Page 25 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

Don't be ridiculous.

She busied herself in the kitchen, focusing on the mundane task of making breakfast. The routine was comforting—measure the coffee, pour the water, and press the button. She leaned against the counter, inhaling the rich aroma as it filled the air.

Maybe if I just stay in the nursery all day, I won't have to deal with… any of this.

But she knew better. Sooner or later, she'd have to face the music. Face Cassius. Face the fact that for the next two weeks, she was supposed to pretend to be his mate.

The coffee maker gurgled its last, and Alysa poured herself a cup, savoring the first sip. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth seep into her bones. For a moment, she could almost pretend everything was normal.

Then her phone buzzed, shattering the illusion.

It was a text from her friend, Mia. "Hey, Girl! I heard the big news. You and Cassius, huh? About time! Call me ASAP—I want ALL the details!"

Alysa's stomach dropped. News travels fast in a wolf Pack.

Of course, it does.

She set the phone down without replying, her appetite vanishing. How was she supposed to explain this to Mia? To anyone?

She forced herself to eat a piece of toast, barely tasting it as she chewed. Her mind raced, trying to come up with a game plan.

Act normal.

She just had to pretend everything was fine. It's just two weeks.

You can do this.

But as she stepped out of the kitchen, she realized 'normal' was a thing of the past. The air in the house felt different, charged with an energy she couldn't quite name. Cassius's scent seemed stronger, more potent, wrapping around her like an invisible embrace.

Stop it. This isn't real. Focus.

She made her way to the living room, determined to distract herself with some work. But as she settled on the couch with her laptop, voices drifted in from outside. Pack members, their tones hushed but excited.

"…can't believe it…"

"…always knew there was something between them…"

"…what a power couple…"

Alysa's cheeks burned. She slammed the laptop shut, her hands shaking. This was a nightmare.

How am I supposed to keep this up for two whole weeks?

Throughout the day, Alysa kept herself busy, pouring all her focus into menial tasks around the house. She took care of Aurora, helped Abigail with lunch, and made small talk with the Pack members who passed by during Aurora's nap, all the while pretending nothing was out of the ordinary.

But she could feel the eyes on her—people were watching her, whispering when they thought she couldn’t hear.

Great.

She ran into Aleksander during her evening walk while Aurora napped. Her brother's brow furrowed as he looked at her. “You okay?” he asked, his voice low, the concern unmistakable.

She flashed a smile, waving off his concern. “Just tired,” she said, her voice tight. He didn’t push, but she could see the doubt in his eyes.

As the sun began to dip behind the trees, Alysa thought she’d made it through the day without running into him. She busied herself helping a few Pack members prepare for the upcoming hunt, but even as she moved through the motions, her thoughts kept circling back to Cassius.

Why did he say it? Was it really just to protect me?

She hated the vulnerability the situation had thrown her into, the way it made her question everything between them. It was strange that she didn't run into him once all day even though she was avoiding him.

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