Page 16 of The Alpha's Heart

Yeah… no, thanks.

A strangled laugh bubbles up in my throat. There’s no humor in it. Still, I feel a little better knowing that I’d rather be alone for the rest of my life if Bishop decides not to mate me over crawling back to Guy Holsom—and that slight improvement on my greymood lasts only as long as it takes for me to notice that the little hairs on the back of my neck are suddenly standing on end.

The Alpha’s cabin crackles with Bishop’s distinctive aura.

Cloves filter in through the gap between the door and, Luna damn it, my heart skips a beat the second my nose registers the delicious scent.

Bishop.

A knock sounds at the bedroom door.

“Sofia? Can you come out here? I’d like to talk.”

My poor heart jumps up into my throat at the sound of his gruff voice, and all I can think is that: this is it. He spoke with the Omega… spoke with his last remaining family… and decided he can’t do it. The Luna might have picked me to be his mate, but after spending the last week with me, he’s changed his mind.

He’s going to reject me, isn’t he? Why else would he ask me to leave the bedroom, facing him in the living room instead?

I guess I should be grateful he’s not taking this discussion into the den. At least there’s some privacy for me as the big Alpha breaks our bond—and my poor heart.

“Yes,” I call back, trying to keep my tone as light as possible. “I’m coming.”

Before I head for the door, I slip my phone into the back pocket of my jeans. Declan can wait. Besides, if I’m about to be rejected by the Alpha of the Sylvan Pack, it’s probably better if I don’t have him on the line to witness my humiliation.

All of River Run will know soon enough anyway.

CHAPTER 7

CHER

The first thing I notice is that he’s holding a plate of homemade, deep-fried beignets. A Louisiana staple—and the dessert I sneak from Bonnie, one of the pack chefs, every night after dinner.

I always waited until Bishop was distracted by some pack issue. Even if the regular packmates avoided approaching him when I was there, there were plenty that didn’t. Harris, for one. Helene. Even West, who I’m becoming more and more convinced that I pegged right; both that he’ll be the eventual Beta to Bishop’s Alpha, and that he’s head-over-paws in love with Helene. A handful of other higher-ranked packmates, too, and since they’re all males… that’s the one time I get a pass from being included in pack meets.

Once Bishop and I are bonded, that’ll change. For now, I take advantage of a wolf shifter’s ingrained possessive streak to ‘visit’ with the she-wolves who cook dinner for the pack.

I didn’t think Bishop noticed. I always make sure to brush off the excess powdered sugar from my lips before he finished and the two of us return to the Alpha cabin together. Once again, I’dunderestimated his keen senses and amazing sniffer since, of all the desserts, it’s the beignets he offers me.

“For you,” he says, and if there’s an expectation in the way he’s leaning forward on the balls of his feet, giving in to to the magnetic pull toward now that we’re alone together, that’s nothing compared to what Bishop bringing food to me means.

He’s trying to feed me. Not as an Alpha. As a mate.

It’s his way of telling me he loves me—and if I accept the plate from him, taking a bite from one of those delicious treats, I’m letting him know that I feel the same about him.

Maybe… maybe he’s not going to reject me?

I murmur a ‘thank you’ and hold out my hand. Bishop crosses the small gap between us and makes sure I have a good grip on it.

Then, his presence so consuming I feel like I’m being swallowed up by the big Alpha, he waits for me to take a bite.

Even as hot tears sting the corners of my eyes, the beignet melts in mouth, the sugar undeniably sweet.

Bishop hover closer. “Sofia?”

I shake my head, willing the tears to stop. “I’m fine. It’s just… these are so good.”

“I like ‘em, too. ‘Course, my favorite dessert is a goodhoneybun, so sticky I can taste it on my lips, but Luna knows I can’t say no to a beignet.”

Talk about mixed signals. Bishop’s deep voice drops when he says ‘honey’, and I’d have to be a complete idiot not to catch the innuendo. He brought me food. He waited for me to eat it. And yet… what are we doing?

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