The Designated Mate novel Chapter 39

"Did he touch you?" He sneered, getting worked up, completely ignoring the fact that Corbin had helped me.

"He had to in order to get me out! You have no right to be angry after you left me in such a situation, especially concerning what you said to me!" I hissed, not holding back how I was truly feeling for another second. It was then that Knox must've realized we had such a large audience witnessing our heated argument. He shut his mouth and I could tell he was going to grab me and storm off, but then his eyes wandered down to the what I could only assume were the marks on my neck left by Corbin's rough handling earlier.

"What the fuck are these?" He demanded to know, a fire raging in his eyes as he ghosted his fingertips over the light bruising on my neck. They ached just a smidge when he touched them. I kept my mouth firmly shut, not wanting to cause such an issue with the Alpha's son, but Knox was having none of it. His head shot down to the crook of my neck as he intensely sniffed my skin, gathering a scent.

"You!" Knox boomed while whipping around to point an accusing finger at the Alpha - who had been watching our interaction closely. "Get your son here now!" He finished.

"Knox, please..." The Alpha begged with a look of desperation after seeing the deadly glint in his eyes. He knew summoning Corbin would be a death sentence with the mental state Knox was in. Deciding I didn't want to see the bloodbath I knew would have ensued, I grabbed Knox's arm and tugged to gain his attention. He was too focused on staring down the Alpha to pay any attention to me.

"Knox!" I hummed while pulling his arm once more. Again, he ignored me. In that moment. I had had it with him brushing me off.

"Goddammit, Knox!" I shouted, catching him off guard. "I have the ability to reject your mark if I do so choose and if you have any intentions of speaking to me ever again you'll listen to me!" I snarled. His back turned rigid as everyone took a deep breath and held it. I heard Grace gasp from behind me, obviously terrified of the repercussions my threat would bring. I knew him better than that, though. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, but I wasn't sure exactly what it was he would do. Not after this morning. I was starting to question everything I thought he felt for me.

"What?" Knox snapped as his jaw ticked.

"You heard me," I whispered only loud enough for him to hear. "If you go after him right now before discussing whatever the heck this morning was, then this will be our last goodbye," I murmured, leveling him with a challenging gaze. An angered growl rumbled through his chest as his hands clenched and unclenched by his sides.

"Who called you this morning?" he questioned. What the hell does this have to do with anything?

"What?" I hesitated, confused beyond belief.

"This morning you pushed me away to answer a call. Who is he?" he demanded angrily. I blinked a few times, utterly shocked by his misplaced anger.

"It wasn't from any man, Knox. It was from my best friend in my old pack. She's the one who helped me get away. I've been worried sick since her first call that my old Alpha had done something to hurt her or my mother and sister," I explained, though the explanation only seemed to confuse him.