Page 31 of Alpha's Hated Mate

“Too busy to talk about tonight?” I tilt my head, and she rolls her eyes, her scowl twisting into abject disappointment. “Damn it, I knew you forgot about the dinner.”

“What dinner? What are you talking about?”

“The big faculty dinner? I told you about it at thebeginningof the semester. Remember?”

I blink at her. I don’t remember. And even if I did, who has time for some fancy dinner? “Sorry I forgot something you told me about once a million years ago.”

I get up to walk away, but she walks with me. “Don’t you walk away from me, Aydan Vaultmore. This is a big deal. You have to come. They are honoring our father.”

I stop and turn to her. “I’ve got too much to do, Nadia. Finals are coming up and—”

“Aydan, this isn’t optional. Dad gave so much to Moonhelm, and you’re the new Alpha. Do you have any idea how bad this will look for the pack if you don’t come?” I roll my eyes, and her scowl deepens. “I amserious, Aydan. This is a big fucking deal.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll tell you what. I’ll come on one condition. I get to bring a date.” She scoffs, so I add, “Andyou can’t say shit about who I choose.”

“What do I care about your latest conquest?”

“Not latest. There’s only been one.” I hesitate. I haven’t told Nadia a thing about me and Saffron for a million reasons, but she’s not dumb. She’s seen me around with her. She has to suspect something.

And as if she was reading my mind, her face drops and her skin turns a slight shade of green. “No. Tell me you’re not talking about the Scarlet.”

“Her name is Saffron, and if you want me there tonight, she’s going to be on my arm. Andyouare going to keep your trap shut about it.”

She gapes at me in disbelief for a few seconds before spitting out, “But she’sdangerous, Aydan! You can’t bring a Scarlet to a high-class affair like this. At best, she’ll make off with the silverware and at worst, she’ll kill a member of the faculty—”

“Right, right. Get it all out of your system now because one crack like that at the dinner and it’ll be one short-ass night for me.”

She glares at me with big, hurting eyes. You’d think I was the one who kicked her in the shin. “Fine,” she says throughclenched teeth. “Bring her. But Aydan,” she leans in and hisses, “you’d better not be fucking her.”

“I’m still here, aren’t I?” I say back in a low growl. “If I am, I wouldn’t be alive, right?” Her face goes from green to red and she backs off. As she stalks away, I say after her, “See you tonight.”

Now . . . to convince Saffron to come with me.

“No,” Saffron says with a laugh. “Absolutely not.”

I’m standing in her dorm room while she gets ready for class. She’s sitting at her desk in a black dress shirt with the top two buttons undone and a black skirt that’s just short enough to show off her creamy thighs. She crosses her legs to put on her socks, and I have to force myself to look up at her face.

“Why not?” I ask. “It’s not like you’re doing anything tonight.”

“I could be doing something,” she says. “Maybe I’ve got a date.”

“A date?” I practically growl. “Withwho?”

She smirks at me. “I saidmaybe. Sheesh. A little bent out of shape there, huh?”

I clear my throat, but the jealousy is still thick in my chest. “Well, whatever you have planned, cancel it. I want you with me tonight.”

That makes her pause. Her one-sided smile fades a little as she looks up at me, legs crossed with one knee sock on one leg. “Say that again.”

I narrow my eyes at her.

“You heard me,” I said.

“You’re not my Alpha.”

She’s taunting me in that way that drives me crazy. Her lip curls a little, and the blue in her eyes shine like a beacon.

“I amanAlpha and I said I want you with me tonight,” I say.

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