The Alpha and The Vigilante novel Chapter 18

After a few minutes of breathing shallowly, hoping not to anger his wolf, he lifted his head up and I saw that his eyes were back to normal.

Alpha Cain didn't say anything to me, he just coldly stared back into my eyes. I shifted my gaze first, still unsure of what to do around him.

"Hey guys, I don't mean to bother you, but could we start heading back? Rose is going to kill me if I'm late for dinner, and I JUST GOT SHOT WITH AN ARROW." Carter requested pointing to his bloody leg.

I could feel Alpha Cain nod, and he continued to cradle me as we walked in the direction of his territory.

Carter walked a few yards ahead of us, and none of us said anything for the first thirty minutes.

"I want to say I'm sorry for using my Gift to harm you," Alpha Cain began, breaking the silence. "But I'm not. The way you have been acting is unacceptable. Violent actions have violent consequences, and you always choose to go the violent route. Just accept that we are fated for each other so we can stop hurting each other."

I blankly stared at him, not wanting to give him a reaction. I didn't expect an apology from him, and I didn't want one either. I used my Gift against him, and he did the same to me. And I certainly wasn't about to apologize for slashing him with the knives anytime soon.

I hoped he would just walk back to the pack house in silence, but he spoke again a few moments later.

"You of all people should see how violence can be taken too far." I stared at him in question.

My struggles were futile as he lowered my mask and took off my hood.

He traced a finger over my scarred eyelid, and then over the various random scars that littered my face. Finally, he cupped the side of my head that had half of my ear cut off.

"You have been fighting your whole life. Stop fighting, and let me be the one who fights in your defense. I wouldn't ever let anything harm you." Alpha Cain stopped holding the side of my head, and lifted one of my hands up to his face. He began kissing the burnt flesh, and unlike the knife I tried to summon, it didn't hurt when his lips contacted the skin.

After the initial shock, I ripped my hand away, and pulled up my mask and hood. He almost had me convinced for a minute.

I closed my eyes and felt asleep to the comforting feeling of being rocked as he walked through the woods.

I woke up completely confused.

My eyes snapped back to look at him as I heard him get out of the chair.

I watched him walk towards my side of the bed, and sat on the edge next to me.

His hand reached out towards me, and he cupped my cheek, stroking it with his thumb. The action should have been soothing, but I was too on edge for whatever he was planning to do next.

"I am going to mark you now. It is the only way to establish a consistent communication link between us," Alpha Cain met my eyes, and he almost looked apologetic.

I began thrashing in the bed. I would rather die than be marked by this heathen.

I was no match for the Alpha as he roughly held me down by my soldiers. I couldn't wield a weapon right now due to my injuries, and that confirmed that he had aimed for my hands intentionally.

Alpha Cain's eyes darkened, and I knew it wouldn't be long until his wolf surfaced. Alpha Cain stroked my hair, and leaned closer to me. He kissed my forehead, and then peppered more kisses along my neck.