Alec carelessly waved away the other sideâs attempt at asking for help from a coven leader who landed her name on Malcolm Winslowâs shit list, it is highly probable the womanâs growing family would ultimately provide a distraction severe enough that she would rescind the offer for the safety of her little rugrats, âNo use shedding tears for a side of yourself thatâs harmed you as much as it has. As much as he has.â He at least understood what losing a piece to who you are caused in the grand scheme, a shifting change, the formatting empty shell of oneâs former self. Alec lost himself the day he discovered his abilities and ripped the innkeeper to shreds, he lost anything making him good as he watched the manâs wife beg him to stop before she met his same fate. He broke down his personality and rebuilt someone entirely new, someone who could never experience devastation again. A power-hungry psychopath now crumbling at this very instance of a weakness. âYou want transparency, sweetheart, then transparency it is.â Alec closed what little space remained between the two of them and practically stalked over to where Tina stood, invading her personal bubble a little too closely for anyoneâs comfort. He could feel it, though, the rising tension sparking like an electric current. âI have played and replayed those conversations, both ours and him, until my mind fucking melted. And the only valid explanation I can proclaim with confidence is how that part of him that feels everything all at once for you has seeped itself into me.â Alec cocked his head slowly to the side, his chest almost heaving, âThe time I have spent in my prison was thinking of nothing but that kiss. Every hour, every minute, every second ticking by knowing I wanted to do more than just that. You, running through my veins, in a constant loop I cannot escape. And I think you, Valentina,â He lowered his tone to a whisper, âYou want the fluffy romance with him, sure, but there is an innate part of you that craves the heat. The passion. Itâs a part you battle, yet, that part poured her desires when she chose to kiss me back.â Alec released a small hum, âTime to stop the dance, baby. Here I am.â
Her brows furrowed at his words. How could she not mourn the side of her that sheâd grown up with? It gave her her wolf, a friendship that knows no bounds-- she was never hurt by that, only by Malcolm. It was times like that Tina wondered what life would have been like if she just stayed away like Roman had wanted. Her thoughts were chaotic, spiraling until Alec stepped closer, his voice dangerously dark; enticing. He was a hairsbreadth away and she could see every inch of him that was stained with Malcolmâs blood, a sick note of satisfaction ran through her even though she should have been disgusted that even the smell of the lingering blood sang to her. Her eyes moved up to Alecâs dark ones, the tension palpable enough that it rooted her to her spot-- God, there was just something about it that made her weak. Like a rabbit caught in the gaze of a lion even though she was the new Alpha predator. Her hands moved to his chest out of their own volition, coming to rest over where she knew scars from their last encounter rested; either to keep the space between them or to just feel some sort of contact, she wasnât sure. Tina watched Alec speak, scanning his face for any sort of deception but when she could find any, she was at a loss for words. She bit her lips as she felt a wave of nervousness come over her-- this was very different from last time where sheâd come off the high of a fight. She could blame that on a whirlwind of emotions and not knowing any better... this time though, she would have no such excuse. This was going to be a conscious decision. Tina felt weak under the his gaze, on the edge of a precipice-- one push from just giving in to abandon. Tina took stepped closer, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt tightly in her fingertips as she thought on his words. Her mind lingered on the fact that the feelings he has for her all started from the feelings that the other Alec had for her first; he couldnât exactly control it. âDo you regret that the other you fell for me?â her voice quiet with how whisper close they were, her eyes dropping to his neck as she spoke, realizing that there were multiple hungers brewing inside her, âmaybe youâre right, maybe there is a part of me that craves more than that moment you gave me last time-- but I need to know that you want me, not just because of his influence.Â