Claimed by the Alphas: Part Six Read Online Free PDF Page B

do?”
     
    “Nothing, she thought it was really cool. If anything, it made her like me more.”
     
    Mila could relate to that. When she was younger, she’d regularly fantasized about falling in love with a handsome young werewolf and sharing his secret. Meeting Asch would have been the ultimate dream-come-true for her at sixteen.
     
    “We started fooling around, nothing major, just kissing and a little touching here and there. But the more time we were together, the less I was able to control myself around her. I was afraid of hurting her, but she was convinced that I was overreacting.”
     
    He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing. “I told her to stay away from me during the time of the moth that she was fertile, but she didn’t listen. She snuck in my window in the middle of the night. She brought condoms and scented candles. I’m pretty sure she planned on trying to seduce me.”
     
    “Oh, god…”
     
    Mila remembered how Asch was during the thrall. Once his control had snapped, he’d been gone. All he had wanted was sex, and he had taken it over and over, none too gently. That was after what she could only imagine was years of learning self-control.
     
    “Caim was nearby. He heard her scream and he was able to stop me. A week later, we left. Spent a few years with Caim’s pack, and then we struck out on our own.”
     
    “Did you ever see her again?”
     
    He shook his head. “According to my sister, she got married a few years ago. Probably has kids by now, too.”
     
    “Did you love her?” She wasn’t sure why she needed to know, or why his wistful tone created a pang of jealousy in her chest.
     
    “I was a teenager and she was the only person who knew what I was besides Caim, who was, frankly, an asshole. At that point in my life, I needed her a lot, but that’s not the same as being in love.”
     
    “So you’ve been in love before?” she asked, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice. Hearing about Asch’s past was turning out to be a lot less pleasing than she thought it would be.
     
    “I love you.”
     
    Mila tripped. Asch caught her before she fell, pulling her up by the arm. She tried to look up at him, but her face was on fire, so she fixed her gaze on his chest.
     
    “Why did you say that?” she asked, wringing her hands.
     
    He tilted her chin up. “Because it’s true, ” he said with certainty.
     
    “But if I say it back, you’ll think I’m just saying it because you said it first.”
     
    “You don’t have to say it. I know you love me.”
     
    She gave him a skeptical look. How could he possibly know that she loved him when she didn’t even know for sure if she loved him?
     
    Asch just gave her an enigmatic smile and continued walking, pulling her along, deeper into the wilderness.
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
     
    “You’re late.”
     
    Caim spat the words out as if they were venom in his mouth. Between no longer being intimidated by him and missing him like crazy, Mila completely ignored his words and made a mad dash towards him, her arms spread wide. At the last second, he uncrossed his arms, permitting Mila to fling herself into his arms.
     
    “You’re late,” he repeated in a grumble.
     
    She ignored him again, rubbing her face against his hairy chest and breathing in his scent. “I’m so happy to see you!”
     
    He rolled his shoulders awkwardly, clearly unsure how to deal with his mate. After a brief moment of indecision, he wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.
     
    “Why are you so late?” he asked, this time speaking to Asch.
     
    Mila turned to look back at Asch, wincing sympatheti cally before burying her face back in Caim’s chest. Secretly, she was happy that Caim was directing his ire on Asch instead of her. She was dying to snuggle up against him and go to sleep, and she was way too tired to deal with his attitude.
     
    “We got a little sidetracked,” Asch replied, coming to stand next to them. “Everything go