Page 18 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

“About what?”

“About you. I think you misunderstood what happened out there.”

She smiles at me, but that smile doesn’t meet her eyes. Her eyes are dull. “And you’re here to give me an explanation? Did I ask you for one?”

“Well, no.” I feel like a child who’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“You’re free to do what you want, Alex. Don’t let me be a hindrance.” Sophia shrugs. “Now, if you don’t mind, I would really like to get some sleep.”

She’s about to close the door, but I stick my hand out to prevent her from doing so. “It’s not what you think.”

I’m beginning to realize that Patrick had a point. Sophia has completely misread the situation.

“Hilda is like a little sister to me.”

“Is she?”

The snarky edge in Sophia’s voice reminds me of how things were between us when we first met.

“It’s complicated,” I try to explain. “She’s a little clingy with me, but that’s because I raised her. There’s nothing more to the situation. Please let me in so we can talk.”

Sophia’s eyes harden. “I didn’t ask you for an explanation, Alex. I asked you to let me sleep. You shouldn’t waste your time on someone like me.”

She touches my fingers that are gripping the door, and I feel an electric shock. My hand jerks back, and she closes the door.

She used magic on me.

She’s pissed.

I could always break down the door and force her to listen to me, but I don’t think she’d appreciate that very much. It would be better if I let her sleep on this, and then in the morning, when she’s thinking with a clear head, I’ll talk to her.

I linger around the door for a couple more minutes, wanting to leave but also wanting to sort this mess out now.

I hear the bed creek once again. She’s lying down.

Sighing, I make my way back down the hall and realize that Lily’s door is still open. She’s leaning against the door jamb, arms crossed over her chest, a Cheshire grin on her lips.

“That was almost painful to watch.”

“Go to bed, Lily,” I snap.

“You really don’t get it, do you?” Lily shakes her head at me. “That other girl was all over you. Now, I don’t profess to know Sophia as well as you do, but I know when somebody’s hurting. I thought she was supposed to be your mate. Now she’s probably going to be wondering if you brought her to this town of yours to isolate her and use her. She has no way back, does she?”

My claws unsheathe at these words, my wolf enraged. “What are you—”

She arches a brow. “I have ears. It’s not like you guys have been very subtle about what’s going on. Sophia left her pack for you, didn’t she? And since you were in the South when we met, I’m guessing that means she left the South Alliance for you, as well. She left everything for you. And now she’s probably regretting it.”

“Wait—”

But Lily just smirks and then slams the door shut.

“Oh, and try not to make too much noise outside,” I hear her say through the door.

Dammit! If Sophia would just listen to me!

I feel like an idiot. I don’t know how close Lily and Sophia are, but they have been spending a lot of time together. What if Lily is right? Did Sophia share her feelings with her? Is my mate really regretting coming here with me? Have I wrecked everything already?

I run my fingers through my hair, gripping it by the roots and letting out a frustrated sound. I have to fix this.

---