not stupid. You like women like her. Beautiful, slender women who know how to flirt and be seductive. Women who are everything I’m not. And I’m completely fine with that. In fact, I don’t even care."

"That’s not true..."

"Of course it’s true. But what I don’t understand is you trying to stop me from changing. Why forbid me from losing weight? Who do you think you are to decide that for me!"

I’m just someone who’s falling in love with you exactly as you are.

The thought of you changing terrifies me.

You’re perfect and I need you to see that.

But I couldn’t say any of that.

Not as Uriel, her supposed friend and protector.

Not without revealing everything.

So I stood there, helpless, watching her cry because she thought I didn’t want her.

When the truth was I wanted her so desperately it scared me.

"Go away, Uriel," Angel whispered, turning her face back to the tree. "Please. Just... go away."

And because I was a coward, because I didn’t know how to fix this without revealing the truth, because I’d already hurt her enough for one day...

I did.

I walked away.

Leaving my mate crying alone in the darkness.