Page 25 of My Brutal Alpha

The others just snickered, keeping their attention on me despite how I silently screamed for them to focus on anything else.

The less they pried, the less chance I had of completely spilling about everything.

"I'm not convinced," Levi murmured with an amused expression. "There is something different that I can’t put my finger on just yet."

Letting go of a huff, I tried to conceal every emotion as best as I could. To make myself seem like a clean, neutral slate. I needed to be unreadable, and I had to maintain that state for as long as possible.

"All right, alright, take it easy," Sebastian said with a chuckle. "Ezra's likely just feeling at ease now that he and Zoe had a temporary truce to their incessant bickering. It’s a pretty big deal."

Shit.

I kept my face blank despite the immediate wash of awareness I felt, knowing that the conversation was far closer to reality than I wanted it to be—too close to revealing exactly why I wasn't miserable.

Levi and Beau didn't even try to spare me. Instead, those interested expressions took over their faces immediately.

"Oh? Do tell," Levi said, grinning and looking far too eager to hear more.

I silently cursed at Sebastian in my mind, but on the outside, I sighed and put my hands up defensively.

"All right, I'm only telling you this so that you don't open your massive mouths at the wrong moment," I began, giving Sebastian a pointed look. He only shrugged and chuckled as Icontinued. "If the situation ever comes around, then I don't need you spilling this to my parents. But they're attempting to force me into an arrangement I don't want, so Zoe agreed to help me trick them into thinking the two of us are engaged. Just for as long as my parents are hovering around my grounds."

Both Levi and Beau gave me their dumbfounded expressions as Sebastian laughed from his place.

Beau lifted his brows in disbelief. "Zoe...agreed to help you?"

"I know, I was just as surprised," Sebastian added, chuckling to himself.

"And she did this willingly?" Levi asked, sounding somewhat doubtful.

I couldn't blame him, though. Knowing how we interacted before, I wouldn't believe it either.

Sighing, I nodded. "Somehow, yes. She agreed. So, she's staying at my place just in case my parents drop in and question why she isn't there."

After a moment, all three laughed, still at a loss for how ridiculous it sounded. I also knew how insane it was, but I found it less amusing.

"Never in my life would I guess you two would be working together," Levi managed to say, thoroughly tickled by the mere idea.

"Are you sure this isn't some kind of reverse plot from Zoe? This sounds like the perfect way to get a leg up and get you while you're vulnerable," Beau suggested with a snicker.

Levi chuckled. "Knowing how quickly her mood changes when you're around, I wouldn't be surprised if Sebastian received a call in the middle of the night."

Despite their teasing, a flicker of that protectiveness I felt for her moved through me. The bond was so new and vulnerable, and even if irrational, those instincts were difficult to wrangle.

I waved them off, trying to seem casual still. "You're all exaggerating. It's really not that bad."

Levi glanced at Beau, still laughing to himself. "See? She's getting to him already. Soon enough, she'll be the winner of this arrangement."

Sebastian chuckled and shook his head. "I just can't believe this is even happening. Zoe must've felt bad for you or something."

As the guys continued their banter, well aware that there was nothing I could say to get their attention off the topic, I found my thoughts drifting instead.

Silently, I couldn't help but wonder what I was going to do about it all, especially with the mate bond in place.

I wanted to keep us both from getting hurt, but I had no idea how I could possibly manage that now.

Chapter 12 - Zoe

Before, it was easy to maintain that sense of indifference bordering on hatred for Ezra. I had every reason to hate him, avoid him, and wish I could forget him. It was easy because he left everything in the air between us and refused to even consider being with me.

---