Page 33 of Alpha Hunt

Without answering me, he turns and looks around him, then walks away from me, heading toward an open-plan kitchen.

What the hell is he doing?

I watch Edirn as he strolls around the apartment like he owns the place. Which, I guess, he kind of does now. But still, doesn’t he realize the gravity of the situation?

“This is a nice place,” he says, poking his head into a room down the hall. “Plenty of space.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Glad you approve.”

He ignores my sarcasm and moves to the hall closet, sliding the door open. “Lots of storage, too.”

My jaw clenches. Is he seriously talking about closet space right now? After what just happened?

“Edirn, can we focus please?” I snap. “We need to talk about…this.” I gesture vaguely between us.

He turns to face me, his expression maddeningly calm. “What about it?”

I stare at him incredulously. “What about it? We just got mated! Bound together for life! Doesn’t that freak you out even a little?”

He shrugs. “Not particularly. It’s what I signed up for when they called for the hunt.”

I throw my hands up in exasperation. He has to be messing with me. No one can be this nonchalant about a lifelong commitment. Especially not to someone they barely know.

I start pacing, my mind racing. “This is insane. I can’t believe I let this happen. What was I thinking?”

“You were thinking you wanted a mate,” Edirn says simply. “And now you have one.”

I whirl on him. “I didn’t want just any mate! I wanted…” I trail off, not even sure how to finish that sentence. What did I want?

He steps closer, his blue eyes piercing. “What, Casey? What did you want?”

I back away, my heart pounding. “I…I don’t know. But not this. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

“Well, this is what it is.” He spreads his hands. “So, we can either fight it, or we can try to make the best of it.”

I stare at him, my emotions churning. He makes it sound so simple. But nothing about this feels simple. It feels like my entire world has been turned upside down.

And the worst part? Some traitorous part of me is intrigued by him. Drawn to his strength, his steadiness.

No. Don’t even go there.

I shake my head vehemently. “I can’t do this. I need some air.”

I push past him and head for a tall sliding door that leads to a balcony, needing to escape before I do something I might regret. Like give in to the temptation to explore this bond between us.

Because that can’t happen. I won’t let it.

I burst out into the cool air outside and suck in great lungfuls. When I turn around, he’s leaning against the doorjamb, arms folded over his massive chest, the picture of casual ease.

“Feeling better?”

“Do I look better?” I scowl.

“You look incredible.” He straightens and moves toward me. I shrink back, though there’s a small part of me that warms at his words.

“Don’t get any ideas.” I stick my jaw out.

“What kind of ideas, Casey?”

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