Page 37 of Drew

She wasn’t officially a pack member but being denied the title of mate gnawed at her.

“Hello there, sweetheart.” Shaw extended his hand in a friendly greeting.

Alyssa blinked at him before glancing at Callum and Fredrica. They wore matching expressions of concern. She wasn’t sure if their concern stemmed from agitation on her behalf or the turmoil that her response could cause. Unaware of how packs interacted with one another, Alyssa wasn’t sure how to respond. Anger? Hurt? Betrayal? Jealousy?

How should the alpha’s mate react?

She didn’t know. But she knew a possible arranged mating between Drew and another woman was something Drew should have warned her about. Especially if she genuinely was Drew’s fated mate. Surely the man didn’t think he was going to have two mates. He might have hoped to take advantage of the poor, uninformed, naïve shifter who was so desperate for love and a home that she’d believe any line. She was made for him. Yeah, right.

Swallowing her anger, Alyssa ignored Shaw’s hand and grabbed the doorknob. “Excuse me.” Her tone came out more bitter than she’d planned, but she couldn’t help that. “I need a word with the alpha.”

Apparently, she did have more questions. A lot more.

Chapter Fourteen

The sight that greeted her as she opened the door to his office was not a welcomed one. A gorgeous woman sat provocatively on his desk, running her fingers along the collar of a deep V-cut neckline. She looked as though she had ten years or more on Alyssa and was likely closer to Drew in age than she was. She looked sure of herself and confident of her place in the world—exactly the opposite of Alyssa.

It didn’t escape her notice that Drew stood several feet away. His body language closed off to the woman’s advance as he leaned against a broad window. His arms crossed firmly over his torso, and a frown tortured his beautiful features. He was shaking his head at whatever the woman, Lydia, had been saying.

When the door opened, both glanced toward her. Lydia’s gaze was filled with venom while Drew graced her with a smile.

“Can we help you?” Lydia asked as though it was her office and she had every right to be offended at the interruption.

All the gusto left her. This woman was the niece of an alpha. She knew her place in the world. She’d be a benefit to Drew, not a liability. What did Alyssa have? Limited knowledge of her own species and a stalker who could put Drew’s pack at risk. Why would he want her?

Yet, when he spotted her, his arms dropped, and immediately he started toward her. “Alyssa.” His voice was like a balm to her internal wounds. He lifted her chin and smiled down at her before wrapping a hand around her hips and pulling her to his side. “Lydia, I’d like you to meet my mate, Alyssa.”

Lydia’s eyes dropped momentarily to Alyssa. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly.” His tone left no space for argument, yet Lydia didn’t seem to pick up on it or didn’t care.

“We’re supposed to mate. You agreed.”

“I never agreed. I made no promises. It was a discussion, one without a conclusion. Now, things have changed.”

“My uncle is going to be pissed.”

Alyssa felt Drew’s body shake as he chuckled. “I was pretty pissed that you thought I’d mate a woman who hit on my beta only moments after discussing an agreement with me.”

Surprised, Alyssa glanced at the woman still sitting on the desk. She’d shifted so her legs hung over the edge rather than splayed like an animal in heat. Callum was an attractive man, but as far as Alyssa was concerned, Drew was the most stunning man she’d ever met.

“Is that what this is?” The blonde on the desk demanded. “You bring in some hot little thing to teach me a lesson? Isn’t she a little young for you, Drew? How much did you pay her to put on this little show?”

Drew’s hand tightened on her hip. “Alyssa and I met, what—” He glanced down at her. “Four days ago?” He looked back at Lydia. “She’s my fated mate, and you have officially overstayed your welcome.”

Alyssa thought the woman might throw a fit for a moment, but she scoffed, hopped from the desk, and, with a shake of her head, said, “Whatever, Drew. Your loss.”

He didn’t respond as the woman grabbed a heavy-looking purse and strutted out of the office on heels, definitely not suited to the weather. When the door closed behind her, Alyssa pushed out of Drew’s hold.

“You asked me if I still had questions.”

She expected his gaze to be guarded, but his stare was direct. She’d caught him with another woman whom he had been practically engaged to for all intents and purposes, yet he didn’t look the least guilty. Drew was so different from any man she’d ever known. Most would grovel or come up with lame-ass excuses, but he didn’t.

“And I’ll answer every single one of them honestly.”

After taking a deep breath, she let her questions fly. “Who the hell was that woman, and why didn’t you tell me you had an arranged mate?”

“That’s Lydia Shaw. You likely met her uncle before you barged in here.”

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