Page 185 of Cursed Bonds: An Alpha's Destiny

Harley shrugged. “What? It’s the truth. You’re old as hell, too.”

Before they could start bickering, I said, “I should run out to the store before it closes. That meal cleaned us out.”

The sun was close to setting, and if I didn’t go now, it would be too late.

“I have some work to do,” Jace said. “Tank will go with you.”

“Great.”

“I’m coming with,” Harley said, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “I need to get out of here. Get some fresh air.”

Ten minutes later, Tank was driving me and Harley to the grocery store. The drive was quiet. Tank looked exhausted, but the goofy expression on his face made me think he was daydreaming about Tinsley.

“Let’s do this,” he said as we pulled up in front of the grocery store.

Tank insisted on pushing the cart while I strolled through the aisles, grabbing what we needed. Harley, of course, loaded the cart with more than was necessary.

“We don’t need two gallons of ice cream,” I said as she put the containers in the cart.

“Listen.” She gave me a withering glare. “I just found out I’m destined to be a shifter’s mate. I need ice cream, okay? I’ve got to drown myself in something, and I don’t want to be hungover tomorrow.”

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes and nudged the cart so Tank knew to head up to the register. He tried skirting around it, but I grabbed the front and steered him toward the cashier. “Wake up, Tank. We have to pay first,” I said.

Tank frowned. “I don’t think you know how this—”

“Tank,” I said, cutting him off. “I’m really tired, okay? I don’t need anyone explaining how to buy groceries.”

Harley and I started unloading the cart while Tank stared at us like we’d lost our minds. The cashier looked somewhat uncomfortable as well. Did I stink or something? Things weren’t this weird the last time I’d shopped here.

Finally, the manager hurried over, waving his hands at us.

“No, no, don’t worry about this. You’re free to go on,” he said.

I bristled at that, suddenly remembering how the crowd at the gathering had treated me. I’d thought more people had come to understand I wasn’t here to ruin their way of life or curse them. Seems I was wrong.

“You don’t want to sell us this stuff?” I asked. “My money isn’t good here?”

The man, seeing the anger flash in my eyes, shrank back and shook his head. “Oh goodness, no! That’s not it. You’re Jace’s mate.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It’s what I was trying to tell you,” Tank said, his head lowered and a hand on his forehead.

“You don’t need to pay,” the manager said. “It’s taken care of. The alpha doesn’t pay, so neither does his mate.”

I stared at him, dumbstruck. “But… I had to pay the other day when my friends and I were shopping.”

It was as though I’d told him his favorite dog had died. He went pale and sputtered.

“Miss Holly, I am so sorry. That must have been a new employee who isn’t familiar with our policy. I apologize.”

Still too confused to really understand, I said, “So, Jace doesn’t pay for anything?”

The manager chuckled wryly. “He tries, but we always say no. He does so much for us that we can’t, in good conscience, take his money.”

I couldn’t help but smile. That statement alone solidified what I’d told Jace earlier. His people loved him wholly and completely, and he’d proven to them that he would do anything for them.

“You’re sure?” I asked. “I don’t want to insult you or take advantage of you.”

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