Page 70 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

Then Alice tilts her head slightly, her voice lower, edged with something cold. “I warned you not to hurt my friend.”

Alex inhales deeply, his expression twisting—thoughtful, almost regretful. He still looks like him, still carries that unwavering confidence, but there is something else in his eyes. Something… unsettled.

Alice turns to me then, her eyes softening. “You don’t have to listen to him if you don’t want to.”

And just like that, she walks away, heading toward the exit with a calm, steady stride.

Alex watches her go, his expression unreadable.

Then his eyes turn back to me.

There’s something gentle in them now. Something earnest. But I can’t—I won’t—let myself dwell on it.

Because I remember. I remember that day in my apartment. I remember the way the truth unraveled right in front of me, how foolish I felt, how used I felt.

And I promised myself that I would never allow anything make me feel that stupid ever again.

I push up from my seat, slow, controlled, and turn to leave, walking in the same direction as Alice.

I feel his eyes on me as I go. The weight of them, the pull of them. But I don’t stop.

Maybe this thing with Jimmy—the man Alice wants me to meet—will help. Maybe it’ll give me the distance I need. Maybe, with someone else in the picture, I won’t have to keep looking into Alex’s eyes and reliving the ache of what he did to me.

Because one thing is certain—I can’t do this anymore. I won’t. I want to move on from him, to make him nothing more than a memory, a shadow in the past where he belongs.

And that’s exactly what I’ll do. Whatever it takes.

Chapter Eighteen

Katherine

The restaurant is beautiful. The kind of place with dim golden lighting, soft jazz humming in the background, and waiters who move like they’re floating. The scent of freshly baked bread lingers in the air, mixing with the subtle, expensive cologne of the well-dressed patrons around us. The walls are lined with dark mahogany, giving the space a cozy, intimate feel. It’s the kind of restaurant people bring dates they actually want to impress.

And I’m here, on a date with Jimmy.

I glance across the table at him, letting my gaze settle on his features for a moment. I won’t deny it—he’s incredibly handsome.

Jet-black hair, thick and striking, slightly tousled but still neat in a way that looks intentional. Strong jawline, high cheekbones, a well-trimmed beard that gives him an edge of ruggedness while still being clean-cut. And his eyes—deep, steel gray, sharp and observant. They give nothing away, but there’s something intense about them, something that suggests he’s seen a lot.

Alice really went all out with this setup.

This is only our second date. Second date in just a few days.

The thought makes something tighten in my chest. I don’t know what it is—maybe the pace of it all, how fast everything seems to be moving. Or maybe it’s the simple fact that I’m here, sitting across from a man who is, by all accounts, a perfect match.

And yet—

Jimmy looks up just then, catching me staring at him. His lips pull into a slow, easy smile. “Are you checking me out?”

I blink, caught. My lips twitch into something polite. “You wish,” I shoot back lightly, picking up my wine glass and taking a sip.

His grin lingers as he leans back in his seat, fork twirling lazily in his fingers. “And here I was, thinking I was making a strong impression.”

I let a small smirk form on my lips. “Oh, you are. The jury’s just still out on what kind of impression.”

He chuckles, low and deep. “Fair enough.”

I move my gaze back to my plate, refocusing on my meal. But my mind won’t let me breathe.

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