Page 36 of Alpha Bond

“Let’s…let’s not do that again,” I force out, trying to regain some semblance of control over my emotions. “At least not until we have to.”

“Why would we do that unless we had to?” Jagger replies. But his voice is hoarse.

“Exactly,” I say, feeling a little foolish.

Although something is becoming very clear. This may be far more complicated than either of us anticipated.

Chapter 15

Jagger

This might be a mistake. I stare down at her dazed expression, her kiss-swollen lips, and her slightly glazed eyes. Something unfamiliar flickers inside me.

“I need to go out,” I say abruptly, stepping away from her.

“Now?” She blinks.

“Yeah. I- uh… I haven’t trained in a while. I should hit the gym.”

“Sure.” She catches her bottom lip between her teeth and fuck me if my balls don’t tighten. “Will you be long?” Her eyes flit to the door. She really seems to dislike it when I leave her alone.

“Hour…tops.” I turn away and reach for my gym bag that’s on the floor beside my makeshift desk. I sling it over my shoulder. “So…we’re good with the new arrangement? You know…the mate thing.” God, this feels awkward.

“Yes. Definitely. All good.” She nods too vigorously.

“Good. That’s good.” Fuck, I need to get out of here. “I’ll be back before you know it.” I reach the door, yank it open, and step outside. She’s standing in the doorway looking bemused when I turn to close it. “I’m locking up.” I hold up the key. It’s another thing she seems anxious about. Barricading herself against the outside world. Then again, after what she’s been through, who could blame her? I nod, smile stiffly, and lock the door. Then I’m striding down the hallway as if my ass is on fire.

What the fuck just happened back there?

I can’t fathom it. Can’t even think about it. It’s only when I reach the entrance of the gym that my head stops feeling like it might just explode. The familiar scent of sweat, metal, and wintergreen, and the clang of weights and grunts of exertion are something I can focus on.

“Well, look who’s still with us!” Casey smirks when I walk inside. “We thought you’d decided to switch to childcare duties.” Laughter ripples from the other shifters who are in different stages of working out.

“Funny, Stone.” I brush past her and head to the changing rooms, dumping my bag on a bench. And discover that in my haste to get away from Sierra, I hadn’t checked the contents. Aside from shorts and a tank top, there isn’t a change of clean clothes or a towel inside. “Fuck it.” I change clothes and pick up a spare sweat towel on the table beside the changing room door.

“Wanna train with me, Law?” Casey calls from the weights section. “Check it out; my shoulder’s good as new.” She flexes a bicep. “But I’ll make it light for you.” She winks.

Asshole.

“Nah.” I head toward the treadmills. “Gotta get in a run.” For sure I need to run. Aside from the frustrated pacing of my wolf, I have to get rid of whatever’s messing with my head. Hanging my towel over the front of the machine, I step on, hit a few buttons, and set into a steady jog. After warming up for a minute, I punch the keys and speed up to a sprint. It’s only when my legs are burning, and my heart is pounding that I start to feel like my old self again.

I run faster. Minutes blur by.

“Holy shit, Jagger. You running from the devil or something?”

Sweat flies as I throw a glance at my partner. “What?” I pant the word.

“You keep that up, and your heart will burst.”

“No. I’m. Fine,” I gasp out past measured breaths.

“Doesn’t look that way to me.” Casey is casually lounging against the treadmill beside me. “Is this about the woman?”

“Woman?” I stumble and have to catch my stride again.

“Hah! I knew it!”

I slow my pace. At this rate, she won’t be satisfied until I fall on my face. “What are you on about?”