Ruthless Alpha, and his Curvy Saint-Chapter 60

Angel’s POV

Knock knock knock.

I jolted upright, my heart hammering.

Who would be knocking at this hour? It had to be past midnight.

Knock knock knock.

More insistent this time.

I climbed out of bed, wrapping a robe over my nightgown, and moved cautiously to the door.

"Who is it?" I called softly.

"It’s me."

Uriel.

I yanked the door open, my eyes going wide.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered urgently, looking past him down the corridor. "What if someone sees you? How would I explain..."

He pushed past me into the room, closing the door behind him with more force than necessary.

"I needed to see you," he said.

Alpha Terrell’s POV

I’d been pacing my room for hours, the presence of my brother and the arrival of Harland making it impossible to sleep.

But Angel had chosen me this morning. Had said she wanted to be with me. Had agreed to break the bond with the Alpha so we could be together.

That had to mean something.

Didn’t it?

Unless Harland had already poisoned her mind against me. Against us. Against the plan that was supposed to set her free.

I couldn’t wait until morning.

Couldn’t risk her spending all night dwelling on whatever doubts that lovesick fool had planted.

So I found myself at her door, knocking before I could second-guess the decision.

When she opened it, she looked beautiful - sleep-rumpled and confused, her long hair loose around her shoulders, her nightgown modest but somehow more enticing than any dress.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered, looking past me nervously. "What if someone sees you? How would I explain..."

I pushed past her into the room, closing the door behind me.

Privacy. I needed privacy for this conversation.

"I needed to see you," I said.

"Now? In the middle of the night?"

"Yes, now." I turned to face her fully. "I needed to make sure we’re still on the same page. That our plans haven’t changed."

Something flickered in her eyes. Guilt? Uncertainty?

"What plans?" she asked carefully.

"About reaching Black Wolf territory. About you breaking the bond with the Alpha. About us being together afterward." I studied her face. "Are we still in agreement about all of that?"

She looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

Damn it.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, though I already knew.

"I just..." She twisted her hands together. "What if the Alpha changes his mind? What if we get there and he refuses to reject the bond? What if he decides he wants to keep me after all?"

There it was.

The doubt Harland had planted, already taking root.

"That won’t happen," I said firmly.

"How do you know?" She finally looked at me, and I saw real fear in her eyes. "You said yourself he’s unpredictable. Dangerous. What if he..."

"I won’t let him hurt you," I interrupted. "Angel, I promised I’d protect you. That promise doesn’t have conditions or limitations. Whatever the Alpha decides, I’ll make sure you’re safe."

"But if he refuses..."

"Then we’ll figure it out. Together." I moved closer, taking her hands in mine. "Do you trust me?"

"I want to," she whispered. "I do trust you. But Harland said..."

Of course.

"You spoke with Harland," I said flatly.

She nodded.

"And he filled your head with doubts about the Alpha’s intentions."

"He made some good points..."

"He made points designed to scare you." I couldn’t keep the anger from my voice. "To make you dependent on him instead of trusting the plan we already have in place."

"That’s not fair. He’s just trying to help..."

"No." I pulled away, pacing. "He is trying to position himself as your savior so you’ll choose him over everyone else?"

Angel’s expression hardened. "You’re being paranoid."

"Am I? The boy shows up out of nowhere, claims he’s tracked you across the territory, says he wants to keep you safe. And you don’t find that suspicious?"

"He risked his life to find me!"

"So did I!" The words exploded out before I could stop them. "I’ve been protecting you since the moment we met. I’ve fought for you, put myself between you and danger repeatedly. But one conversation with Harland and suddenly I’m not enough?"

"That’s not what I said..."

"It’s what you’re thinking." I stopped pacing, facing her directly. "I can see it in your eyes, Angel. The doubt. The fear. And I know exactly where it came from."

She was quiet for a long moment.

"I’m scared," she admitted finally. "I’m scared of what happens when we reach Black Wolf territory. Scared of the Alpha. Scared of making the wrong choice. And yes, Harland’s words made those fears worse. But they were already there, Uriel. You can’t blame him for that."

She was right.

I knew she was right.

But knowing didn’t make the jealousy and frustration any easier to swallow.

"I should go," I said, moving toward the door.

"Uriel..."

"Get some rest, Angel. We’ll talk more in the morning."

I left before she could respond, before I could say something I’d regret, before the mask of Uriel could slip and reveal the monster underneath.

The corridor was dark and silent as I walked.

Too silent.

I stopped, suddenly aware of what was missing.

The constant drumming of rain against windows. The howl of wind through corridors. The general sense of Nature’s fury that had been our constant companion for days.

Gone.

All of it gone.

I moved to the nearest window and looked out.

Clear skies. Still air. The storm had passed completely, leaving only puddles and broken branches in its wake.

Perfect.

I changed direction, heading toward Merrick’s chambers.

My brother answered the door in a sleeping robe, his hair mussed, his expression annoyed.

"Why are you at my door at this ungodly hour?" he demanded. "Don’t you sleep?"

"The storm stopped," I said without preamble.

Merrick blinked, processing. Then he moved to his own window, confirming what I’d said.

"So it has," he murmured.

"Which means Harland needs to leave. Now. Tonight."