The Alpha King Is My Second Chance Mate

She twisted around with wide eyes. “How did you find me?!”

"What? Did you think it'd be hard?” Zayd sighed, tightening his grip around her wrist, “I'd been watching you suffer for hours, forcing yourself to run as though your life depended on it. I considered letting you go, Quinn... really did. I mean, you tried so hard to get this far, but I can't, not when you're like this.”

He stepped closer to her, placing his hand against her forehead. “You're burning up... figured you were."

“No I..."

“I only got tricked once by your little diversions, after that, I followed the scent that kept getting weaker and not the ones that remained stagnant. It was a sensible trick that might've worked if you could move a little faster. But in this form, you're not fast enough, Quinn. Your struggle humbled me, I kept reminding myself that you're the same girl who killed four rogues in one night and left with just a single scratch, tried telling myself that you're strong and you could survive without me... that you'd be happier without me. But I-1 can't let you go like this, Quinn.”

His forehead fell against her shoulder as he sucked in a shaky breath. “Stay with me for as long as it takes you to heal. You can leave when you're better, I'll search for and find the courage to let you go then...please...”

Quinn stood speechless in her spot, even when she felt his tears wetting her shoulder. His words weren't comforting at all, they made her helplessness even more blatant. The fact that he had to remind himself that she was strong and the fact that he felt like she couldn't live without him strained her pride.

She wanted to delude herself into thinking she’s still that girl, but in truth, she wasn't the girl who could kill more than just four rogues in one night...and she wasn't strong, at least not anymore. “Come on, Quinn.” He turned his back to her, giving her no room to argue, and Quinn hesitantly got on, her hands caging his neck and her legs crossing around his thighs. “Tell me if it gets worse. I'll stop...”

Quinn didn’t want to acknowledge the way her heart kept palpitating at the care and concern in his words.

This was the second time the alpha king had gotten down on his knees in front of her and both times, it felt the same. It made her feel like she was his equal, like he was barely a rank above her, and the fact that he was not begging for help, but begging to help her...it was...astounding.

His words had always been a surprise to her...they always made her speechless.

“You know...” Quinn started. “You don't have to be so nice to me, especially if it's because of pity.” Zayd's hands closed beneath her bum, a harmless act to keep her from falling. “It's not pity, Quinn... it's love.”

Again, his straight to the point words caught her off guard, leaving her speechless.

But the silence got too loud and uncomfortable that she had to break it. “Back on the meeting grounds, why did you allow them to tie you up like that? I've heard the tales of how you became alpha king, so seeing you like that was surprising.”

“I allowed them to do so because I didn't want to destroy your home. At least I thought so while I stood on that podium last night, but now, I regret not ripping Jeovanni's head off, I regret not murdering at least half of the people who stood there that night.”

“I'm glad you didn't...regardless of everything, they are still my family.”

Silence settled between them again, but it wasn't dense, and it wasn't uncomfortable or awkward. It was alright.

As Quinn looked forward at the woods, she dived back into her thoughts. She wasn't the Quinn she used to be, but she'd work towards that Quinn.

She'd fix her broken self and be who she wanted to be. She'd find herself because right now, she was too lost and helpless...and too dependent.

She needed her strength back...only that way she could again be able to depend solely on herself. And to do that, she really needed his help.

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