Chapter 23: A Flash of Red

Alec

I straighten my bow tie in front of the mirror, and Carla appears behind me and wraps her arms around my waist.

“You’re a sight,” she says with a soft smile.

Ever since our argument yesterday, she’s been in a much better mood. I guess it’s because I lied to her about Delaney, and now, she’s more assured about our relationship and the way I feel about her.

None of this is honorable. It’s merely necessary. I hate having to lie to her, but I can’t tell her the truth. The situation in itself is just downright tragic.

She has always loved me—since high school, to be precise—and my mind has been on the redheaded Omega that paid for my crime since the day we found out that we were mates. My feelings haven’t changed since, not even after the rejection.

The same protective feeling that overpowered me when I saw Trevor trying to kill her is still within me, forcing me to protect her from these people who want to see her dead.

And I can’t tell this to anyone. It’s my cross to bear.

I