22

"What?" He said in a low voice and I pulled away from him and covered my face in my hands. Tears started running down my face, "I was raped." I said in a shaky voice and realized I was trembling.

"How? Who? When?" Clayton growled softly and pulled my hands from my face. He looked utterly horrified. A groan escaped his lips as he stumbled away from me and sat on his bed running his fingers through his hair and scrubbing his hand down his face. He sighed and pinched the brim of his nose. He shook his head and started swearing under his breath.

"I don't know... I was fourteen, it was a long time ago. I'll tell you what I remember though..." I told him everything and at the end he was cursing loudly and growling. He put his hands over his ears and groaned before looking at me with red eyes. I gulped.

"I'm-I... I can't believe what I said to you. I don't deserve a mate... I don't deserve you. I'm such an asshole, you're right. You were raped-and I called you a whore. You were raped and I called you a whore! What the hell is wrong with me?!" Clayton snarled and his nails grew into claws and I gasped as he slashed over his arm. I covered my mouth as I watched the blood run down his arm and I let out a sob as he kept scratching himself. As I watched the scratches healed and he looked at his bloody clothes. He was panting heavily and I felt tears running down my cheeks.

"Downside of being an alpha; you heal like crazy." Clayton said bitterly and I let out a gagging sob. That was horrifying.

"Don't ever do that again." I said sternly and he looked up at me with watery eyes.

"I deserved it." My mate grumbled and shrugged. I let out a soft sob.

"Don't hurt yourself around me." I said and tried to hold in my sobs. This was too much.

He eventually calmed down and his claws disappeared.

"Come here." My mate said opening his arms and I paused before going to him. I couldn't take my eyes off the blood on him. He ripped off his bloody shirt and wiped himself clean, he wore a black tank top underneath. I blinked and walked toward him and then flung myself in his arms. He let out a low growl and his arms wrapped around me.

"I'm sorry." He whispered in my ears and I started crying. He hugged me tighter as my sobs grew and after some time I realized he was shaking as well. I looked up into his eyes and saw tears staining his cheeks and pooling in his eyes.

"Your crying..." I said softly and he gave a bitter smile then chuckled before hugging me tighter and burying his face in my hair.

"I love you." Clayton said in a shaking voice and my heart fluttered. I looked up at him and met his eyes. He blinked and a tear fell from his eye on my cheek and he wiped it away, "Sorry..." He sighed. I hummed and laid my head in the crook of his neck. He let out a huge breath and rubbed his hands down my back in a massaging fashion.

"Mea lux." Clayton sighed and kissed my head. I paused and looked up at him, "What does that mean?" I asked him and he smiled softly.

"My light." He said with a soft chuckle and kissed me. Well he kissed my cheek. His face reddened a bit and I inwardly awed at it. My crazy alpha was blushing.

"You're blushing." I said softly and he scoffed and looked away.

"So?" He grumbled and for the first time I smiled at his cocky behavior. I gripped his shirt collar of his tank and he looked at me.

"It's cute." I whispered and he smiled. His hands gripped my waist and he sighed before laying his forehead against mine.

"I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you. I had a difficult childhood as well but that doesn't justify what I did to you." His vice was thick with shame and it broke my heart.

"What happened?" I asked and Clayton sighed.

"At fifteen... I killed my father." He said softly and I frowned and looked at him in bewilderment.

"Why?" I chocked out and he growled and hugged me tight.

"He abused my mother and she died because of it." He sighed and I didn't know what to think except: What is up with this family?

"Woah... Okay..." I didn't really know what to say I mean-what do you say to that?

"Okay?" He chuckled and met my eyes. The red was faded, "I guess that's better than you calling me a monster and leaving." My mate added with a soft bitter smile.

"So when Hunter hurt Lexi... Why go to so much extent to kill him?" My mate froze at my words but after a bit he relaxed.

"So she told you... I did that because he knew exactly what he was doing to her. Yet he did it anyways. He bedded her then left her saying she wasn't enough pleasure for him." He growled and I saw red coming to his eyes again. I laid a hand on his cheek and he calmed. I smiled at the affect I had on him.

"Don't be mad anymore." I sighed and leaned closer. His breath fanned my lips when he spoke.

"As long as you're around to stop the madness I'll be fine." He whispered and my face heated. I slowly wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him slightly closer.

"That's good to know." I sighed and Clayton glanced at my lips and chuckled nervously. I furrowed my brows together and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Clayton said softly and I glanced at his teasing, pink, parted, plump, luscious lips. My gaze went back to his eyes. My lips tingled and body ached for him.

"I- just kiss me already." I meant to sigh but it came out in a moan. Clayton grinned and his lips barely touched mine before he pulled away and I whined in disappointment.

"I don't know if I should... It might get out of hand." Clayton said and I pulled away from him. This was torturous.

"Fine. I'll be in sitting on my bed." I sighed and started to get up. I needed to think. Clayton frowned and grabbed my wrists. He looked at me and tilted his head with a lopsided smirk.

He pulled me to him and grabbed my waist. Sparks were running through me and I sighed. His smirk widened and he looked at my lips and then my eyes.

"The only thing you should be sitting on is me." Clayton said softly and pressed his lips against mine. Sparks overwhelmed me and I melted into his sweet lips. He gave me soft tentative kisses at first as if he were scared that he would hurt me but it slowly gained fervor and soon he had my legs straddling him as he deepened the kiss. I moaned in ecstasy as his tongue explored my mouth and met with mine in pure bliss. I giggled as he laid back on his bed and pulled me on top of him never once breaking the kiss. Finally after what seemed like forever we pulled away for air.

"I love you." I moaned and Clayton smiled. His lips were damp from kissing me and I grinned.