Page 108 of The Alpha

She took it. “Kwaku and Zara are going with us?”

“It is safer if they do.”

“Yes, but, don’t you guys kind of stand out?” She looked at his long, loose hair, and sighed. “You’re going to stick out like a sore thumb.”

“Thankfully, I’ve done nothing to my thumbs.” He winked, then led her into the tiny living room. Kwaku was dressed like he’d just come from a tennis game, Zara too. They looked classy, Melvale looked, well, it didn’t matter what he wore. He was so darn handsome he’d attract attention no matter where he went.

“What do you wish, little treasure?” Kwaku asked.

Pari was surprised they were being so accommodating. “Erm, could we hit the grocery store? I can make something for dinner.”

“Or we can,” Zara suggested. “We have studied your culinary practices.”

She glanced at Melvale and back. “You’ve taken cooking lessons?”

“Call it research,” Zara said with a smile. “You and Melvale should spend time getting to know each other.” She smiled at Melvale. “You have much to talk about.”

Pari’s eyes widened. She’d spent her time in the shower convincing herself that after today this was it. She shouldn’t see him. Pari didn’t fancy a broken heart, but what else could this end with? Best to stop whatever this was now.

But she didn’t want to…

Melvale put an arm around her and steered her toward the front door. “Let them cook. It will be good for them to be domestic if only for one evening.”

“One?” Pari glanced at Zara. “You mean she never cooks?”

Melvale laughed. “She is the mate of a powerful Time Master. So no, Zara does not cook unless she feels like it. They’re practically royalty. In fact, Kwaku was royalty where he comes from.” He looked over his shoulder at the tall, regal Time Master, and gave him a nod.

Pari turned in time to see Kwaku give him a nod in return as she was steered to the front door. Kwaku squeezed past, opened the door, and went out. Melvale stayed where he was.

“Why aren’t we following?” Pari asked.

“Kwaku will make sure everything is safe first. You should get used to this.”

“But…” Pari snapped her mouth shut. She didn’t want to tell him she wouldn’t be going back. She didn’t believe all his talk of not being able to live without her. Good grief, he barely knew her!

Zara joined them. “It is safe, Alpha.”

“Good.” Melvale ushered Pari out the door and down the stairs they went.

“How did she know Kwaku said it was safe?” Pari asked. “I didn’t hear him say anything.”

“His heart spoke to hers,” Melvale explained.

She tried not to gape like an idiot. “You can do that?”

“Yes. It is how a mated pair communicates, as well as Time Masters, families, and many Muirarans.”

“So, there are some you cannot communicate with?”

He nodded. “Those whose hearts we are compatible with, are able to speak heart to heart. But if one is not, then it is much harder. Some you cannot speak to at all.”

“Wow, that’s freaking amazing.” She gazed up at him. “Can you speak to my heart?”

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs of the second floor. “Not yet.” He started off again.

Pari followed. “Wh-what do you mean, not yet?”

He looked at her over his shoulder. “You are not mine yet.”

---