Page 32 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

“We need to—”

Alex stops mid-sentence as the front door opens and Nathan walks in. Behind him is another familiar face, one that has me tensing up.

Hilda is wearing a short, blue dress that clings to her every curve. She looks lovely and delicate. I can understand why Patrick fell for her.

“Alex!” She looks far too pleased to see him, but her expression sours when she sees me by his side.

Hilda inserts herself between us and tries to latch onto his arm, but Alex steps to the side, avoiding her touch, his eyes searching for mine. Even as my wolf bristles at her clinginess toward my mate, it is also satisfied by his attempt to put distance between them. I have to have faith in Alex. He’s going to deal with the situation.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work, Hilda?” he asks.

When I look at him questioningly, he explains, “Hilda works as a teacher for the younger children.”

“The students are on their lunch break,” Hilda replies. “I just thought I’d get something to eat here at the bakery. I haven’t seen you since you first arrived, Alex. Why haven’t you come by to visit?”

There’s a possessiveness in her voice that rubs me the wrong way. I want to shove her away from Alex. I want to stake my claim on my man. I have no sympathy for Hilda, especially after what Patrick told me. She broke his heart trying to make Alex jealous.

My expression may be giving me away because Alex casts one look my way and then takes a step back from Hilda.

He smiles at her gently. “I’ve been very busy, Hilda. You know there’s a lot going on in town right now.”

My wolf does not like the way he’s making excuses. Although my human side understands that he cannot simply be abrupt with her, my animal disagrees.

My discontent must have shown on my face because Alex winces.

Hilda, however, does not like his reasoning.

“Surely you can’t be so busy that you don’t have time for me?” She latches onto his arm like a leech. “You’ve always had time for me before. What’s changed?”

Her voice is sweet, but there’s a hard edge to it. Nathan’s brows lift, and Lily covers her smile with her hand. It seems that Alex is the only one who doesn’t notice Hilda’s ploys.

I can see how helpless Alex feels in this situation, and I decide to take pity on him. It’s not like he hasn’t kept his word; he’s actively trying to keep Hilda at a distance. But all the responsibility doesn’t have to fall on him. After all, he is my mate. I should also be protecting him from lecherous little tramps.

I clear my throat. “Alex, are we leaving or not?”

Hilda’s eyes dart toward me, and there’s irritation in them. “You cannot call him Alex. He’s the Alpha. You should refer to him as Alpha Stone.”

This is the first time I’ve squared off against a woman in such a setting. My lips curve in a dangerous smile. “He’s Alex to me. And he’s not my Alpha.”

He’s my mate.

Everybody around us has understood the implied meaning of my words except for Hilda. If she were in her wolf form right now, all her fur would be standing on end.

“How dare you disrespect him?!” Without another thought, she abandons Alex and gets in my face.

At least she’s no longer touching him.

I keep smiling at her, and without removing my eyes from hers, I ask, “Alex, does it bother you that I call you by name? Should I be referring to you as Alpha Stone?”

The daring edge to my question does not escape my mate, and his voice is strange as he sticks his hands in his pockets and murmurs, “Alex is just fine.”

Hilda whips around in outrage. “How can you let her disrespect you?”

“You’re calling him Alex,” I point out. “Are you disrespecting him, as well?”

Daggers in her eyes, the girl hisses. “We have a special relationship! He’s my Alex.”

My wolf goes still within me.

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