Page 20 of The Alpha's Protective Mate

“It’s complicated,” I finally sigh, resting my cheek on the palm of my hand. “I think I should get a job at some farm in the middle of nowhere.”

Shelby pats me on the cheek. “Sweetie, you’re too young to have an existential crisis. Go have some cake. There are a few leftover slices in the fridge.”

“I’d rather have my existential crisis, thank you.” I turn my attention back to the screen.

She leans on the handle of the mop. “Do you really want to leave so badly? Has somebody said something to you?”

“It’s—I don’t feel very safe…”

As always, Shelby comes to the worst possible conclusion. “Oh, God. Don’t tell me you have loan sharks chasing after you?”

Safe was probably the wrong word to use here.

“Of course n—”

Before I can deny anything, the door opens. It’s almost 9:00 p.m. We’re about to close in half an hour, and it’s very rare to have a customer at this time of night. The moment I look up, my face twists in a grimace.

Robert Montgomery.

Wasn’t it bad enough that he ruined my past two days? Why does he keep showing up all the time?

“We’re closed,” I say tightly.

He looks over his shoulder at the writing on our door, looking amused. “That says you’re open.”

“Well, our kitchen is closed.”

“Charlo—” Shelby begins, knowing I’m lying, but I cut her off abruptly.

“In fact, the coffee machines have also just been unplugged, so it would be better if you just left.”

Instead of taking offense and walking out, the Alpha slides into the seat across from me. “Then I’ll take you out to get a bite to eat. It’ll give us time to talk.”

I press my lips together into a thin, hard line. “I have nothing to say to you.”

Shelby is slowly inching toward us, wanting to overhear. I look at her. “Can we have a moment, Shelby?”

Sighing in disappointment, the woman says, “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

As soon as she is out of earshot, I frown. “Look, I’m already searching for jobs, okay? Once I find one, I’ll be out of your territory.”

“I didn’t come here because of that.” Robert Montgomery studies me, his expression calm. Yet, there is something behind his eyes that has me on edge.

“What do you want, then?”

“Your last name, what is it?”

My fingers dig into my palm. Everyone knows about the bad blood between my family and the Montgomery and Wolfguard Packs. Even though I’m no longer part of my clan, I can’t escape the whispers and the rumors.

Revealing who I am is going to be nothing short of a death sentence.

“Beaumont,” I lie. Although, to be fair, it is my legal name.

“That’s your fake name.”

“Excuse me?” I stare at him. “It’s on my birth certificate.”

“Yes.” Robert doesn’t look very impressed as he crosses his arms. “How strange that your parents don’t exist, then. I did a deep dive into your background, Charlotte. Your parents do not exist. In fact, there is no record of you, aside from that one birth certificate, before the age of fourteen. What I also find intriguing is that neither of the two vampire clans in Portland have any child registered under your name. There is no girl or woman with the first name Charlotte within your age range in either of those clans. So, why don’t you think over my question again?”

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