Page 57 of Alpha's Forbidden Bond

“Wait, Diana, think about this for a second,” Georgie said. “If this is in the local paper, then he’s probably already seen it. You know Andreas is the kind of guy that subscribes to the Silverleaf Post so that he doesn’t miss any news regarding the town.”

“Maybe, but?—”

“No, not maybe. There’s no way he hasn’t seen this. And if you go to the compound now, rushing there with information he already has…” She cut herself off.

“I’m going to look totally pathetic,” I finished the thought for her, defeat washing over me like an ice bath.

“I was going to say desperate, but sure, that too.”

I sat back down with a huff. “Damnit. You’re right. I can’t go running back to Andreas when he’s made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. And this news article isn’t enough to warrant me showing up unannounced. Again.”

“Plus, you don’t even know what kind of situation you might be walking into,” added Georgie. “My guess is that they’ve beefed up security even more, and you might show up and be met with a pack member you’d never encountered before. They would have no reason to treat you with anything other than hostility, which could end up causing a whole bunch of trouble.”

“God,” I said, shaking my head. “What a nightmare that would be. Not only would I be showing up after Andreas rejected me, but I would also end up making a scene. No, you’re right. That’s not going to happen.” I bit at my nails nervously. “I just wish there was a way to make sure they had the information so that I wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”

Georgie shrugged. “I suppose I could text a picture of the headline to Mikeal.”

I nearly dropped my coffee cup. “You have Mikeal’s number?”

“Yeah,” she said. “He gave it to me that night when I showed up at the compound. He said that I should contact him if I learned anything else about Stanley Kingsley or his son.”

“When—when did this happen?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “The whole night is kind of a blur.” Georgie laughed when she noticed the look on my face. “Why are you so freaked out by my having Mikeal’s number?”

“Uh, because he’s a Vilks. And a werewolf!”

“Okay, but he’s way more easy-going than his brother, and it’s not like I’ve gotten in the habit of texting him or anything. I just have his information for this exact reason—so that I could keep him up to date with any new information regarding the man who showed up on the compound with a gun. He asked for my help, and I happily obliged… Should I have asked you first if it was okay?”

I sat back in my seat and took a moment to absorb the information. “No—I mean—no.” I shook my head. “Of course not. It’s fine. You’re right about Mikeal being more easygoing and trusting than Andreas, so it makes sense that he would give you his phone number. I was just not expecting the two of you to be in contact, that’s all.”

“Again, we’re not in contact,” she clarified. “Sending him this headline will mark the first text we have ever exchanged, and if it weirds you out or?—”

“It doesn’t weird me out! Why would it?” That was the truth. I wasn’t weirded out. Rather, I was jealous. Here I was, using every ounce of willpower I had left to stop myself from texting Andreas, and Georgie was casually shooting his younger brother a text. “Really,” I insisted. “It’s a good thing you have his number. Now I can know for sure that they have all the relevant information.”

She eyed me for a second and then laughed. “Okay, whatever you say.” Then, she took a screenshot of the article and started to craft her text. I got up to top my mug off. “Let me know what he says, yeah? And maybe… If you feel like it, you could ask him for an update on Sarafina. Just so I can stop thinking about her. Or so I could send her family flowers…”

“Send them flowers?”

“Or my condolences in some form or another,” I said. “It feels wrong not to say anything. I was there the night she was shot, and I’m at least partially responsible for Stanley showing up at the compound in the first place. If she dies, then they might blame me.”

“They don’t know anything about you.” Georgie put her phone down and turned around in her chair to look at me. “That’s why Andreas had us leave before anyone else could see us. There’s no reason they are going to connect any of this back to you, and if you thought for a second that they might, then the last thing you should do is send them fucking flowers! Diana, if Sarafina’s family finds out that you led Stanley to the compound originally, what makes you think they won’t hunt you down and kill you?”

Her words struck me like a punch to the stomach. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing more than a croaking sound escaped my lips.

“Exactly,” she said. “That’s how you should feel about Sarafina’s family. Terrified. So scared you can’t even talk. I’ll ask Mikeal whether or not that woman is still alive, but after that, you have to promise me that you won’t spend any more time thinking about her or the rest of those wolves. And even more importantly, you have to promise that you won’t make contact with her family in any way, shape, or form. You hear me?”

In a half-assed attempt at lightening the mood, I smirked. “You know, just because you’re the boss of me at work, that doesn’t mean you get to boss me around at home as well.”

“Di, I’m serious.”

I took a sip from my coffee, but Georgie maintained steady eye contact with me the whole time.

“Fine,” I finally said. “I swear. Once I find out what happened to Sarafina—no matter the outcome—I will put this entire episode behind me.”

“Thank you,” she said with a nod. “Now, finish your coffee and run a brush through your hair. I’m taking you outside for some fresh air and breakfast.”

As much as I hated the idea of leaving the house, I knew that going along with Georgie’s morning plans would make my friend feel a lot better about the situation, so I took another big swig and forced a smile. “Oh, goodie.”

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