Page 71 of Freeing My Alpha

By the time I’m on Amy’s couch in her silk nightgown, she’s ready with the popcorn.

But she hasn’t sat beside me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Listen, I wouldn’t say this to anyone else but you, but—” Amy bites her lip, wincing as she blubbers the truth with a groan. “I like how swollen your nose gets after you cry. It’s ridiculously cute!”

I burst out laughing, covering my red nose with both hands. “Amy! Do I have to teach you a preschool lesson about not making comments about people's bodies?!”

“Oh, come on, you know it’s true! You’re the freaking cutest—I can’t stand it!”

She tackles me onto the couch, biting my arm as hard as she can until I laugh-scream.

Kira pokes her head in from the kitchen doorway. “You’re lucky our kid can sleep through thunderstorms that sound like bombs going off. Do I have to come in there and separate you two?”

“No! I’ll keep my hands to myself from now on!” Amy shouts over my shoulder, covering my ears to protect them.

Kira cackles from the kitchen, and I know she’s thinking the same thing as me.

“That’ll never happen, Amy,” I mutter.

She smushes her entire body into my side, turning the TV on as she hooks her leg over mine. “What? I’m behaving now!”

I giggle, dropping my head against hers as we scroll through an endless selection of streamable movies.

But the longer we cuddle in silence, the more my heart aches beneath the surface. I almost forgot why I came over. Now that Lexi isn’t in my arms, the pain of our unsuccessful pregnancy attempts comes flooding back.

A waft of Amy’s soothing scent makes my eyes water as she cuddles in closer, wrapping an arm over my cramping stomach.

“Did I ever tell you it took my parents two years to get pregnant with me?” Amy asks.

“Wait, really?”

“Yep. Even as an ‘extra fertile’ Omega and Alpha couple. Makes you wonder even more if Alphas are all talk, doesn’t it?”

“I heard that!” Kira says in the distance.

I giggle with Amy, swiping my tears away. “Thanks, Amy.”

She pulls away, nudging my shoulder. “Hey, don’t do that.”

My eyes widen. She’s acting like she’s joking, but I know that edgy tone. “What?”

“Don’t shut me out. I’m sick of it.”

Oh, shit. She’s super serious.

I straighten on the couch, facing her glare with a racing heart. “I’m not shutting you out. I don’t know what else to say.”

“Say what you honestly feel. I’m your best friend, aren’t I?”

My heart twinges. “Of course you are! Why would you even say that?”

“Because even though I’ve seen you recently, you’ve hardly told me anything going on with you even though I can literally smell the pain on you, Aliya. I don’t know what changed, but I’ve been worried you don’t trust me the same anymore now that I have Lexi.”

My heart sinks, not just seeing the hurt in Amy’s eyes but smelling it. “I’m sor—”

I cut myself off; Amy’s jaw flexes at my near-apology. “Just be real with me. That’s all I need. Are you jealous, or something?”

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