Alpha, Your Lock Betrayed Me Chapter 07
We carried our trays toward the office cafeteria. It was close, but Mia talked the whole way.
She told me which station had the best food, that the coffee shop downstairs offered the second drink half off, and that Fridays were casual.
She made conversation so easily that I never had to scramble for something to say.
For a moment, I didn’t know what to do with that.
Friendship had never felt this simple in my old pack.
Once I entered Lysander’s social circle, I had spent far too much time trying to fit in and become the perfect Luna in their eyes.
Torvin’s favorite beer was Silverlight Lager.
Miles’s wife was from far up north, and the two of them were separated.
I even knew which of Lysander’s friends weren’t speaking because of a fight over splitting a restaurant bill.
I kept it all in the notes app on my phone and reviewed it before every gathering.
I was terrified I’d say the wrong thing, let the conversation die, or make Lysander’s friends think I was difficult.
And in the end, I was still only “Lysander’s future Luna,” an accessory in someone else’s life.
Mia and I, on the other hand, were just coworkers.
She didn’t know my past. I didn’t have to prove anything to her.
I could simply be myself.
“We should go to a show sometime,” Mia said. “Redpine always has something good.”
“Sure,” I said.
That evening, I stood at my apartment window for a while.
Beneath the streetlights, the red pines gave off a warm, resinous scent.
I opened my camera roll and found the old photos of Lysander and me.
I didn’t delete them.
I made a separate album, moved them all into it, and buried it at the bottom of the list.
…
Lysander’s POV
Lysander sat across from Morrigan in a coffee shop.
“Did you tear up Willa’s documents?” he asked.
Morrigan froze. “What documents? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I never touch your things when I come over.”
Her eyes darted left.
Lysander had known her for over twenty years. She had done that since they were children. Whenever she lied, she looked left.
He didn’t call her on it.
He stood. “I have my answer.”
He turned to go.
Morrigan followed him to the door. “Lysander!”
“Are you still thinking about that night?” Her voice sharpened, all the wounded sweetness falling away. “You chose to drink the wine. Did I force you?”
Lysander didn’t look back.
He pushed open the door and walked out.
Outside, he drew a long breath and leaned against a tree by the curb.
Three months earlier, he’d drunk the wine.
He’d ordered the condoms.
Morrigan had asked if she’d forced him.
She hadn’t.
He could have gotten up and left.
But he hadn’t.
Willa’s POV
“That’s Nightstalker Pack’s Alpha.”
I saw Lysander on Friday of my second week in Redpine City.
He stood beside the glass doors in a dark-gray coat, staring straight at me. The mate bond, not yet fully broken, snapped taut between us and pulled at both our souls.
Mia followed my gaze and lowered her voice.
“Do you know him?”
“Yeah. An old friend. Go on without me.”
Mia didn’t ask questions. She nodded and left.
I walked over to Lysander. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to apologize in person.” His voice was hoarse.
“For what?”
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“You can’t even name what you’re apologizing for?” I looked at him. “Or did you think ‘I’m sorry’ would cover everything?”
He stayed silent for a moment.
“You found the orders on my computer, didn’t you?”
His voice was tight.
“At the hot spring resort, she suggested we have a drink in the room, and I…” He paused. “I did something stupid.”
I looked at him. “Something stupid?”
“At dinner, you ate the crab she’d already bitten. Was that a stupid mistake too?”
“You gave her the front seat and let her feed you from her hand. Were those mistakes too?”
“You let her fix your collar without pulling away. Another mistake?”
His mouth opened. Nothing came out.
“Anyone can see how much she matters to you.”