Page 19 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

“What about right now?” Stephanie asked with a grin. “Your handyman stuff can wait. Have lunch with me. I promise if you’re good, I’ll have you home in less than an hour.”

God, it would have been so easy if this curse didn’t have a hold on me. I’d say yes. Maybe we’d even have a great time. I knew Stephanie wasn’t my fated mate, but given the options, I’d be out of my mind not to choose her if I could get the curse lifted.

Before my daydreams of a life with Stephanie could get further than that initial thought, my wolf rejected the idea. Rage unlike anything I’d ever experienced from him surged forth, all directed at me for having the thought. It came fast and hard, and before I could stop myself, a pissed-off snarl burst from my lips.

Stephanie reared back, and the other people in the store went silent and turned to look. I clamped a hand on my mouth and forced my wolf back down.

“Are you okay?” Stephanie asked. “Did I say something that—”

“Not your fault. Not you at all,” I said quickly. “I was thinking about something, and I realized I totally forgot to make a really important phone call. I’m pissed at myself for it. That’s all.”

Stephanie’s face softened, and she put a hand on my chest. It was all I could do to keep my wolf from growling or snarling again. He wanted to bite her damn fingers off for even touching me. What the fuck? I’d always had firm control over him, and now it was like that was slipping away, too. Subconsciously, I cursed Kirsten again for showing up and making things take a turn for the weird.

“Okay, I guess you are pretty busy,” she said. “I’ll take a raincheck on that lunch, though.”

I forced a smile at her, trying my best to remain a gentleman despite my wolf thrashing around inside my head. “Sounds good. I’ll take you up on that sometime.”

“What I really wanted to say was thanks for the other day.”

The other day? What other day? I had no clue what she was talking about. The stupefied look on my face must have been obvious because she rolled her eyes and laughed.

“For what you did in the pack meeting. Getting those funds approved for the kids in town? That was huge. I was down the street and saw you come in here. Just wanted to say thank you on behalf of all the families in town.”

“Oh, that,” I said, finally connecting the dots. “Not a problem. We had enough funds in the pack reserve.”

Before she could say more, my phone chirped with a notification. I tugged it out and read the text that had come through.

Can I call you? I have a problem. - Kirsten

My heart raced at the sight of her name. Unbidden, giddy excitement filled me, fueled by my wolf.

“Something interesting?” Stephanie asked.

She’d probably heard my heart skip a beat. The downside to shifter hearing.

“It’s the person I was supposed to call earlier. It, uh, looks like they’re free now.” I winced and gave her an apologetic smile. “I really need to make this call.”

“That’s cool. The alpha’s job never ends, I guess. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Thanks. And, um…” I wanted to say I’d take her up on that raincheck, but that wasn’t true. I knew it, and my wolf definitely knew it. He was snarling in irritation that I was even thinking of saying the words, white lie or not. Eventually, I just waved and said, “I’ll see you later.”

Stephanie headed toward the door, then turned to walk backward and winked at me. “You better not forget about that raincheck.”

She was barely out the door before I hurried down one of the aisles and called Kirsten.

“Hello?” she answered, sounding harried.

“It’s Jace. I got your text. What’s up?”

“I really did not want to call you, but I was doing my tenth load of dishes and realized water was pouring out of the bottom of the sink into the cabinet below. Some kind of massive leak, and of course none of the stuff I got this morning is what I need. Can you bring me a wrench, and maybe a rubber washer of some sort? This one looks all dry and rotted. I think that’s the problem.”

“Are you sure that’s what’s wrong? Put me on video call so I can see.”

“Jace, I’m not helpless. I’m looking at it right now.”

“Right, I know, but I’d rather be sure. Maybe I’ll see something else you might need. I’d hate to have to make the trip twice.”

“Ugh, fine.”

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