Page 35 of My Brutal Alpha

Regardless of my conflicting feelings about our connection, there was still something nice about it. Something comforting that I found myself not wanting to let go of.

After seeing him in a better light, I liked the idea of resisting him less and less.

"It's fine, really," I said, not wanting to spoil anything. "It's been...odd, but fine."

Ezra nodded to himself, seemingly hesitant about talking properly about the situation.

Even if we were both aware that something huge changed between us after we had sex, it seemed neither of us wanted to address it head-on.

Still, even if he accepted my answer, something else lingered in his eyes while he looked off for a moment—another thought he had yet to voice.

I contemplated just letting it go, but at that moment, I felt it would do us both some good if we didn't tip-toe around everything.

I softened slightly, not wanting to seem demanding. "What is it?"

at my prompting, Ezra came back to the present and sighed, then rested a palm against his cheek, elbow propped on the table.

"It's my parents...they're still adamant about the Nora thing. They confronted me about it yesterday and demanded I follow through with the promise they made for me," he explained, running a hand through his dark hair, looking genuinely bothered by it. "We might have to step things up a notch to convince them. But again, I don't want to keep dragging you through that."

For a moment, I almost thought he might be considering listening to them. He seemed exhausted by it, as if he were moments away from saying to hell with it and giving in.

Even hearing about it struck me with a sudden pang of jealousy I didn't think I possessed. The thought of him giving upand being pressured into accepting Nora irritated me, but I was quick to keep that reaction to myself.

It was odd and uncomfortable for me to feel that way since I promised myself I'd never care about Ezra again.

Even with that flicker of doubt in my mind, questioning if Ezra would eventually give in, I knew it was a ridiculous thought. He had been deadset against it in the first place, which was why he wanted my help.

Putting myself at ease with that reminder, I let myself consider what he said.

Despite knowing I shouldn’t get too involved, I let go of a breath and murmured, "We should meet up with them then."

Ezra's brows furrowed as he looked at me, seeming surprised to even hear me suggest it. "What?"

Vaguely amused by his shock, I continued, "They've only seen us together once, right? Maybe if we sit down with your parents and seem convincing enough, they'll finally see that you're serious and get off your back."

He blinked back at me as if still coming to terms with it. It wasn't a negative reaction by any means, but he was trying to process how I could still want to have anything to do with it.

"You're serious?"

I hummed and nodded. "Sure, we might as well."

As traces of his bewilderment lingered in his features, Ezra let go of a breath and chuckled, nodding. "As much as I don't love the idea of being around my parents for that long, if it helps and you're alright with it, then maybe it's worth the shot."

Managing a small smile from him, I sipped from my drink and watched as the gears seemed to turn in his head.

"Damn...all right. I'll let them know," he began, nodding to himself as those pieces clicked, and he seemed more convinced of it himself. Lifting his gaze, he looked at me againand grinned. "Thanks, by the way. You don't have to do this, but I appreciate it."

Annoyingly, I couldn't shake how charming his smile seemed then. And even more annoyingly, my heart warmed at how grateful he seemed about my offer and willingness to keep up the ruse.

I smiled in return. "It's no problem. If it means getting them to leave you alone, then I'm sure it'll be worth it."

Regardless of how stoic he usually seemed, Ezra's appeased expression seemed far too genuine for him to be faking, and in a sense, it already felt worth it deep down.

Chapter 17 - Ezra

It wasn't like me to be nervous, and certainly not about something as trivial as someone meeting my parents when I was a grown man, but a vague heaviness in my chest seemed to say otherwise.

Given how my parents had a tight rope on me when I was a teenager, I never had that opportunity before I left the pack. Because of that, it was technically my first time doing so.

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