Page 109 of Alpha Ruined
“Because it wouldn’t haveworked, Carl,” she snaps. “We’re…different.”
Never mind that they’re mated, and her body thrums with electricity every time she thinks of him.
“Life’s too short for that. If he cares for you, and you care for him, there’s no reason for you to be apart.”
“Oh, really? No reason?”
“No reason.”
“What if he’s a murderer?” she spits out before she can stop herself. She grips her fork tightly, horrified at her outburst.
But Carl is unphased. “Did he try to kill you?”
“No, but?—”
“Did the people he killed deserve it?”
She looks at him, bewildered. “Carl, what?—”
“If the answer to those questions is ‘no’ and ‘yes’ in that order, then I truly don’t care. If he makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”
She gawks at him. “Have you lost yourmind?”
Carl takes a massive bite of his sandwich. “No, kiddo,” he says over a mouthful of food. “I just want you to be happy. Remember, you’reallowedto be happy.”
She shakes her head and scoffs. “So much wisdom from a grumpy, middle-aged man.”
“It’s the best kind of wisdom. Now, go sort all this shit out with him so you can start smiling again. You look like someone ran over your cat.”
She frowns, thinking of the kitten at the cabin.
The image of Cole bottle feeding it plays in her mind, and her heart aches at the memory.
As much as she hates to admit it, she misses him.
He’s her mate, and it’s been two weeks since she’s seen him.
She doesn’t know how much more she can take.
She knowssomething is wrong based on her mother’s text later that day.
She never uses emojis, but Carol suddenly sendsDinner tonight?!with ten hearts following it.
But she finds out the reason as she pulls up to her childhoodhome that evening, her heart beating in anticipation as she spots the sportscar in the sprawling driveway.
Torn between excitement and frustration, she stomps her way to the front door, following the delicious smell that leads into her mother’s house.
She doesn’t even bother to knock. She tries the door and opens it slowly, listening to the conversation floating down the hall.
Cole’s scent overwhelms her, and she clenches her hands into fists, her nails digging into the skin of her palms as she stays in the front room to eavesdrop.
Howdarehe.
Her mother, the traitor, is absolutely fawning over him.
“Oh, I’ve always wanted her to date someone with a good career. I can’t believe she didn’t tell me about you! She never likes to talk about herself with me.”
She scowls as Cole chuckles.