Page 18 of Lethal Alpha

But it also helps me to feel more like my professional self, which does make things easier.

“Let’s go in.”I keep hold of Vera’s hand as I walk to the front of the restaurant, Caleb and Jorge right behind us.

It would have been nice to have another night of just us, but maybe this is good too.This way, we can’t get nervous about it or start to worry ahead of time.We just jump into the deep end.

As we stepthrough the doors, Riley is waiting for us, her smile widening as she spots us, before she pulls her face into a professional mask.Fuck, it’s so clear that she belongs with us.But we’re going to have to pretend for a whole night that we’re simply people who are in the same line of business.

“Are you planning on joining us?”She keeps her voice professional, but her eyes start to slide down my body before she licks her lips as she looks at Vera.We’re clearly not the only ones who have a tricky evening ahead of us.

“Yes.Since we’re all here anyway, it seemed like a good opportunity.We can get to know each other better while also making new business connections.”I try not to stare at the way her dark red dress hugs her tits or her ass.Fuck, she looks so good.

“Well, then, shall we go?”She walks ahead of us to the back and Vera’s pheromones spike in amusement as my eyes are drawn to the rose tattoo on Riley’s back.The bottom of it disappears behind the top of her dress and I wish I could take it off her to get a better look.

Fuck.While I was outside, I totally forgot how absolutely gorgeous this Alpha is and how it turns my brain into a total mess.

This evening is going to get very complicated.

And we might have to move up the ‘get to know each other’ timeline, because I don’t know if I’ll want to let her go at the end of the evening…

8

Vera

The roomwe’re in is big, much bigger than I expected it would be, it easily holds fifteen or more people at a single table with plenty of room for servers to move around.I’ve worked at plenty of restaurants but none of them had rooms like this.I’m kind of curious how they manage everything on the staff side of things, but that’s something I’ll have to ask Mathew about at a different time.

Riley was apparently meeting a group of Alphas and Betas, both men and women, who knew someone that she knew who thought they should get connected —or something like that, I didn’t fully pay attention.

They’re all wearing expensive suits, suit dresses or other fancy clothes.I now understand why Mathew chose this dress for me to wear tonight, anything else I’ve got would have been way too underdressed, and even this is on the ‘casual’ side.

I’m sitting between Riley and Mathew again and Caleb is sitting on Mathew’s other side while Jorge is sitting opposite us.The rest of the people are spread around the table.They introduced themselves to us, but there were so many people that I haven’t been able to remember a single name.

Listening to Mathew talk to them is interesting, the way his voice changes when he’s his professional persona and not just himself.

I’ve heard it plenty of times when he’s been on calls with clients, but it’s still different when he does it in person.The way his face moves even changes, becomes more severe, more intense.It’s like I’m sitting next to a different person almost.

Opposite us, I notice the same change in Jorge as he talks shop with the people next to him, even his aura is different from his usually more playful nature.Though, when he glances my way and catches my gaze, his sweet smile makes my stomach do happy flips.

“Are the appetisers too heavy for you?”Riley leans closer, keeping her voice low so only I can hear her, though with all the loud talking in the room, it’s hard for anyone to overhear her.“I can ask them to prepare something lighter for you, if you prefer.”

I glance down at my plate of bread, butter, cheese and other things to nibble on.I’d totally forgotten about that, way too absorbed in all the conversations.“No, I’m good.Thanks for asking, though.”Her worry makes my cheeks flame, she’s so considerate.

I’m about to grab a piece of bread, but Caleb reaches across Mathew, takes my plate and swaps it for his.He’s already cut everything up into small pieces, ready for me to eat, and I can’t help the way my heart beats faster.

Damn, that guy.Even with everything going on around us, his first priority is still me, making sure I’m taken care of.

I lean forward to thank him, but he’s already in conversation with someone on his other side.Like this is the most normal thing in the world to do, to cut your Omega’s food even when you’re at a fancy place.

Which, in our case, it is…

My pheromones flush with pleasure as I pick up a piece of bread with cheese and put it in my mouth, slowly chewing on it.The food is really good, which it should be, for that price…

Riley laughs quietly and when I look at her, she seems wistful.“The small things that mated pairs who’ve been together for years do, it always looks so loving and natural.It’s different from a brand new bond.When it’s all brand new, you still have to create all the habits that you fall into later.”

“They’re sickeningly sweet, aren’t they?”Mathew puts his head on my shoulder.“These two are just too adorable.”He says it teasingly, but it somehow sounds almost sad.Like he wishes he could be treated like that too.

With a soft sigh, I pick up a piece of bread and put it in his mouth.“If you want me to feed you, just tell me.”I turn my head and kiss his cheek.“You don’t have to pout.”

“Do you want me to cut your food too?”Caleb laughs, slowly reaching for Mathew’s plate, but before he can touch it, Mathew smacks his hand away.

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