Page 63 of Alpha's Unclaimed Mate

My body’s on autopilot by the time I land in New York. The investigator has sent me four texts to update me on Seren’s whereabouts, including where she’s having dinner. I want to bolt straight to the restaurant just to see her and take her in my arms, or maybe I’ll just fall at her feet and apologize and beg her to come back. But I don’t know who might be there with her, and I need her alone for this, so I get her home address and head there.

I’m pleased when the security doesn’t allow me in. At least they care about safety. The building is modern and buzzing with youngsters. I look around and wonder what Seren’s life is like here.

The first hour passes slowly as I wait, my senses on high alert. Every time a car pulls up, my stomach churns. By ten o’clock, I can sense the shift in the atmosphere.

My anxiety’s bubbling up. I’m trying to guess who Seren might be with and how she’ll react when she sees me. My wolf is restless, picking up on every little shift in the environment. Every sound, every movement, feels stretched out.

Suddenly my phone buzzes with a message.

They should be pulling up outside the building now.

They?My mind is fixated on the word as a ridiculous green Beetle pulls up to the curb. Its headlights cut through the darkness. Seren’s scent hits me before the vehicle even stops moving. That familiar fresh scent of lilacs floods my senses, bringing a rush of memories.

For a while, there’s no movement. Then a man jumps out from the driver’s side, racing to the passenger door. As he opens the door, the scent of lilacs deepens.

Seeing Seren again feels surreal, like I’m floating outside my own body. I’m about to walk over when the man traps her in place with his body. His fingers run through her hair, pulling her close. His lips are on her ear, whispering.

I only hear her giggles.

The next thing I know, his lips are on hers. The sight tears me apart.

Their deep, passionate kiss sears my insides with a raw surge of jealousy so fierce it nearly chokes me. I’m still trying to stop Titan from shifting when the air crackles with a new scent.Arousal.

My vision blurs, my throat tightens, and a primal growl rumbles up from deep inside me.

“Seren?” I rasp, barely able to whisper. The word escapes like a plea as she turns toward me. Her eyes widen in shock, and for a moment, everything else fades away.

CHAPTER 23

SEREN

“Want to come up?” I ask again as Ethan runs his fingers through my hair, his soft breath brushing my face, his hard-on pressed against my core. I know he wants to.

“God! I want to so bad,” he murmurs before pressing a kiss to my lips. This time, I boldly take charge, massaging his lips with mine and letting my tongue sweep over his lips, teasing him until his tongue meets mine.

He moans into my mouth, tugging at my hair, slowly moving his hips to get some friction going. Just as Ethan’s touch grows more insistent, a distant, strained growl slices through the moment, freezing me in place. My pulse quickens and my focus falters at the familiar sound. I must be imagining it. I focus on the relief I need instead.

With our bodies still flush against each other, my mind is blank and my hormones are on overload.

“Seren?”

The rough, desperate whisper makes me instantly pull away from Ethan. It’s a voice I can identify anywhere.

“Theron,” I whisper, almost to myself, as if making sure it’s him.

His face is pale. Dark circles curve under his eyes. His body is much leaner than it used to be. His eyes are filled with tears.

My first instinct is to run over to him, but his questioning gaze halts me.

“Who is this, my Seren?”

Tears gather in my eyes as Titan’s deep, pain-filled voice reaches me, but all I have to do is remember how he chose Vanessa, and the sympathy drains out of me. I instead focus on the man who has been my active support these last couple of years.

“Uhm. So…want to come up?”

Ethan’s gaze flits to Theron before settling on me. His fingers gently push the hair away from my face. “Are you okay?”

I nod.

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