The Twin Alphas’ Fated Mate
Chapter 16

ALPHA KING JOSH

She has got to be kidding me...

How could she love a man like him?

She didn't have to say it. I knew he was the one that hit and dumped her along the borders. What would have happened if Nora didn't fall off?

I wouldn't have found her and she would have died slowly and miserably. The thought of that spiked my irritation and I glared at the woman trapped between my body and the bed. "Answer me, Rose." I gritted. "Do you love him?"

Although I stated that she was in love with Alpha Richard. I made it sound like I was certain but I wasn't. I needed to hear it from her.

"It doesn't matter what or how I feel for him-"

I seethed, pressing my body closer to hers, "It does matter!" Rose's eyes widened as her lips thinned but I ignored her as I added, "So answer the damn question, Roae."

"I don't get you." She voiced softly. "Why do you care? I am mated to this man and nothing will change that-"

"The same man that hit you. You should have seen the state you were in when I found you, Rose!" I barked at her. "What's the arrangement between the both of you?" Before Rose could have the chance to lie to me, I added, "He isn't your true mate. Your relationship was arranged. Right?"

Rather than respond, she pushed against my chest, causing me to fume. I immediately let the weight of my body crush her fragile body, pressing her into the bed.

Rose trashed with her hands until I grabbed them and pinned them above her head.

"I asked you a question and you will answer me-" My furious tone was cut short when Rose whimpered with teary eyes.

"You are hurting me..." She cried and I froze. My tummy twisted as she added, "How are you different from the man I am mated to."

F**k...

Shame washed over me and my wolf beast condemned my action. I rolled off Rose's body and left the bed completely, with a tied tongue.

An uncomfortable silence settled between us. It felt awful to be compared to Alpha Richard. I hated the feeling that came with that but I stopped myself from reacting. I wouldn't want to prove Rose right. Should I apologize?

Do I even know how to apologize?

Max yelled in my mind, "Just tell her you are sorry. You have a lot to apologize for if you ask me and I don't think you want to lose her this time."

Truly, Rose would be better off with me.

Yes, my family was a complicated and dangerous one but I was ready to protect her and make her mine. However, I feared she would reject me again. The rejection hurt like sh*t!

"I didn't mean to hurt you-"

Rose countered, "But you did. That remains a fact, Alpha King."

"Will you at least let me apologize?" I uttered, trying my best to show Rose that I was simply angry about her miserable relationship with an undeserving man.

"Do you still want to know how my relationship with Alpha Richard started?" Rose responded with another question. "We both started just like this."

Huh?

"He would hit me, hurt me, and apologize during the first few days and I would forgive him, telling myself that I should understand that he was an Alpha and his temper simply got the best of him." Rose started explaining.

"He kept this routine until it became normalized and he eventually felt no need to apologize when he or anyone in his family hurt me. Not even when he started cheating on me." Rose added and used her hands to push herself off the bed.

He cheated on her... No wonder she came to me in the woods that night. She was in pain and sha came to me for comfort.

How could I have misunderstood her! Dammit, Josh!

"I believe I have said enough and I have also overstayed my welcome. Thank you for saving me but you should have left me to die."

She voiced. I could feel my heart breaking for her when she obviously hadn't told me enough.

I breathed, "You can't leave." I realized I sound authoritative so I rephrase my statement, "You can stay for as long as you want and I am glad I was able to reach you before you..."

I couldn't muster the courage to say the word "die". Rose crinkled her eyebrows, "I can't stay here. For your safety and the best, I have to leave immediately. One night is enough to ruin-"

"Do you think I am intimidated by your boneless mate? My safety?" I chuckled but didn't find her statement funny. "You have spent three nights sleeping in that bed and if you think I will let you leave-" "Three nights?" Rose exclaimed with wide eyes. "I have been here for that long?"

What?

Rose's facial expression showed that she was worried but I stood between her and the door, stopping her attempts to leave.

"This is bad. He knows I am alive... He will come for me and use me against-"

Rose suddenly stopped talking. Her pale face turned into a dark shade of red as she began to inhale harshly and audibly.

"She is having a panic attack! What the f**k did that bastard do to her?"

Max roared as Rose's body slowly began to slump. I caught her hastily and held her, whispering to her.

"Stay calm, Rose. I will protect you and end that bastard's life as soon as I get my hands on him-"

I said those words hopefully but as I spoke? Rose's anxiety heightened.

Max barked again, "You are scaring her with threats, Josh. Say something less hostile."

Fuck! I should call Tamira back or command Judy to treat Rose immediately.

"The moment you shut your mouth and simply held her, she began to feel comfortable." Max pointed out. "She can feel the chemistry just like I can."

As soon as Max pointed that out, I noticed that Rose became calm and sparks erupted everywhere our skin touched.

I almost believed she was my mate. My destined mate.

Destined mate or not, I was ready to protect this woman and rip off the head of the one that had scarred her- Alpha Richard. He was going to pay. Sooner rather than later. "Are you alright, Rose?"

I queried when her heartbeat returned to normal, easing my worry.

"I-I a-am alright. I should start going-"

Rose stuttered but she didn't make a move to leave my arms and neither did I try to release her.

She was going nowhere near that bastard.

"If you want to leave so bad, then you have to get better first."

I lied through my teeth, holding Rose's sleepy gaze.

"You can't keep me here, Alpha King Josh. Promise me that you will let me leave as soon as I wake up."

Rose whispered, fighting drowsiness.

"I will," I answered, lying once again.

Let's see if she will still want to leave by the time she wakes up. I will do everything in my power to make her stay and make her mine.

As for Alpha Richard, he will be going to hell as soon as Rose falls asleep. I will be marching over to his pack to claim his life and teach him a lesson before that.

By the time Rose will regain consciousness, he would have been dead and she would no longer have to be afraid.

That was the plan.

However, the moment I laid Rose on the bed and attempted to leave her, she clung to me, stopping me from leaving.

I looked at her peaceful face wondering if she was awake but no- she was still sleeping but she held onto me, saying, "Don't ever leave me..."

Obviously, she wasn't talking to me. I didn't bother to think about who she was seeing in her dream at the moment, Instead, I crawled into the bed with her, pulled her closer, and held her. "I will leave as soon as possible."

I said to myself, determined to kill Richard in the next few hours, however, Rose's soft snores ushered me into slumber.

I found myself snoring alongside her as we both slept, wrapped in each other's arms.

So much for determination.

I failed to kill Richard before Rose woke up but I certainly wouldn't fail to keep her with me forever... Wrapped in each other for eternity.

Now, that was a plan that I couldn't wait to execute.