Page 46 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

His expression is torn. “I don’t want to lose you, Sophia. Not to my selfishness.”

“It’s not selfishness when you’re trying to protect your pack, which is soon going to be my pack, as well. Shouldn’t I be allowed to do something for them?”

He sighs, lowering his forehead against mine. “Why do you have to be so stubborn? And right all the time?”

“Well, one of us has to be,” I say, patting his hand. “May as well be me.”

Alex pinches my cheek in retaliation, making me shove him away from me. “Stop it!”

“Come on. Let’s get you something to eat.” He scoops me up in his arms like a bride and carries me to the kitchen.

“Neighbors,” I inform him as he looks at the casseroles and minced meat pies stuffed in his small fridge. There’s enough food to feed us for a couple of days. “They wanted to know why I was in your home.”

His lips twitch. “Really?”

“They’re pretty nosy, you know.”

“Do I ever,” he agrees before preparing a plate for me. Once he sets it before me, he also makes one for Lily, who has her head on the kitchen table, sighing dramatically.

“I’m going to starve to death here.”

I cover my mouth to hide my laughter.

I’ve barely finished eating when exhaustion hits me like a ton of bricks. I go from eating happily to barely being able to keep my eyes open. My face nearly falls into the soft yogurt dessert when Alex decides it’s time to get me to bed. He picks me up in his arms again; I don’t put up a fight, settling comfortably there. Even though I am beyond tired, and still a little weak, I feel satisfied. Today was a success. If I keep moving at this pace, I can start saving the pups of this pack.

The happy thought makes me smile sleepily.

I’ll be useful to Alex. I know he says it doesn’t matter, but it does to me. My eyes flutter shut, and I feel my head rest against his chest as he carries me to the bedroom.

***

I don’t know how long I sleep for, but my stomach is rumbling when I wake up. I roll over in bed only to realize that Alex isn’t there.

This is starting to become a very common occurrence. Why is it that he only remembers he has to be somewhere once we are in bed?

I’m about to sit up and call out for him when I hear the bathroom door open. The only light in the room is coming from the two small lamps on either side of the bed. They’re casting a warm, comforting glow, and it’s enough for me to see every inch of Alex as he walks into the bedroom, fresh from the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist.

My eyes trace over the water droplets as they make their way down his thick frame before disappearing into the white towel.

It’s not fair. It’s not fair that he looks so good. And it’s definitely not fair that I cannot control my body’s reactions to him. The smell of my arousal must have hit him because he immediately looks in my direction.

“You’re awake?”

I have no choice but to sit up in the bed. If I’m getting a show, why not watch it in comfort?

“What time is it?” I ask idly, marveling at his muscles. Is it just me, or am I growing a little more brazen the more time I spend around him? Normally, I would have blushed seeing him in such a compromising position, but now I just enjoy the sight. “I’m hungry,” I say, my lower body throbbing in need. I can feel the desire building within me.

And clearly, so can Alex.

“Sophia,” he breathes, tension and heat in his voice.

“What?” I pull my knees to my chest. “I’m just watching you.”

“You mean, leering at me.” Alex narrows his eyes.

I grin at him. “Is it a crime to leer at my mate? Would you rather I go leer at some other male in this village?”

He’s upon me in a flash, his wolf in his eyes and his voice dangerously low. “Say that again.”

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