Page 60 of Alpha's Unclaimed Mate

Soon the drinks arrive, and we catch each other up on our work lives before shifting to how the upcoming presidential elections might impact the policies and regulatory bodies I work with.

As his Beetle pulls up outside my building, he doesn’t cut the engine. I smile. He’s offering me space since he knows I’m not ready to turn this into a relationship right now. He rubs my palm and grins at me.

“Let me know if you want to come over to mine for Christmas lunch.”

I open my mouth to refuse, and he places his index finger on my lips. “Nope. Don’t answer now. See how things go. I’m letting it flow. No pressure.”

I blink. I don’t know if I deserve Ethan. I’m also scared that things will change once we become more than just friends. Being around him makes me feel good, but I don’t want to use him.

I kiss his finger and move back. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”

Walking back to my apartment, I wonder if I should’ve invited him up tonight. But the sight at my door wipes all thoughts of Ethan from my mind.

Slumped on the floor is a heavily pregnant Jane. Her mascara is running down her cheeks and her hair is a wild mess. Dropping my phone in my bag, I rush to help her to her feet.

“Jane…” I breathe out, quickly checking her dress and the floor. There’s no sign of blood, at least. I don’t think her water has broken. “Do I need to call an ambulance? Is it the baby? Are you hurt?”

“No. It’s not the baby,” she says as she clutches my arm tight. As I carefully lift her to her feet, I feel the tremors wracking her body. Holding her close to my side, I punch in the code to my door and slowly walk inside.

“Breathe, girl, breathe,” I urge as I guide her to the couch and push a cushion behind her back. I grab a glass of water from the kitchen and shove it into her hand. “Drink,” I order.

She takes a sip, shivering. “I saw him,” she finally croaks, her voice barely audible. “With her.”

My stomach drops as I sit down beside her. I already think I know who “she” is, but I let Jane tell her story.

“That bitch from his old firm,” she spits out, rage thickening her voice. “The one he told me not to worry about! I caught them together—again! He swore he wasn’t seeing her anymore, that he’d moved firms for me, for us, for our baby!”

I understand her rage and humiliation. I’ve felt the hurt of seeing the one you love with someone else. It’s why I told her to leave the first time she caught them kissing.

“Honestly, he doesn’t deserve you, Jane.”

She glances at her swollen stomach. “I can’t believe I didn’t listen to you earlier. Fuck!” she screams. “I want to hurt him so badly. Maybe I can steal my dad’s gun. Get both of them together. I’m sure they’re still at it. Buy one get one still works for murder, right?”

“And get jail time for it? Is he really worth it?”

She gives me an exasperated look before her eyes widen and her face turns white. Suddenly she starts dry heaving.

I quickly shove a trash can in front of her, but nothing comes out. I wipe her face with a wet cloth and help her change into one of my large T-shirts before putting her to bed. She keeps crying as I massage her feet until she falls asleep.

It’s almost an hour later when a knock jolts me from my thoughts. I peer through the peephole and my blood runs cold.Gunner.I yank open the door, but close it behind me so we won’t wake up Jane. “What do you want?”

He looks flustered, a rare sight. “Seren, I need to talk to Jane?—”

“No,” I cut him off, my voice like ice. “You’ve done enough.”

He opens his mouth to protest, but I don’t give him a chance. “Get lost,” I spit out.

He looks stunned, then desperate. “I just want to apologize.”

“Apologize?” I scoff. “For ruining her life? Or for breaking her heart?”

His face pales. “It was a mistake,” he pleads. “I love her.”

“A mistake is burning toast,” I retort. “What you did was a deliberate betrayal. One that you repeated multiple times, I might add.”

He opens his mouth to argue, but I cut him off again. “Leave.”

“She’s my fiancée. I’m not leaving without talking to her!”

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