Page 62 of The Alpha's Mystery

“Chase!” I chastise, “that was so rude.”

He shrugs, unrepentant. “It’s either that or they listen to your sex noises. Because there’s no way you’re going to be able to keep quiet.”

Hayley chuckles, shaking her head, but Leah continues to glare at him.

“Jerk,” she mutters under her breath, sounding more hurt than annoyed. Maybe I’m not the only one who’d been hoping he’d apologise to his family for his bad behaviour of the last couple of weeks. It doesn’t look like it’s coming any time soon. This is a man with other things on his mind.

He turns me away from him, slaps my ass, and guides me to the passenger door of his Land Rover. “Get in, Nat. We’re going home.”

CHAPTER 47

CHASE

Gritting my teeth, I park my beat-up Land Rover at the front of the Grey Ridge packhouse.

Natalie has gone home with Mitch to spend the day with her mother, to reassure her that she's doing better now and our mating is on track. I know she has plans for how the island can be used now that she knows Mitch is aware of its existence. He’s going to get his ear chewed off the entire journey back to the clan.

With a rueful shake of my head, I shove open the door and step out of the car. The packhouse looks the same, but, now that my vision is clouded by notions of dark and nefarious activities being conducted here in secret, I feel a bit bad about landing a chopper on their perfect lawn and accusing them all of being criminals.

But what did they expect me to think?

Natalie sent me here under strict instructions to make things right with my sisters. I assumed it would be water under the bridge, that they’d know my attempts to convince them to leave their mates came from a good place. Maybe a slightly overly-domineering, bossy, bull in a china shop way, but still with the best intentions.

Apparently not.

Leah comes to the front door, but doesn’t descend the steps to greet me. Arms folded in front of herself, she scowls. When Hayley appears at her shoulder, looking less hate-filled but still cautious, I’m relieved. Hayley’s always been more level-headed; Leah might be calmer with her around.

As I approach, neither of them budges or invites me inside. They just stand there and watch, making this as difficult for me as possible.

“Can I speak to you both?” I ask, plastering on my most sombre, shame-faced expression.

“No,” Leah pouts, and I glare at her, eyes narrowed.

“Leah!” Hayley pinches her side, chastising her gently, but I can tell from the way her eyes crinkle that she’s secretly delighted Leah is giving me shit. “Chase, come on in.”

Turning on her heel, Hayley gestures for me to follow her. Leah huffs as I pass, falling in behind me. I half expect her to step on my heels, that’s the level of petty annoyance I feel radiating from her.

As we step into the large, open-plan space, neither moves to sit down, both remain standing around, obviously waiting for me to get to the point.

“Now that I understand what was going on, that you couldn’t tell me what was going on here, I realise that I owe you an apology.”

I hate this shit.

It’s painful, especially since I don’t actually think I was wrong. They were all keeping secrets, and there has been some dodgy stuff going on around here. I was only wrong in that the Joneses were the victims, not the bad guys. Jaw clenched, I meet my sisters’ eyes, glancing back and forth between them, waiting for the nods of acceptance and understanding of the difficult position I was in.

When it doesn’t come, I frown.

“That’s not an apology, Chase!” Leah throws her hands up in frustration.

Huh? That’s what Natalie said.

“Well, what do you want me to say? That I’m glad I was wrong, that I see you’re happy? That all I wanted was to make sure you are with guys who are good enough for you, who can protect you when I’m not around to keep you out of trouble?” I’m sure my features sharpen, but I can’t help it. “Or that I’m proud you’re both doing so well for yourselves, and that I can’t picture you being happier anywhere but here?”

Pausing my rant, I grunt. “That would just be stupid. You both know I was just looking out for you.”

Shrugging, completely unrepentant, I stare hard at both of them, getting more and more pissed-off that I gave in to Natalie’s demands that I come here. Damn mate bond has me agreeing to all sorts of stupid stuff. Like interviewing half of her shady family for jobs in my non-existent business.

I open my mouth to tell my sisters to forget about it, that I don’t owe them an apology at all, but they both move at the same time, diving at me, to wrap their arms around me and hug me from both sides.

---