Page 73 of Her Bully Alpha

"Did you want some potato salad?" Katie looked at Henrik with wishful eyes, and Henrik shook his head at her.

"No, I'm good."

Katie chewed on her lower lip briefly before setting the bowl aside. "So, Henrik, I'm going to an event next week with a couple of friends, and I need someone to join me. Would you be free?"

Sam's fingers tightened over mine. "Oh my god," she whispered. "She's actually asking him out."

I had a feeling Sam had a part to do with this.

Henrik looked at Katie and scanned her. He held a blank expression when he shook his head at her. "No, I'm busy."

Katie frowned, looking hurt, but quickly shook it off. "That's okay. It’s understandable. Are you too busy for coffee? I'll be in…"

"Katie," Henrik's jaw clenched a little as he looked at her. "No offense, but I don't have time to waste with you."

I could feel Sam tense up in my arms, and Katie's eyes widened slightly in shock and the hurt flashed over her face. She swallowed and took a step back. "Oh…I..understand."

"I'm gonna…" Sam tried to pull away, but I tightened my hold on her, keeping her pressed against my chest.

"Sam," I softly whispered into her ear. "You can't butt in."

"He's rejecting her!" Sam snapped back. "He can't..."

"It's his choice," I quickly added. "Henrik can't exactly just date anyone….none of them can…"

I felt her sag slightly as she realized there was no point because Henrik would get assigned someone by Katie. He couldn't date her, and she would only end up hurt.

I kissed the top of Sam's head. "I know you want this to work out, but that doesn't seem to be the case here."

"But she likes him," she whispered back.

"And sometimes things don't work out," I added.

Katie made her way out of the kitchen, and I let go of Sam, who moved to follow after her. I pulled myself up, walked over to Henrik, and sighed. "You could have been nicer. She clearly has a crush on you, Henrik."

Henrik glared at me. "You really wanna talk about letting people down gently? Shall we discuss how you rejected my sister?"

I scowled. It was only a few weeks ago when Sam accidentally told him that I had rejected her all those years ago, and I was pretty sure Henrik was going to choke me to death.

I waved a hand, not wanting to start anything. I was staying out of whatever was going on between him and Katie. It was better that way, anyway. I had enough on my plate.

Aaron walked over, grabbing himself another burger. "Are you going to eat or just drool over all the food?" Aaron hooked an arm over Henrik.

"Where did your wife disappear to?" Frank asked as he came over for another plate.

"I'm not sure," I glanced down the hallway, expecting her to come back. I imagine that Katie had decided to leave, and Sam was trying to convince her to stay.

"I have to get going, and I would like to thank her before I leave." Frank said.

“I’ll go find her,” I said before I headed down the hall as the guys started to chat with Henrik. I found her leaning against the wall. I paused next to her. "What are you doing?"

She sighed. "Katie left. She said she had stuff to finish at the lab. I tried to convince her to stay, but she said she didn't want to."

"I'm sorry," I said, hooking her into my arm and kissing the top of her head.

She leaned into me. "I'm thankful for you. I was just thinking about everything we had to overcome, and I look forward to our future."

"You want to know what I'm thinking about?" I asked as I leaned closer, pressing her flat against the wall.

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