Page 22 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

Her voice is calm, and her words grab my attention. “Do you really think so?”

“I’ve seen the way he gazes at you. He looks like a fool in love. In my opinion, he’s an idiot. Most men are. But I don’t think he has some ulterior motive in bringing you here. I mean, after all, you two are fated mates. That means something.”

I consider her words, resisting the urge to argue with Lily. It’s hard not to, considering Alex went off with that girl and didn’tshow up till two hours later, smelling like her. Her scent was all over him. And then he had the nerve to say she is like a sister to him.

“Relationships are complicated. You wouldn’t understand.”

“That’s not true,” Lily retorts. “I’ve been…I was involved with somebody once. So, it’s not as if I lack experience. But honestly, this entire quandary reeks of idiocy, rather than Alex having villainous intentions toward you. I think you’re being a little hard on him. Although, I can understand that you’re upset. You should probably make him suffer a bit more.”

My lips curve at the amusement in her voice.

“He was so worked up last night,” she adds. “He spent the entire night outside the guest house.”

That gets my attention. “Really?“

Lily nods. “I could see him from my window. I don’t think he slept at all. Anyway, thanks for sharing your breakfast with me. I don’t think anybody was going to feed me here.”

“You can finish it,” I tell her. “I’m not hungry.”

She glances at me. “You sure? Don’t mind if I do, then.”

I let her eat in peace. Looking outside, I see that there’s not a lot of activity going on. Some businesses are opening up. There’s a bakery right across from my window, and a woman is setting up the sign board in front of it.

Maybe Lily is right. Maybe I did overreact. But it doesn’t feel like it.

I can’t forget the image of Alex talking to that girl, smiling down at her. If I close my eyes, I can replay the entire scene in my head. The inflection of his tone when he disregarded me completely. The way he leaned down and smiled at Hilda.

She must be a little older than Lily, in her early twenties. Not a child from any angle.

And the way she looked at him. No sister looks at her brother like that. She wants him, and even if Alex claims to be oblivious to the fact, it doesn’t change reality.

“Sister,”huh? I wonder how many more “sisters” will pop up during my stay here.

There’s a knock on the door, and I call out, “It’s open.”

The door opens to reveal Patrick standing there, holding a small bag. “I thought you two would want a change of clothes. Lily, why don’t you go get changed in your room?”

Lily’s cheeks are stuffed with food; she looks like a little chipmunk. She gestures toward the tray and her mouth.

“You can bring breakfast with you,” Patrick says impatiently.

Lily doesn’t look very happy, but she grabs the clothes he tosses her from the bag and stands up, balancing the tray in her other hand. When the door closes behind her, Patrick looks at me.

“I heard you and Alex had some words this morning.”

“You heard, or he went to you to complain?” I scoff.

“He wouldn’t dare complain to me right now.” Patrick grins. “I gave him an earful when he was coming to see you last night. And if it helps, I’m on your side.”

“And what might my side be?”

Patrick’s expression darkens. “Hilda is a grown woman now. Alex should have put a stop to her nonsense a long time ago.”

I open my mouth, trying to say something, and then I snap it shut. After taking a couple of seconds to organize my thoughts, I stammer, “So…she and Alex aren’t…”

“There’s nothing romantic or physical between them,” Patrick says seriously. “It’s all one-sided. If you remember Julia and her obsession with Alex, Hilda is a softer version of that.”

When I don’t say anything, he walks over to me and gently guides me to sit down in a chair. He takes a seat on the bed across from me. “I think you have questions, Sophia. And the best person to ask right now is me. So, whatever is bothering you, fire away. You don’t have to hold back.”

---