Page 8 of Betrayed By the Alpha

Zach nodded, then turned to his friend, who had already called the bartender over. "Come on, Ponco, my friend needs a drink!" Zach resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He was the one who drove himself to the bar, after all.

Zach was proved right when it was later revealed during the conversation that Benny was the one with the baby cheeks, and Francisco was the black ops member. He thought they were pretty cool guys, Benny was more outspoken, but Francisco seemed a bit nervous at first. Zach had a feeling his presence may have contributed to it, but as they talked, Francisco gradually became more at ease and opened up more.

Zach hadn't been following their discussion. He had been talking to Ryder, but a particular conversation caught his interest.

"When did she return?" Benny asked Francisco.

"Who?" Ryder said.

"Hayley," Francisco answered.

Zach's eyes snapped to the young man. "What did you say?"

"I heard Hayley has returned," Francisco repeated. "She came back last night. Some people saw her driving to the mansion, and the news went around."

"The daughter of the late Albert Green?" Zach asked, just to be sure.

"Yup." Benny nodded. "The one and only."

"Ooh." Francisco chuckled. "She's a beautiful thing, you know. I had something for her back then, but she always turned me down. When I returned from my trip to Lancaster, I never thought about her. I guess it's because I didn't see her. Where did she go?"

"Uh..." Ryder glanced nervously at Zach, his eyes moving from Zach to the curious Francisco, still waiting for an answer from Benny.

"Her mate rejected her," Benny dropped.

Francisco's eyes were filled with shock, then disbelief. "What?"

Benny nodded. "Yup. The news went around town. It was the only thing everyone could talk about for weeks—how Hayley Green's partner had rejected her. I don't know the full story, though. I was about to leave for a trip and didn't pay attention to it."

"Who is the mad man that would reject Hayley Green? Not only is she fucking beautiful, but also rich and a witch." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Witches are fantastic in bed. I had an encounter with one once, and she knew a spell that could make you have an orgasm that could last up to three minutes."

"Nah. You're pulling my leg."

"I wish." They both laughed. "Maybe I should try talking to Hailey again?"

"Oh please, don't even try it. She would turn you down hard."

The men must not have noticed the look on Zach's face or the growl that just escaped his lips because Francisco continued speaking. "She’ll have enough on her mind. You know my father works with her father's lawyer: a miserable man, my father said. She can't claim her inheritance until she returns with her mate. Whoever the fool—"

"Shut it." Zach's fist hit the table hard, shutting the men up immediately. He took his cup, finishing the content in onegulp. Zach wiped his mouth clean, and without another word, he stood up and began to walk away.

"What's his problem?" he heard one of the men ask, but no one replied. Ryder stood up to go after him.

"Hey, Zach. Come on. They didn't know. If they did, they wouldn't have brought it up."

"I know, Ryder. I just need to be alone. I got the drink I needed. I should head home tomorrow. Go back to your friends."

Ryder still looked doubtful. "You sure?"

"Yes," Zach answered and increased his pace, hurrying towards the exit door.

He released a shaky breath when he got in his car, running his hands through his hair. He didn't know what to make of it all. He had gone to the bar to forget about her, but not only did he leave with the ghost of her scent still teasing him, but now he knew for a fact that Hayley was really back in town.

Can't claim her inheritance till she gets back with her mate...

He was her mate.

"Fuck. I don't need this now. Not this drama, no."

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