Page 145 of Dream Mates
Taking a deep breath, I tried to walk past them, ignoring the heartbroken look on their dad’s face. Her hand grabbed my wrist, the one that had previously been injured, yanking me.
“Ow.” Pain shot through me as I lost my balance and fell to my knees.
“Mom, stop, please. It’s not her, just let her go,” Creed pleaded. “Youreallydon’t want to start anything with her pack.”
“Adriana, Honey, I know you’re trying to protect me, but there’s no need to choose violence.” The professor’s face crumpled as he moved toward me.
People were watching and I tried to get up, but it was hard with her still gripping me. Ow. Alphas were generally stronger than everyone else and that was going to bruise.
“Of course it’s not her. I won’t allow some imposter to manipulate my family,” Mom retorted, finally letting go of me with a hard shove.
“Oh, it’s not?” The professor’s voice went soft, his eyes tearing, as he helped me up. “But her eyes, Adriana. She has–”
“Nate, it’s not her,” Adriana snapped.
His shoulders slumped. “I see. Are you okay? Sorry, overzealous, protective alphas and all that.”
Yeah, I lived with three of them, and they weren’t like that.
Before I could answer she scowled at me. “Leave before I have campus security escort you out.” Adriana added that bark again.
But I had no urge to be compelled by the likes of her.
“I told you that I was leaving. Pushing me, then demanding I leave when I can barely get up on my own is unnecessary. So is speaking to me like that.” I gazed at the professor’s heartbroken face, my voice softening. “Professor, I hope that you find her, and I hope she forgives you.” I looked at Creed, Verity, and Hale, “and I hope she loves you all, and doesn’t resent that you got what she didn’t.”
“Wait, did she just resist Mom’s bark and tell her off?” Hale hissed. “She has a death wish?”
“Gammas have death wishes, we know this,” Creed whispered back.
Taking a deep breath, I mustered all my strength and self-control and hobbled out of the cafe, people staring. Part of me wanted to talk to him even though he wasn’t my dad. But it would probably end with me slapping his mate and that would not be a good thing.
“Are you looking for my brother, Barrett?” The professor followed me.
“I’m so sorry.” My voice broke, my back to them. “I wasn’t trying to start anything. I didn’t think meeting Creed for coffee would be a big deal.”
But I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t. I wasn’t his daughter–and I was glad for it, since he seemed to be part of a pack of assholes. Something about his mate’s attitude felt a lot like my own mom’s and that rankled.
Still, my heart broke for him.
My voice went soft, “And no, I’m not looking for anyone.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Evan
As I ate my lunch I updated my wedding-inspo pin boards so that I could send them to potential wedding planners. Earlier, when Grace was on the train for herfield tripas she called it, we’d been sending photos back and forth.
Now I was getting pics from Grace of, well, I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. But she wassoexcited. I texted Wes.
Me
I have no idea what I’m looking at. I mean I sort of understood the super collider stuff, but I don’t even know what this is.
Wes
It’s a modeling program. It could be the basis for what they want to do. Wait, you understand super colliders? I mean I do. But that’s because I bullshitted my way into a class I had no business taking back when I was in university so I could help her with her research.
The idea of Wes fast-talking his way into a class solely to impress his dream girlfriend was fucking adorable. He’d done something similar when we were in the military, only it was him finding reasons to interact with me.
